Using precious stones in cosmetics is trendy. Diamond, gold, silver, ruby, topaz or emerald are no longer rare in our pots of cream …
This is not due a new knowledge of their magic and therapeutic qualities. From the 4th millenium B.C., their curative properties were renowned. During the middle-ages, alchimists already put them in their beauty ointments …
Then, gold, silver, lapis lazuli, with its intense blue, were used, as well as less precious minerals, such as copper, iron or aluminum, which are still used nowadays, as colourants.

Magic and precious ingredients

Nevertheless, the "true" precious stones nowadays are used in many more kinds of products with far more claims for their efficiency.
The first point of interest is their content of minerals useful for our skins. The high contents of copper in malachite, of iron in hematite, of magnesium in olivine, of silica in jade, have been "rediscovered". Regeneration of skin and improvement of its elasticity are claimed.
Diamond and quartz powders are abrasive, and may be used as exfoliant (more glamorous than the apricot stone or polyethylene balls, that is true …).
However, sales people go farther, implying precious stones have magic-like qualities.
Amber may be able …