“Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.” —J.R.R. Tolkien

Opalescent moonstone resembles a tiny planet or a luminous mini-moon. Moonlight and moonglow wrap the world in radiant light that glows like a pearl.

All things related to the moon have long been among my favorites, which is not surprising, I suppose, since the first thing I notice about my surroundings is the light. But here’s a surprising truth about the moon: Unlike the sun or stars, it does not radiate its own light. Rather, it reflects the sunlight that hits its surface, just like when light strikes a mirror.

In fact, although the moon magically looks pearly white to us, it is actually quite dull, with a massive gray surface similar to that of a dusty rock. Still, the light of the moon appears preternaturally beautiful. It seems to wrap itself around us in a warm, radiant glow that creates luminescence in anything it touches, especially the skin. In mythology and folklore, the moon is imbued with magical powers. But in truth, it’s a fraud.

No matter what it looks like or how you explain it, moonlight is an illusion, which in some ways serves to make it even more compelling, mysterious, and alluring. We strive to appear bathed in a moonlit glow—radiant, luminous, and lit from within. Here are a few secret ways to evoke the light of the moon on your face and body, with the help of makeup and skin care.

MS Beauty EyeLights

Cream Eyeshadow No one knows how to get a glow going like clean beauty guru Rose-Marie Swift, founder of RMS Beauty. Swift has worked with Sports Illustrated cover models and top celebrities, and RMS Beauty EyeLights Cream Eyeshadow has a slavishly devoted following—for good reason. A little dab on the lids lights up the entire face and creates a subtle look when you’ve got somewhere really special to go. It’s creamy but it stays put, and it includes organic green tea extract and ethically sourced mica. EyeLights won’t crease or smudge, and it reflects light so beautifully that your eyes radiate moonbeams! rmsbeauty.com

Soft Services Buffing Bar Miniature Collection

Any bookworm will be drawn to this collection of four mini buffing body bars, microcrystal exfoliants shaped like Lilliputian bars of soap. The bars are packaged in what looks like a book, and they’re perfect as a gift, great for travel, or as a special treat for yourself. With mineral-derived microcrystals tucked into bars that feature a moisturizing base, the collection features four flavors—Original (fragrance-free), Green Banana, Debaser (by D.S. & Durga), and Affocato L’Orange (espresso, vanilla, and coconut cream). Designed to smooth and buff rough spots and leave the skin looking luminous. softservices.com

California Naturals Glow Oil Body Wash

Owen Wilson is an investor in California Naturals, and also an adviser: His official title is “chief shampoo officer.” The Glow Oil Body Wash is a light gel that softly foams in the shower, leaving a fine mist of moisture lingering on the skin to keep it glowing. Loaded with lubricious botanical oils, including evening primrose, guava seed, sunflower seed, and aloe, it’s designed to soften and feed the skin. thecalifornianaturals.com

Live Tinted Born to Shine

A makeup and skin-care hybrid, Born to Shine is a skin hydrator, with hyaluronic acid, squalane, and sunflower seed oil that all nourish and hydrate, with an added bonus: a dollop of micro-shimmers that create a halo of light that looks like a lit-from-within glow. It’s perfect on its own, or blended into moisturizer or foundation, in three shades that radiate warmth for all skin tones. livetinted.com

How glorious is it, at that very first moment, when fall shows up at your doorstep? You know that feeling. The rush of crisp air, out of nowhere, greeting you with a hello that is somehow both enthusiastic and seductive. It’s bright and bold and yet has a deeper layer of come-hither invitation, beckoning you outdoors, where a gleeful shiver of excitement begins tickling your spine as the stirring wind whispers golden secrets in your ear and toys with your hair. That feeling. The one we wait for all year long.

Twirling in the joy of being outdoors now, so scented, colorful … it’s entirely exuberant. And then, a second gift: the rush of comfort when you arrive home after that premiere encounter with autumn. Ahhh. The candlelit coziness of a warm lair that beckons a bit of rest, with all the quiet comforts of your enchanted home. What better environment for your fall beauty rituals, to restore and rejuvenate? After all, summer was quite the blast! But we have some repairs to do, no? A bit of sun-parched skin sloughing, a dreamy soak, and some feeding of the skin—and the soul—is in order.

Our Triple Goddess of Beauty in this pumpkin-spiced season are the harvest darlings hazelnut, date, and apple. I’m mad about this trio together for so many reasons! Our star hazelnut is really quite overlooked in beauty, but is so potent. These pretty little solar orbs are packed with flavor and rich in vitamin E, making them effective both topically and internally for firm, glowing, hydrated skin. They also allow us to tap into higher wisdom and creativity. And then there is our delightful date. Presented as offerings to both the gods and the departed, dates are tokens of strength and spirituality. They make excellent low-glycemic natural sweeteners rich in vitamins and minerals, and support fresh skin with antioxidants. When used directly on the skin, dates impart a plush softness and sheen. And then, there is our classic apple. She is a daily ritual in my world, as a sacred symbol of both Freya and Aphrodite. Apples are abundant, classically autumnal, and Venus-ruled bringers of love, health, and peace. In ancient Egypt they were believed to bestow the gift of eternal youth upon the gods, and I cannot argue this. These lush ladies provide vitamins A, B, and C, as well as UV protection, and they help rebuild cells, reduce wrinkles, and keep you vibrant from head to toe. So you see, we have a divine trio on our side! Joining them are a few more fall luxuries: the buttery almond, so wise and wealthy. Rich in more of that skin-loving healer vitamin E, almonds help repair fine lines while bestowing beautifying fats. Then there is sweet maple, another low-glycemic, mineral-rich sweetener that also reduces inflammation in sensitive skin, banishes blemishes, and hydrates. The magic of the sacred tree is of course present, with love and money magic enhanced by Jupiter. Our season is topped off by none other than … who else? Pumpkin! The seeds, that is. These are my seasonal secret weapon! Rich in zinc, essential fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and E, these little darlings actually help skin repair its collagen, and they are excellent for acne and other inflammatory conditions, like psoriasis and eczema. They encourage cellular renewal, protect against damage, keep skin firm, and even promote hair growth.

