Charming Alkanet Root. The star of this lovely lip tint. If you’re like me, you can’t be bothered with make-up, but sometimes, a little lip tint goes a long way, and can be just what you need to enhance your natural radiance. Gotta love those kitchen cosmetics! Alkanet is a root primarily used for dyeing, and the fine folks at Mountain Rose Herbs give a teensy bit of background:
Alkanet Root
Also known as
Batschia canescens, Hoary puccoon, Lithospermum canescens, Dyer’s bugloss
Introduction
Alkanet root is primarily used as a dyeing and coloring agent, especially for fabrics, soap, and lip balm.
Parts Used
The root is the part used in traditional dye crafts.
Typical Preparations
For oil based products, infuse oil by placing approximately 1 TBSP in ¼ cup of oil. Shake or stir daily for a few days, then strain out the root. Heat may be used to help speed up the process. Ratio of Alkanet to oil will need to be altered according to product being made. Adjust amounts as necessary.
Summary
Alkanet root is primarily used as a natural dyeing agent, and it imparts a ruby red color to natural fibers, wool, wood, stone, lip balm, lipstick, ointments, salve, soap, lotion, and to tint oils, vinegar, tinctures, varnishes, or wine. In the past, Alkanet root was used to improve the appearance of low quality wines and ports, and to give an aged appearance to wine corks. However, Alkanet root is now mainly used as a dyeing agent, and is not recommended for internal use. In soap, Alkanet root will yield shades of pink, blue, and purple, depending upon the amount used, types of oil used, and the alkalinity of the soap.
Precautions
For external use only. Do not apply to broken or abraded skin. Do not use when nursing.
For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
If we’re all being honest here, this is the blog post that almost wasn’t. Creating this recipe gave me such heck. (I have some other choice words for it, but since this is a lip tint for ladies, I may as well play the part, eh?) I wanted a *perfect* hardness, and it took a few tries to achieve that. Probably would have been smarter to do a test batch, but, that’s not how I roll. I’m a wild woman…err, lady…Needless to say, I was a bit hesitant to pass on a recipe I didn’t feel absolutely 100% positive about the measurements, but, I did my VERY BEST to keep track of the kitchen madness for you guys. It felt criminal not to share, because the end result was completely phenomenal, exceeding all of my expectations!Why didn’t I just recreate this beauty? Well, because this recipe made about 15 or 18 tubes, and I think I’m good on lip tint for a while So, there you have it, folks. You’ve been warned.
Ruby Lip Tint
- 1.25 oz. Alkanet Root-Infused Olive Oil
- .25 oz. Calendula-Infused Olive Oil
- .30 oz. Coconut Oil
- .20oz. Jojoba Oil
- .20 oz. Kokum Butter
- .75 oz. Beeswax (grated)
- essential oils ~ optional
I used a blend of lavender, rose geranium, ylang ylang and lemongrass. If you’re just getting started and want to build your stash, check out these awesome sampler kits you can play around with!
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a small double boiler over medium heat until melted. Decant into lip balm tubes, (find them here), and allow to fully cool and harden before use. Makes some for you and some for your envious girlfriends.
Although the end result is a moisturizing lip balm with a stunning shade of ruby, it does not apply even close to the color in the tube. It’s a lip tint, not a lip stain or even lipstick. It enhances your lips’ natural color, and fills in with a wee bit o’ color where needed. (Similar to Burt’s Bees tinted chapsticks). For me, when I use it, I feel like my lips have the lovely rosy hue one gets after a day at the beach. Score.
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The post A Recipe for DIY Ruby-Colored Lip Tint appeared first on Sustain, Create and Flow.