Rave: homemade “Pearl Paste” + Hpjrt's Recipes
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free skin care · Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:57 am

Me too ......

free skin care · Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:01 pm

Do those of you who use Pearl Creme use it both am and pm, or just one or the other?

I just received my order from Carekate and am really anxious to try this!

free skin care · Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:32 pm

jwils--i have been using it just at night underneath my heavier moisturizer but tried it in the day time today and i like it a lot. my face feels shine free and i know it's the pearl creme doing its thing.

HTH Kristen

free skin care · Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:36 pm

jwils, I use it under my MMU during the day, in my t-zone. It keeps my oilies well under control and makes my MMU go on very nicely. I also dust a fine layer of Silk Dust over the Pearl product. Very nice combo!

free skin care · Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:31 am

Hi jwils,

I've always used my Pearl Paste in the AM and the PM.

If it's not providing enough moisture for you, then additional moisturizer can be applied over top of it.

Mary

free skin care · Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:42 pm

Thanks everyone. I used this for the first time today and also used Carekate's Pearl Silk Dust as a finishing powder over my makeup. It really did help to keep shine away all day. Smile

The combination of these two definitely worked better for me than using Jurlique Silk Dust alone as a finishing powder. Although that works well, my forehead was still usually shiney by the end of the day.

Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:15 pm

Hello - I am a new member of the forum and I am extremely grateful to have found this site and to have my imagination stimulated. I have been making cosmetics for a couple of years and find it very enjoyable and non-fattening!!

I have a quick question about the Pearlescent Powder recipe. I notice that it uses vitamin e capsules. I use the pure vitamin e liquid which I purchase from a specialist cosmetic supplier. How would I convert a capsule to a liquid or weight measurement? One other question I have is wondered about is what % of vitamin e is recommended as optimal to be active.

I would appreciate any guidance you can give and look forward to sharing some of my knowledge and experience on this forum.

Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:43 am

I have been reading the post regarding the pearl paste with interest. My skin is in good shape for my age. It has always been a bit on the oily side but as I've aged I've begun to see some flaking especially in the winter. I use mineral makeup and love it and it seems to have normalized my skin. In the summer my makeup still tends to slide off my face but the mineral makeup has helped with that. My question is does the pearl paste/cream only benefit oily skin or does it also help with skin that is now a bit dryer? Also does it do anything for larger pores?

free skin care · Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:09 pm

Hi violetcrumble,

I think you're confusing the Pearl Paste recipe with the Silk & Pearl Primer recipe.

The Pearl Paste recipe calls for Vitamin E ... but the Primer powder recipe doesn't.

As for how you would convert your Vitamin E to the amount that would be in 4 capsules of Vitamin E ... I would say that 4 capsules contains about 1/8 tsp max.

Does that help?

Hi SherrieS,

I developed Pearl Paste because of my own skin problems ... but my skin wasn't oily. I had dry areas and oily areas. For when my skin is drier, I add Rose Hip Seed Oil ... and/or jojoba oil or apricot kernal oil ... just a few drops. That's what I call my Rich Pearl Paste.

My "new and improved" Pearl Paste has both pearl and silk in it ... and I find that's far more intuitive ... "self-adjusting". Silk powder adjusts itself to whatever the skin needs ...

That said, my girlfriend is currently experiencing very dry skin thanks to her wood stove and the very cold temperatures lately in Ontario, Canada. She uses the Rich version of Pearl Paste ... but I also told her to follow up the application of Pearl Paste with moisturizer or facial oil. That seems to have done the trick.

So ... Pearl Paste can be of benefit even to very dry skin. Very Happy

Hope that helps.

Mary

free skin care · Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:29 pm

SherrieS wrote:

I have been reading the post regarding the pearl paste with interest. My skin is in good shape for my age. It has always been a bit on the oily side but as I've aged I've begun to see some flaking especially in the winter. I use mineral makeup and love it and it seems to have normalized my skin. In the summer my makeup still tends to slide off my face but the mineral makeup has helped with that. My question is does the pearl paste/cream only benefit oily skin or does it also help with skin that is now a bit dryer? Also does it do anything for larger pores?