Conjure these for your next ritual, bringing forth all the magic of autumn at fall equinox, Samhain, or how about that flirty Libra new moon? I see you soaking by candlelight, potions on, and delicately nibbling a sweet treat. Are you ready, mes amours? Now, to prepare for all this gorgeousness, you’ll want to make a petite potion base: a sweet and luscious apple-date paste, ripe with precious nutrients and delivered in a creamy, sensual swirl of autumnal joy. Begin by warming ⅓ cup of unsweetened almond milk in a saucepan. Place 8 pitted dates in a shallow bowl, then gently pour the warmed milk over them, and soak for 20 minutes. You may wish to press the dates down into the milk with the back of a spoon to completely submerge them. Pour the mixture into a food processor and add ¼ cup of finely chopped red apple. Pulse it all until it is smooth. If needed, add a small amount of almond milk to create a creamy texture. You’ll be dividing it equally between the facial and exfoliant recipes below. Both topical potions go on so gently that you might mistake them for being inactive … but oh no—they’re softly powerful! Though I must warn you, they’re so fabulously ripe with harvest goodness that they cannot contain themselves—literally. By this, mignonettes, I mean that they are rather … juicy. They’re not neat and tidy to use but rather an earthy, highly sensual experience. And like all good romps, they require a bit of cleanup, so do give your sink and bath a good rinse afterward. Totally worth it. You’ll glow as if you’d just had an entirely different sort of ritual …

Le Bois Sauvage

Facial Exfoliant and Masque Conjures 2 to 4 treatments

1 tablespoon apple-date paste
(or half of what was made with the recipe above)
2 tablespoons hazelnut flour
1 teaspoon almond oil

This could not be simpler! In a pretty bowl, combine half your apple-date paste with the hazelnut flour and almond oil. Mix together in a clockwise motion until blended. Apply to dry skin in a thin layer, and massage in circular motions to lift away old cells and get circulation going in your skin. Next, apply a second layer, as thick as you can manage—it goes on like a gommage—and allow that to rest on your face for at least 10 minutes, though I leave it on longer for maximum benefits. Remove with a damp cloth, followed by a thorough rinse with cool water. Pat dry. You can follow with your beauty oil of choice here, though you will not need much, if any. A refreshed, relaxed radiance awaits!

Beauty Witch Secret: This recipe makes more than you think, but it actually freezes well, so by all means save it for your next seasonal beauty ritual!

L’ Offrande Body

Exfoliant Conjures 2 treatments

1 tablespoon apple-date paste
(or half of what was made with the recipe above)
½ cup coconut sugar
¼ cup almond oil
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Another potion that’s almost too simple to conjure! Take the remaining apple-date paste and combine it with the coconut sugar and almond oil. Add the cinnamon if you like—yes, it is active, though not irritating, as the ratio of soothing ingredients here is high. If you have highly sensitive skin, though, please test it first. You may wish to add more coconut sugar, making it thicker and more crumbly, depending on the texture you desire. (As is, the potion is fairly oily, but I actually love it this way! The glow on my skin after rinsing is divine.) When you’re ready to use it, apply in circular motions neck to toes, massaging and raking your fingers toward the heart. Rinse and pat dry.

Beauty Witch Secret: Adding cinnamon here is a little sorcery to rev circulation, add a sexy scent, and fortify with fire magic. Try it!

Doux Délice

Beauty Bite Conjures 12 pieces

1 cup hazelnuts
⅓ cup slivered raw almonds
¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
½ cup apple, chopped
½ tablespoon cinnamon
¼ cup maple syrup
10 pitted dates
1.5 ounces dark chocolate (optional)

Note: This recipe makes half a baking sheet; double it for a full sheet. These are madly delicious!

Combine hazelnuts, apple, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon in a food processor, and pulse until the hazelnuts are coarsely ground and the mixture holds together when pressed with your fingertips. Transfer to a mixing bowl and fold in the pumpkin seeds and almonds. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then press down the mixture with your fingers, creating
a thin, even layer. You can clean up the edges by evening them with a butter knife.

Now, this bit is up to you, but why ever not? Take 1.5 ounces of a high-quality dark chocolate bar—go for 70% pure cacao at least—and give the recipe a bit more pizzazz! Simply break the bar into small pieces, toss it into a saucepan, and melt it on a low flame until you get a syrupy ganache, or about 5 to 7 minutes. It’s important not to overcook. Just get it to a place where you can spoon it into a nice drizzle lightly over the top of the nut mixture. It will get messy, but who cares? It will taste extra amazing. (My fave chocolate bars are Lily’s and Hu, both fairly easily found and with vegan and sugar-free versions, which are delish!) At this point, you have two options: You can pop it in the freezer for a good two hours to solidify, which will keep the recipe raw, or you can bake it at 350°F for 25 minutes. I opted for the raw version, and it’s absolutely heavenly, but … fragile. It breaks. It crumbles. It flat-out refuses to pose prettily in photos.

So, your call. If you bake it, you’ll get more of a chewy-crunchy granola bar texture that may be easier to deal with. If you decide to enjoy it raw, slice it into squares or triangles after it comes out of the freezer. If you’re baking it, slice it before it goes into the oven. Both versions freeze well and will last several weeks, but I highly doubt there will be any need—this delightful, beautifying treat is just too good.

Beauty Witch Secret: Adding the chocolate here (especially a good, clean cacao bar) amps up the potency and fire power with strength, passion, and charm!

