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The facialists at Salon C. Stellar use the Zodiac Botanical Elixirs from Children of Earth Skincare, a blend of plant oils, essential oils, and adaptogenic mushrooms, which are actually excellent neurocosmetics developed by Arabella von Nesselrode-Reichenstein, following the teachings of neuroscientist Claudia Aguirre and aesthetician Azadeh Ovaici. They are born from the combination of plants and astrology to improve general well-being and achieve a state of relaxation . Thus, the Astro Facial integrates the approach with neurocosmetics , recognizing the connection between the brain and the skin . Neurodermatology has demonstrated the impact of chronic stress on accelerating aging and deteriorating the skin microbiota, through the accumulation of cortisol and adrenaline. And numerous studies have demonstrated the anti-aging effectiveness of oxytocin, the hormone secreted during deep relaxation . "The application ritual was developed with Paddy Cavendish, Kate Moss 's breathing coach ," explains Arabella von Nesselrode-Reichenstein. "Warm three drops of the botanical elixir in your hands and place your palms in front of your face. With your eyes closed, inhale deeply for seven seconds, then exhale for nine. Repeat six times for an immediate relaxing effect."

The moon’s gravitational pull creates the ocean tides, and since the body is made up of around 60% water, people believe that the lunar phases subtly influence our own ‘inner tides’ – our energy shifts to our emotions. “Since the moon rules the tides, and our bodies are largely water, many believe the Full Moon affects our internal waters. For example, a study found that the gravitational pull of the moon in different phases may affect the fluid compartments of the human body, altering cardiovascular functions. (Ujjwal Chakraborty & Tusharkanti Ghosh, “A study on the physical fitness index, heart rate and blood pressure in different phases of lunar month on male human subjects,” PubMed, 2013),” says Bella von Nesselrode, MCMA, Forbes Longevity Contributor.

Editor review: "I was intrigued and excited to try the world’s first 'astro facial'—unlike anything I’d heard of before. The process began before I even arrived, as I shared my date and place of birth so the team could determine my moon sign. This allowed them to tailor the treatment to me, and even the massage oil had been carefully blended using ingredients associated with the Gemini season, adding a unique astrological touch. What struck me most was the thoughtful design of the entire experience. Every step felt seamlessly integrated, blending a scientific approach with the principles of neurocosmetics, highlighting the deep connection between mind and skin. I left feeling nourished inside and out; calm, restored and radiant. The effects lasted for days. My skin looked healthy, clear and balanced, and I experienced no breakouts or irritation. Brands used: Children of Earth Skincare, the clinic's own cleansing blend, plumping massage balm and a combination of cosmeceuticals, Dermalux MD LED panel.

"Scents are a direct shortcut to the brain region that regulates moods," von Nesselrode-Reichenstein explains. Each client leaves with a personalized oil to extend the benefits at home. At home: Follow von Nesselrode-Reichenstein’s aromatherapy guide: Use your sun sign’s scent in the morning to set the right tone for the day (calming neroli for anxious Aquarius, balancing rose for introspective Pisces). Use your rising sign’s scent to boost confidence (ginger for Leo to regain focus, bergamot to lower cortisol for Gemini). Use your moon sign’s scent at night for emotional care (grounding incense for overthinking Libra, clary sage for Scorpio to boost oxytocin and sensuality). Pro tip: "Apply three drops of oil to your palms, rub them together, and cup them over your face. Close your eyes, inhale deeply for seven seconds, exhale for nine seconds. Repeat six times for an instant calming effect."

To begin my journey, I consulted Arabella von Nesselrode, a skincare expert and founder of astro-skincare brand Children of Earth Skincare. We started by looking at the traits traditionally associated with my star sign. She tells me, “When out of balance, ancient wisdom believed Libras to be vulnerable to nervous exhaustion. So, Libras need to restore balance to the mind and skin.” This is further highlighted by Libras’ aesthetic and harmony-seeking nature. To honour this through self-care, she says, “Balancing and beautifying products like moisturising oils and skin tone-equalising creams are recommended. “Journalling has also been proven to relieve anxiety and activate reward-seeking areas of the brain through the hand-mind connection.” Soothing activities like this, she says, can also include tending to plants or colouring, which are both relatively mindless activities that still give you a visual payoff when they’re done. for two weeks, I took every other evening off to myself, lathered myself in lotions and oils, gua sha’d the muscles in my face into submission and vented out my innermost worries into an unsuspecting notebook. And you know what? I’ve never felt better.

