‘Gemology’ anti-ageing facials build momentum in Tokyo

Gems are big in anti-ageing right now. While snail extract and bee venom has been capturing formulators' attention in recent years, diamond powder and precious gems have been rising through the ranks – thanks to their high quality rejuvenating properties.

In fact, facial treatments infused with diamond powder and precious minerals extracted from gems promising to boost collagen have particularly caught on in Tokyo.

Le Spa Parisien at The Westin hotel’s Tokyo branch is offering guests a ‘First Diamond Facial’ treatment for a limited time using a range of ‘Gemology’ products created by French cosmetics maker, Chrystelle Lannoy.

The treatments incorporate stone therapy, a facial massage and are finished off with a diamond cream mask.

Cheaper version of gems will give the masses access to luxury 

Cosmetics Design first observed the diamond skin care trend back in 2013.

However, while diamonds may be popular, they take billions of years to form and are a pricy luxury for the consumer - whether worn or included in beauty routines. 

Fear not though, as just last year scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, announced they can replicate the gem in labs, which suggests cheaper production costs, which may in turn, become more affordable for the consumer.

"Pure lab-grown diamonds such as ours can cost 30 to 40 per cent less than mined diamonds,” said Professor Devi Shankar Misra at the time.

France-based firm Rene recently created a skin care collection around the inclusion of microfine powder of white diamonds, that it says works to tame and heal common complexion problems. 

Rene's founder is said to have been drawn to the diamond due to the fact that it has long stood as a symbol for purity that helps with rebalancing the metabolism, and most recently, because of its new found ability to exfoliate and nourish the skin.