You may have seen “retrograde” in the title of this article and immediately started running for the hills. I get it. As an astrology enthusiast, I’d be inclined to do the same usually, but I’ve learned something recently. Retrogrades are often an invitation for deeper introspection. They invite us to take a look at what feels out of alignment and Venus’s retrograde (beginning today, October 3 and lasting through November 14) is no different. There’s so much to unpack with this one, but one category that comes up for review during this time is, of course, beauty—your favorites and values in this department.
Naturally, it’s also a good time to re-evaluate what is and isn’t working in your beauty and self-care routine. Astrologers even say that the beauty routine you’ve loved and used in the past may suddenly start to feel “off” during this time. To get a little more insight on what to expect during Venus retrograde and how you can use this time to deepen your relationship with beauty, keep scrolling. I’ve also shared my favorites that channel major Venusian energy during this transit.
What happens during Venus retrograde?
We tend to focus so much on Mercury when it goes retrograde, but Venus is the less discussed cousin that can affect so many aspects of your life, but mainly, your relationship with beauty. Astrologer Karolina Sucre first shared what you need to know about Venus and what to expect from this transit. “Venus rules love, beauty, relationships, pleasure, money, and our values, so when Venus goes retrograde, all of those areas can come up for review,” she says. It’s very much a, ‘Wait… do I even like this anymore?’ kind of transit. You might start questioning what you want romantically, what you’re attracted to, how you’re spending your money, or even what makes you feel beautiful.”
Human design expert and LilFox director of intuitive beauty Mikaela McLean says that there are so many other layers to this that can help you gain more clarity. Human Design is a self-knowledge tool that shows you your unique energy blueprint using your birth time, date, and place of birth—exactly like a birth chart! The only difference is that it focuses on how your aura is designed to function rather than on planetary placements. “In Human Design, you can actually look at your Venus placements for a deeper dive into this concept,” McLean says. “Venus is the seventh planetary placement from the top of the chart and is marked with the traditional female symbol. You’ll have two: a Venus placement on both sides of the chart in black and red, representing conscious and unconscious themes.”
McLean says there’s also a little more you should know about this particular Venus retrograde. “[It] travels from Scorpio back into Libra, moving through Human Design Gates 44, 28, 50 and finally ending in 32. There is a lot there around instinct, meaning, values and what has enduring value. To me, that makes the invitation even clearer: look closely at what is worth keeping in your life.”
Venus Retrograde’s Unexpected Beauty Side Effects
Because Venus is so deeply connected to beauty, Sucre says that you can suddenly start looking at yourself differently. “Things you normally love about yourself might feel off, or you might suddenly decide you hate your hair, your clothes, your makeup, your entire aesthetic,” she explains. “But before changing everything, I think it’s worth getting curious about why you suddenly feel that way. Do you genuinely want something different, or have you been consuming too much of someone else’s idea of beauty? Venus retrograde is a really good time to ask yourself: ‘What makes me feel beautiful when I’m not performing beauty for anyone else?'”
McLean also adds that traditional astrological wisdom states that Venus retrograde isn’t the ideal time for a dramatic aesthetic reinvention—sorry! “I wouldn’t suddenly cut bangs, completely change your hair color, or electively and extremely alter your face because you’re having a rough retrograde,” she says.
How can you use Venus retrograde to re-evaluate your beauty routine?
Instead of immediately looking outside of yourself for your next aesthetic treatment, Venus retrograde invites you to re-evaluate what’s bringing you joy. While you can apply this to your beauty routine, dig beyond that and think about what makes you feel like your best self. Basically, it’s the perfect time to go within. Sure, you can start with your personal aesthetic, asking yourself, “Is my current beauty routine bringing me the results I want? Do I feel beautiful when using my current makeup selects?” But more deeply, “What needs to change so that I feel like my most beautiful self?” This is definitely something to journal about.
McLean says there are so many ways to approach this. “I think there is something very Venusian about becoming more discerning about beauty,” McLean says. “You don’t need more, you need to know what you love. During Venus retrograde, I would look at your own Venus placements and get curious: What do I actually find beautiful? What do I genuinely value? What am I attracted to? What have I decided is beautiful because I love it, and what have I absorbed from everyone else, from trends, social media, etc.? Then take it beyond physical appearance….What do you spend your time, money and energy on? Look at Venus retrograde as an opportunity to become more yourself.”
McLean also says that it’s time to return to the rituals that make you feel beautiful. “Use the expensive cream you’ve been saving—Venus encourages indulgence,” she adds. “I’m an aesthetician, so I will never tell someone to stop caring about beauty. I think beauty rituals can be incredibly grounding. But there is a difference between caring for yourself and constantly trying to correct yourself. My Venus retrograde beauty prescription is ultimately very simple: spend time (the ultimate luxury) discovering what you actually love, then edit your life until you can see its signature everywhere.”
