Luxury Lessons: What You Need to Know About Crystals

In our stressed-out times, one of the most precious luxuries is a calm and purposeful state of mind. To help us all get there and stay there, our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has developed a primer about how to use crystals in everyday life. Here’s our guide to what you need to know about crystals: what kinds there are, how to buy them, the best crystal-infused beauty products, and how to use crystals in your home. Get ready for the magic.

mystical March: why do people turn to crystals?

When was the last time you held a crystal in your hand? Did you summon its power, connecting to the primordial earth and harnessing its vibrational energy? Or did you simply think “Oooh pretty,” and set it back on the store shelf next to all the other New Age trinkets?

If you’re skeptical about the resurgence of people who incorporate magical crystals into their daily lives, maybe you’re not aware that you already use crystals everyday. Most likely, just 5 minutes ago – when checking your phone or your watch. Yep, that’s quartz crystal in there oscillating at such precise frequencies to keep your modern lifestyle running smoothly.

an ancient practice

Crystals are the most orderly structure that exists in nature. They have the lowest amount of entropy and respond to different energies.

People have been attracted to crystals since the dawn of time and there is well-documented usage by a wide variety of cultures: Native Americans, Greco-Romans, Chinese and Ayurveda. These civilizations used crystals for healing, spiritual practices and to connote power. Could so many of our ancestors be wrong?

Though I’ve always been personally fascinated with astrology, tarot reading and other occult practices, ultimately, they just seem like too much work to learn about and practice. With crystals, no formal training is required. It’s all about following your intuition and feeling a connection to the stones.

how crystals are being used today

For Mystical March, we went digging for more clarity on what you need to know about crystals. Including how to use them; what kind to buy; and where to find them.

We’ve divided our overview of what you need to know about crystals into two categories.

First, for those who want to dip a toe in the water, and are interested in using crystals for their natural beauty and beneficial impact on the skin.

And second, for those who want to delve a little deeper and use crystals in their ongoing mental, physical and spiritual journeys.

Either way, get ready to bring some magic into your everyday life! Here’s what you need to know about crystals.

Scratching the surface of what you need to know about crystals: crystal-infused beauty products

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (which is a perfectly fine spot to be these days), you’ve probably noticed that crystals have worked their way into many high-end products in our self-care routines.

From jade facial rollers, gemstone-filled water bottles, crystal-infused creams and most notoriously, Goop’s rose quartz egg, it’s easy to see why we’re drawn to them. Their good looks and purported spiritual qualities elevate the products we may already be using, providing enhanced luxury at an accessible entry point.

Yes, you can probably live a fulfilling life without any crystals in your water, but why would you want to?

Check out these visually stunning products that will add some all-natural glamour and enchantment to your everyday rituals.

1. facial rollers

It seems like there’s always some new technological, space age-y skin care invention that promises to make you look like a photo-shopped, genetically blessed 20-year old. But isn’t it more comforting and calming to use something that has been around for centuries? Face rollers and their sister tool, gua sha, both come from Asian beauty traditions. The mechanism is simple: all that’s required is your own hand pressure. Using a roller can increase circulation, lessen tension in our facial muscles and reduce puffiness. It can also help to increase absorption of any serums and creams.

Though they were typically made of jade, which is associated with wisdom and peace,  you can also find them in amethyst (promotes healing and calming), rose quartz (encourages love) and tiger’s eye (heightens energy and awareness).

Pick one that speaks to your needs or even one that complements your bathroom tile. Either way, it looks prettier and feels a lot more luxurious than your old washcloth.

2. gem-infused skincare

Gem infused skincare is another way to get your daily dose of sparkle. A few recognizable luxury skincare lines like Tata Harper, Tracie Martyn and Dr. Hauschka list crystals right alongside the other natural ingredients of botanical extracts and oils in their products. There’s also a growing number of small-batch beauty brands employing crystals. Or you could just do it yourself.

luxury brands

Tata Harper one of the pioneers of 100% natural skincare has a popular Clarifying Mask that targets impurities in the skin with AHA superfruits and quartz micro-crystals which act as an exfoliant.

Tracie Martyn, New York City-based facialist to the celebrity crowd, uses malachite extracts in her “Complexion Savior” mask. Malachite is thought to boost glutathione, an antioxidant that inhibits signs of aging.

Dr. Hauschka, a famed German natural skincare brand since the 60s’, uses black tourmaline along with botanicals to calm and stabilize stressed skin in their Soothing Intensive Treatment.

small-batch brands

Other cult beauty brand favorites like själ and Aeos base their brands around the live energy of crystals.

själ is a Swedish line that specializes in small batch gemstone skincare. Try Jennifer Lopez’s favorite “Saphir Concentrate,” an anti-aging face oil that contains blue sapphire and aquamarine- the stone of eternal youth.

