Pearl
How does pearl benefit your skin?
Benefits
Brightening, Dullness, Even Texture, Even Tone
About
Pearl benefits the skin in seemingly endless ways, which is why we love utilizing the precious ingredient at Tatcha. The multidimensional gem can be found in a handful of our primers and setting powder, helping the skin to appear lit from within. Pink and gold pearl powder is in The Silk Powder, a beautiful setting powder that helps makeup last longer and provides a translucent, soft-radiant finish. Additionally, both of Tatcha’s bestselling primers — The Silk Canvas and The Liquid Silk Canvas — utilize ​​pink and gold pearl powder to help brighten and even skin tone (plus, leave a healthy-looking glow).
“ Pearls act as a potent antioxidant, helping to fight free radical damage and minimize the signs of premature aging. Pearl is especially beneficial because it is composed of a plethora of elements that support the skin’s surface, including magnesium, polysaccharides, amino acids, minerals, and proteins.
Science
Pearls act as a potent antioxidant, helping to fight free radical damage and minimize the signs of premature aging. Pearl is especially beneficial because it is composed of a plethora of elements that support the skin’s surface, including magnesium, polysaccharides, amino acids, minerals, and proteins. Additionally, crushed pearl works as an exfoliator to slough off dead skin cells by luxuriously polishing, conditioning, and brightening the skin. Pearl is truly multi-purpose: it can be useful when consumed as a food-safe pearl powder, too. The antioxidant properties make it helpful for stimulating the body's natural collagen, addressing uneven skin tone, and even potentially strengthening hair, skin, and nails when consumed orally.
History
Historically, pearls were crushed into powder and taken with tea or water, it was said to keep the skin bright and ageless. Also, centuries ago, royal families added pulverized pearl powder into their moisturizers and makeup for a luminous effect. Pearl has been a staple in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), too, revered for its potential link to youthful radiance. But it’s not just skin’s health in TCM, pearl is associated as a potent mind relaxant, helping to ease anxiety and stress. Additionally, pearl powder is also cherished in Ayurveda, esteemed for its healthy aging and adaptogenic benefits.
Provenance
Pearls are harvested from fresh and salt waters. The harvest method has remained relatively the same for generations: pearls are first sterilized, then ground up into a fine, weightless powder. This pearlescent powder can be used topically or medicinally.
Did You Know?
Just like our skin, a pearl has an inner glow. The quality of a pearl is measured by its ‘luster’, defined as how much light is reflected off the inner core. Three things are needed for optimal glow: a translucent outer layer, even density throughout, and a perfectly smooth finish. The Japanese jeweler Mikimoto took all these qualities to create perfection: the Akoya pearl. Cultured in cool waters off the coast of Japan, these pearls are considered amongst the most precious in the world, with superior brilliance and a mirror-like quality. One of the most famed methods of retrieving pearls in Japan is the venerated women divers, called ama (or ‘sea women’). These ama have been freediving for centuries (some records note the revered role dates back as far as 5000 years) and can reach depths of 30 feet. The demand for these sea women increased after Mikimoto developed a method for culturing pearls in the late 19th century.