A Gem of a Facial

When looking for some facial love for hydrated skin, I spotted a Balance and Harmony Crystal Healing Facial at a small green spa in Cobourg. "This could be fun – or maybe a bit too woo-woo," I thought. Would this be like some sort of ancient ritual with gemstones glowing around me? Would these precious stones be used as massage tools to sculpt and rejuvenate my lax facial muscles? Would there be any chanting?

In fact, here's how this wellness experience will actually unfold if you want to offer up your tired skin to Nourish Boutique Spa in Northumberland County. 

What’s Your Crystal?

In your private treatment room at Nourish, you'll find that crystals in large gemstone form are indeed part of this facial ritual.

You'll begin with choosing the crystal you are most attracted to. The crystal will then be paired with a corresponding essential oil.

Your choices remain open to the five crystals carefully displayed in the treatment room. The crystal you choose will be the same as the crystal you hold during the facial. As supplied by Nourish, here’s a quick reference to the crystals that can be offered in the treatment, and what they symbolize in general terms:

• Black Obsidian: Used for protection, healing, truth telling and feng shui.
• Carnelian: Used for finding stability, increasing creative flow, and manifesting goals.
• Lepidolite: Used for reducing anxiety and helping to bring clarity and calm to mind.
• Rose Quartz: Used for opening the heart and increasing the capacity to love.
• Orange Calcite: Used for increasing courage and to increase the flow of positive energies in your body.

I was drawn to the rose quartz crystal, not knowing its symbolism when I first selected it.

Fair enough. I suppose I needed some heart opening.

The essential oil then paired with rose quartz was cedarwood, known for its soothing properties related to congestion.

When lying face up on the comfortable treatment table, I was given this oil to rub into my hands and cup over my nose. Its scent lingered nicely.

Before my facial began, my energy was cleansed with a selenite wand. Amanda, my esthetician, waved this wand over my body. With my eyes closed, I wasn't aware of this process. (And there wasn't any chanting.) I just relished lying there under warm blankets in a relaxed state.

Crystals in the Products

Over the next hour, Amanda had her own magical ritual of applying an entire complement of organic creams, powders and oils, each one to balance my skin. Some were left on longer than others to do their work. And some actually contained gemstones in their finest, micro form.

One application left a lasting impression: the mixture containing citrine gemstones and turmeric.

It's a rich goldenrod colour. The product comes in a fine powder form, which is then mixed with water to create more of a whipped paste. The gemstones in the product are not visible. They’ve been infused into this organic substance, formulated in Hungary.

When carefully applied to my face and neck area, a light tingling sensation follows within the dermal layers there. Gradually, the warmth in my face grows. It feels a bit like my first crush – an uncontrollable blush from the neck up.

The heat from the gemstone mixture rises a little bit more and then lingers with a remaining kick, just a little bit of zest, before settling down as the substance dries.

I learned that the turmeric citrine gemstone warming powder applied in this facial is one medium that helps to conduct delicate skin balancing work.

During the facial, each cream, oil or powder was removed with a fresh, warm cloth before the next application began. The application order was important to first prepare and then treat my skin. In addition to the gemstone products used, others in the same organic line were worked into my treatment according to the age and condition of my skin. And the slow pacing was intentional since deep relaxation is also the goal of this treatment.

While academics and researchers label crystal healing as a pseudoscience (meaning the practices are not based in the scientific method), there were clearly some beauty benefits to my skin after all of this. 

My pores had been gently cleansed. My skin had been luxuriously hydrated. I felt fresh-faced and very relaxed, and because of this, a little more heart-forward. I was given a smaller version of a rose quartz crystal to take home with me, along with a few samples of the organics used in my facial – a very nice touch. (Not too woo-woo. Just right.)

Organics Balancing the Skin

As listed in the spa’s menu of facials, here are three other other gemstone influences in the crystal healing facial:

• In the gel cleanser: Malachite, a brilliant green gemstone, often called the stone of transformation.
• In the turmeric warming powder treatment: Citrine, often yellow in colour and noted for encouraging confidence.
• In the solid face oil: Pink tourmaline, a calming stone used for emotional cleansing in crystal healing.

The products used are certified organic, and emphatically free of any plastic microbeads or ingredients, i.e. those that can often start with “poly”. Éminence (which started on an organic farm near Budapest) gained further footing when coming to Canada (the head office is in Vancouver), and is now one of the largest organic skincare companies in the world. Its products are noted to contain natural, detoxifying ingredients to bring back shine to the skin.

A Green Spa Approach

Nourish was started by Cristol Smyth, (not to be confused with "Crystal" or the crystals also important to this piece) who is a chiropodist by profession. Also a natural entrepreneur, she says a key reason for starting Nourish was to properly address cleanliness issues around pedicures.

Over the past six years Nourish Boutique Spa has expanded to its new location (727 William St.), achieved designated “Green Spa” status, and has about a dozen “Nourishers” (estheticians and staff) offering spa treatments ranging from organic facials to pedicures, with treatments like hair removal and sugar scrubs in between.

Nourish Spa received Éminence Green Spa Certification in 2018. This means the spa uses Éminence organic skin care products, has met benchmarks to prove it conserves energy and waste, and runs its day-to-day operations with a further commitment to the environment. Nourish is also proud to give itself the title #RidiculouslyClean. This applies to both the spa’s detailed cleaning techniques, and use of biodegradable cleaning products.

What to Know Before You Go

Wear whatever you like.

To adequately treat your neck and décolleté (delicate upper chest), those areas need to be exposed. You are given sheets and towels to keep you well draped. In your private treatment room you can change out of, and back into, any clothing as needed.

You'll be so comfy, you may nap.

This facial is performed on a massage-style table where you will lie face up (surprisingly, facials can be performed other ways). The fabrics, heat sources and padding used by the spa will keep you nice and warm. Napping is definitely allowed.

Tell-all, about your skin.

Complete your pre-treatment questionnaire online in advance so your facial can be tailored to your needs. Your esthetician can then pre-select the best products to use on your skin.

You'll have easy access.

The spa occupies a large part of a commercial plaza with lots of parking close to the door. It's on one level and open concept, except for the body and facial treatment rooms.

Pro Tip.

Completing the intake forms online means you can arrive just a few minutes before your treatment appointment to check in. Plus, no pre-treatment hand cramps from filling out forms.

One last footnote.

As a testament of the spa's commitment to their own foot care protocols, as well as green spa practices, you won't find the typical pedicure units with built-in jetted foot baths at each station. But rather, individual foot basins that are emptied and sanitized after each treatment.

Outline anything exceptional about your own health, especially skin sensitivities, upon booking your appointment. Understand the precautions, and expect to sign a spa waiver before your treatment. 

Northumberland County offers a number of wide-ranging wellness experiences. Follow this link for more details.

Blog by Heather Starke • Photos by Chantelle Watt