A while back I posted on my Instagram page a quick comment about whether I’m a “crystal person.” Being in the natural beauty space seems to draw in quite a few lifestyle assumptions: vegan (nope, and you can blame chocolate and Parmesan for that); into meditation (probably should but way too restless); and a collector of crystals (not yet, but I do love some sparkle). Without diving too far down the woo-woo train, I was genuinely curious about what crystals mean to others and learn about some fan favorites (clear quartz seems to be a real winner). What I found particularly interesting in the conversation was one of my favorite topics – SOURCING!

Arguably, just as important as the type of crystal is where the crystal comes from. Crystals can be sourced from all over the world – from Morocco to Arizona. While some crystals are sourced from small-scale, low-impact operations, more are the byproduct of industrial mining operations where they are the secondary outgrowth of an already occurring industry. Certain stones may even have ties to major environmental damage and corruption – like Myanmar’s jade industry, which up until recently was sanctioned by the US government. ⁠

Just a few of the gorgeous crystal specimens from Take Care Shop!

Becky from Take Care Shop, my go-to skincare destination in Georgetown, has some great advice for crystal collectors:

“If you have concerns about sourcing, you can put parameters on your collection, like only sourcing pieces mined in the USA. Visit a local gem show and you may get to connect with the miners themselves!“

While it can seem daunting to dive into the murky waters of sourcing before you buy that next piece of tourmaline, the best I can offer you is one more reason to shop SMALL and shop LOCAL. Ask questions and verify that that person you’re buying from knows the source of their crystals, or sources from a reputable seller. Shopping responsibly is the best way to ensure that you’re getting #goodvibesonly⁠