Recent years have seen a rise in the use of #gemstones for aesthetic reasons and their purported healing properties. Beauty gurus and home decor websites all over the world have begun including these precious and semi-precious stones in their daily life because of their profound beauty. We are gonna look at some of the most beautiful gemstones out there and nail arts inspired by them.
AMETHYST
The most recognisable, this #purple gem is named after the Greek word ‘amethystos’ meaning ‘not drunken’. This is because amethyst was considered as a strong antidote against inebriation and why a lot of wine goblets were carved from it. The birthstone of February, its value depends on how deep the purple colour is. Amethyst crystals and geodes are popularly used as decor and healing chakra stones.
For #amethyst inspired nails, play with gradients of purple with clear polish to get the translucent sheen effect. Top with gold borders and flecks for a richer look.
JADE
Jade is a mineral featured prominently in Asian art. There are two types of #jade, nephrite and jadeite, with the latter being more valuable. Jadeite comes in a lot of colours with translucent emerald-green jadeite being the most prized variety. Historically, it has been used to create many utilitarian and ceremonial objects. Now it’s largely used in ornaments and as healing stones. You must have definitely seen jade rollers being used in skincare routines.
Jade nails can be achieved by marbling #green shades with milky whites and topping them off with gold foil. Learn how to marble nails here.
ROSE QUARTZ
Rose quartz is a pink variety of #quartz and is generally inexpensive. In recent years, it came into limelight recently for its purported healing qualities and use in skincare. You can nowadays find it in a lot of decorative pieces. It was also declared the 'Pantone Colour of The Year' in 2016.
You can achieve this gorgeous and sophisticated look using the marbling technique using a sheer pink and white polish. Be mindful, opaque colours won't look like #rose quartz. You can find detailed instructions on this technique here.
OPAL
The #birthstone of October, opal is a mineraloid which may be transparent, translucent, or opaque and the background colour may be white, black, or nearly any colour of the visual spectrum. #Black opals are the rarest and most valuable. In the Middle Ages, it was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose colour was represented in the colour spectrum of the opal.
The opal nail look is very on trend right now. You can achieve this effect by applying iridescent #flakies on top of the desired undertone.
TURQUOISE
The birthstone of December, the word turquoise is derived from the French turquois meaning "Turkish" because the mineral was first brought to Europe through Turkey. In the ancient Persian Empire, the sky-blue gemstones were worn round the neck or wrist as protection against unnatural death. If they changed colour, the wearer was thought to have reason to fear the approach of doom. Meanwhile, it has been discovered that #turquoise certainly can change colour, but not because of any impending danger. The change can be caused by light, or by a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin. The stone is now commonly used in #jewelry, especially in #evil eye themed objects.
You can achieve the #marbled turquoise look using the pictorial. You can also find detailed instructions here.
AGATE
Agate is a common rock formation which comes in a variety of colours. It is used as a semiprecious stone when it is of desirable quality and colour. The #agate deposits in concentric layers in the cavities of igneous rocks, forming their characteristic banding. Some of these cavities are lined with crystals, they are known as #geodes. Agates can be commonly found as home decor and in jewelry nowadays.
They might seem tough to do, but it's all about layering colours one by one in the desired shape. This effect is better achieved with gel polish as there is a lot of play time and blendability.
AMBER
Amber is made up of fossilised tree resin which is the sticky substance that oozes from trees. Valued as a gemstone, it is made into a variety of decorative objects. It has also been used as a healing agent in folk medicine. Because it originates as a soft, sticky tree substance, amber sometimes contains animal and plant material as inclusions. #Amber has also been used historically to make perfume which has a musk like smell.
The amber stone look can be achieved by marbling black paint through #jelly brown and yellow polishes. Stamp or paint tiny black insects to get the inclusion look.
MOONSTONE
One of the birthstones of June, moonstone gets its name from its blue adularescence, a billowy moonlight-like sheen. The Romans admired moonstone, as they believed it was derived from solidified rays of the Moon. It is the Florida State Gemstone since 1970 to commemorate the Moon landings. Nowadays, it’s mostly used in jewelry.