Aeos is a holistic British skincare collection that uses crystal tinctures in all of its products. Their process of using alchemic techniques takes over 12 months. The process charges each cleanser, serum and lotion with energies associated with the particular crystal.  For example, the Enriching Moisturiser Blue contains alchemical essences of Rose Quartz, Topaz, Orange Calcite, Blue Chalcedone, Blue Sapphire, Amethyst and Turquoise to help rejuvenate the skin and balance emotions.

the do-it-yourself crystal elixir recipe

Alternatively, if you’re a DIY boss, making your own personal gemstone elixir is as simple as dropping a piece of crystal into your favorite toner. The idea is that the crystal’s elemental energy will imprint on to the solution, giving you an otherworldly glow to match your newfound magical powers.

3. crystal water bottles

Expensive creams aside, we all know that the best thing to do for your skin is to hydrate with water. If you have a hard time fulfilling your quota or remembering to bring your water bottle everywhere, perhaps these trending crystal water bottles will inspire you to keep up.

Glacce offers handcut crystal options in amethyst, black obsidian, clear quartz, rose quartz and smoky quartz.

VitaJuwel’s crystals are encased in a glass container within the bottle so that the stones stay bright and shiny for years. It also allows for a variety stones to be collected together. For example, the VIA FITNESS bottle contains red jasper, magnesite and clear quartz for willpower and strength. It’s more attractive than Gatorade, that’s for sure!

what you need to know about crystals: how to build a crystal collection

If you’re ready to go all in and embrace your inner witch/goddess/sorceress, you’ll need a crystal starter pack. But with hundreds of potential crystals pulsating for your attention, how do you know which ones to choose or where to buy them?

At Mirabai, the premier occult bookstore in the center of the hippy haven, Woodstock, the owners explained that a good starting point for starting a collection is to find stones that coordinate with the colors and properties of the chakras.

1. start with the 7 chakras

If you’ve ever practiced yoga or meditation, you might be familiar with the 7 chakras:

 

1- The root chakra

(red) at the base of your spine is responsible for your basic needs, security and safety. Recommended crystals: Bloodstone, Tiger’s Eye, Hematite, Fire Agate, Black Tourmaline

2- The sacral chakra

(orange) is located above the pubic bone and rules your sexual energy and creativity. Recommended crystals: Citrine, Carnelian, Moonstone, Coral, Amber

3- The solar plexus

(yellow) rests in the center of your torso, above your navel to the bottom of the breastbone. It is associated with your self-esteem, self-confidence and will power. Recommended crystals: Malachite, Calcite, Citrine, Topaz

4- The heart chakra

(green) is right where you think it would be. It is associated with love, joy and compassion. Recommended crystals: Rose Quartz, Jade, Green Calcite, Green Tourmaline

5- The throat chakra

(blue) at the center of the neck is our center for communication, inner truths and self- expression. Recommended crystals: Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Aquamarine

6- The third eye chakra

(indigo) is located on the forehead, between your eyebrows. It governs your intuition, imagination and higher consciousness. Recommended crystals: Amethyst, Purple Fluorite, Black Obsidian

7- The crown chakra

(violet) sits atop your head. It connects to the divine and universal energy. Recommended crystals: Selenite, Clear Quartz, Amethyst, Diamond

2. where to buy crystals

The best way to shop for crystals is in person. Otherwise, you should use one of several reputable online sources like Inner Vision Crystals, Sage Goddess, Energy Muse and Crystal Cactus.  Many of these online stores also offer custom kits tailored to a specific intention, taking the guesswork out of the equation.

However, if you’re lucky enough to live near a New Age store, spiritual bookstore, or even a high-end gift shop, they’re likely to have the crystals you need to get started. Browse and see what catches your attention, hold it and notice how it feels.

They say the crystal chooses you as much as you choose the crystal.

3. how to use your crystals in every day life

Now that you’ve chosen the perfect crystals, what do you do with them?

For one thing, you can literally just set them out on your nightstand, vanity or desk and let them look pretty. Beauty, like nature, is powerful and can lift the spirits by its mere presence.

Perhaps you have a big presentation coming up and need a lucky charm. No one will know if you slip a piece of turquoise to in your blazer pocket to aid in effective communication. It’s no more silly than wearing your favorite earrings or perfume to bring you confidence.

Or, if you’ve noticed that your chakras feel unbalanced, one common way to use crystals is to lie down and place a stone on each of your chakras and meditate, letting the crystal’s vibrational energy soothe you.

Come to think of it, I now realize why I’ve been feeling so off lately. It’s my crown chakra! And it’s in dire need of some diamonds. Can anyone help?

That’s what you need to know about crystals. Enjoy!

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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.

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