I have been reading about the Pearl Paste/Cream for over a month now. Somehow I just assumed that it was for oily skin that was prone to breakouts. I have mature, combo skin. Right now my skin is dry do to the cold and fires burning everyday.

I purchased the Pearl Cream a few weeks ago after trying a sample. Delighted is not the word....I am using the richer Pearl Cream with my moisturizer over it. My skin feels so smooth, pore size looks smaller and makeup goes on like a dream. You need just the smallest amount. It just glides on. Smile

I have not used long enough to comment on longterm benefits. Right now I am happy with my purchase.

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:43 am

Hi Winnie,

Glad that you're liking the Pearl Paste so far!

Pearl is truly amazing ... as I'm finding out. I had a few of those red veiny things in my nose area ... not broken caps I don't think ... but what looked like a small red vein.

I noticed that all but one of these has now completely disappeared! Very Happy

I don't know when they disappeared ... because it wasn't something I was looking for when I developed Pearl Paste ... but gone they are. [Now I'm
working on the last one!]

I also have an age spot on my arm ... and I began to put my Pearl Paste on it beginning a couple of weeks ago ... when I remembered. It's beginning to fade as well! At first I thought it was just my imagination ... but it really is far less noticeable!

One of the attributes of using pearl in creams seems to have been for its "skin lightening" ability ... but since I have a very pale complexion to begin with, I began using it for all of pearls other attributes. Laughing

It's also very effective at scar reduction ... or has been with some of the smaller scars I have on my face left by the ravages of adult acne. Mad

Of course, all of these "extra benefits" come with consistent use of it and over time ... but it's nice to know that it's doing stuff I didn't even have in mind when I developed it! Laughing

I'm hoping that it will also, eventually, reduce the depth of some of my indents [another repercussion of adult acne] ... but so far I can't say definitively that it's more than obscure them a little.

Mary

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:05 am

Mary,

Somewhere I read not to use Pearl Paste near eyes or mouth (or was I dreaming Think

). If this is correct, what is the reasoning behind it. Thanks. Smile

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:30 am

Winnie wrote:

Mary,

Somewhere I read not to use Pearl Paste near eyes or mouth (or was I dreaming Think

).

I think that was probably me, based on my label instructions...I guess I need to re-phrase it to state "do not get IN your eyes or mouth" Embarassed

I actually use my Pearl Creme in my under eye area as well as around the perimeter of my mouth....

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:43 am

carekate wrote:

Winnie wrote:

Mary,

Somewhere I read not to use Pearl Paste near eyes or mouth (or was I dreaming Think

).

I think that was probably me, based on my label instructions...I guess I need to re-phrase it to state "do not get IN your eyes or mouth" Embarassed

I actually use my Pearl Creme in my under eye area as well as around the perimeter of my mouth....

Thanks Carrie!!!! Smile

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:53 am

hpjrt wrote:

Pearl is truly amazing ... as I'm finding out. I had a few of those red veiny things in my nose area ... not broken caps I don't think ... but what looked like a small red vein.

I noticed that all but one of these has now completely disappeared! Very Happy

I don't know when they disappeared ... because it wasn't something I was looking for when I developed Pearl Paste ... but gone they are. [Now I'm
working on the last one!]

I also have an age spot on my arm ... and I began to put my Pearl Paste on it beginning a couple of weeks ago ... when I remembered. It's beginning to fade as well! At first I thought it was just my imagination ... but it really is far less noticeable!

One of the attributes of using pearl in creams seems to have been for its "skin lightening" ability ... but since I have a very pale complexion to begin with, I began using it for all of pearls other attributes. Laughing

It's also very effective at scar reduction ... or has been with some of the smaller scars I have on my face left by the ravages of adult acne. Mad

Of course, all of these "extra benefits" come with consistent use of it and over time ... but it's nice to know that it's doing stuff I didn't even have in mind when I developed it! Laughing

I'm hoping that it will also, eventually, reduce the depth of some of my indents [another repercussion of adult acne] ... but so far I can't say definitively that it's more than obscure them a little.

