Gemtone and Pearl Facials in Vogue

[Caitlin]

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Found in upscale spas

New York Spas Now Rub Crushed Gemstones on Patrons in New Facial Treatments

• 4/15/10 at 1:30 PM
• Comment 00Comment 00Comments

Photo: Courtesy of Townhouse

Gemstones are the hot new ingredient in spa treatments popping up around the city. Apparently emeralds, rubies, pearls, and even gold plump, lift, brighten, purify, what have you (or so they say). Here are three new gemstone facials you'll find around the city:
• At Townhouse Spa, the jewel of choice is amethyst, which the aestheticians claim reduces skin inflammation and radiates infrared rays in order to stimulate healthy cell growth. The $275 Amethyst Purifying Gem Facial begins with a thorough cleansing, followed by penetration of an amethyst serum with an LED light, and finished with an eye cream aided by a sonic frequency device. The final step is a mask containing 63 percent amethyst powder. The skin is supposed to be instantly firmer and brighter.
Amethyst Purifying Gem Facial, $275, at Townhouse Spa, 39 W. 56th St.; 212-245-8006.
• The Pierre Michel will introduce the $275 Cornelia Lumina Facial on May 1. Emeralds are used to correct skin tone imperfections; rubies and gold are supposed to hydrate and smooth; citrine is supposed to plump lips; and sapphire is supposed to lift. The gems are mixed with anti-aging pentapeptide and the treatment is supposed to leave a shimmer on your skin.
Cornelia Lumina Facial, $275, at Pierre Michele, 135 E. 57th St.; 212-755-9500.
• Lastly, Dorit Baxter Day Spa uses pure pearls smashed into a paste to exfoliate. "Pearls are also known to contain amino acids, vitamin B complex, and calcium," says Baxter, "and they prevent dark spots on the skin by slowing down the growth of melanin."
Natural Pearl Exfoliating Facial, $120, Dorit Baxter Day Spa, 45–47 W. 57th St.; 212-371-4542.


By: Beth Landman

nI an aside re DNA testing of pearls on the nautilus thread, above paragraph claims pearls have amino acids and B vitamins. Sounds like they would have dna too.

[Casey.R]

Why not just use mineral makeup?

[Caitlin]

Great idea!

[Miriam Reed]

I'm sceptical as to whether it really works. It seems a shame to crush up gemstones and pearls!

[Pearly Shell]

Robert Wan has a line of skin care product that contain crushed nacre. Cool idea especially after watching what Service de la Perliculture does to pearls that don't have the appropriate nacre thickness. You really don't want all those crushed up pearls to go to waste.