Gemstones are the product of many millions of years of the earth’s history. They are characterised by a variety of colour nuances and light effects. Geological processes and mineralisation have manifested themselves in them and bound amazing powers. We use the resulting effects for physical and mental healing and strengthening, in colour therapy and in skin care and decorative cosmetics.
Gemstones and their effects
Effects of far infrared radiation*
Far infrared rays (FIR) penetrate deep into the skin and strengthen its immune system by activating the tissue and promoting metabolic processes.
Gemstones emit these long-wave FIR heat rays. When wavelengths of the same frequency meet, synergetic effects occur. The wavelengths of FIR rays correspond to the vibrations that flow through our body and therefore support the body’s own rhythms.
The effect of far infrared rays on the human body includes increasing subcutaneous and core body temperature, dilating blood vessels, improving circulation, boosting metabolism and increasing the ability to regenerate tissue. In water of 30°C we hardly feel the heat energy, but we feel the warmth of sunlight of this temperature. The reason is that the FIR rays of sunlight penetrate deep into the skin and generate heat inside the skin. The heat effect helps to eliminate germs, stimulate blood circulation and the formation of cell tissue by dilating the capillaries. It is known that FIR radiation activates cell tissue, boosts metabolism, relieves chronic fatigue and improves sleep. The explanation for this is that the absorption of FIR heat radiation triggers vibration effects of approx. 2000 vibrations per minute at molecular level. This stimulates the formation of new cells, activates protein molecules and loosens clumps of blood cells.
*Kyung-Suk Ha (2010): A Study of the influence of gemstone therapy by Hildegard on elderly woman’s mental state
Effect on the skin
Gemstones activate metabolic processes, the elimination of toxins and have a cleansing and purifying effect. This is utilised by cosmetics in skin care to give the skin a clear and beautiful appearance.
Added to this are the light-reflecting effects, which are important for decorative cosmetics.
Mineral ion content
Alkaline/basic mineral ions preserve the skin’s luminosity.
Alkaline facial care with a pH value slightly above 7.0 can soothe, balance, regenerate and cleanse the skin, support the metabolism and be helpful for psoriasis and neurodermatitis.
Gemstones: concepts
The potential effects of gemstones described above give rise to a wide range of possible applications.
Gemstones: Concept – colour therapy
RED stands for courage, passion and strength. It increases blood pressure and can strengthen and stimulate the body. Red is the colour of our blood and the red blood cells that supply the organs with oxygen and nutrients.
Red gemstones that promote these effects are Garnet, Ruby
ORANGE is associated with energy, happiness and enthusiasm. It promotes confidence and well-being, encourages creativity and passion. It strengthens the digestive and reproductive organs.
The spectrum includes: Coral, orange diamond
YELLOW is the colour of joy, happiness, mental and physical activity. The energising and mood-enhancing colour stands for a positive attitude to life and inner strength. It strengthens the nervous system, the digestive organs, calms the nervous stomach and stress-related abdominal tension.
Representatives are: Amber, Alexandrite
GREEN is associated with harmony, freshness and fertility. We are drawn to green when we are looking for balance, equilibrium and calm. Green is good for the heart and promotes relaxation.
Its gemstones are: Nephrite, peridot, green topaz
BLUE is the colour of loyalty, wisdom and trust. It cools and calms, inspires mental clarity and inner peace. Blue strengthens the feeling of security and has been shown to lower blood pressure thanks to its effect on the autonomic nervous system.
It corresponds to: sapphire, aquamarine, lapis lazuli, turquoise
VIOLET stands for luxury, dignity and creativity. It has been proven to calm nervous people in mental imbalance. It is a spiritual colour associated with inner peace and higher consciousness.
Its spectrum includes: Amethyst, colloidal gold
Gemstones: Concept -Luxury
Gemstone cosmetics fit into this concept.
It uses precious gemstones to promote the skin’s youthful vigour, energy and hydration.
The gemstones can be applied directly to the skin or as gemstone water or gemstone oil. They are usually used in cosmetic formulations as powders or extracts, sometimes alone or in various combinations.
In order to utilise the power of gemstones in cosmetic products, they are ground into powder or extracts of the small amount of moisture from the gemstones are used. The extracts are preferably obtained with water.
Examples:
We discover:
– Diamond powder in essence, moisturising mask, low-irritation peeling, skin brightening cream, moisturising cream, ampoule and mask with brightening effect, toner and ampoule, cream with hyaluronic acid, anti-wrinkle serum and cream
– Sapphire in formulations for pure, relaxed skin
– Amethyst for skin balance, in serum, mask, day and night cream
– Pearl in peeling
– Ruby in serum, eye cream and anti-dark circles formulations
– Tourmaline in lifting cream, anti-ageing serum
We find gemstone mixes for example in:
– Diamond/pearl in nanocosmetics as a hydrogel eye patch
– Amethyst/pearl/amber/coral/tourmaline/nephrite/ruby: in a complete skincare line
CONCEPT – GLOW, RADIANCE, LUMINOSITY
With their variety of colours, light reflections and skin-caring properties, gemstones are ideal for improving and enhancing the radiance of the skin and are ideal for decorative cosmetics.
