How to make beetroot lip balm for a naturally pink tint

This beet lip balm has a natural pink tint, giving your lips a soft tint. Made with beetroot powder and glycerin, you can easily use this DIY formula to make a lip gloss.

I’ve been experimenting with beetroot lately and exploring its use in DIY skincare routines because of its excellent skin benefits.

And since I’ve already made several lip balms, including one with rose oil or lemon balm for cold sores, I knew it wouldn’t be easy to combine them with beetroot.

In this tutorial I share two recipes with beetroot for tinted lips, one for lip gloss and one for beetroot lip balm.

Beet

Beetroot is rich in antioxidants and promotes hydration and hydrates the skin. In addition, it contains vitamin C that supports collagen production, promoting skin elasticity. The ingredient responsible for beetroot’s deep, rich color is betanin (1). Thanks to betanin, beetroot is approved as a coloring agent in foods and cosmetics, where it is used in the form of powder or as a juice concentrate. (2)

Why use beetroot powder?

I strongly recommend not to use fresh fruits (beetroot or beetroot juice) or fresh herbs when making homemade cosmetics, as they can spoil the finished product and shorten its lifespan. Not to mention that working with fresh beets and their skins is stained and messy. Beetroot powder is therefore the best option for using beetroot in lipstick.

Beetroot powder consists of one ingredient: dried beetroot slices. After being thoroughly dried, they are ground into a fine powder. This process preserves the vibrant colors of beets, producing shades ranging from pink and purple to orange and reddish brown.

Beetroot powder is water soluble, dissolves in water but does not mix well with oils. When incorporating beetroot powder into DIY beauty products, it is best to make water-based products, such as toners or lip glosses, and use water or glycerin to dissolve them.

Glycerin

Glycerin is soluble in both water and alcohol. This solubility makes it an effective carrier for water-soluble compounds such as beet powder. It can dissolve the pigments and incorporate them into the formulation. It also contributes to the moisturizing and moisturizing effect of the lip balm, making it a perfect remedy for dry, chapped lips.

DIY tinted lip gloss

Making your own tinted lip gloss is easier than you think. This simple recipe uses only beetroot powder and glycerin as the solvent. You can also add a few drops of vitamin E oil, optional, for extra nutrition and shelf life.

Mix the beet powder and glycerin in a small bowl or container. Stir well until the beet powder is well mixed.

Let it soak glycerin in a deep red shade for a few hours. If any bits of beet powder remain, pass it through the cheesecloth.

If you are using vitamin E oil, add a few drops to the mixture.

You can adjust the consistency by adding more glycerin for a glossy finish or more beetroot powder for a more intense color.

Transfer the mixture to a small lip gloss container and apply it directly to your lips whenever you feel comfortable doing so.

This is how you make beet lip balm for soft pink

Making a lip balm with beetroot is more challenging because we add an oily part to our formula. Please note that when mixing oil and water parts, we must add an emulsifier to make a homogeneous mixture that will not split.

Ingredients

Beeswax has many healing properties and also acts as a preservative. Beeswax contains vitamin A, supports cell reconstruction and protection of the lips. You can also use soy wax if you prefer a vegan alternative.

Coconut oil – is an excellent choice for cracked and dry lips. It increases hydration and reduces water loss in dry skin. Coconut oil applied to the lips adds moisture and gives them shine. You can also use shea butter or cocoa butter instead.

Essential oil – optional; you can choose the one you like. I like to use lavender or rose essential oil in my lip balms.

Emulsifier -I used BTMS (Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol), a commonly used emulsifier in cosmetic formulations, especially in hair and skin care products.

Instructions for zero waste diy lip balm that causes stains

First step: Add beet powder to glycerin

In a small bowl, mix beet powder with glycerin. Mix well. Let it sit for a few hours so that the glycerin takes on a deep red hue. If any bits of beet powder remain, pass it through the cheesecloth.

Second step: Creating the emulsion

Add beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler or place a heatproof glass bowl over a pot of boiling water. Once the mixture is completely melted, add a BTMS. Stir the mixture well to ensure that the emulsifier is evenly distributed.

Third step: combine the ingredients

Carefully pour the beetroot and glycerin infusion mixture into the oily mixture and stir to facilitate the emulsification process.

Fourth step: additional ingredients

Add a few drops of vitamin E oil for extra nourishment and fragrance, if desired with essential oil.

Fifth step: filling the container

Carefully pour the emulsified mixture into your chosen lip balm container or sterilize the jar. Do it quickly before the mixture starts to solidify.

You can also reuse the old lip balm tubes or silicone mold for a zero-waste approach.

Let the lip balm relax completely in the refrigerator and solidify. You can always put it back in warm water to liquefy it.

Substitutions for pink beetroot

The lip balm has a natural pink appearance. If you want to try other shades of pink, you can consider other substitutions.

water soluble

Hibiscus powder can give a beautiful pink or reddish tint. It also has antioxidant properties and is known for its skin-soothing benefits.

Rose petal powder made from crushed rose petals can provide a subtle pink tint.

Raspberry powder offers a natural reddish pink color and contains vitamins that can benefit the skin.

Cranberry powder can contribute a reddish hue and is rich in antioxidants. It can also add a subtle berry scent.

Partially water soluble

Alkanet root makes deep red lip balm. It tends to release color in oil, and the resulting oil can be incorporated into oil-based formulations without the use of an emulsifier.

Rose clay is a natural cosmetic clay with a pink tint. It not only provides color, but also provides gentle exfoliation and cleansing properties.

For Shimmer

If you want to explore shimmering shades, you can turn your attention to mica, as it has several shades and colors that shimmer, including silver, white, green, brown or black.

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