Beyond Just Jewelry
Pearls are said to symbolize wisdom gained through experience. As the birthstone for June, this organic stone is the subject of many myths and legends. Pearls are thought to attract wealth and luck as well as protection.
The pearl is also believed to symbolize its wearer’s purity, generosity, integrity, and loyalty. Said to radiate a calming effect, balance your karma, and strengthen relationships, the magic beliefs of this iridescent bead are fascinating and wide-reaching.
Pearls have primarily been known as jewels to be worn as adornments. Made into rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, these spheres of wonder come in various colors and are prized possessions.
Where Does a Pearl Come From?
Pearls are formed underwater, hidden within the shell of an oyster (or other shelled mollusks). Within the body, a luminescent bead is formed around an irritant, such as a kernel of sand, and the dot continues to build in size over months and up to many years, depending on the mollusk species.
It is seemingly created from magic, but the iridescent material found inside of the shell’s wall is the substance that is duplicated to create a protective layer after layer around the irritant. The bead grows layer by layer around the hassle within the shell, and eventually, the layers meld together and form what we call a pearl.
Where to Find Pearls?
Pearls are found within shelled mollusks like oysters and mussels. These can be found in freshwater streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, or saltwater oceans and bays. Oysters and mussels do not move around and are highly dependent on the water’s purity.
Look for Cleanly Soured Pearls
When they are bred in polluted waters, heavy metals and pollutants seep into their layers and end up in the powder you would use, undoing the benefits pearl offers.
Therefore, it is recommended that if you want to apply or ingest pearl topically, it’s essential to make sure the powder you choose is sourced from clean water pearls.
How to Use Pearl Powder
The pearl bead is ground into a fine powder, and this powder is how you gain access to the numerous benefits of pearl powder. Pearl powder is versatile and easily absorbable into the skin.
It mixes well with almost all powders, oils, and other cosmetics. You can use it in many ways by mixing it with your cleanser, moisturizer, liquid, or other powders. It can be used as a hydrating, brightening pearl mask or subtle, wellness-focused mineral makeup.
Ingesting Pearl Powder
In addition to topical uses, pearl powder can be ingested because it dissolves easily in liquid and has a mild flavor. It could make the perfect addition to your recipe of choice. You can add pearl powder to your morning smoothie, tea, soups, or anywhere else. The list is as long as you are creative!
An Ancient Beauty Technique
These reflective beads date back centuries and are most widely used throughout Asia for many fantastic health benefits. Applied by royals, including Wu Zetian, the only female empress in Chinese history, and Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, many royalties are documented as having used pearls for their revered beauty benefits.
Skin health was essential in traditional Chinese culture, and pearl was the elite natural medicine to promote radiant youth.
Benefits of Pearl Powder for Skin Care
Pearl powder’s numerous benefits come from its abundance of minerals. Pearl powder has at least 14 amino acids (including eight that the human body cannot synthesize) and 30 trace minerals, including calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, silica, and selenium, which are needed for healthy hormones, a robust immune system, and appearance of youthful skin.
The extensive mineral content in pearl powder has been found to promote bouncier skin, reduce the appearance of pore size, brighten the appearance of skin tone, and improve texture.
Adaptogenic Properties
In addition, pearl powder is known to be an adaptogen. Adaptogens significantly improve your body’s ability to adapt to stress. Adaptogenic skin care is all the rage these days, and combined with the trace minerals in pearl, make this wonder ingredient worth trying out! You can learn more about adaptogens and their benefits to your skin.
Brightening Properties
At the core of brightening the appearance of the skin is a complex protein within pearl powder called Conchiolin. This ingredient has been shown to reduce the appearance of skin pigmentation by inhibiting an enzyme (called Tyrosinase) responsible for melanin production.
Struggles with Brightening The Appearance of Skin
Brightening the appearance of skin is one of the most, if not the most, challenging skin issues because it is never really “cured.” To show a considerable change in the appearance of pigmented skin requires consistency in effective home care treatments and diligent SPF protection.
You constantly are battling daily exposure to factors that can decrease the appearance of bright skin, such as the Sun Rays (UVA, UVB), HEV Light (on your laptop, T.V., and phone screen), hormones, and stress. With that being said, another ingredient that has the potential to brighten the appearance of the skin is inspiring news!