For example, we find
– Diamond: in powder (moist or dry), lipstick, blusher
– Pearl in colour primer for eye make-up, foundation
– Tourmaline in BB Cushion powder
We find mixes of gemstones for example in:
– Rose quartz/ruby in compact powder
– Pearl/amethyst/tourmaline in powder
– Diamond/amethyst/pearl in lipstick
– Topaz/diamond/ruby in powder
– Diamond/pearl/ruby/sapphire in compact concealer
– Diamond/amethyst/pearl/coral/tourmaline in cushion powder
– Diamond/amethyst/coral/pearl/tourmaline in powder, foundation
– Amethyst/coral/amber/nephrite/ruby/tourmaline in glow cushion powder
– Diamond/amethyst/coral/pearl/tourmaline in powder
– Ruby/amethyst/black pearl in eyeshadow, glow powder, tinted cream, foundation
– Sapphire/amethyst/topaz/diamond/ruby/pearl in compact powder, foundation
Gemstones: an overview
ALEXANDRITE – INCI: – , An iridescent chrysoberyl of yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, grey, “emerald by day, ruby by night”, main ingredients: Aluminium, beryllium, chromium, relatively hard with a hardness of 8.5, as a powder/extract in cosmetics, promotes skin metabolism and energy
AMBER – INCI: Amber – amber, fossil resin of hardness 2-2.5, yellow-yellow-brown-red-yellow, as powder/extract in cosmetics, keeps the skin in an acidic range, strengthens the skin’s protective acid mantle and immune system, promotes blood circulation, cell renewal, regenerating, anti-ageing
AMETHYST – INCI: Amethyst – violet quartz, as a powder/extract in cosmetics, relaxing, firming, increases the skin’s resistance and purity, improves skin tone
AQUAMARINE – INCI: Aquamarine – light blue to sea green, formerly used for the production of ultramarine colour, as a powder/extract in cosmetics, soothes skin irritations, improves skin texture, is also said to help with rosacea
CITRINE – INCI: Citrine – yellow-orange translucent quartz, iron as a colouring substance, “sunstone”, as a powder/extract in cosmetics, highly light-reflecting, improves skin energy
DIAMOND – INCI: Diamond – the hardest mineral with a hardness of 10, made from pure carbon, highly refractive cubic crystals, as a powder/extract in cosmetics, abrasive, cleansing, improves skin luminosity, colour correction
GRANATE – INCI: Garnet – intense garnet red colour, island silicate, as powder/extract in cosmetics, abrasive, improves skin luminosity
CORAL – INCI: Coral – calcification product of corals, red-pink, as powder/extract in cosmetics, abrasive, skin-cleansing, clarifying, improves skin texture
LAPISLAZULI – INCI: Lapis Lazuli – glaze stone, deep blue rock, contains sodium aluminium silicate and sulphur, as a powder/extract in cosmetics, abrasive, improves the luminosity and radiance of the skin, clarifies the complexion
MOONSTONE – INCI: Moonstone – feldspar, transparent to cloudy bluish white, pay attention to differentiation synthetic, as powder/extract in cosmetics, skin caring
NEPHRITE – INCI: Nephrite Powder – green, yellow or white blasting stone with high density, jade variant, mainly contains calcium magnesium silicate, as powder/extract in cosmetics, prevents clumping of formulations, abrasive
OPAL – INCI: Opal – opaque, colourless, dried diatomaceous earth, as powder/extract in cosmetics, skin-caring
PERIDOT – INCI: Peridot – synonym: olivine, green rhombic silicate derivative/ magnesium-iron silicate, as powder/extract in cosmetics, supports the skin’s own cleansing, colour correction for redness
PEARL – INCI: Pearl – ground seawater pearls: beads of mother-of-pearl that form around foreign bodies in the mussel or oyster, e.g. black Tahitian pearl, seawater pearl, South Sea pearl, sea snail pearl, pay attention to differentiation synthetic, as powder/extract in cosmetics, moisturising, underlines the luminosity of the skin
QUARTZ – INCI: Quartz – e.g. pink rose quartz, as powder/extract in cosmetics, energises, balances the skin, cools, regenerates the skin, peeling effect
RUBY – INCI: Ruby – red corundum (crystallised aluminium oxide), relatively hard with hardness 9, as powder/extract in cosmetics, abrasive, skin-caring, healing, UV-absorbing, colour correction
SAPHIR – INCI: Sapphire – blue corundum, with hardness 9 relatively hard, as powder/extract in cosmetics, reduces transparency of cosmetic formulations, abrasive, antibacterial, alleviates acne, moisturising, restructuring
TOPAS – INCI: Topaz – shiny glass gemstone in various colours, mainly aluminium hexafluorosilicate, as powder/extract in cosmetics, exfoliating effect, strengthens skin balance and skin resistance
TURQUOISE – INCI: Tuquoise – shiny wax, blue-blue-green-green, copper aluminium phosphate, as powder/extract in cosmetics, protects the skin from external influences, soothes
TURMALINE – INCI: Tourmaline, magnesium aluminium borosilicate, different colour variations, electrical properties used for electrical and optical instruments, as powder/extract in cosmetics, reduces density in cosmetic preparations, colouring, promotes healing, improves microcirculation, anti-inflammatory
Gemstones – pure power packs
Formed from minerals over millions of years, gemstones harbour powers that can be used for health, skin and beauty. Pure gemstones in powder or extract form are cosmetic raw materials of the highest purity, with a variety of natural colours and an amazing spectrum of effects. They are ideal for luxurious skin care and decorative cosmetics and natural cosmetics. Of course, care must be taken to ensure that the mineral is of good origin and free from heavy metals. Cosmacon will be happy to advise you on the choice of pure gemstones for your products and realise effective formulations.
