Of Emerald Glasses & Diamond Water

August 17, 2012 By 2 Comments

I am not a great lover of gold jewellery – if it looks pretty, I will wear it, with no concern for whether it’s made from gold or silver or wood and whether it’s set with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires or coloured glass. This is much to the despair of my mother-in-law, who is a firm believer in the Indian doctrine of jewels being worn not for aesthetics or vanity but because of the impact they have on the wearer – in terms of health, wealth, luck and beauty.

Indian, beauty, gemstones, diamond, emerald

She is not alone in her thought process. For millions of years, Indian women (and men!) have called upon the “science of stones and metals” to chart their destiny. For example, it’s sacrosanct that a girl should wear a gold necklace at all times, almost from the time she is born. It’s said that gold is cooling, acts as a tonic, imparts vitality to the body, helps eyesight and creates balanace. When a gold ornament rests against the skin, it passes on these benefits to the body. Also, my grandmother always held that wearing a necklace right from childhood would make the neck slender and graceful – the heavier the necklace, the more slender the neck.

And then there are the stones – each of them with a special symbolism or attribute attached to them:

  • Emeralds and diamonds enhance the libido (hence widows are not allowed to wear these stones)
  • When worn at night, a diamond ensures good sleep and keeps nightmares at bay
  • A good quality emerald will change colour if it comes in contact with poison. That’s why the Mughal rulers used to drink their alcohol from emerald glasses (sigh! the decadence)
  • Alcohol served in emerald glasses will not leave you feeling inebriated or hungover (trying this at the next party if I can find an actual emerald glass. What are the chances?)
  • Cat’s Eye reduces the blood sugar level in diabetics
  • A blue sapphire can cure baldness
  • A white sapphire enhances the wearer’s sex appeal
  • Wearing a zircon makes your complexion flawless
  • Soaking a zircon in water overnight and then drinking that water will cure infertility

However, remember that to be effective it must be a good quality stone (Indian jewellers would classify gems into ‘castes’) and be set in such a way that it is in direct contact with the skin at all times. So, which sparkling gem will you wear today?

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Filed Under: Ayurveda, Beauty, Jewels, Royalty, Skincare Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Gilding the Skin: La Prairie Cellular Radiance Concentrate Pure Gold

April 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Truth be told, I am rather sceptical of the “If it costs more, it works better” mantra, especially where beauty products are concerned. Given my experience with the Olays’ and Eucerins’ of the world, I can safely vouch that sometimes department store budget buys can outperform the priciest luxury formulation by leaps and bounds.

However, ever so often there comes a product that makes you believe in the power of research dollars once more – and the La Prairie Cellular Radiance Concentrate Pure Gold is a case in point.

The concept is actually not “new” – the ancients considered gold a source of immortality. The Chinese believe gold possesses the power to heal. Modern medicine uses gold to treat a wide variety of conditions. In diverse civilizations, gold remains a symbol of wealth and luxury. Unfortunately though, till now, gold has remained on the fringes of the modern beauty revolution, with few companies knowing how to distill its fragile potency into a truly effective, off-the-shelf product.

That is set to change with the Cellular Radiance Concentrate Pure Gold – a ”super serum” that contains colloidal gold (a liquid suspension of pure gold0, which enables the minuscule flecks to dissolve onto the skin, imparting a healthy, youthful glow. Furthermore, the pure gold in the colloidal gel slows down the breakdown of collagen and elastin, thereby helping to maintain skin’s youthful elasticity and firmness. In addition, the formula employs advanced biotechnology to nourish and energize the skin. It also speeds exfoliation to re-surface and re-texturize the skin… in short, say goodbye to dullness, dryness, lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, freckles and age spots. That’s because, in addition to the pure gold colloid that lightly gilds the skin, Cellular Radiance Concentrate Pure Gold contains three other significant breakthroughs:

  • Hyaluronic Acid Microspheres fill in fine wrinkles and plump the skin within one hour of application, while providing long-term hydration.
  • A new-generation Anti-Wrinkle Neuro-Peptide reduces the depth of wrinkles caused by the contraction of facial expression muscles, especially in the forehead and eye area.
  • Emblica Fruit Extract is a key ingredient in a Mega Brightening and Lightening Complex, which regulates pigmentation and reduces age spots.

These act in tandem with two exclusive La Prairie complexes: Radiance Complex, whose quartz, liquid crystals and reflective pigments disperse the light to subtly illuminate and brighten the skin; and Exclusive Cellular Complex, which nourishes and moisturizes the skin, in addition to stimulating its natural renewal process.

Rounding out the uniquely effective formula are Rejuvenating Plant Extracts, including Soybean Sterols and Wild Yam Root Extract, which improve the skin’s vitality, elasticity and firmness and support it during periods of hormonal imbalance; Glycolic, Malic and Lactic Acids, in synergy with Sweet Almond Protein, which speed exfoliation without irritation; and a potent cocktail of powerful antioxidants, which protect the skin against damaging free radicals.

That, one must admit, is quite a bit to pack into one bottle – even at US$580 a pop!

Filed Under: Beauty, Skincare Tagged With: , , ,