Have you ever wondered about the best way to improve your complexion? You will not only improve your complexion but will also get a feeling of enjoying a smiling face.

Try a complexion cream which has been prepared from pearls. It will give you the calm assurance of sea and the gentle flow of tides.

Chinese pearl creams contain lanolin, mineral oil, and beeswax along with pearl powder. They may feel heavy and waxy. but it could be used to smooth area around the eyes at night to hold in natural moisture. It softens wrinkles. Some of the Chinese pearl creams contain ginseng, sheep placenta used as a moisturizer, or an herbal combination called Pien Tse Huang, which helps fight blemishes. Chinese made Beanne Extra Pearl creams, one to remove wrinkles and one to lighten freckles, are yellow-colored resurfacing creams with ingredients such as apple pectin for refining the skin. They can be irritating to delicate complexions and should be used sparingly and with care.

At Latin botanicas or anywhere products from Mexico and Spain are sold (including most Rite Aid pharmacies), you will find fine quality soaps and creams made with mother of pearl. The pearl’s inner shell (the nacre) contains the same excellent source of minerals as the pearl. In southern California, Concha Nacar De Perlop day cream distributed by Perlop Cosmetics in Santa Monica. Its main ingredients include water, glycerine, cetyl alcohol, castor oil, oyster shell powder, beeswax, lanolin, cocoa butter, natural color and fragrance. It is a bit sticky-sweet.

Mother of Pearl Cream with Concha Nacar made in Mexico is preferred on Grisi, which is light-weight and has a mild fragrance. In addition to mother of pearl, it contains zinc, magnesium, ascorbic acid, and calcium carbonate; mineral oil and beeswax are used as a base. Apply it as a velvety moisturizer for the whole body. Grisi also makes a Mother of Pearl soap (Jabon Madre Perla) that is very reasonably priced for a beauty bar. Aside from mother of pearl, it contains neutral soap, cold cream, lanolin and a fresh fragrance.

Chinese herbalists believe that a pearl powder facial mask tones the skin, while adding vitality to the complexion. Pearl powder has cooling, disinfectant, and balancing properties for the skin. The pack should be applied to clean, dry skin and allowed to penetrate for about ten minutes, then washed off with warm water. Do this once weekly to help refine your complexion. A convenient time may be right after a shower. The pearl powder mask will tingle and feel warm as it removes dead cells. Lie down and elevate your feet to enjoy the full benefits of facial stimulation.

To make a pearl mask:

Mix one teaspoon of pure Chinese pearl powder with the juice of one lemon, one beaten egg white, and one teaspoon of raw honey–this will nourish and moisturize aging skin.
Or, mix one teaspoon of pearl powder with sufficient extra virgin olive oil to make a paste–this will revitalize dry, dull skin.

Or, mix one teaspoon of pearl powder with sufficient whole milk to make a paste. This is also anti-aging and is said to reduce large skin pores.

It is preferable to avoid applying makeup immediately after using a pearl mask. The skin may feel irritated or warm for a few minutes after removing the mask. Let your skin breathe for as long as possible.

If you spend much time in the sun, mix one teaspoon of pearl powder in an atomizer containing freshly brewed and strained green tea. Add a drop or two of witch hazel extract and keep the liquid in the refrigerator to preserve its freshness. This spray helps prevent sun damage because of the green tea’s high antioxidant content.

Adopted from an article by Letha Hadady http://www.asianhealthsecrets.com/letha/?p=67