When the heat of summer casts her voluptuous spell of brilliant light, we are bathed in golden riches of outstretched solar waves, radiating with an almost ferocious intensity. But what is intrinsically a time of immense cosmic power can be received as an overpowering force— perhaps all this sunshine is too much for some, who prefer the cool and quiet dark of a late midsummer night to conjure their desires. Yet these long days are the peak of vitality, abundance, and celebration. What if, instead of wilting in the heat, we chose to see things from another perspective? Better yet, to feel from a different level, one that allows us to elevate above the clouds, entwine with the flowers, and float between the worlds?

The other “light” of summer is air, mes chérs. Though the elemental reign of fire holds court, it is the wind which carries a luscious breeze through our collective spirit. Air is ruled by Mercury, that charming chatterbox that opens doors … why not let him open our minds right now, weaving a spider’s web of thoughts through our daydreams? Dare to imagine conjuring spun-silk masterpieces, creating the architecture of your wildest desires.

My offerings to you this season are a pink chiffon facial, a

perfumed hair mist, and a whipped cream cocktail—all designed to inspire flights of fancy! I see you twirling, spinning, and dancing with soft delirium, feathery light as the gossamer wings of a creature only you can imagine.

And because day turns to night (as it should), one dazzling star shines here: the fetchingly fragrant, slightly mysterious plumeria. Plumeria, or frangipani, has long been revered as a Venusian flower of love, with an intoxicating scent that seems to effortlessly call forth beauty magic with the ample charms of its regent. Plumeria simply adores your skin! It has a unique ability to bind cells together, providing structure to them, which translates to lifting and firming the skin. It also softens, balances oil, and stimulates the oh-so-important cellular growth, all while soothing and healing a parched, sun-kissed visage. A naturally potent aphrodisiac, plumeria’s perfume also soothes, calms, and reduces stress to aid beauty sleep. When added to the cauldron for hair care, it strengthens follicles, promotes hair growth, hydrates, and provides UV protection.

Concoct and adore these under the precious new moons of summer, on any gentle Sunday, or whenever your secret stories beckon …

Rêve Crémeux Beauty Cocktail

Conjures 2 to 4 cocktails
½ cup fresh plum, chopped
½ cup fresh raspberries
¼ cup coconut milk
Squeeze of tangerine
Champagne or soda water

Pop the raspberries and plum into a high-speed blender, add the coconut milk, and blend until completely smooth and creamy. (Note that vortex-style blenders will always work best with all produce, eliminating the chunky bits and odd particles!) Pour into a cocktail shaker, add a squeeze of tangerine to taste, ice if you like, then shake until blended. Pour into gorgeous cocktail glasses, filling only halfway up. Add the champagne or soda, then top with a dollop of coconut cream. Raise your glass to all good things coming to fruition in these sun-soaked days of summer! This drink is a delight of silky, creamy, whipped delirium infused with a bright fruit flavor that’s both decadent and light. Santé!

Tangerine Fiery and protective tangerine supports collagen production and cellular renewal while bringing forth love and prosperity.

Champagne The “wine of kings” is actually quite the beauty secret—and my personal favorite libation! Loaded with antioxidants, celebratory champagne helps promote even skin tone and cleanses with natural antibacterial powers.

Beauty Witch Secret: Oh yes, it does make a smashing smoothie, too … just omit all things bubbly. You can do wonders with this: Add a cold herbal tea, a banana, a few spoonfuls of cooked quinoa, cacao nibs … the sunny, starry sky is the limit!

Mousseline Rose

Facial

Facial Conjures approximately 3 treatments
1 8-ounce can organic coconut milk, chilled
1 tablespoon rose water
3 tablespoons almond flour, finely ground
3 fresh raspberries

Plan ahead by placing t

refrigerator for about an hour. This will allow the solid cream to separate from the liquid. Spoon the cream into a large bowl, and set aside the liquid for later. In a separate bowl, combine two tablespoons only of the coconut cream with the almond flour and rose water. Drop in the raspberries. Then, using a hand mixer or immersion (or “stick”) blender, pulse until you have a fluffy, whipped consistency. Add more almond flour to reach a desired texture, if needed. Fold in the plumeria, inviting her beauty to your ritual soirée.

Massage in a circular motion onto clean skin to remove the dulling surface layer of cells, then let the masque set for 10 to 20 minutes. Breathe in the sensuous aroma and decadent touch of this blend. Rinse well with cool water, pat dry. Your skin will be glowing and your spirit uplifted!

You can spoon the remainder into an airtight jar and keep refrigerated until you are ready to use.

Coconut Ruled by the moon and water, coconut

heightens your intuition and psychic abilities as it provides beauty fats for supple skin. Its creamy, soft consistency adds sensual richness to your potions.

Rose Though the rose appears delicate, it’s actually one of the oldest symbols of strength. A flower of Venus and sacred to both Freya and Hathor, it’s been revered for its beauty magic, as well as its love, luck, divination, healing, protection, and psychic enhancement abilities. Rose is active yet soothing, targeting fine lines and wrinkles with a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Raspberry Rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, raspberry prevents the destruction of skin cells, wards off premature aging, and helps maintain water balance in skin. It is healing to eczema and psoriasis, and protects against UV damage. Ruled by Venus and water, it brings forth happiness, love, and protection.

Almond Rich in calcium and vitamin E, almond milk is beautifying and strengthening, with added magic of money, luck, and healing. As a very gentle exfoliant, it sloughs away dead skin without irritation. Ruled by air, it gives potions a lightness of energy surrounding the intellect, reminding you to ease up on the kind of worrying that wreaks havoc on your face.

Beauty Witch Secret: If you have any coconut cream or milk left over, enjoy! Splash them into a warm bath, add several drops of plumeria, apply your potions, pour your cocktail … and lose yourself in a spellbound spa!

