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For many millennials, crystals still conjure one image: Spencer Pratt holding a chunk of rose quartz to his forehead in an episode of The Hills, attempting to channel his anger into them. In the scene, he admits he knows they’re not working because “there’s hundreds on me right now” and his blood pressure is still through the roof. The implied takeaway was simple: Semi-precious stones are useless as a wellness aid. You can credit any perceived metaphysical benefits to clever marketing — and confirmation bias.
And yet, crystals are still very much a thing. Solange Knowles walked the 2018 Met Gala red carpet with energy-protecting obsidian in tow. In the early days of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, reports emerged that crystals had become more sought-after than diamonds (the crystal industry’s estimated worth has now eclipsed $50 billion). To many people, crystals are comforting. And no matter what skeptics say, it’s clear that plenty of folks believe in their perceived healing, protecting, and energizing properties. Now, some beauty brands on the market are infusing amethyst or tourmaline into their products with the idea that they’re interacting with our bodies’ energy field.
“As a skin-care enthusiast and formulator, it was important to me that I introduced crystals to the world in a way that was palpable for them to digest,” says Yetunde Alabi, founder of crystal-based beauty brand Majenye. “By incorporating crystals into your skin-care routine, you can be more mindful about your skin-care rituals, your intent, and your self-care,” she says. “Not only do Majenye’s products work, they also ease you a little closer to [spiritual] alignment each time you use them.”
How Crystals Are Used in Skin Care
Brands that incorporate crystals into their products tout their physical benefits as well as their spiritual benefits. According to Alabi, her mission has always been to fuse skin care and spirituality. She’s refined the likes of rose quartz and amethyst to table salt texture for her brand’s exfoliating products — they’re so finely milled that there is little risk of skin damage, says New Jersey-based cosmetic chemist Ginger King.
“Even though they are called crystals, they come in the form of extracts or powders so it’s not any different than traditional cosmetic ingredients,” explains King. “[Also], due to the cost of these materials, the amount used in products is [minimal] so it should be safe.” Alabi believes that the biggest value of any type of crystal, like rose quartz for example, is due to its distinct energy properties.
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