The moonstone look can only be achieved with #iridescent #chrome powder, which is very easily available online. Layer it over clear or milky white nails to get that lunar look.
SUNSTONE
Sunstones are minerals that display the optical phenomenon of aventurescence. It reflects orange red hues, like sun rays have been trapped in it. It is popular in the unique and innovative jewelry scene and isn’t found in conventional jewelry.
The sunstone look can be obtained using iridescent orange nail polish with accents of #gold, red and brown.
LAPIS LAZULI
Lapis lazuli or lapis for short, is a deep-blue rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since ages for its intense colour. Highly valued since the Indus Valley Civilisation, it was ground into powder and made into ultramarine, the finest and most expensive of all blue pigments. It is very well known that powdered #lapis was used as eyeshadow by Cleopatra.
Marble #ultramarine blue with streaks of black and white and top with flecks of gold foil to get the lapis look.
MALACHITE
A copper mineral, malachite has a green colour that does not fade over time or when exposed to light. Those properties, along with its ability to be easily ground to a powder, made malachite a preferred pigment and colouring agent for thousands of years. It was one of the oldest known green pigments to be used in paintings. In ancient Egypt the colour green was associated with death and the power of resurrection as well as new life and fertility. Ancient Egyptians believed that the afterlife contained an eternal paradise, referred to as the "Field of Malachite", which resembled their lives but with no pain or suffering. #Malachite has been used as a gemstone and sculptural material for thousands of years and is still popular today. Today it is most often cut into cabochons or beads for jewelry use.
Similar to the agate nails, malachite nails can be achieved by blending various shades of green #gel polishes.
LABRADORITE
Labradorite is a mineral which crystallizes from magma in the earth’s crust. It is so well known for its spectacular displays of colour that the phenomenon is known as "labradorescence." Specimens with the highest quality labradorescence are often selected for use as gemstones.
Chrome powders and marble technique using various colours of the visible spectrum on a pitch black dark base will give you the mysterious #labradorite look.
SMOKY QUARTZ
Smoky quartz is a coloured variant of crystalline quartz which is very inexpensive because of its abundance. It is often used in dark jewelry with brown and blacks. #Smoky quartz with a dark brown colour is often used in men's rings and cufflinks. During the Victorian Period, dark brown smoky quartz were often used in mourning jewelry. On a lighter note, this stone reminds me of frozen #cola popsicles!
Very sexy and equally easy to do, smoky nails can be achieved by marbling black paint on a clear base. Add a gold or black border for some definition and added pizzazz.
RUBY
The birthstone of July, rubies are a variety of the mineral corundum, the other being sapphires. It is one of the traditional cardinal gems, together with amethyst, sapphire, emerald, and diamond. The word #ruby comes from the Latin word ‘ruber’, meaning red. It is a precious gem and highly coveted in jewelry.
These gorgeous red carpet nails perfect for any event can be achieved by using #chunky red #glitter polish and red glitter flecks embedded in red jelly polish.
TIGER'S EYE
Tiger’s Eye is a very popular gemstone that displays chatoyancy (cat's-eye effect) when a polished stone is moved back and forth in incident light. It is widely used in all kinds of jewelry and clothing accessories. In some parts of the world, it is used to ward off the ‘evil eye’. An eye for an eye I guess.
These mystical feline nails can be achieved exclusively by using #magnetic nail polish in browns and golds on top of black nail polish. These nails will also behave like the #tiger's eyes stone and display chatoyancy when moved around in light.
RHODOCHROSITE
Used mainly as a manganese ore, quality banded specimens of rhodochrosite are often used for decorative stones and jewelry. Due to its being relatively soft, it is very difficult to cut, and therefore rarely found faceted in jewelry. #Rhodochrosite is rarely found as well-formed crystals, so crystals can be extremely valuable as mineral specimens.
Rhodochrosite nails are a sweet summer looks perfect accompaniment. You can do these by using the #watermarble technique or layering the colours individually.
There you have it, nail arts inspired by some of your favourite healing crystals or birthstones. Next time you pick up a piece of jewellery with these gemstones, try out these designs for a fun complimentary look. Check out the blog for more nail art inspiration and tips and hacks. Have fun painting your nails!