Plumes Parfumées

Scented Hair Mist Conjures approximately 2 ounces
1½ ounces rose water
3 drops raspberry seed oil
3 drops sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
6 drops plumeria essential oil

This is almost too simple! Just combine all ingredients in a glass sprayer bottle—though it must be a pretty one—and blend by shaking vigorously to blend the aloe into the potion. Give it the magic touch with a final clockwise swirl, cap it, and mist your dry or damp hair whenever you like! A light coating is all you need to detangle, hydrate, calm frizz, protect from UV damage, and impart celestial shine. This works well on all hair textures and is light enough for fine hair.

Beauty Witch Secret: This little mystical mist can refresh and illuminate sleepy strands, so do pop one in your bag for whenever you need a lift. Psst: It does double duty as a body mist!

Aloe Known as the “medicine plant,” lunar aloe carries the magic of protection and luck. It contains anti-inflammatory hormones, which have a firming, depuffing effect on the skin.

Feature Image:
Photography: OLIVIA EDVALSON @oliviarosephoto 
Model and wings: Tatiana Pimentel @teepimentel 
Corset: Nightingale Corsetry @nightingalecorsetry

Texture is everything when it comes to the beauty industry. Formulators invest a lot of time and know-how into spinning skincare from gossamer-light to rich, silky, and occlusive. As the seasons change and the weather warms, our desires naturally move toward sheerer and lighter products. We embrace the translucent and luminous, and are drawn to formulations that are airy and more ethereal. Serums shape-shift into weightlessness. We seek fragrances that are light and subtle, such as delicate florals or elusive powdery notes.

New trends in beauty this season are all about reinventing gossamer weights. Soft, silky, “cashmere” foams with mild ingredients are popular in cleansers. They are so light, they’re barely a whisper, and they are especially suitable for irritated, sensitive skin. Water balms and lightweight, oil-based moisturizers and makeup, especially lip gloss, deliver dewy-looking skin while feeling weightless. “Jellies” are a fun way to hydrate and are turning up in blendable makeup. Silky milks are trending in milk baths and sunscreens designed to soothe all skin types. Vegan versions feature oat, coconut, and soy milk, some mixed with retinols.

Going gossamer is the ultimate goal at this time of year. Like a dragonfly’s wing, iridescent, incandescent, extremely light and delicate, in a way that seems to be not of this world.

Method Dream Foam

Anyone who relies on Method’s dish detergents and home-cleaning line will want to check out its new personal care products. The skin-softening Dream Foam foaming body wash comes in four fragrances that are light as air. And the Body + Hair Mist line is perfect for adding a touch of fragrance (the jasmine-sandalwood is a personal favorite), cooling down the skin and reconstituting curls over the spring-summer season.

Acrely Farms Recovery Balm

Botanical Blend Acrely Farms is a woman-owned organic farm tucked into the mountains of Utah. Hand-harvested, its products are grown and crafted to deliver plant- and CBD-based remedies for whatever ails you: inflammation, sleepless nights, localized pain, stress, rashy skin. The Recovery Balm, with a base of coconut oil and beeswax, is a light and lovely cooling blend formulated to provide relief from pain.

RMS Beauty Cashmere Matte Eyelights

Always on the cusp of everything new, RMS Beauty, founded by celebrity makeup artist Rosemarie Swift, launched Cashmere Matte Eyelights—light, long-wearing, and delicate whispers of color for the eyelids. In eight shades, inspired by 1950s pastels, the nourishing new formula feels as soft as breath. Infused with green tea and natural peptides to nourish the sensitive skin on the eyelids, they are packaged in a 100-percent-recycled aluminum artist’s tube with a needle-nose tip for perfect application.

Leaf People Nettle & Cucumber Soothing Toner

This lightweight toner removes makeup, soap, dirt, and other impurities while gently nourishing the skin with aloe vera, rose, hyaluronic acid, green tea, and soothing cucumber. Keep it in the fridge and it will cool down overheated or inflamed skin. Put it in a spray bottle for a spritz on the go. Wild-harvested, certified organic, and formulated in the Rocky Mountains by an herbalist.

The Renaissance was a fertile period of European culture, celebrated for its remarkable artists, its scientific advances in anatomy and astronomy, and its flowering of literature. But it was also a pivotal era for the art of perfumery. Perfume played a prominent role in the lives of the nobility: Not only was fragrance fashionable and a sign of wealth, but it also served as personal hygiene in a time when bathing was more uncommon. Transporting and heating bathwater was far more inconvenient, but more problematic was the belief that water harbored and spread disease, which prompted a general avoidance of baths.

In fact, King Louis XIV was terrified of bathing for this reason and is said to have taken only three baths in his life. This bath aversion meant perfumes of the era had to be strong, intoxicating, and capable of masking significant odor. The Sun King and his Court (“the Perfumed Court,” it was called) indulged heavily in perfumes, applying luxuriant fragrances not only to their bodies, hair, and clothing but also to furniture, home accessories, and even to their pets. Visitors were sprayed with perfume upon entering. These perfume-loving courtiers spent more on perfume than they did on food.

Perfumed preparations of the Renaissance included scented oils and ointments, distilled waters, alcohol-based perfumes, incense, and powders. After the expeditions of Magellan and Vasco de Gama, exotic flowers and plants like vanilla, cocoa, cardamom, tobacco, and pepper could be incorporated.

Common essential oils of the Renaissance included musk, amber, jasmine, tuberose, benzoin, bergamot, lavender, rosemary, violet, chamomile, lemon, peppermint, cedar, rose, juniper, pepper, and oakmoss, diluted with skin-friendly carrier oils like almond, olive, and laurel bayberry.

With the advent of the printing press, perfumists were able to print books of recipes for perfumes and scented waters. Written mostly in Italian and French, these beloved books have passed down their innovative developments in the art of perfumery and are still used to this day. As a perfumist myself, I was inspired to re-create the recipe below, which is reminiscent of the perfumes of the French court. I blended woodsy, spicy essential oils of pepper, cedar, and patchouli with notes of uplifting woody juniper and a touch of warm, sweet vanilla— all of which were used during the Renaissance period. The cedarwood, patchouli, and vanilla comprise the base of the perfume, the juniper berry provides the middle note, and black pepper the top note, creating a well-rounded scent. It smells divine, and you can easily make it at home if you wish!

