CRYSTALS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SPIRITUAL

You know those little cards at the crystal shop that tell you the meaning/benefits of each crystal? Do you ever wonder how they come up with these meanings? And how the crystals actually work? Keep reading to find out: 

• The science behind crystals – how they affect us
• Crystals and your chakras
• Our Crystal Shop - which crystals align with each chakra
• Crystal-infused ATHR Beauty products 

THE SCIENCE: HOW CRYSTALS AFFECT US

Science has proven that matter is 99.999999999999% empty space. And what makes up this empty space: energy. Energy is everything, and everything is energy. You, the chair you’re sitting on, the phone you’re holding, and the crystals you know and love – all of it is vibrating energy.

“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”

-Albert Einstein

Just like everything else in the universe, we each have our own unique vibrational frequency. People with higher vibrations radiate kindness, love, peace, and compassion, whereas people with lower vibrations experience more low-vibe emotions like jealousy, anxiety, anger, or fear.

Whatever frequency you’re at, as a human, your vibration is very unstable and very easily influenced. It changes constantly as we’re exposed to other people, social media, the news, traffic, the weather, good news, bad news, our own memories, etc.

Crystals, on the other hand, have a super stable energy frequency that doesn’t change. Why? They’re made up of a fixed, regularly repeating, perfect geometric pattern of molecules. And they maintain their perfect stability with no effort. Exactly the opposite of our constantly changing, non-stable human nature.

So why does the stability of a crystal matter? Well, more stable energy = more powerful energy. And powerful energy can influence the energies around it.  This is why crystals can so profoundly influence our unstable (less powerful) energy.  

CRYSTALS AND YOUR CHAKRAS

Every crystal, just like every human, has a different energetic frequency. It depends on a few different factors like the size, the composition, and most helpfully, the color.

Why does crystal color matter? The colors we see are specific light frequencies. Red, for example, has a much lower frequency than purple. The same goes for our own bodies. If you look at a chakra diagram, the lowest chakra (the root chakra) is shown in red, which aligns with the low vibrational frequency of that chakra. Your crown chakra, on the other hand, is shown in purple, as it’s the highest vibration chakra, and the highest vibration color. 

CHOOSING CRYSTALS FOR YOU

Because of this vibrational match between like colors, you can usually choose your crystal to match the chakra you want to balance. For example, blue sapphires are good for your throat chakra - which is shown in blue. Just as amber and yellow topaz crystals align with your yellow solar plexus chakra. There are a few exceptions, like rose quartz, which is connected to the green heart chakra, but in general, this is a good place to start.

If you’re not sure which chakra to focus on, just pick the crystal that your intuition guides you to – the one that you just love. Your own body and intuition know what it needs.

WHICH CRYSTALS ALIGN WITH EACH CHAKRA

Chakras are the seven energetic centers in the body. They’re each connected with different organs and functions in our mind, body, and spirit. The lowest chakra  (the root chakra), has the lowest vibrational frequency – and its qualities mirror this. It’s concerned with the basic elements of existence – primarily with your safety and physical survival. As you move up the chakra system, you move from the more fundamental emotions to the deeper, higher vibration feelings of joy, love, and creativity.

Your chakras can become imbalanced based on influences/experiences in our lives. These imbalances may show up as a physical symptom, emotional disruption, or mental ailment. 

This is where crystals come in – they can help rebalance any misalignment – returning your energetic centers to the frequencies they're meant to vibrate at. Keep reading for our ethically-sourced crystal recommendations for each chakra. 

Root Chakra (red) – connection with the earth, your physical survival, and safety.

Root Chakra Crystals: Smokey Quartz and Tourmaline. Smokey Quartz helps us feel grounded in our physical body and connected to the earth. Its helps release and neutralize negative energy. Tourmaline helps you feel safe, grounded, and secure in your place on this earth.  

Sacral Chakra (orange) – the creative life force energy that makes you human.

Sacral Chakra Crystal: Citrine magnifies our manifestations and helps reconnect us with our divine feminine energy - the center of our emotions, sexual energy, and sacred creativity.

Solar Plexus Chakra (yellow) – the seat of your personal power – the internal wisdom and confidence within you.

Solar Plexus Chakra Crystal: Citrine is known as the Success Stone for good reason - it clears out self-doubt and brings forth feelings of confidence and personal power. 

Heart Chakra (green) – love and compassion for yourself and others.

Heart Chakra Crystals: Rose Quartz and Fluorite. Rose quartz helps awaken love and compassion for ourselves and for others. Green Fluorite is energetically matched to the heart chakra and helps to clear any blockages or imbalances. 

