She glances upward at the night sky, drawing down the moon to illuminate her face with an ethereal glow. The heavens are calling. The life force of the sun caresses her spirit by day, feeding her radiance with golden fire. And every evening she drinks in starlight, inviting it to pour down onto her own heavenly body. She glows from the top of her gleaming tresses all the way down to her supple toes. And she knows it. For she has learned the secrets that reveal celestial beauty, and she yearns to share them with you.
There is a radiant being deep inside you. Do you feel her? Or perhaps, like most, you haven’t quite discovered that part of yourself. And yet that luminous creature is there, dying for recognition. The light is already in you, and all you need to do is open up and reveal it. Go outside and look up at the sky. What do you see? Though we are all connected on a primal level to the cycles of the moon and the movements of the planets, somewhere along the line we’ve forgotten what we know and have lost our conscious connection to the heavens. We are out of phase, so to speak.
When we mindfully reconnect with these cosmic energies, however, a whole new level of feeding ourselves happens. Not just in the way we fortify our bodies internally, but in the way we support our skin, hair, and nails. Our external beauty begins to align with our insides.
Beauty magic is the art of working with natural forces to highlight our unique attributes, revealing the light inside that reflects celestial brilliance. Potions born of high-vibration ingredients, created with intent, and bathed beneath the heavens carry just that kind of charge.
The simplest way to get started is by creating and using your beauty potions in harmony with the phases of the moon.
Though there are eight major lunar phases, it really breaks down into two halves: You’re either growing or shedding, expanding or contracting, breathing in or breathing out, nourishing or eliminating. Though it may seem tricky at first, as you learn to apply each of these phases to your beauty and well-being routine, the process becomes immensely pleasurable and empowering—and the results very noticeable.
The lion’s share of your skin- and body-care potions are most powerful when created at the new moon and set out to the heavens until the silver lady reaches fullness. The idea here is to draw all the beautifying and magical energy of the ingredients into the potion as it soaks up cosmic vibrations. (Body scrubs, facial exfoliants, cleansers, and clarifying potions work well when created during a waning moon, when the energy of clearing and shedding is in play.)
I’ve conjured three divine potions to help you shine your brightest this winter, each infused with celestial power. So on the next new moon, gather your ingredients and follow this simple ritual:
Set your intention. Take a deep breath. Focus your mind on the results you wish for, creating a strong visual and really feeling it.
Concoct. As you mix the potion, keep that focus going. See each ingredient infusing your potion with its magic and its beautifying benefits. Notice the smile spreading across your face and the joyous feelings that arise when you see yourself glowing with radiant beauty!
Let it marinate. Place your potion outside (if the weather cooperates), or on a windowsill at the new moon, and leave it there until the moon is full. This allows the potion to “set,” the ingredients to fully mingle and reach full potency, and the light of the heavens to charge it.
Give thanks. A sincere nod to the gifts of nature and cosmic guidance goes a long way. Love is the highest vibration you can give and receive.
Glow. When your potion is fully charged, use it with the same intention you poured into it. Enjoy the ritual of anointing yourself with its scent and texture and, most of all, the megawatt energy it carries. See? You sparkle.
STARLIGHT GLOW
Body Oil Spray
Yields approximately 3½ oz.
2 oz. grapeseed oil
1½ oz. sunflower oil
1 tablespoon rosehip oil
½ teaspoon vegetable glycerin
1 teaspoon pearlized mica powder
In a 4 oz. glass spray bottle, combine the grapeseed and sunflower oils. (It’s best to use a small funnel when trying to get ingredients into a potion bottle.) Add the rosehip oil and glycerin, and swirl clockwise to blend. Drop in the mica powder, then give it a vigorous swirl until you can see the shimmer blending into the oil completely. Cap tightly, and be sure to give the bottle a good “stirring” before each use to blend the sparkle.
In addition to the goddess-level power of rosehip oil, this potion contains a few extra-special ingredients to caress your skin with dewy moisture. It’s a gorgeous combination of nutrient-dense skin foods that won’t leave you feeling oily and lots of fertile creation energy. And though the holiday season is your time to shine especially bright, this blend provides a sexy sheen all year through.
Grapeseed Oil Moon-ruled and mineral-rich grapeseed oil feeds the skin with proteins and vitamin E but is light enough to moisturize without clogging. Magically, it draws abundance and fertility.
Sunflower Oil Solar-powered and fertile, sunflower grants wisdom, joy, and good health. Rich in linoleic acid, it helps build and maintain a healthy skin barrier, which 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. It also nourishes with vitamins A, C, and D.
Glycerin Vegetable glycerin is a naturally occurring compound in plant-based fats. It is a humectant that draws moisture from the air onto your skin, keeping it dewy and hydrated without oiliness, making it an excellent moisturizer for all skin types.
BEAUTY WITCH TIP Always use colored-glass sand jars for setting your potions out to the heavens to protect precious ingredients from too much heat, light, or cold, which can affect them even on a windowsill.