Here’s how:

Ingredients

• Essential oils of cedarwood, patchouli, pepper, juniper, and vanilla oleoresin
• 10 ml glass bottle with roller
• Skin-friendly carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil works well)
• Tiny funnel specifically for perfume making
• A small glass measuring cup dedicated for perfume making (don’t use it for food once you’ve made perfume in it)
• A stirrer (I used a metal chopstick)

Instructions

Make sure your perfume bottle, measuring cup, stirrer, and funnel are clean and dry. I like to wipe them with a cloth slightly dampened with 80 to 100 proof alcohol.

Pour a small amount of fractionated coconut oil into your measuring cup. Then, pour about 5 ml of it into your perfume bottle, filling the bottle halfway.

Place the funnel on top of the perfume bottle and add your essential oils: one drop each of cedarwood, patchouli, and vanilla oleoresin; five drops of juniper berry; and three drops of black pepper.

Fill the bottle to the top with the fractionated coconut oil, attach the roller ball, and cap your perfume. Give it a slow, gentle shake for a few moments to incorporate the essential oils, and avoid the air bubbles that fast shaking creates. Gently shake your perfume before each use.

The Renaissance was a boon time for beauty. There was a widespread belief throughout Europe that beautiful people were also the healthiest. Obviously, good health was a valuable attribute for a woman seeking a husband, because it implied that she would be successful at bearing healthy children.

But striving for the appearance of health through beauty was just as popular as trying to attain actual health because, after all, who could really tell the difference? And that’s where the use of artifice and illusion, along with lotions and potions, came in handy to help attain the idealized beauty standard (la bella donna) of the time: golden hair, peaches-and-cream skin, long wavy tresses.

In 15th century France, for example, upper-class women concocted a paste to improve their skin, a kind of face mask made of asparagus root, wild anise, and the bulbs of white lilies steeped in the milk of asses and red goats, aged in warm horse manure and filtered through felt. Also in France, not surprisingly, they washed their faces in old wine.

Catherine de’ Medici applied a mixture of crushed peach blossoms and almond oil, while rosemary boiled in white wine was also a popular skin tonic among Italian women of the time. Women in 17th century England tackled aging head-on by wearing a base of egg white or lead and vinegar—an early version of foundation, perhaps—to tighten the skin, though there was no way that could be comfortable. But makeup is where things really got creative. A trendy look in the late 1500s was known as “transparent skin,” which is not at all similar to the “glass skin” look of today. A bluish tinge to the skin was seen as a sign of an innocent heart and considered beautiful. To attain it, women would use a pencil to accentuate their veins—no kidding! When Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, she was said to have had an inch and a half of makeup on her face. In her day, washing and bathing was frowned upon and both men and women (including the Queen) used makeup to conceal smallpox scars.

Fortunately, makeup textures and palettes have come a long way. Here are a few that take inspiration from the beauties of the Renaissance.

A-England Archangels Collection

Not much is known about the use of nail polish in the Renaissance, but the A-England Archangels collection—as with the company’s past collections inspired by Burne-Jones, Edgar Allen Poe, and Virginia Woolf—certainly captures the feeling of the period. Ethereal shades with names like Gabriel (an iridescent whitish silver), Ariel (a meltingly soft lavender gray), and Raphael (a radiant green gold) evoke an otherworldly beauty. a-england.co.uk/collections

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette

Everything in one little palette, the Mini Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette offers a lovely selection of matte shades and one shimmer shade, enough to suit your mood, change up your look, and channel your inner Renaissance woman. The Deluxe Mini Brow Wiz will enhance the brows, and a rich and luscious Lip Velvet pencil enhances but never dries the lips. anastasiabeverlyhills.com

Flower Knows Midsummer Fairy Tales Embossed Five-Color Makeup Palette

It looks like a precious jewel box inspired by a Renaissance artist with a penchant for fairies. With four matte and one pearlescent shade, the silky, waterproof eyeshadow applies smoothly and evenly for festive nights or elegant days. And the delicate compact is nothing short of divine. flowerknows.co

Honeybee Gardens Nude Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette

We love indie beauty brand Honeybee Gardens, and this palette is one of our favorites. Eight neutral shades warm up any skin tone. It’s vegan, talc-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and parabenfree. The compact is refillable, and the shadow is formulated to be especially gentle on sensitive eyes. Plus, the colors are gorgeous and you will want to wear them all (though not all at the same time, of course!). honeybeegardens.com

“Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly,” wrote Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing, and that goes a long way toward explaining our delight when leaves turn to burnished gold and float through the sky when the wind picks up, tinging the air with something crisp and bright.

On the autumnal equinox (this year it’s September 22), magic happens: The sun moves directly above the equator and day and night take on exactly the same length. When that fleeting moment occurs, a cosmic change does too as the earth cools, hot temperatures dissipate, and we can feel the change in the cooling of our bodies— and our temperaments as well.

This is also a transitional time for our skin, and it needs extra love and care. To see if your skin is dehydrated from summer sun, surf, and swimming pools, gently push up your cheek from the jaw to the cheekbone: If you see a lot of tiny lines, it can be a call to action.

Have a natural-bristle brush at hand, apply a face cream or oil to the skin, and use the brush to massage it in, using circular motions. By stimulating the circulation, you’ll help your skin absorb the moisturizer, making it look and feel better.

Even if you don’t ordinarily get facials, try and get one now. A facial will clean out clogged pores and remove flaky skin buildup from the summer. If you can’t get a professional facial, take fifteen minutes on a Sunday morning to give yourself a minifacial at home: cleanse, exfoliate, apply a mask.

