One of my all-time most popular DIY tutorials is my homemade cheek and lip stain that I put together years ago after discovering the Cosmetics Safety Database. Looking up product after product within my cupboard I had discovered that many were laced with ingredients that were toxic to my health.

This led me to do a total purge of all my make-up, including my most prized product, Benetint. After searching store after store for a natural alternative, I decided to make one up myself using basic kitchen ingredients. And the result? Perfection! My DIY stain was toxin free, easy to make and created a picture perfect come-hither glow.

Fast forward and I’ve found myself once again drawn to Benefit products – this time a pretty coral stain. But rather than compromise three years of skin detox, I decided to give my original recipe a twist and create a pretty tinted concoction that I could use all summer long. The main ingredients? Beets and carrots.

Saturated in pigment and easily pliable, both of these root veggies make a perfect base for a cheek and lip stain that will give you a rosy blush to go with your summer tan. Don’t believe me? Follow my directions below and you too can opt for a  homemade lip and cheek hue that will make you glow from the inside out.

Ingredients: Peeled and boiled beets, raw carrots, coconut oil

Step 1: Slice up the beets into a small shallow bowl

Step 2: Grind the beets down using a mortar

Step 3: Thinly slice in a carrot

Step 4: Using the mortar, press the juice out of the carrot

Step 5: Add a teaspoon of water to the carrot and beet mix

Step 6: Continue mashing until you’ve squeeze out all the juice

Step 7: Using a small sieve, strain the carrot and beet juice into a small dish

Step 8: To aid with application, add 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil to the mix

Step 9:  Using a makeup brush, apply the stain to your lips. Top with lip balm.

Step 10: Using your index finger or a foundation brush, apply the stain to the apples of your cheeks and blend up and back.

And that’s it! If you happen to be looking for a shortcut you can try using a food processor or juicer to extract the pigment – but I prefer the old-fashion mortar method so as not to waste the root veggies. After all – both beets and carrots do wonders for your skin when eaten raw or roasted.

Once you’ve made up your potion you can keep it in the fridge for up to a week or freeze it and use it for the next 30 days.

Enjoy your homemade cheek and lip stain!