Skincare is tapping into the brain-skin connection, with products like Starblood Hand Cream with NAD+, £8, childrenofearthskincare.com, which can reduce stress at a cellular level. “Skin products will target neurotransmitters. Natural ingredients like reishi mushroom and frankincense will lead the way,” explains wellness expert Bella von Nesselrode.

Goldbergh, a brand renowned for its cutting-edge activewear, teamed up with the distinguished Countess Arabella von Nesselrode to host a spectacular event at the Bucharest Avant Première Marriott, where they unveiled a year-long initiative designed to redefine sports fashion and personal care. Thus, guests who mention "Bella" at checkout will receive an unparalleled personal care package, which includes a 500 lei voucher for treatments from the acclaimed Kevo Beauty Clinic, luxury hair care products from Beauty Free Europe, as well as the world's first neurocosmetic hand cream from Children of Earth Skincare and Dr. Claudia Aguirre, supported by NAD+, neuroscience and advanced mycology, clinically proven to rejuvenate hands and reduce visible aging by up to 8 years. Guests left the event inspired by the vision of Countess Arabella von Nesselrode and the innovative offerings from Goldbergh and Colmar. This collaboration promises to set a new precedent for luxury, combining fashion, science and the best in self-care.

At the heart of each personalised blend is mushroom extract, a concentrate of active ingredients beneficial for skin health, which reduce the formation of wrinkles and increase collagen production for a radiant, firm and astrologically beautiful complexion.

The Astro Facial fuses skin science and astrology, based on the profound impact of the mind on skin health. Using a Zodiac oil specially tailored to the needs of your moon sign (this is deduced from your time and place of birth, info gleaned in advance, while booking) in combination with a hypnotic, moon-specific soundtrack played over headphones as you lie beneath a hospital-grade Dermalux MD LED light treatment.

Cosmic Skin Care Expert Arabella Nesselrode 's Care Tips According to Zodiac Sign

At the end of the treatment, you will receive a moon sign facial oil from Children of Earth Skincare, which is also used to massage your face throughout, to take home and continue the treatment at home! I'll actually be repurchasing this when I finish my bottle as it makes my skin feel silky soft and highly nourished when I wake up each morning.

The salon uses products from the Children of Earth Skincare range: 12 facial oils – one for each zodiac sign – ranging from an anti-inflammatory, confidence-boosting oil for empathetic Aquariuses to a soothing, antimicrobial oil for driven Capricorns, costing £55 each. But the best part is the luxuriously long facial massage, using my specific Taurus zodiac oil. It contains apricot kernel and raspberry seed, plus rosemary oil to stimulate concentration and alertness, whilst combating overthinking (a major issue for Tauruses, apparently) and ylang ylang to relieve stress and depression. When I leave the facial, my skin is glowing. Friends compliment me all day, wanting to know why my complexion looks so dewy and bright. The proof is in the upkeep. I get to keep my £55 bottle of zodiac oil, which Arabella von Nesselrode-Reichenstein, founder of Children of Earth Skincare, encourages me to use daily, as well as a Virgo oil (another £55) for my ‘rising’ sign – the planetary influence that was rising at the time of my birth, something that can be discovered through free astrology websites.

Children of Earth’s face oils are inspired by the skin-brain connection of every zodiac and their unique stress response. All twelve blends are designed to have a balancing effect, body and mind, which supports healthy skin function – and the botanical ingredients deliver the glow we’re all in the market for.

The secret ingredient? Besides the facial oils, cleansing balms, and gels, what makes the facial special is the zodiac oil from Children of Earth Skincare, which the facialist creates based on the client's birth time, date, and place. It is a mix of natural ingredients selected through astrobotany, which - as explained by the brand's founder, Arabella von Nesselrode-Reichenstein - is the ancient belief that every plant is connected to a planet, which can indicate how to treat any issue within our body.