CELESTIAL CELEBRATION
Beauty Cocktail Per cocktail
1 teaspoon elderflowers
1 teaspoon linden flowers
½ teaspoon lemon
1 teaspoon grated ginger
½ teaspoon coconut nectar
Champagne (or sparkling water)
Begin by preparing flower tea: place linden and elder flowers in a cup of water that’s just heated, but not boiling. Let them steep for at least 20 minutes as the water cools. Strain the tea into a cocktail shaker (or a bullet-style blender cup with cap if you don’t have one), then add the lemon, ginger, and coconut nectar. Shake well, pour into a glass, and top with champagne or sparkling water. Garnish with fresh lemon zest, and raise your glass to the heavens!
I always favor a cocktail that has health and beauty benefits. This festive sip brings together healing flowers, immune-boosters, and abundant magic with a feisty flavor that pairs well with faerie food and seasonal soirees. Do enjoy it!
Elder and Linden Flowers Elder and linden both fight colds and flu effectively. With high levels of vitamin C and an ability to manage fever, this pair also provides
a calming, relaxing effect and the magic of healing and protection.
Lemon Lunar lemon cleanses and detoxifies, which aids in keeping your system healthy and your skin bright. Loaded with vitamin C, it boosts the immune system, and bears magical gifts of love and happiness.
Ginger This fiery root is an excellent digestive, blood sugar regulator, and circulation booster which keeps the body warm and the skin radiant. It is a bringer of love and success … with a dash of money magic.
MOON GLIMMER
Facial Balm
Yields approximately 4½ oz.
2 oz. meadow foam oil
1 oz. avocado oil
1 oz. candelilla wax
1 tablespoon rosehip oil
18 drops ylang ylang essential oil
1 teaspoon fine pearlized mica powder
Note: Mineral mica powder, though completely natural, has come under fire for labor policies and sustainability issues. Synthetic mica powder is made in a lab but from natural materials and does not contain plastic. Please source consciously.
In a heat-safe glass canning jar or measuring cup, combine the meadow foam and avocado oils. Place the glass container into a large pot and fill the pot with water until it reaches just above the level of the oils. Turn the flame on low. Now add the candelilla wax to the oils and stir. Allow the water to heat slowly, which will melt the wax into the oils, but don’t bring it to a boil: You want the wax to melt completely but not to heat the oils too high, as that can cause rancidity as well as diminishing the efficacy of the potion. When the wax is fully melted—it will turn clear and the mixture will be smooth—pour the liquid into an airtight glass jar that has a lid. (If you are using a canning jar to melt the wax, you can just keep it in there.) Drop in the rosehip and ylang ylang, stirring well to combine. Add the mica powder, making sure it blends in completely to ensure an even application. Allow the balm to cool. Cap it tightly to store.
This, my lunar loves, will quickly become a potion you simply cannot live without. This one is an absolute lifesaver for skin that’s been sapped of vital moisture, especially during the cold and dry winter months. It has a gorgeous velvety texture that’s pure pleasure to apply, potent anti-aging ingredients, a light uplifting scent, and a level of hydrating softness that moisturizer alone will never quite understand. Oh, and then there’s the glow! Just the right amount of subtle sheen to look impossibly dazzling even on the dreariest of days. Of course, feel free to make a second batch with an amped-up amount of glimmer for those special evenings. And do experiment with different shades! This gives the perfect naturally-lit-from-within tone, but if you’re a fan of highlighters you’ll surely want to play with different colors and intensities.
Though this has been conjured specifically for the face, you can use it anywhere on the body that needs some extra love. Try it on parched elbows, heels, forearms, etc.—just give it a moment to absorb before dressing. And do anoint your lips! This makes for a very pretty pout.
One of the great aphrodisiacs, ylang ylang is also a perennial favorite for boosting circulation to the cells, which, together with its high levels of antioxidants, keeps skin firm while softening and preventing fine lines. It is soothing to irritated skin, antiseptic, and offers a happy, sweet scent. It is blended here with some of the richest oils you can treat your skin to and the beauty magic of Venus for a moon-ruled superstar potion.
Meadow Foam Oil Made of 98 percent fatty acid, this oil is an anti-aging warrior. Similar to the skin’s natural sebum, it creates a protective outer layer that locks moisture in while simultaneously delivering it deep into your epidermal layer. High in antioxidants, it also has superior firming abilities and feels like the soft caress of petals.
Avocado Oil Rich and sensual, avocado oil has long been associated with beauty and love magic. Ripe with beauty fats, it is an excellent moisturizer high in vitamin E. It fights the signs of aging and feeds your skin while soothing inflammation and breakouts. It is also a noted aphrodisiac.
Rosehip Oil This superior moisturizing oil is extracted from the fruit of the rose after the petals have fallen away. Penetrating deep into the skin, it hydrates and moisturizes without causing breakouts or clogging. It boasts a natural retinol in the form of beta carotene from vitamin A, which promotes cellular turnover, repairs tissue, and builds tissue deep within the skin that supports firmness. It also contains high levels of vitamin C, stimulating new collagen and repairing skin while protecting against new UV damage.
Beauty Witch Tip:Before the liquid cools, pour a small amount of balm into a travel-size jar and pop it into your handbag. Now you have glow-on-the-go for a quick touch-up anytime you like!
Well, my celestial beauties, I wish you every happiness and a cauldron full of abundance this season and always. Shine brightly, my loves!