Autumn is, all in all, a good season for the health and beauty of our skin. Not too cold, not too hot, it tends to balance out excessively dry or oily hair and skin. As temperatures drop moving toward winter, you may want to begin to protect your skin by switching to a heavier moisturizer or face and body oil. In keeping with the spirit of the season, I often find myself drawn to autumnal flavors for my skin—pumpkin, cranberry, maple, ginger, cinnamon, sage, chai, and nut oils (unless you’re allergic, of course)—and perhaps you do too.

Three Sisters Apothecary Harvest Pumpkin Cinnamon Body Butter

This rich, spicy body butter smells like autumn, with a blend of pumpkin and cinnamon in a base of shea, avocado, and cocoa butters. Lightweight, creamy, and absorbent, this magical body butter in a handy tin is a keeper, and the Harvest Pumpkin Cinnamon flavor comes as a bar soap, bath salts, and lip soother too. Loaded with antioxidants and essential oils to nurture and protect the skin, along with vitamin-rich botanicals to nourish and heal, Three Sisters Apothecary Harvest Pumpkin Cinnamon Body Butter at Soap Cauldron is a lovely soufflé for the skin.

Mychelle Pumpkin Renew Cream

This lightweight moisturizer absorbs neatly to nourish and hydrate the skin. The line also includes the Cream Pumpkin Cleanser with pumpkin enzymes and vitamins to wash away surface impurities and smooth and cleanse the skin and the Incredible Pumpkin Peel, made with pumpkin puree and pumpkin extracts, to exfoliate dead skin cells to enable moisturizer to better absorb.

Maya Chia Revitalizer Beautifying Supercritical Body Oil

This rich and nourishing body oil is superfood for the skin: It combines a load of natural botanical oils—grape seed, cranberry, pumpkin seed, baobab, marula, and chia—that are packed with antioxidants, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. Nongreasy and easily absorbe

Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil

Hungary boasts a long and storied beauty history. Locals soak in thermal baths as an everyday occurrence. This Budapest brand has become popular for good reason: The products are clean and nourishing, and they work. The Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil is a blend of several botanical oils including sweet almond oil, rich in antioxidant vitamin E. It also contains bakuchiol, a natural retinol alternative that increases skin turnover and collagen production.

For centuries, wise women have hand-plucked flowers, foraged for herbs, wild-craft ed with plants, and pulverized nuts and seeds to extract fragrant essences and oils for beauty rituals that resulted in glossy hair and soft, smooth skin. The ancient Egyptians mixed animal fat and plant oils to create an early hair conditioner. In 16th century Italy, Catherine de’ Medici relied on a moisturizer made with a mix of peach blossoms and almond oil; at the same time, Italian herbalists boiled rosemary in white wine to create a tonic for the skin. (And they drank it too!) The power of plants is pure magic, which is why the women who knew how to use them were often accused of sorcery. Here are some tried-and-true beauty botanicals for skin, hair, body, and spirit.

ALOE VERA

What Soothes sunburn, moisturizes, and temporarily tightens the skin.
Where The American Southwest. It is thought to have been brought there in the 17th century from Barbados, where it covered the ground so thickly that Spanish sailors named the island for effect it created: Barbados means “bearded.”
Why It feels soothing partly because aloe is 99.5 percent water. But it also contains nourishing ingredients such as polysaccharides, glycoproteins, vitamins, and minerals that are moisturizing and anti-inflammatory.

GINGER

What Stimulates the circulation, tones and softens the skin, helps with stretch marks. Often found in lip plumpers and body scrubs.
Where Southeast Asia and Thailand, where a form of ginger known as prai is commonly used in beauty. The Ancient Romans considered ginger to be an aphrodisiac, and it is mentioned throughout One Thousand and One Nights. Why It promotes blood flow and revs up the circulation.

LAVENDER

What Soothes inflamed skin, heals burns, relaxes tired muscles, and calms the mind.
Where France, where lavender fields are endless, along with other areas of the Mediterranean. In the 1920s, French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé burned his hand in the lab and mistakenly plunged it into a vat of lavender oil, thinking it was water. It healed so well that he began to research its medicinal properties and eventually coined the term aromatherapy.
Why Lavender is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory, and it calms the nervous system.

ROSE

What Moisturizes sensitive, mature, or dry skin; reduces inflammation; and works as also a gentle astringent. The scent is said to ease anxiety and promote feelings of love.
Where Ancient Greece, where rosewater was used to soften the skin, and throughout Europe, where women would massage hips and legs with
rose oil to ease the pain of childbirth, perhaps by lessening anxiety.
Why Rose oil constricts small blood vessels and broken capillaries.

SAGE

What Controls excess oil secretion, regenerates skin cells, and kills bacteria that cause odor and breakouts. Good for acne-prone skin.
Where All over the Mediterranean and American Southwest. Native Americans use it in purification ceremonies and to cleanse a room, a practice known as sageing. Sage was thought to cure disease by driving out evil spirits when disease was considered a spiritual affliction.
Why Sage is antiseptic, astringent, and detoxifying. It kills bacteria and microbes, which is why it was used to keep meat from spoiling before refrigeration.

CHAMOMILE

What Calms dry, sensitive, itchy skin; conditions and brings out blond highlights in the hair; reduces broken capillaries.
Where Southern and western Europe. The Victorians used it in a tea to calm women who suffered from “hysteria.”
Why Roman and German chamomile contain azulene, a potent anti-inflammatory.

SEAWEED AND ALGAE

What Moisturizes, nourishes, and restores minerals to all skin types.
Where The sea, especially coastal areas of South America and Europe. In France in particular, residents in some areas would “take the cure” from the healing waters and bracing salt air. Beauty treatments involving seaweed are known as thalassotherapy.
Why Seaweed is rich in vitamins A, C, and K; fatty acids; and minerals that replenish what we lose through everyday life. It also has antioxidant properties to protect from free-radical damage.

GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The beauty of botanicals is that they are not only good for our personal health; they are also good for the environment. Think about it: Everything goes somewhere, and when you wash your cleanser, scrub, or bodywash down the drain, it eventually goes into our rivers, lakes, and oceans, where it can have an impact on flora and fauna. That’s one reason it makes sense to rely on natural products. Here are some seductive botanical brands.

AIRØ

Created by master aesthetician Daphne Chapman, Airø is a beauty and travel lifestyle brand designed to restore skin on the go with lightweight but deeply penetrating products. Chapman has two great passions—travel and skin care—and she knows firsthand the toll that high altitudes, environmental stressors, and cabin pressure can take on the skin. The brand features two beautiful collections: the original Airø, formulated with healing desert plants such as aloe vera, prickly pear, and Joshua tree root; and sē, made from richly nourishing marine extracts.
Star products: Airø Jetsetter Recovery Mask, Airø Facial Recovery Oil, sē Apres Sun Serum

BOTNIA

Botnia, an organic skin-care brand from aesthetician Justine Kahn, features products made by herbalists from plants grown on the Botnia microfarm in Sausalito, California. The name comes from bot, for botanicals and botanists, and Nia, for an imaginary land where plants work magically with our bodies. The line of small-batch face and body products is formulated by herbalists to harness the power of plants.
Star products: Chamomile Gentle Cleanser, Rose Geranium Hydrosol, Well Serum

LVNEA

Lvnea sources its fragrant essential oils and extracts from an exotic garden. The Montreal-based company offers a line of heady natural perfumes, featuring exquisite blends such as Moon Moss (lavender, oak moss, patchouli) and Jasmine & Fig (jasmine, fig, pink peppercorn), as well as bath, body, and face care and candles.
Star products: River Bathing Ritual Bath Salts, Larmes
de Rose Facial Serum, Jasmine Cardamom Damiana Floral Body Serum

OSEA

Founder Jenefer Palmer went to the end of the earth—Patagonia, at the southernmost tip of South America—to research the most pristine seaweed she could find. Palmer discovered that the Patagonian Gigartina species was not only known for its high content of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and trace elements, which are extremely nourishing for the skin; it also comes from some of the most pristine waters on the planet. An award-winning, innovative mother-daughter team, Palmer and her daughter Melissa now run Osea, based on the California coast.
Star products: Ocean Eyes Age-Defying Eye Serum, Vagus Nerve Bath Oil, Atmosphere Protection Cream

Featured Image: Diana and Her Nymphs Bathing (1778-87), by Angelica Kauffmann. Wikimedia Commo

Is there anything more glorious than a bath? It’s sheer delight that beckons.

As you slowly sink down into silken, warm waters that caress your heavenly body in heady scent, with full immersion into the delights of sacred sensuality, the body and spirit become one. The ritual bath is, of course, a witch’s rite to cleanse, prepare, and receive visions … but let’s take it a step further, shall we? Much as the boudoir can be a place for inviting in more than just sleep and carnal adventures, so can the bath be a place that is elevated above mere function (magical though it may be) to an unequalled yet often untapped area of your home: a chamber of escape.

Oh yes. This, mes amies, is a blank canvas for you! Set out a springtime design to create your bath area as a refuge for one of your most private pleasures—reading, of course! What better excuse for a long, languorous soak than to disappear for a spell into a book from your cherished library?

Now you could, I suppose, be reading something of a nonfiction variety. Perhaps a biographical account of someone truly great or inspiringly fabulous. A self-help sort of thing?

Maybe. Romantic poetry? Getting warmer. Though a clothing-optional romp with Byron is always a good idea, my money is on the gold standard of bathtub browsing: the novel. Mmm … can’t you just feel it? The suggestion alone is intoxicating. Preferably one written forever ago that sweeps you away into vignettes of impossible beauty, with a story that transforms your entire being on a deep cellular level. The kind that you carry with you, always—sometimes literally! Of course, there are many gorgeous modern tales to be told, and if you are a serial soaker I would suggest a lively blend of both new and classic. Though reading is mentally stimulating, I cannot think of anything more relaxing on an energetic level. Besides, the brain is sexy. Feeding your mind ensures clever conversation as surely as it opens your creative and existential worlds. And again, let’s push the boundaries a bit. Let us elevate this quiet time to goddess level by entwining inner and outer vision, with potion infusions for coming alive in this season of new beginnings. Let’s take our refuge straight up with a twist by combining a timeless ritual of indulgence with that of tending our beauty.

One of my all-time favorite rituals is to luxuriate in a scented bath while employing a facial potion and sipping a beauty cocktail. It’s not only a head-to-toe glamorizer, but it’s actually (gasp!) rather practical, no? Who says a bombshell can’t multitask. Now add in a mesmerizing read, and you just got in the fast lane of the feminine divine.

As an offering to the season of renewal, I’ve conjured the Triple Goddess of brainy beauty for you, with three pleasurable potions to soothe and feed your body, infuse your face with radiance, and boost your mental acumen … all while whisking you away to a lush and lyrical oasis.

A little dose of healing magic is added with thyme for any seasonal congestion, also excellent for revving circulation to the skin and treating acne or inflammations.

Begin with making a rose hip and thyme tea infusion. Bring one cup of water to a near boil on the stove. When it is hot, combine one tablespoon each of rosehips and thyme (fresh is preferred) in a glass jar, and allow the blend to steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain, cool, and reserve for potions.

Beauty Witch Secret: Make this brew in a large batch for drinking throughout the day cold, warmed as an evening sip, and for adding to beauty cocktails—just multiply the ingredients according to what size vessel you have. Store in a lidded glass container and refrigerate.

