The Origin

Where Ancient Wisdom Meets the Neuroscience of Skin

Children of Earth Skincare was born from a moment of reckoning. Arabella von Nesselrode-Reichenstein — Master Herbalist and member of the Complementary Medical Association — had spent years navigating the relentless pace of corporate life. The cost was written on her skin and felt in her nervous system: panic attacks, dysregulation, a body in quiet revolt.

What followed was not simply a search for better skincare. It was a deeper inquiry — into the biological conversation between mind and skin, between stress and cellular ageing, between the ancient intelligence of plants and the modern science of the nervous system.

The Science

The Skin–Brain Connection

On day 21 of human embryonic development, the brain and skin emerge from the same tissue — the ectoblast. They are, in the most literal sense, one. Your skin carries 800,000 neurons, 11 metres of nerves, and approximately 200 sensory receptors per cm³. It is not merely a barrier. It is a second brain.

This is the foundation of neurocosmetics — the emerging field that Children of Earth Skincare is built upon. When we formulate, we are not simply targeting the surface. We are speaking to the nervous system: calming cortisol, supporting GABA pathways, and creating the conditions for skin to heal from the inside out.

Our neurocosmetic formulation was developed in collaboration with Dr. Claudia Aguirre, neuroscientist and leading authority on the brain-skin axis, and guided by the expertise of the neuroscience community and studies. 

Science and ceremony, held in equal regard.

The Philosophy

Ancestral Botany, Reborn

Arabella's botanical practice is rooted in the tradition of 16th-century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper and the rhythms of the Celtic calendar — a living framework that honours the intelligence of seasonal cycles and the healing power of the earth. Each ingredient is chosen not only for its biochemical action, but for its energetic resonance.

We call this astrobotany: the marriage of celestial timing, plant intelligence, and nervous system science. It is ancient. It is rigorous. And it works.

Recognition

As Seen In

Children of Earth Skincare is widely regarded as a wellness thought leader: with an approach that has been featured in Harpers Bazaar, the Daily Mail, Tatler, Forbes, and Women's Health, and was a finalist for the London Startup Awards 2025. Arabella has been appointed to lead workshop series at Six Senses Place London and has partnered with Tramp Health — London's luxury longevity and wellness club — as well as launching a longevity programme at Kioku by Endo, the private tower of Raffles OWO London.