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  As autumn’s last breath curls through the air and the nights stretch ever longer, we approach Samhain , the Witch’s New Year. Falling on October 31st, Samhain (pronounced Sow-in or Sah-win, depending on your tradition) marks the turning of the Wheel into the dark half of the year,  a time of reflection, remembrance, and renewal. It is said that on this night, the veil between worlds grows thin, allowing spirits, ancestors, and unseen energies to move more freely. For witches, pagans, and spiritual seekers alike, it’s a sacred moment to honour the cycle of death and rebirth. To pause, breathe, and listen to the whisper of the unseen. A Time of Ancestral Reverence Samhain is not about fear , it’s about connection.Traditionally, candles were lit to guide beloved spirits home, and places were set at the table for those who had crossed the veil. Families shared food, stories, and warmth with both the living and the departed, remembering that love doesn’t end — it transforms. To honour your own ancestors, you might:🕯️ Light a candle and speak their names aloud.🍎 Leave an offering of food or drink a symbolic “supper” to share with the spirits.🌿 Decorate your altar with photographs, heirlooms, or objects that hold memory. Grief becomes a kind of devotion here the act of remembering is itself a ritual. The Turning of the Wheel Samhain is the final harvest , the time when fields rest, leaves decay, and seeds lie waiting beneath the frost. It reminds us that even endings are fertile ground for beginnings. It’s the season to slow down, to gather your inner fire, and to prepare for the long nights ahead. So Journal. Rest. Reflect. Ask yourself what you wish to release before winter, and what intentions you wish to plant in its place. This is not the end , it’s the quiet before transformation. Ways to Celebrate Samhain Host a candlelit gathering. Share food and stories with friends or family, and take a moment to honour those who have passed.Cleanse your space. Burn herbs or incense, symbolically clearing out the old year’s energy to make way for renewal.Divination. Tarot, scrying, pendulums, Samhain is the perfect night to seek insight as the veil thins.Practice gratitude. For the lessons, the losses, and the growth that brought you to this moment. The Beauty in the Darkness Samhain invites us to make peace with the dark , to understand that shadow is not the enemy, but the balance of light.When we walk with our ghosts ,(both personal and ancestral), we find wisdom hidden in the silence. As the candles burn low and the frost begins to bite, may we remember:Death is only change, and endings are the beginning of every spell reborn. 🖤 Blessed Samhain, dear ones.

Persephone: The Autumn Queen of Shadow and Bloom (Image by Noctis Artistry) When the leaves begin to fall and the air turns to whispers, she rises. Persephone, daughter of spring and queen of the underworld, crossing the threshold between life and death with every turning season. Her story begins in a sunlit meadow, surrounded by flowers and ends in shadow.According to ancient texts, Hades violently abducted Persephone, seizing her while she gathered blooms and dragging her into the depths of the underworld. What made this betrayal even crueller was that Zeus, her father, had already agreed to give her away. In those early days below, she resisted, refusing food, longing for her mother, her grief mirrored by Demeter’s sorrow on the earth above. Crops withered, the world darkened. And then came the fateful fruit the pomegranate. Hades tricked her into eating a few seeds, and in doing so, bound her to his realm. For it was known: whoever consumed food from the underworld could never fully return to the land of the living. Thus, she was destined to walk between both worlds. Over time, Persephone grew into her power. What began as captivity became transformation from stolen daughter to sovereign Queen. In the end, she ruled beside Hades not as his possession, but as his equal, choosing to divide her time between earth and underworld. Her return each spring marks the rebirth of the world, and her descent each autumn reminds us that endings are not always final. It is this duality sorrow and strength, innocence and authority, bloom and decay — that breathes through our Persephone Perfume, a gothic fragrance crafted for those who walk between two worlds. 🌑 A Fragrance Born of Transition Our Persephone Perfume is an androgynous gothic perfume, an autumnal fragrance that balances warmth and depth with quiet, lingering sweetness. It is not delicate. It is not loud.It moves like smoke through twilight bold, soft, strange, and unforgettable. It was designed for those who find beauty in contradictions, Lovers of dusk who still chase the dawn, souls who find peace in the pull of opposites.   