What comes to mind when you think of gemstones? Maybe jewelry, your birthstone, their purported healing powers or décor for your home. But, does your mind go to skin care? It should.
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What comes to mind when you think of gemstones? Maybe jewelry, your birthstone, their purported healing powers or décor for your home. But, does your mind go to skin care? It should.
There are several ways that gemstones can be used to elevate your facial service in spa and through home care routines. And, the popularity of gemstones isn’t slowing down. The market has been growing steadily and is projected to reach $55.96 billion by 2033 from $32.38 billion in 2023.1
So, how can you harness the versatility and intrigue of gemstones in your spa? First, let’s discuss how gemstones can be incorporated into skin care before diving into how to use them effectively in your business.
How Can Gemstones Be Used in Skin Care?
The most common way you’ll encounter gemstones in skin care is through beauty tools. Gemstones like aventurine, jade, pink and white quartz, amethyst, sodalite and obsidian can be found in a various tools, including gua sha stones, facial rollers, electric cleansing tools, massage tools and facial globes.
Perhaps more surprising, though, is that gemstones are included as ingredients in skin care, from face oils infused with sapphires to exfoliants with citrine and body scrubs made with amethyst. While the use of gemstones may seem recent and inventive, it is actually a long-established practice in many cultures. Let’s make things crystal clear by reviewing the benefits of gemstones before discussing how to use them within your spa.
The Benefits of Gemstone-Infused Products
Many cultures, including the Mayans, Sumerians and the Ancient Egyptians, used gemstones for various healing practices, many of which are still exercised in some form today.2 Crystals and gemstones are often brought into our homes and daily rituals to support emotional well-being, with benefits like increased confidence, positive energy, self-love, creativity, protection and joy. These holistic associations have inspired their use in skin care, bridging the gap between emotional and physical well-being.
Malachite, for example, is a gemstone celebrated for its transformative and protective qualities, thought to help the mind release stress and increase feelings of balance and optimism. Similarly, citrine is believed to help the mind and body feel recharged, motivated and energized, creating a sense of radiance that enhances glowing skin. Consider incorporating products like cleansers, facial oils, and masks infused with these gemstones and others into your treatments to enhance the experience of your clients.
Beyond their perceived emotional benefits, gemstones also offer visible skin care benefits. Ground gemstones are often used as exfoliating agents in formulas, gently buffing the skin's surface to maintain a smooth, refreshed appearance. Due to their size and shape, these gemstone-infused products are best suited for body treatments and clients with non-sensitive skin.
Related: The Power of Gemstone Energy and Healing Crystals in Spas
Using Gemstones in Spa Treatments
Excited about unlocking the potential of gemstones? You can first enhance your spa with gemstones by bringing in tools like gua sha, gemstone rollers and facial stones. You can offer specialized treatments, like a lymphatic drainage facial with a gua sha tool. Gua sha is a practice that originated in ancient China that uses a smoothed stone tool to vigorously massage the skin, helping relax muscles, bring out a glow and promote lymphatic drainage.3 This tool can be used in both facial and body treatments. You can also create treatments centered around gemstone rollers, massage tools and cleansing devices.
When choosing gemstone-infused skin care, consider your clients’ skin concerns and type. You can also ask about their emotions and what they need to feel to find greater contentment, then match their needs to a gemstone product’s reported effects. For example, use citrine to boost feelings of joy or pink tourmaline to promote self-love. Some clients may be skeptical of the efficacy of gemstones, however, thoughtfully formulated products will include other scientifically-backed ingredients.
To boost service satisfaction and help your clients maintain their results at home, you can create retail bundles full of products that complement the treatment they just enjoyed. When selecting products for your bundles, you can offer the same or complimentary products used on your client. Creating bundles offers a no-brainer solution for clients on their skin care and can include a value-add or discount, all while boosting sales for you. Talk about a win-win!
Gemstones are also an excellent way to enhance your space. Whether raw, uncut, polished or refined, gemstones are visually spectacular and can add elegance to your environment. Don’t underestimate the power of a serene space. Studies have determined that our physical environment can play a role in our emotional regulation,4 meaning that a thoughtfully curated treatment room can help clients achieve mental well-being before treatment begins. Adding gemstones into your space could be the key to transforming your spa into a peaceful oasis. You can also bring this into your retail area. Some data suggests that a pleasant retail space positively affects your clients' view of your expertise and their openness to persuasion,5 meaning that you can more effectively elicit sales.
In the spa environment, gemstones are surprisingly versatile. You can find them in your go-to tools in stunning, transformative skin care products or simply use them as décor with your space. When used thoughtfully, gemstones can enhance your clients’ moods, transform their skin, create a relaxing ambiance and boost your retail sales.
Amber McBain, vice president of marketing & communications at Éminence Organic Skin Care, is an innovator with more than 15 years of marketing and communications experience. Continuously striving for improvement in customer experience modeling and brand management, McBain has spearheaded marketing strategies for the most successful product launches in Éminence’s history.
