It wasn’t even two weeks ago when we reported about the sudden craze for jade combs to induce calming massages, that the new trend of crystal facials began to pop up all over our Instagram feeds.
Indeed the latest crystal trend brings the act of self-care with the cute clear-cut rocks to your face, rather than on your scalp… just when you thought you finally had your jade roller finally figured out. However, unlike the 100 combing strokes needed for the ultimate jade combing experience, the do-it-yourself crystal facial technique requires very little physical work, but requires participants to lie perfectly still.
So, how does putting pretty pebbles on your face improve your health? Well, it’s been said that crystal facials help with skincare, making your pores brighter, tighter and clearer. Not to be forgotten is the claim that they also improve emotional well-being by bringing our bodies and face in sync with their vibrating frequencies. Who could have thought a stone to the face could relieve tension?
Crystals allegedly have the power to absorb heat and release it, so placing it on crucial sensory points of the face result in energy being diverted to different regions. Diagrams can be found online instructing interested parties on how to set up the right formation to ensure the stones can do their magic… after that you just need to lie back and relax.
Seeking to target different concerns, the crystals can be aligned in ways to target anti-ageing, shiner skin, puffiness reduction and so on. Rose quartz, for example, is used to boost “self-love”, moonstone to smoothen out your skin and aquamarine stone to induce a youthful glow.
But while Instagrammers seem to be all but convinced about the curative properties of crystals, perhaps unsurprisingly, the scientific community has not been so forthcoming with their seal of approval. However, despite the lack of evidence backing the crystal-converts, the practice does seem to have a few positives, with the obvious calming-down effect of lying still being right on top of that list. To add to that, it does not lead to any packaging waste or environmental woes. It is also far less messy and labourious than a lot of other therapies. In fact, if you are looking for a short and sweet session to find your inner peace, the answer lies just a stone’s throw away.
Text: Bailey Atkinson