To reiterate, for those that are still skeptical about the power of the pearl:

carekate wrote:

...Now let’s answer the inevitable question, “Why pearl powder?”

First and foremost, pearl powder is believed to promote healthy, lustrous skin. Although it is not recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration for having any cosmoceutical benefits, it is an “ancient Chinese secret” (if I may borrow that tired old quote from the old laundry-detergent booster TV commercials from the 70s) that is an established part of the non-traditional Chinese herbal medicine (I know there’s a proper name of this practice but it’s completely escaping me at the moment Confused

)

This is a quote from JenJu.com regarding pearl powder:

“Pearl powder contains about 18 amino acids and over a dozen minerals, including 10 essential amino acids necessary for the human body to heal and maintain cell nutrition. These essential building blocks of collagen and protein each has a specific function. Deficiency of any one of these key amino acids causes the skin to look coarse, depleted, old and wrinkled.”

Here are some of the benefits of using pearl powder on the skin (compiled from various sources but put into my own words so as not to plagiarize):

• It has anti-flammatory and calming properties which help reduce redness and swelling caused by acne outbreaks;
• It acts as a detoxifier which helps draw impurities to the surface of the skin;
• It improves circulation and activates cellular regeneration to renew and heal;
• It enhances elasticity;
• It protects from environmental radicals;
• It regulates skin discoloration;
• It smooths and refines skin texture;
• It minimizes the appearance of pores;
• It minimizes the appearance of fine lines and scars;
• It leaves skin appearing smoother and brighter.

Hey Mary -

Do you know if there are any benefits from *ingesting* ground pearls orally (like you can get benefits both from taking HA nutritional supplements orally, as well as from applying an HA serum topically to the skin)...? I wonder if the Chinese version of “One-A-Day” or “Centrum” vitamins also contain ground pearl?! Wink

Regardless, you’ve made believers out of a whole bunch of folks when you came up with “HPJRT’s Original Pearl Paste!” Very Happy

(Hey, that should be your tag-line! Wink

)

Which reminds me, my mom was leafing through one of those fou-fou mail order catalogs that sells high-end clothes and beauty products the other day and she pointed out to me that they were selling some sort of beauty cream that “contained precious pearls from the sea” for about $150USD for a tiny little jar. Out of curiosity, I looked at the ingredients of the stuff and it was loaded with all kinds of chemicals and petroleum-based ingredients and at the very end of the list, it said “ground pearls.” The product said it was “Made in the USA” so presumably that meant they were listing their ingredients in the order of importance/amount contained which meant that the actual amount of pearl powder in their beauty cream was negligible/laughable!! I don’t know about you, but I guess if those people can charge that kind of money for their pearl beauty potion, than I’ve been drastically under-charging!! Wink

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:58 am

Hi Carrie,

As a matter of fact ... the Chinese do take pearl powder internally. I recall seeing a website for pearl powder that is ingested.

It stands to reason, really ... although I confess I haven't tried it myself. Laughing

As for the "Pearl" cream ad that your Mom saw ... I've seen lots of that sort!

Years ago I tried a so-called "pearl cream" that I got in an Asian store ... but it didn't do a thing for me ... probably because the amount of pearl in it was miniscule ... and all the other junk was exactly the sort of thing my skin couldn't tolerate! Laughing

That is, though, why I thought of using pearl powder in the first place. There was so many claims of the benefits of pearl that I figured there had to be something to it. Laughing

I just decided to eliminate all the other gunk! Laughing

It does make you wonder, though, how some cosmetics firms justify jacking up the prices so much! Mad

I wonder how many people have purchased that muck thinking that they are getting something "valuable"?

Mary

ps Winnie, I always use my Pearl Paste around my eyes ... and even on the "under brow" area!

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:31 pm

I am starting to get a balling up problem too and i don't use any type of gel in my morning skin care routine.

it seems pearl creme plus certain moisturizers on top plus my sunscreen will always cause balling up. I find that i cannot use pearl creme in my IE moisturizer, but it is fine to use under my cellular skin rx moisturizer. i wonder if the high cone content of the IE has anything to do with this.

