Coming Home to Beauty

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!