Throat Chakra (blue) – this chakra allows us to speak our truth with clarity, love, and kindness.

Throat Chakra Crystal: Opalite brings ease to your interactions and helps enhance your self-expression. 

Third Eye Chakra (indigo) – your connection to your intuition and information beyond the material world.

Third Eye Crystal - Herkimer Diamond and Lepidolite. The Herkimer Diamond is an incredibly high-vibe stone that helps open our awareness to the wisdom of consciousness. When our Third Eye is open, we see clearly and understand easily. Known as The Peace Stone, Lepidolite helps stabilize internal strife and connect us to our calm, all-knowing intuition. 

Crown Chakra (violet) – connection to consciousness, all that is.

Crown Chakra Crystals: Amethyst and Clear Quartz. Amethyst helps connect us with infinite consciousness - the pure white light and all-knowing wisdom that’s always available to us. Clear Quartz helps open the Crown Chakra and align you with your highest self. 

THE SCIENCE OF CRYSTALS IN BEAUTY & SKINCARE

Crystals ARE science. They're formed through truly amazing natural processes often involving molten rock and millions of years. The molecules that make up the crystals we love have been used for thousands of years in skincare for their calming, rejuvenating, and illuminating properties.That's why we infuse every product we create with genuine crystals so you can experience their skincare benefits and vibration-raising energy all day long. 

Keep reading for the science and skincare benefits of each crystal in the ĀTHR Beauty lineup.  

DESERT ROSE LIP & CHEEK STAIN, 

ROSE QUARTZ CRYSTAL GEMSTONE PALETTE & ROSE QUARTZ QUAD

All of these bestselling products are infused with Rose Quartz – the stone directly connected to your heart chakra. This is the center of love for yourself and others. One of the most commonly blocked chakras, rebalancing it can awaken a lot more love for yourself and the people around you. Paint your lips and lids with the stone of love in romantic, ethereal shades that feel like love itself. 

How rose quartz is formed: Rose quartz is formed when silicon dioxide is mixed with small amounts of iron, titanium or manganese. When this solution gets trapped inside a lava bubble and the water evaporates, the silicon and oxygen ions arrange themselves into a crystal pattern.  

Rose Quartz for your lips and skin: rose quartz helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, redness, and fine lines. 

THE BIG BANG MASCARA 

Infused with black diamonds, the highest vibe stone of all, our Big Bang Mascara is designed to align your crown chakra. Diamonds connect you with the infinite consciousness that you are - uniting your body, mind, and spirit. Get out of this world lashes + an otherworldly glow, AND do it with vibration-raising diamonds of course. 

What makes a diamond? Diamonds are formed when molten carbon cools quickly under the earth's crust. They're the only gemstone made of just one element - carbon. 

Diamonds for your lashes: The strongest gemstone on the planet, black diamond adds its strength and vitality to lashes + a diamond-level crystalline shine.

THE DESERT SUNSET PALETTE 

Infused with Amber, this desert dream aligns with both the sacral chakra and the solar plexus chakra. Known as nature's purifier, Amber transforms negative, blocked energies into positive, vibrant energy. It helps remove toxicity from our mind, body, and spirit. Paint your lids with rich golden bronze tones and a pop of poppy pink coral and channel the warm desert sunset

What Amber is made of: Trees form a resin to protect their trunks from insects and parasites and heal damage. Over time, this resin becomes the fossil we call Amber. 

Amber for your skin: The succinic acid found in Amber is a powerful antioxidant. It helps fight the damaging effects of free radicals on your skin.

CITRINE CRYSTAL EYESHADOW QUAD 

Infused with Citrine, this warm, luminous palette aligns with both the Sacral Chakra and Solar Plexus Chakra. Known as the stone of manifestation, citrine awakens your intuition and fills you with the energy to manifest your vision. It’s one of only two crystals on Earth that never need to be cleared as they hold only positive energy frequencies. Drench your lids in golden, bronze goodness with a side of crystallized good vibes. 

What Citrine is made of: A part of the quartz family, Citrine is made of silicon dioxide. Trace amounts of iron give the stone its sunshine yellow/orange hue. 

Citrine for your skin: Citrine helps your skin renew itself by releasing toxicity and restoring radiance. 

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF CRYSTALS

Crystals work best if they’re not left to do all the work by themselves. For the highest benefit, pair the crystal’s natural energy with your own clear thoughts and intentions. It’s proven that where thought goes, energy flows. So, use your crystals to amplify your positive thoughts and intentions. 

-ATHR Beauty xo