In the autumn dusk, as she moves through the garden of sensory delights, a distinctively familiar pleasure stirs. The newly crisp air is whispering of treasures to be found, spells to be cast. With the velvet green beneath her feet gone, there is a soft yet firm earth revealed in the coolness that rises to touch her skin. Should she don her cloak? Her boots? No, not yet. She greets the coming darkness with her limbs free, her flesh bared, to revel in this most delicious invitation that nature has extended. With night-blooming flowers encircling her path and the sounds of twilight creatures rustling, she is enchanted by the sheer sorcery of it all—the fleetingly fantastic magic of right now.

Fall arrives exactly when she means to. She appears resplendent in the lush abundance that summer so graciously offered, with a sparkle in her eye and a divine plan for the new season. She readies us, really, for manifesting wishes and dreams, creating riches in all areas of life, and embracing the turning of the wheel as we replenish and fortify our beauty. Carrying the Virgo thirst for wellness with her, she dances easily into Libra, anointed with the perfumed air of Venus herself. Here she really works her magic—and insists we join her! As such, I have conjured a few absolutely stunning potions for you to lavish upon yourself from head to toe and, as always, from inside out. Embrace this potent energy, mes chères, and turn up your starlight! You do want to slink into Scorpio at your most alluring, yes? Not to mention our glorious Samhain!

Our superstars for autumn are just beyond gorgeous: Venusian apple takes center stage because of her beloved place in fall faves and her immense beauty benefits. Rich in natural alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate both mature and acne-prone skin brilliantly, apple helps shed dull dead skin to reveal a fresh new layer. It is also high in nutrients and antioxidants, crucial to maintaining youthful skin and a dewy glow both topically and internally. Lusty vanilla appears in many of my conjurings for her unique gifts: Rich in copper, the fruits of this sacred vine help promote collagen and elastin production. It soothes, protects from environmental stresses, and carries an enchanted scent with a warm sweetness. Nutmeg is here for more autumnal bliss and some major additions to your allure; I always feel this potent little spice gets overlooked. Fiery and ruled by lucky Jupiter, nutmeg prevents hair loss and encourages new growth while keeping tresses shiny. Antibacterial and antimicrobial, it also works wonders on oily skin, imparts a healthy glow, and even fights wrinkles. It is also highly valued for its ability to open up our psychic awareness—an extra boost now as the veil thins!

Joining our Triple Goddess of Beauty this season are a few more ultra- glam guests: Earthly, divinely sexy oak moss brings faerie chic bathed in forest magic, with a depth of richness and solar gifts of vitality, protection, luck, healing, and money. My beloved sunflower bestows exuberant

life force and creation energy as he grants wisdom, joy, and good health. Rich in linoleic acid, it helps build and maintain a healthy skin barrier, since ours thins as we age. This light, non-clogging oil contains vitamin E, which prevents damage to skin cells and protects from UV rays, preventing wrinkles while nourishing further with vitamins A, C, and D. Cedarwood stimulates hair follicles by increasing circulation to the scalp and has a natural thickening ability. A tree of purification, it also holds healing and money magic. I find it even has a grounding effect, locked inside the wisdom of the forest. Comely jasmine is another fave! The queen of the night is an intoxicating aphrodisiac that knows a thing or two about beauty. A brilliant oil for reducing fine lines and strengthening skin’s elasticity, jasmine also helps fade scars and hyperpigmentation. It strengthens the scalp and roots for healthy new growth, while imparting a gloriously protective shine to the length of your tresses. And abundant almond makes a guest appearance here in his creamy form as a dairy alternative with a high nutrient content. Rich in calcium and vitamin E, almond milk is beautifying and strengthening, with added magic of money, luck, and healing.

Be sure to clearly hold a visual in your mind and a feeling in your being as you conjure and use these nectars—one of riches, luck, and love, with the stamina to create them all on the earthly plane.

To prepare for making the potions, chop one or two organic apples depending on their size (a cidery-sweet variety works best, like Pink Lady or Honeycrisp) and pop it all in a high-speed blender with one tablespoon of pure water. Pulse until completely smooth.

You may just want to make extra of our elixir—so fabulous for soirées!

Please note: Organic apple and vanilla powder are used in these recipes and can be purchased online. They are both budget-friendly, easy, and very effective in harnessing the power of these gifts in beauty potions and elixirs. And they are fabulous to bake with!

THE NIGHT FAERIE

Anointing Oil
Conjures about 2.5 ounces

2 ounces sunflower oil
1 teaspoon apple powder
6 drops cedarwood essential oil
4 drops oak moss extract
3 drops jasmine essential oil
2 drops nutmeg essential oil
1 vanilla bean, sliced lengthwise and opened

The first new moon of autumn would be the time to conjure this one. It occurs on October 2 (2:49 p.m. EST) during a solar eclipse.

In a stunning glass bottle, combine

all ingredients. You can scrape the tiny seeds from the vanilla bean, but I quite like the aesthetic beauty of it through the glass—hence opening the pod and allowing the seeds to mingle with the air while leaving it relatively intact. Give it all a good clockwise swirl and set it out in the new moonlight. If you are using a dark-colored glass vessel, you can leave it to absorb both solar and lunar rays. If your glass is clear or lightly colored, bring it in each morning and set it out again at nighttime. Keep this ritual going until the full moon for the greatest potency. Anoint your body, altar, mirror, personal objects … whatever you wish. Always shake well before using to activate both the ingredients and the magic.

Beauty Witch Secret: Adding a few citrine crystals to your potion wildly amps up the power of this potion, adding solar vibes galore!

THE MUSE

Hair Masque
Conjures 1 to 3 treatments

1 cup apple puree
¼ cup sunflower oil
1 teaspoon apple powder
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
6 drops jasmine essential oil
3 drops nutmeg essential oil

Once more, so simple! Combine all the ingredients in a gorgeous bowl, stir clockwise until fully blended, then apply to dry hair, from scalp to ends. This one is thick (and can indeed include a few appley clumps) so carefully massage well, paying particular attention to the ends of hair.

Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then wash well with a light, nutritive shampoo. Apply a daily conditioner just on the outer layer and ends for a minute, then rinse well.

Your hair will emerge newly soft, shiny, and fluffy! The scent is heavenly, and this masque is a needed treat you are giving your sun-parched tresses. Use this weekly if you like.

Beauty Witch Secret: Did I mention you can save a little and use it as a face masque while your hair is sitting? It’s an amazing potion for delicate, dehydrated skin. You will glow.

DÉLICE À LA CRÈME

Elixir
Per serving

½ cup apple
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

This one simply shouts “full moon!” though it can be conjured and enjoyed whenever, really. It has a distinctively autumnal feel, with a heady scent and kick of spice. Blend it all in at high speed, pour it into a lovely glass, sprinkle with nutmeg, and garnish with a few apple slices. This one is so creamy and delish! On its own, it wows as a beauty elixir; however, there are a few secrets to its use …

Beauty Witch Secret: This saucerful of seduction can easily become a smoothie by adding a clean, skin-loving protein—my choices would always be chia-seed gel or cooked quinoa. You may want to add a touch of low or nonglycemic sweetening to the mix by way of pure stevia or monk fruit. Just be sure to check the package, as often those products are cut with chemicals. A few dates or a drizzle of coconut nectar would be a lovely alternative. Oh, and warmed! This is stellar as a heated brew on a chilly eve beneath the moonlit sky. Last, but not least … would I add a shot of cognac? Oh yes, I would. You know me too well, darlings.