Kristen

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:08 pm

Hi Kristen,

I've read about a problem with sunscreens and other creams/makeup ... and I would suspect that silicones might be the culprit. Laughing

Either that or the one you have the problem with has some sort of a filming agent in it.

Sorry I can't be of more help on that. Have you tried comparing the ingredients in both IE and Cellular Skin Rx? Is the difference just the silicones?

Mary

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:22 pm

skincareaddicted wrote:

I am starting to get a balling up problem too and i don't use any type of gel in my morning skin care routine.

it seems pearl creme plus certain moisturizers on top plus my sunscreen will always cause balling up. I find that i cannot use pearl creme in my IE moisturizer, but it is fine to use under my cellular skin rx moisturizer. i wonder if the high cone content of the IE has anything to do with this.

Kristen

Kristen, I would bet you ANYTHING that the high silicone content of your IE moisturizer is what's causing the balling up effect. (I don't use any of the IE moisturizers because they are just loaded for bear with silicones.) Try using only moisturizers with fewer silicones with the pearl cream for a few days and I think you'll see an improvement. HTH!

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:43 pm

Hi Mary and Liz,

With you two ladies to confirm, I definitely think it is the silicones in the IE! cones is actually one of the first ingredients in the IE moisturizer. the funny thing is when i use the IE absent the pearl creme, and my sunscreen, no balling. Oh well, i just have a smidgen of the IE left and won't be purchasing it again.

Thank you!

Kristen

free skin care · Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:46 pm

I decided to do a test yesterday to see if the Pearl Creme was really keeping my forehead shine free all day or if it just might be the cold dry weather we've been having.

We had a high temperature of 14 degrees farenheit yesterday. I didn't use the Pearl Creme under my foundation and just applied Pearl Powder over it as a finishing powder. By the end of the day had a shiney forhead, but still less so than if I would not have used the Pearl Powder.

Today was a high of 18 degrees farenheit.I went back to applying the Pearl Creme under my foundation and the Pearl Powder on top. My forhead was not shiney at all at the end of the day.

I am definitely sold on this for helping to control oil! It works amazingly well! Very Happy

free skin care · Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:08 am

"As a matter of fact ... the Chinese do take pearl powder internally. I recall seeing a website for pearl powder that is ingested."

Yup we do indeed Smile

Quite a few ways to take pearl powder too... I've had the powder put into a pill capsule, added to bird's nest, added to soups or just blended with water (but the taste is powdery and bland though).

If some of you are interested, I think pearl powder with bird's nest is the best for skin. Many asian movie stars/singers take bird's nest by the ton to maintain their complexion and this is quite a deeply-rooted and proved chinese belief. My aunts take a lot of bird's nest when their pregnant and the kids come out with very fine, very good skin! So adding pearl powder to bird's nest just doubles the effect Smile

Oh and pearl powder can be combined with ginseng powder for a face mask as well. Ginseng is touted to help with anti-aging and to reduce signs of fatigue from the skin Smile

free skin care · Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:37 am

Thanks samantha185,

I have heard of using bird's nest soup for skin care before ... but frankly, the mental visual is just a bit too much for my British North American to accept easily into my own routine. Shock

Ginseng, however, is something that we have a lot of in my area. It's grown in my area ... so I have access to it. I just may have to add a bit to my next batch of Silken Pearl Paste to see how it interacts with it. Very Happy

Later

Mary

free skin care · Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:47 pm

hpjrt wrote:

Thanks samantha185,

I have heard of using bird's nest soup for skin care before ... but frankly, the mental visual is just a bit too much for my British North American to accept easily into my own routine. Shock

Ginseng, however, is something that we have a lot of in my area. It's grown in my area ... so I have access to it. I just may have to add a bit to my next batch of Silken Pearl Paste to see how it interacts with it. Very Happy

Later

Mary

My mom used to take bird's nest soups.. But not anymore. It tasted good as far as I can remember. Embarassed

free skin care · Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:18 pm

mine too. it does taste good but it think it was just the rock sugar that was good, i don't think bird's nest by itself has any flavor. i won't eat bird's nest anymore since reading a special in national geographic. the baby birds are just thrown out of their nests, naked and all!

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