We’ve all heard the rumor that a woman will consume up to five pounds of lipstick over her lifespan, and while I don’t believe that statistic is actually true, I do know that I eat/drink/lick my lipstick off multiple times throughout the day. This is alarming considering that researchers from the University of California Berkley tested 32 lipsticks and found nine different heavy metals in them. They also determined that the amount ingested based on a woman’s average daily application, would exceed the levels deemed safe for human consumption. Lead was one of these metals, and although they deemed the amount of lead as within acceptable limits, they did advise that children should not play with lipsticks and lip gloss because lead exposure in children at ANY level can be harmful. Here is a list of lipsticks tested by the FDA that shows the level of lead found. Some of the other metals found are known carcinogens, like arsenic, chromium, and cadmium. So while I am reluctant to give up my favorite lipsticks and glosses, I wanted something to use on a day to day basis that I could ingest without worry. I’m not someone who was blessed with a lot of natural lip color, so I reapply ALL day. This beetroot tinted natural lip tint/balm/gloss (it really is a three for one!), is not only safe to ingest, but it’s good for you!!! And so easy to make. It is a sheer fuchsia red, but the color is very saturated so a little goes a long way. You can also use it on your cheeks for a rosy glow.
Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons Beet crystals or dried beet powder- I used beet crystals because I happened to have a jar sitting around. It made for a very deep color. You can find beet crystals at your health food store or market. Dried beet powder is another option. And while I haven’t tried with fresh beet juice, I imagine it would work just as well, you would just have to omit the water.
1/2 teaspoon cocoa butter
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon water
Place a heat safe dish in a pot of water. Add enough water to come up about an inch around your heat safe container. Put cocoa butter and coconut oil in the container and melt over low heat.
In a separate dish dissolve the beet crystals in the 1/4 tsp water.
Pour your beet crystal mixture (it should be the consistency of syrup) into a small blender like the nutribullet. The vitamix and other large blenders are too big, and this small amount will just sit on the bottom under the blades.
When the oil is melted add to the blender and blend for a few minutes to emulsify the oil and beet water together.
Pour into a lip gloss tub and place in the fridge to allow it to set and harden. Don’t use a tube because coconut oil and cocoa butter will liquefy in warm temperatures and I wouldn’t want it to leak out of the tube. Keep it in a tub, and open carefully if it’s been sitting in the sun.
This takes all of fifteen minutes to make and is really lovely, healthy, and will last you quite a while because you need so little to get a beautiful glossy lip color. It’s also nourishing, moisturizing, and contain’s anti fungals in the coconut oil and antioxidants in the cocoa butter and beets. So you can eat your lipstick till the cows come home. You can’t BEET that!…. sorry, couldn’t help myself.
xo