Let’s first craft our beauty cocktail, as we employ a little sorceress secret: Most elixirs, brews, and tonics can be used as a facial masque by reserving a bit of the blended potion prior to adding sweetener. It’s a fabulous little trick and connects you more deeply with beauty magic. My offering this season beguiles and refreshes with the piquant-sweet pairing of the fresh, juicy first strawberries of spring with the herbal earthiness of thyme. Along with a few fabulous friends, a gorgeous,

high-vibration libation is yours! It feeds your beauty and your brain, cleanses, fortifies, and protects, all while enjoying a decadent soak with your most cherished tome. Yes, you can add a splash of spirits if you like—a good gin, dry white wine, or your favorite cordial (I adore St-Germain or Génépy) will complement the flavors nicely. Alternatively, you can add a few tablespoons of cooked quinoa or chia seed gel before blending for a more substantial sip, and add it to your rotation of smoothies. Just be sure to blend very well … no one wants to attempt a glamorous soak while navigating a chunky mess of a drink!

DARE TO DREAM

Beauty Cocktail
Conjures one cocktail

½ cup rosehip and thyme tea
½ cup strawberries
3 white grapes
½ teaspoon lion’s mane powder
Low or non-glycemic sweetener to taste (pure stevia or monk fruit work well, just check the ingredients for erythritol or other chemical additives)

In a bullet-style blender, combine tea with strawberries and pulse until completely smooth. Reserve two tablespoons for your facial and set aside. To the remaining mixture, add the rest of the ingredients and pulse again. Pour into a gorgeous cocktail glass, garnish with fresh strawberries, grapes, or a sprig of thyme, and drink in the magic!

Rose Hips These Venusian treasures are empowered with age-well benefits galore. They contain high levels of vitamin C, stimulating new collagen and repairing skin while protecting against UV damage, making them a fabulous choice for elixirs as well as skin care. They possess all the magic of the rose itself but have a little extra charge of sexuality.

Thyme A revered Venusian witches’ herb, thyme possesses the magic of love, psychic awareness, purification, healing

powers, and courage. These scented sprigs are potent both in their energy and their health benefits. Believe it or not, their tiny leaves hold an enormous amount of nutrients, including a saucy measure of iron! A bit of this will fortify the beautifying power of your potions and delay the signs of aging.

Strawberry This gorgeous gift of Venus conjures formidable love and beauty magic while bringing you glowing skin, removing excess oil, and nourishing with abundant vitamin C—well known for its collagen-production prowess.

Grape Grapes are water fruits that hold the magic of both fertility and prosperity, making them fabulous consorts when it comes to creative endeavors. What’s more, they have beauty benefits to spare: rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, they promote new cellular growth, reduce fine lines, increase elasticity, restore collagen, impart sheen, and provide UV protection. Red grapes are ruled by the sun, white by the moon.

Lion’s Mane This proud puff of a mushroom is a rock star adaptogen you need to know: It combats fatigue, lowers blood pressure, regulates blood sugar, and protects your liver and kidneys. It also has been proven to slow the aging process by boosting cellular and cognitive functions, and is excellent for sharpening the memory. Also, it contains a bit of big cat magic!

LE GRAND ÉVASION

Exfoliant and Bath Soak
Conjures 1 to 2 treatments

1 cup Himalayan pink salt, finely ground
¼ cup rosehip and thyme tea blend
¼ cup grapeseed oil
6 drops lavender essential oil

In another fetching bowl, combine all ingredients. You can adjust the oil as you like it, as some prefer more of a granita-esque texture, and some prefer a more liquid feel—either way it works beautifully. Massage into damp skin in circular

motions, then raking with your fingers from your limbs toward your heart. This creates an energetic awakening as you boost your circulation, slough away dead skin, and hydrate your skin all over. Don’t forget your sweet feet and as much of your back as you can safely reach. Then sink down into the bath and allow the potion to dissolve into the water. Now relax as you soak, savoring every minute of a delightful bath and a delicious tale …

Himalayan Pink Salt A highly effective exfoliant, this salt contains high levels of vital trace minerals that soothe and fortify. Seek the more costly versions, though, as the levels of purity and efficacy are far greater.

Lavender Lunar-ruled lavender soothes, calms anxiety, and brings peace. It makes a fantastic skin treatment thanks to its gentle but potent antibacterial powers.

PEAU DE PRINTEMPS

Facial Exfoliant and Masque
Conjures 1 to 2 treatments

2 tablespoons strawberry-tea blend
2 tablespoons almond flour
3 drops lavender essential oil
¼ cup grapeseed oil

Mix all ingredients together in a small, beautiful bowl until fully blended and smooth. You can adjust the consistency to your liking by adding additional oil or even a bit of spring water. Apply to a cleansed face, neck, and décolleté, massaging in circular motions to gently but effectively exfoliate. Apply a second layer of masque if you like, and allow it to

Leave it on for at least 10 minutes, though it can sit longer if you wish. Remove by first submerging a washcloth into warm water and pressing the cloth onto your face. Then carefully remove the masque with the warm cloth, followed by a good rinse. Pat dry, then apply your favorite mist and serum. Your face will positively glow with radiance!

Almond This magical treat boasts broad-spectrum beauty benefits, most notably repairing collagen, preventing moisture loss, and lightening troublesome dark spots and circles. It gives the magic of healing while attracting money and abundance. The finely ground flour acts as a velvety soft masque base with surprising powers of exfoliation!

February’s Astro Beauty and Wellness forecast is here!

We think of February as a dreary, rather dull month, and yet, there are the very first signs of new life! We celebrate the sabbat of Imbolc, Aquarian energies, a New Moon to be managed, Mars and Venus in their usual tango, a twist from Juno, an efficacious Full Moon, a Lunar New Year…and, of course, Venus’ Day, all swirling with glorious potions and Beauty Witch wisdom.

Speaking of the Lunar New Year, we enter the Year of The Dragon! How amazing is that? For more Dragon fabulousness, check out Alise’s Beauty of The Dragon feature, straight from the velvet gloss pages of Enchanted Living!

Your monthly cosmic beauty and wellness guide, with plant-powered bewitching recipes and sorceress secrets.