| Mineral oil is actually one of the most basic moisturisers used in alot of skincare products. Oils themselves do not rehydrate. They merely form a film to seal in a moisture. There are a few oils that are good for human skin, with a lipid profile that is more miscible with the cell membranes, but it may not always be good for pearls due to the acidity. Extra virgin olive oil, squalene and rosehip would be my top choices for skin, but I generally would not use them for pearls. Rosehip has a bit of retinioid in it. Jojoba is generally too heavy for good skincare.
I wouldn't soak pearls in anything. They have been treated at the source, and anything else is maintenance. Washing them and then patting on a thin film of oil like Caitlin says is the way to go. |