🌹 Wearing the Ritual To wear Persephone is to summon transformation itself.It clings to skin and fabric like memory, unfolding in layers dark fruit, ghostly bloom, and the faintest trace of earth after rain. Wear it when the air cools and the veil thins.Layer it with The Crone Perfume for grounding or The Witch Perfume for heightened sensuality.Let it become your invocation  a whisper of the underworld and a promise of return.   🖤 The Heart of the Brand For us at VE Cosmetics, Persephone represents the eternal balance we live by, ethics and artistry, beauty and rebellion, light and shadow. Like all our creations, Persephone Perfume is vegan, cruelty-free, and crafted with conscience. It is an ode to those who embrace every facet of themselves, the soft, the fierce, the haunted, the divine. Because true beauty is not found in perfection, but in transformation.And every transformation begins with descent. Persephone. A scent for those who walk between worlds. 🕯️  

Mabon – The Autumn Equinox: A Ritual for Balance & Renewal As the wheel of the year turns, today we arrive at Mabon, the Autumn Equinox — a sacred point of perfect balance between day and night. For just a moment, light and dark hold equal sway before we descend into the shadow half of the year. Named for a Welsh deity often associated with youth and rebirth, Mabon is a festival of gratitude, harvest, and reflection. Ancient peoples marked this time by celebrating the bounty of the land, honouring both the life-giving sun and the darkening nights that whisper of rest and renewal. For us modern witches, it’s a reminder to pause: to give thanks for what we’ve gathered (whether harvests, lessons, or personal victories), and to prepare for the inward journey of autumn and winter. A Cruelty-Free Ritual for Mabon Here’s a simple ritual you can perform today, needing only a few mindful moments and your magickal tools of choice. 1. Create Your Sacred SpaceLight a candle in autumnal tones — gold, rust, or deep crimson. Let this flame represent the balance of light and dark. If incense calls to you, choose scents like patchouli, myrrh, or cedar to ground your energy. 2. Offer GratitudeGather three small objects that symbolise what you’re grateful for this year (they might be crystals, a handwritten note, or even your favourite lipstick from your altar of beauty). Hold each one and speak aloud your thanks. 3. Balance Within & WithoutUsing a mirror, trace a symbol of balance on your skin — a pentacle, a spiral, or simply a line down the centre of your face. You can do this with eyeliner, lipstick, or shadow; beauty becomes your ritual tool here. As you draw, affirm:“I honour the light, I honour the dark, I hold them both within my heart.” 4. Release & PrepareWrite one thing you wish to release as you enter the darker half of the year. Fold the paper, place it under your candle, and let the flame’s energy transform it. 5. Close With AbundanceFinish your ritual by anointing yourself with a colour that makes you feel powerful — perhaps a rich red lip, a blackened wing, or a dusting of shimmer. Carry that glamour as your magickal shield for the season ahead. Living Magick, Everyday Mabon is not just about a single ritual — it’s about carrying balance into our daily lives. As witches of compassion, we weave this through in every choice we make, from choosing cruelty-free beauty to nurturing the earth that sustains us. Today, as the veil of balance falls across the world, take a moment to breathe, to celebrate your harvests, and to step into the shadows with intention. Blessed Mabon, Coven. 🍂✨

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  🖤 World Vegan Day 2024 – Christspiracy & Conscious Rebellion 🖤 Happy World Vegan Day from the shadows... At VE Cosmetics, veganism isn’t a trend — it’s the backbone of everything we do. From blood-red lipsticks to otherworldly palettes, every product is 100% cruelty-free and created without compromise. This year, we’re proud to have donated towards the making of Christspiracy — a powerful documentary that dares to explore the links between religion and animal rights. As a practicing Witch with a deep curiosity in spiritual paths, our founder Lynsey believes it’s vital to challenge the systems that allow cruelty to hide behind doctrine. We supported this film in the hope that it reaches those still using religion as a reason not to change — and opens their eyes to the truth. Compassion should never come with conditions. 🕯️ On this World Vegan Day, we stand tall in our belief that ethics, spirit, and rebellion belong together. Always have. Always will. #WorldVeganDay #Christspiracy #VECosmetics #CrueltyFree #VeganBeauty #WitchOwned #EthicalNotOptional #SpiritualRebellion #GothicEthics  

