Rituel de Fille: Riveting, Natural Makeup for the Magically Inclined
One of my early memories is the day my mother took me in the bathroom to look at her cosmetic glitter. She had a set of small, shiny black boxes, each with a different unicorn image on top. The day she opened each box for me the sunlight was streaming in. As she lifted each lid, the light hit the glitter inside, creating a mesmerizing, prismatic effect. Little did she know, she was sparking a life long obsession with the mysterious and beautiful.
I’ve always enjoyed makeup but gravitated toward items that had a trace of magic in them, that would not only beautify but create a state of my mind or evoke a feeling. It was difficult to find special makeup items like this before the Internet allowed indie brands to expand their reach. I would visit the drugstore, or later a Sephora, and wander around looking not so much for the perfect shade as for a makeup item that would captivate me. I wanted my makeup to not only be beautiful on my skin but also alluring in presentation. I wanted something that would look lovely on my dresser or in my bag. I didn’t want my makeup to remind me of some faceless corporation making cheap mass-produced junk; I hoped for cosmetics with a deeper approach.
In 2015, when I discovered Rituel de Fille, it was love at first sight. The shiny black packaging adorned with small silver stars evoked the memory of my childhood introduction to makeup. The colors and their descriptions were riveting, transporting my imaginings into a fairy tale realm where the shades and finishes of their collection drove the action. When I looked at the brand’s imagery and contemplated its story, I was pleased with the authentic connection to the magical mythos. It was clear that the founding sisters worked hard to not only create pleasing products but also to create something genuine and deep. That the founders were three sisters expressed a symbolic connection with the Fates and the thread of life they drew, measured, and cut. I wondered how my fate might be influenced by their mysteriously beautiful products.
Being a penny-pinching student and part-time worker for so much of my life, I didn’t immediately buy anything from the company. Instead, I subscribed to their email list and lurked like a creep until I had extra money. The first thing I bought was a sample set. I loved that they had something like that. More companies should offer sample sets because it allows the customer to try on products that they are drawn to and some that they were simply curious about, which I believe generates more sales. I know that I have purchased additional items I was on the fence about because the samples worked out better than I anticipated. When I finally had extra money for my first full-size product, I bought the Fortune Teller lipstick, an extremely dark berry shade. I loved the lipstick’s smooth application and penetrating depth. Upon purchase, it quickly became a staple for all of my goth inspired adventures.
As time passed, I slowly bought a small collection of their items, always happy as the company continued to slay with their innovative approach to makeup. I was excited about their 2017 campaign inspired by Chelsea Wolfe’s unique beauty, lyrics, and music. Her eerie, mystical artistic vision is perfectly suited to the brand’s magical vibe. When the brand started doing Moon Drops, limited-edition products dropped on the full moon, I was biting my lip in frustration, wanting to purchase each one. Not only was their makeup magical in general, it was aligned with the cosmos. The descriptions of their products were entrancing too, connecting the formulation with alchemy and natural imagery in a sophisticated rather than gimmicky way. The best thing about their products is that they bring out the natural beauty in anyone. Do visit Rituel De Fille’s Instagram in order to see how versatile and flattering their products are. The products are good for both natural and more striking looks.
One of my absolute favorite product types is Rituel De Fille’s Inner Glow Crème Pigment; if it weren’t for sheer force of will, I would have already spent a good deal on almost all of their shades. The Glow Crème Pigment is easy to blend. The colors are rich and melt into the skin radiating out beauty as if it were coming from within. I have two of their Inner Glow Crème Pigments: Frenzy and Delirium, which I use on my cheeks and lips. Frenzy is a berry color that reminds me of wine. It has just a hint of shimmer. For a long time, I used it just on my lips, fearing it would be too bold on my cheeks, but one day I was adventurous and tried it on my cheeks. It was a success. The color was bold, unique, and sexy without being overpowering. These days, I tend to wear pale pinks and peaches most of the time, but Frenzy was the perfect darker color to experiment with. Another Glow Crème Pigment I enjoy is Delirium, described as “a ripened nectarine with golden highlights in a sheer formulation.” I was so pleased when it arrived. It offers the right amount of balanced, peachy color for my warm toned skin without looking too bright, shimmery, or obnoxious. I love makeup and experiment with color frequently in the privacy of my own home, but when I wear something out, I want it to look as if it was emanating from my own skin regardless of the color. I want it to harmonize with my features and coloring rather than have it sit on top of my skin in a jarring, superficial way. I’m actually a fan of bright, powerful editorial makeup in general, but for me, as an introvert, I need something more on the low-key side. People who wear really over the top makeup confidently should, and it looks great even if it is unusual. It’s just not my cup of tea.
More recently, I tried two of the brand’s Color Nectar Pigment Balms, Wasp (a passion fruit yellow shade) and the limited-edition Lady Bug (the color your lips turn after drinking raspberry punch). Wasp was an adventurous choice for me since I don’t usually go for unusual looks, but after seeing people on the Internet absolutely rocking yellow eye shadow and blushes, I actually wanted to try it out. I thought it would look good with my natural freckles and match my mood when I felt adventurously cottage core. I’ve tried multiple looks with it and like it, especially blended with other products, which the jelly like texture lends itself well to. Lady Bug is straight nostalgia for me, reminding me of the makeup my grandmother wore when we would go to the park. It’s a juicy sheer raspberry that imparts a sweet kiss of color. It’s great for a quick every day look.
