It’s the astrological event that has birthed a million memes. As the planet performs its backwards dance for the final time this year, one writer asks if the cosmos is affecting her complexion
Like many teens who grew up in the 00s, my fascination with astrology started young. But while my emo era was very much a phase, I carried ‘the cosmic’ into adulthood. I’ve been known to critique my birth chart and I’ve asked dates for their star sign, even when doing so induces the ick.
But when it comes to Mercury retrograde, it isn’t just me. Every few months, my social feed – and probably yours – is filled with speculation over the power of the planets. Taylor Swift’s Eras tour accident? ‘Mercury retrograde coded.’ Or, as Katy Perry puts it in It Takes Two, ‘Is Mercury in retrograde, or is that the excuse that I’ve always made?’
If you’re unfamiliar with the astrological event that’s become shorthand for everything from a late train to a falling-out with your partner, allow me to fill you in. Mercury retrograde is the gremlin season of astrology, occurring several times a year, for a few weeks at a time. ‘From our vantage point on Earth, Mercury looks like it’s spinning backwards – but it’s actually an optical illusion, caused by orbital speed,’ says Kerry Ward, an astrologist and psychic who also goes by the name of TarotBella. ‘Cosmically, this reverses Mercury’s powers – commerce, communication, travel and technology – so expect setbacks in relation to all.’
Much like astrological beliefs (Leos are self-centred and drama-adoring, with performative traits), that Mercury retrograde wields any earthly influence is widely disputed and frequently touted as pseudoscience. But I’ve been conducting some (admittedly, unscientific) experiments of my own. And while I’m prone to a breakout every once in a while, I’ve noticed something of a pattern: when Mercury retrograde arrives – this one lasts from 13 December to 1 January – so do my blemishes. During one particular retrograde, I was even diagnosed with contact dermatitis. So it’s with my complexion in mind that I called in the experts to ask: is Mercury retrograde messing with my skin?
MANIFEST-SKIN
Of course, behind every breakout there’s a long list of potential culprits. Whether you’ve failed to sink your mandated two litres a day, you’re in the latter stages of your cycle or your skin is expressing its feelings about the new serum you’ve just bought. But... the planets?
‘Mercury’s slow transit can result in a lack of moisture and glow in the skin,’ says Dalila Salgueiro, an astromanifesting coach. ‘Plus, [when we have] a full moon, you may suffer from liquid retenti