  Hecate: Keeper of Crossroads & Muse of the Midsummer Moons Palette   There is a goddess who walks between worlds, who holds keys to hidden doors, and whose torches illuminate the shadowed path. Her name is Hecate  and it is to her we dedicate our Midsummer Moons Palette. In every sweep of shadow, in every shimmer of moonlight, we see her. She is the guardians of liminal spaces of transitions, thresholds, and the mysteries that belong neither to the living nor the dead, but to those who stand between.   🕯️ Who Is Hecate?   Hecate is an ancient Greek goddess, honored for her dominion over magic, witchcraft, the night, and the moon. She is often depicted holding twin torches, accompanied by dogs and serpents — symbols of guidance, protection, and the underworld.  Unlike many deities who occupy a single domain, Hecate is a mistress of boundaries. She moves freely across sky, earth, and the hidden depths, and she presides over crossroads, both literal and metaphorical.  In some traditions she is three-formed  triple-bodied or triple-faced  watching north, south, east, and west. This triple aspect reinforces her role as a goddess of direction, choice, and hidden power. She is also considered a psychopomp or conductor of souls) , guiding souls, and a keeper of keys those keys that unlock gates, doors, and secrets.    🌙 Midsummer Moons Palette: A Tribute to Hecate’s Light & Shadow When we crafted the Midsummer Moons Palette, we didn’t just create eyeshadows, we created a ritual tool. Each shade is an homage to Hecate’s realms: moonlit silver, deep obsidians, soft grays, and shadows touched by stardust. This palette is for those who seek transformation, who step into darkness without fear, who wish to see with eyes unclouded. It is for those who walk crossroads  not just at twilight, but within their souls. By wearing these shades, you honor Hecate’s presence: in the blending of light and dark, in the subtle transitions of tone, in the power of shadow as protection and revelation.   ✨ Myth Into Magick: How to Use the Palette as Ritual Invoke her presence: At dusk or under moonlight, lift your palette and whisper an intention. Balance light and dark: Combine a ghostly silver with deep charcoal or violet to mirror her dual nature. Crossroads lining: Use a shade to draw a “line” on your eyelid — a symbolic threshold you cross with your gaze. Shadow work: Blend inner corners into deep tones, letting your eyes carry the story of hidden realms. Offer a breath: After you finish, breathe softly into your reflection, an offering to her watching presence.   🖤 Why Hecate Matters to Ve Hecate is not some distant muse, she is a mirror of our ethos. She teaches that power lives in in-between, that beauty can flourish in darkness, that true transformation is found at the edges where light meets shadow. She reminds us that makeup is magick, ritual, and reclamation: the palette is never just colour, but a vessel for intention, for identity, for change.

  Time is a circle, not a line.The old ones called it the Wheel of the Year , a sacred cycle marking the eternal dance of light and shadow, life and decay, birth and return. For those who walk the Pagan or witch’s path, the Wheel is divided into eight Sabbats or seasonal festivals that honour the Earth’s rhythms, the sun’s journey, and the unseen energies that bind us all. You don’t need to be a practicing witch to feel it turning. You only need to notice the world shift ,the scent of rain before spring, the quiet decay of autumn leaves, the hush of winter before rebirth. Below you’ll find each Sabbat, its pronunciation, and the energy it carries through the veil.   🌱 Imbolc (IM-bolk or IM-molk) February 1st–2nd The first whisper of spring.The frost still lingers, but beneath the soil, new life stirs. This is a time for cleansing, inspiration, and gentle beginnings.Light candles to honour Brigid, goddess of the forge, poetry, and renewal. 🕯️ Spell focus: Purification and preparation.   🌸 Ostara (Oh-STAR-ah) Around March 20th–21st (Spring Equinox) Day and night stand equal; the balance before bloom.Ostara celebrates fertility, rebirth, and awakening.Eggs, hares, and budding flowers are ancient symbols of life returning. 🌷 Spell focus: Growth, creativity, new ventures.   ☀️ Beltane (BELL-tayn) April 30th–May 1st The fire festival of passion and union.The veil between worlds thins as life reaches full bloom.Dancing flames, flower crowns, and ribbons weave through this celebration of love, lust, and living magick. 🔥 Spell focus: Desire, manifestation, sacred union. 🌾 Litha (LITH-ah) Around June 20th–21st (Summer Solstice) The sun’s reign at its zenith.Litha honours abundance, strength, and vitality.Bonfires blaze, herbs dry in the warmth, and the Earth overflows with green magick. ☀️ Spell focus: Gratitude, courage, success. 🌻 Lammas / Lughnasadh (LAH-mas / LOO-nah-sah) August 1st The first harvest, when the fruits of our labour are gathered.Bread, grain, and corn honour Lugh, god of skill and craftsmanship.A time to give thanks for the first rewards and to prepare for what’s to come. 🍞 Spell focus: Prosperity, reflection, appreciation.   🍂 Mabon (MAY-bon) Around September 21st–23rd (Autumn Equinox) The second harvest. Day and night once again stand equal.Mabon is a time of balance, gratitude, and letting go. Leaves fall, shadows lengthen, and we prepare to retreat inward. 🍁 Spell focus: Equilibrium, release, introspection. 🕯️ Samhain (SOW-in or SAH-win) October 31st–November 1st The Witch’s New Year.The veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. We honour our ancestors, light candles for the departed, and celebrate the cycle of death and rebirth.Pumpkins glow, spirits stir, and the air hums with memory. 💀 Spell focus: Ancestor work, divination, transformation. ❄️ Yule (YOOL) Around December 21st (Winter Solstice) The longest night, when the sun is reborn. Evergreens, candles, and feasting mark hope’s return amidst darkness. Yule reminds us that even in shadow, light waits to rise again. 🎄 Spell focus: Renewal, protection, rebirth. 🌙 Turning with the Wheel To live by the Wheel of the Year is to live in rhythm, to honour every stage of existence, from bloom to decay, passion to stillness. You don’t need elaborate rituals or altars (though we love both). Simply pause to notice the turning: the scent of rain, the rustle of harvest, the chill that whispers change. Each Sabbat offers a mirror a chance to align your magick, your makeup, and your mindset with the season’s pulse. After all, even beauty follows the moon. 🌒  

🌙Lilith: The Dark Muse 🌙   Some names are whispered rather than spoken. Lilith the first woman, the outcast, the one who refused to kneel.She is the spark of rebellion that burns quietly in every soul that dares to defy expectation. Our Lilith Gel Liner is dedicated to her: to those who carve their own path, who wear defiance like armour, and who find beauty in the shadows. 🖤 Who Is Lilith? Lilith’s story is ancient, her image woven through myth, scripture, and legend. In early Mesopotamian lore, she was a spirit of the night ,powerful, untamed, and feared. Later, in Judaic texts, she was said to be Adam’s first wife, created equal but unwilling to submit. When she refused to bow, she was cast out of Eden...not fallen, but freed. Over centuries, Lilith has evolved from demon to divine feminine archetype, a symbol of independence, sexuality, and raw power. She represents the parts of us the world tries to silence: our confidence, our autonomy, our unrelenting will to choose ourselves. She is the embodiment of every woman (and soul) who has ever said, “No. I will not be less.” 🌑 The Inspiration Behind the Lilith Gel Liner Our Lilith Gel Liner was conjured to channel her energy sleek, and unapologetically bold.It glides like ink across parchment, sharp enough to cut through doubt, deep enough to mirror the night sky she rules. Just as Lilith claimed her power in exile, this liner invites you to define your gaze on your own terms  to draw your lines as boundaries, not cages. Every stroke is a statement: fierce, precise, and eternal. ✨ How to Wear the Energy of Lilith The Rebellion Wing: Carve out a sharp, dramatic flick, a symbol of defiance and self-ownership. The Shadow Veil: Smudge it softly for a smoky, seductive gaze; power doesn’t always shout, sometimes it whispers. The Ritual Line: Use the liner to draw sigil-inspired shapes or crescent wings as offerings to your inner Lilith. This isn’t just eyeliner — it’s empowerment in gel form. 🔥 Why Lilith Speaks to VE At VE Cosmetics, we’ve always stood for ethics, equality, and expression without apology. Lilith’s myth mirrors our own mission, to challenge the old order, to rebel against cruelty, and to embrace the kind of beauty that doesn’t need permission. The Lady Lilith Gel Liner isn’t just a cosmetic. It’s a tribute to independence, to the divine feminine, and to every soul who finds freedom in their shadows. Makeup so good, it must be witchcraft.