I also have a couple of the enchanted lip sheers, which I really enjoy. Bloodroot, lovely on its own, reminds me of the blood oranges that grow locally in my region of Southern California. I like to wear Bloodroot when I am doing activities near home or wearing vintage clothing as a homage to the area’s roots in citrus agriculture. The color is sheer, which lends itself well to layering and blending with other lips colors for a custom look. The Enchanted Lip Sheer in Bittersweet is a go-to color for me. It’s neutral yet somehow mesmerizing. When I am in front of a mirror, if wearing it, I tend to stare at my lips in an attempt to figure out the color. Is it pink? Is it neutral? Where does it get its depth? How can it emanate depth while still being light? The color is enigmatic. It’s both lovely and mentally stimulating.
I am relatively new to wearing highlighter, somehow missing the huge highlighter trend a few years back, but now that I have tried Rituel De Fille’s Metamorphic Highlighters, I am hooked. I have two of their Metamorphic Highlighters, in The Hight Priestess and the limited-edition Chimera shades. The High Priestess is this warm iridescent purple described on their website as a “cosmic lilac shift.” I have to admit I have a difficult time finding the right purple shades for my skin tone despite absolutely loving purple. This one was perfect. It doesn’t make my skin look gray or overly orange. It isn’t too cool for my warm, freckled skin. It’s the perfect purple highlighter of my dreams, offering glistening, otherworldly color that made me feel as if I had secret, arcane knowledge swirling in my mind, as if I were somehow embodying the high priestess card of the tarot. I love wearing it out, but I also wear it when observing ritual days as part of the correspondences for my working. Chimera is also wonderful. It has a green cast but is more on the iridescent side. It reminds me of Urban Decay’s glitter liner in Pyro, an old favorite, except shimmery rather than glittery. I like that Chimera’s pale green shines through without being too frosty. Like the High Priestess, it compliments and highlights my warm skin tone in the best of ways.
I also have two of their eye products, which I love. Some people think the brand’s eye products crease, but that’s because their eye products are somewhat creamy. It’s just the nature of the beast, but when the product creased just a bit on my lids, I patted it back out and was good for the rest of the day. The color payoff is worth the potential mid-day touch up. I have a Crystalline Matter Eye Soot in Rosea Aurum. Rosea Aurum is a limited-edition shade, and I am so glad I picked it up. I love lighter pinks on my skin but dislike anything too frosty. Rosea Aurum is pale but not obnoxiously so, and it positively radiates light. It has a glittering, ethereal quality without it being messy or a vision hazard. When I wear it, I feel somehow transformed into some kind of fairy princess who dines on fruit and flowers, drinking otherworldly waters infused with gold under a pink sunrise. It’s both aesthetically and psychologically pleasing to wear. If you somehow get your hands on this one, and you are going for a less sheer look, try layering it on top of a lilac or medium pink base color. I also have a Celestial Eye Soot in Andromeda. On its own, it looks almost like a soft taupe lilac with subtle shifts of sparkling gold, but that’s just how my eye sees it. I actually love it layered on top of a dark brown or purple because the color shifting properties in the description are more obvious. The site describes Andromeda as “Shimmering oil slick shift, transforming from red to gold with slight glimpses of blue in a black gelée base.” I think that the description aims to describe something ineffable as the phrasing doesn’t give the product justice. Based on the description alone, I have to admit that at first, I wasn’t sure if I should purchase it. I try to avoid the color blue because it tends to bring out the rosiness in my skin and the yellow tan of my freckles, making my skin look a bit orange. I couldn’t quite conceptualize the color, but I got a sample and was absolutely wowed. It shimmered in the most flattering way, beyond my most optimistic expectation. Purchasing the full-size product was a no brainer.
Some of Rituel De Fille’s products may feel a bit pricey if you are one of those people who really needs to save up to buy makeup, but the quality is worth it. Their products will transform your look from humdrum to special in a way that will illuminate your natural beauty rather than obscuring it. You will notice that people will gaze admiringly at your makeup, and you will most likely find yourself a devoted fan of Rituel De Fille. Their products are unique, natural, and cruelty free as well as beautiful to the eye whether on the skin or resting patiently in their containers. They also have a lovely lavender flower scent, which is a nice alternative to some of those artificial or chemical scented products out there. If you are curious about buying some of the products but don’t want to invest in products you haven’t tried on, you can get a color consultation on the website if you send in photos taken in natural light. Then you can order a sample set, which will allow you to experience the texture and color of each product. After you’ve tried out some items out, you’ll be able to select your full-sized products with a sense of excitement rather than trepidation. My only warning is that their products are absolutely addictive. I have to restrain myself from emptying my pockets each time they come out with a new release.
Rituel De Fille, if you are out there somewhere, thank you so much for crafting and sharing these beautiful, natural cosmetics with the world.
