Symbols are woven into our lives in ways we often don’t stop to notice. We wear jewelry for luck, apply red lipstick for confidence, trace eyeliner like armor. Beauty itself is ritualistic—a language beyond words, just like the small, sacred tokens known as Milagros charms.
Milagros, meaning “miracles” in Spanish, are small metal charms traditionally used in Latin American folk culture. They’re pinned to altars, carried in pockets, or worn as amulets—each one a symbol of hope, protection, or gratitude. Some are shaped like hearts for love, hands for healing, or animals for guidance. But two, in particular, feel deeply connected to beauty: the eye and the lips.
The eye is a symbol of vision, clarity, and protection. It watches over us, warding off negativity and keeping us grounded in what we see and perceive. In beauty, the eyes are often where we place the most emphasis—smoky shadows, winged liner, glitter that catches the light. We say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but they are also where we reveal intention. A gaze can be piercing, alluring, defiant. It’s no wonder that eye charms are so deeply tied to protection—they hold power.
Then there are the lips, the charm of voice, expression, desire. Lips tell stories, whisper secrets, press into smiles. Makeup transforms them—a bold red can make someone feel unstoppable, a soft gloss can be playful, a dark shade can be mysterious. Lip charms symbolize not just beauty, but communication, the ability to speak one’s truth. To wear lipstick is, in a way, to step into that power.
Beauty has always been more than surface-level. It’s a way we adorn ourselves with intention, the same way someone might tuck a Milagros charm into their pocket. Whether we swipe on a lipstick shade that makes us feel invincible or paint our eyes in colors that make us see ourselves differently, we are participating in something ancient, something symbolic.
Because beauty—like Milagros—is both adornment and meaning. And sometimes, the smallest details hold the greatest power.