In addition to the inner work, Sucre also likes to make it tangible. “Wear the perfume that makes you feel incredible,” she says. “Do the skincare routine. Put on the outfit you’ve been ‘saving.’ Take yourself somewhere beautiful. Venus is pleasure, and Venus retrograde doesn’t mean we stop enjoying Venus. It gives us a chance to figure out which pleasures are actually ours.”
The Perfect Beauty Swaps for Venus Retrograde
If you are auditing your routine this Venus retrograde or are just looking for a little extra luxury, below are some of next-level good swaps that you won’t regret buying.
Confession time: I don’t wear lipstick often because some of the colors just look like a bit too much on me. But, this lipstick-balm formula quickly became a new favorite because it provides the perfect wash of color on the lips without looking overdone. It also leaves my lips feeling luxuriously soft. All the shades are good, but my current favorite is this deep berry hue called Uncensored.
These K-beauty masks are a great and pretty inexpensive way to treat yourself to a little spa day at home. I like to leave these on for a few hours in the evening and when I take the mask off, my skin is so plump, hydrated, and bouncy. My other favorite sheet mask from Biodance is the Hydro Cera-nol Real Deep Mask ($19).
There’s nothing more Venusian than this gorgeous, divinely-inspired eye shadow palette from Vieve. It’s been a longtime favorite of mine for it’s rich, beautiful tones. It’s also so pigmented and easy to work with. It’s also on currently on sale so snag one while you can!
I’m a big fan of Dieux and its heavenly skincare formulas. Instant Angel is the perfect moisturizer for dehydrated, barrier-damaged skin. It’s so luxe and a more cost-efficient way to really pamper your skin if luxury creams (which I still love—shoutout to La Mer) aren’t in your budget RN. I mean, just look at Diex co-founder Charlotte Palermino’s skin—her gorgeous glow says everything you need to know about how good this formula is.
Fresh’s Rose Deep Hydration Toner is infused with real rose petals—it doesn’t get any more indulgent and luxurious than that!
Whenever I’m feeling a little *extra,* I’ll whip out this gorgeous liquid shadow from r.e.m. and it is magical. There are so many good shades (like Fembot), but this rich, shimmery pinkish-red shade called Siren looks so gorgeous on the lids. It’s perfect for swipe-and-go looks since it looks so great on its own.
Osea’s Undaria Algae Body Butter is a staple in my routine, especially during the colder months and now it comes in a limited edition bergamot and vanilla scent which is to die for. The rich hydration it offers is just delicious, but never greasy. It’s one bodycare product I make sure to never run out of.
Anecdotes by Artists is newer on the beauty scene, but its fragrances are simply divine. Upon launch, the brand gifted us with three scents, but this fruit-floral scent feels the most decadent for Venus retrograde with notes of strawberry leaf, pink rhubarb, jasmine absolute, and tuberose milk.
McLean and I share a love for Anima Mundi’s rose powder. McLean says that aside from using it in skincare, it’s perfect for bringing Venus energy into your daily rituals. “Anima Mundi’s Rose Powder is made from rose petals and can be added to tea, lattes and food,” she says. “Making something beautiful purely for the sensory pleasure of it feels incredibly Venusian to me.”
This gel-to-oil cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin but feels like a little luxury every night. It’s designed to act as the perfect first cleanse to remove makeup and sunscreen and it does the job beautifully.
Honestly, fruity-floral perfumes and I are having a moment lately and Henry Rose’s new launch in this realm is by far a favorite. With notes of rhubarb, strawberry peach jam, musk, and sandalwood, it’s so deliciously sweet that I’ve even been wearing it around the house while I work from home.
Another great item to use during any retrograde is oracle cards. They’ll help you dive even deeper into where you are on your journey. These Intuitive beauty oracle cards are absolutely stunning and were created by McLean herself! I’m a huge fan of using oracle decks for myself, and this one has brought me so much wisdom and insight.
McLean shares, “Obviously I’m biased because I created them, but this is precisely the kind of moment I created the Beauty By Design Intuitive Beauty Oracle Cards for. The 64-card deck is based on Human Design, but you don’t need to understand Human Design to use it. Simply pull a card and ask, What part of myself wants my attention right now? During a retrograde that asks us to reconsider beauty and values, I love having something that redirects the conversation inward rather than toward another perceived flaw that needs fixing. It’s also a visual, tactile way to pull out your two Venus cards and place them on your altar or vanity and marinate in the energy she’s blessed you with.”
If you feel like splurging, LilFox’s bath soaks are absolutely perfect for this astrological shift. I love all of them, but this pink Himalayan salt-infused soak smells amazing with notes of tonka and yuzu. Himalayan salts also hydrate, purify, and clear negative energy.
Because, *treat yo’self.* That’s all.
Aside from leaning into your beauty rituals, now is the perfect time to treat yourself to a weekend spa trip if it’s in your budget. Any time I do that, this bag always comes with me. It’s so cute, roomy, and fits everything you can possibly imagine—it’s a total Mary Poppins bag!