Stressful situations—a divorce or breakup, job loss, a particularly fear-inducing flight pattern— tend to show up on our skin. Anyone who has experienced a period of grief knows that their face often reveals the pain they feel, and there’s a reason why: The skin and the brain share the same machinery and can communicate with each other, Dr. Aguirre tells Allure. This skin-brain link is established early—very early, in fact. While in the womb, we have embryonic tissue known as the ectoderm. “This is what we call a germinal layer, and it gives rise to both the brain and the skin,” explains Dr. Aguirre.

Skincare guru Bella von Nesselrode shares her secret: repurposed pumpkin bits can work wonders. She divulged the recipes for some clinically backed treatments using the cast-offs to tackle eczema, hair thinning, and other skin woes. Bella explains: "Pumpkin extract is great in skincare, as it contains many components that can have beneficial effects on the skin. "It is high in vitamins A, C, and E, and contains flavonoids and carotenoids, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-histaminic and antimicrobial effects."She heralds pumpkin seed oil for its healing prowess - aiding skin repair, soothing chronic hand eczema, and potentially staving off hair loss, as evidenced by research advocating scalp massages. Yet, there's a catch. Bella points out: "Pumpkin spice doesn’t actually include pumpkin. So, sadly, drinking that pumpkin spice latte won’t have the same impact!"

The skin-Mercury axis Not convinced? Well, friends, here comes the science. Enter: Bella von Nesselrode, member of the Complementary Medical Association and founder of Children of Earth Skincare. 'The skin-brain connection is called psychodermatology,' explains von Nesselrode. 'We understand the link between the gut and the brain, but an increasing body of research is telling us that the skin and the brain are more linked than we ever imagined, through a series of neurotransmitters that respond to our mental state. So. if our brain is knocked sideways by the retrograde, of course, our skin will be impacted as well.'

Astrologer, Inbaal Honigman, is clear that a mistake she sees all too often is people taking their readings far too literally. 'Astrology is not a science, but rather an art,' she tells ELLE UK. 'When predicting the month ahead, the astrologer may see a change of scenery for you, and will creatively suggest you may be moving house or even a change of premises at work.' If, in the weeks following a reading, you haven't moved house or you haven't changed premises somewhere in your life, Honigman is clear that while you may be inclined to think that the horoscope was 'wrong', it might actually just indicate that the signs and planets are nodding towards something beginning to change in your world. Not everything will happen instantaneously. 'Remedy this by reading your horoscope with an open mind, and adapting your reading to the terms that align with your life as you know it,' she advises. "Don't ignore your moon sign."

Following a double cleansing and classic extractions, I receive a massage with facial oil dedicated to my moon sign, Aries. Children of Earth Skincare ’s Aries facial oil , which offers “infinitely customizable, celestial products powered by astrobotany, neuroscience, and mushrooms,” combines lavender, frankincense, and Astroshroom to balance the often-excessive energies of this sign.

As mentioned, the trend comes from a greater demand for personalised products. ‘We’ve definitely noticed a lot more demand for personalised skincare and advice,’ notes Arabella. ‘In a collaboration with raye the store in Notting Hill, we interviewed a sample of customers who all had stress buildup which manifested itself through facial tension in the jaw or forehead – but we quickly found that the solution to easing this tension differed from person to person. It’s about understanding how that individual works, so we offer a facial tension analysis as well as spiritual guidance by way of an astrological reading (which complements any skincare routine) to better inform our recommendations. We celebrate these differences and relish the challenge of helping people restore balance.’ So, how would this kind of personalisation work in action? Arabella gives us Gemini and Pisces as an example: ‘In ancient astrology, Geminis were traditionally considered to be prone to nervous exhaustion. Our advice is, since they are ruled by Mercury, that Geminis should be careful to avoid burnout, as well as getting run-down. The best skincare approach for this sign is to incorporate ingredients proven to relax and restore vitality to skin – power ingredients such as ginger oil and grapefruit oil are proven to ease muscle tension in the face, as well as being anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and sensitivity reducing. Our in-house astrologer, Inbaal Honigman, recommends Air signs like Gemini to be original and come up with their own combinations of products to work for them."

Handwriting forces us to slow down and smell the ink. Another often-overlooked benefit of writing by hand is that it just plain forces us to slow down and enjoy the moment — a novelty in today’s world where immediacy reigns. Mindful writing rests the brain, potentially sparking creativity, according to neuroscientist Dr. Claudia Aguirre.