Red Cabbage Petal Tint
A sheer lip and cheek stain: red cabbage water gives a violet-pink that warms on contact with skin, glycerine holds it there, and castor oil adds the gloss.
You will need
- 2 tbsp red cabbage water
- 1 tsp glycerine
- 1 tsp castor oil
The ritual
- Simmer a handful of chopped red cabbage in water for fifteen minutes.
- Strain off two tablespoons of the deep purple liquid and let it cool.
- Whisk in the glycerine until the mixture looks even and slightly syrupy.
- Beat in the castor oil drop by drop so it stays blended.
- Dab onto lips or cheeks with a fingertip and blend while it is wet.
Why these ingredients
- 2 tbsp red cabbage water
- The pigment. It reads violet in the jar and pink on skin, which is the whole trick of this tint.
- 1 tsp glycerine
- Glycerine thickens the water so it clings to the lip instead of running off, and stops the stain drying tight.
- 1 tsp castor oil
- Castor oil is thick and glossy, so a sheer water stain ends up looking like a proper lip product.
Easy swaps
- 2 tbsp red cabbage water → hibiscus tea brewed strong, for a warmer red-pink.
- 1 tsp glycerine → aloe vera gel, which sets a little more matte.
- 1 tsp castor oil → jojoba oil, less glossy but far less sticky.
Keep it clean
Mix with freshly washed hands and clean, dry bowls and spoons. If a recipe is stored, use a jar or bottle washed in hot soapy water and dried completely, and never dip wet fingers into the batch.
Storage & when to let go
Keeps three days in a small bottle in the fridge, no longer. It is a vegetable water with no preservative and it turns quickly.
What to expect — honestly
A sheer wash of pink that suits lips and cheeks and looks like you have just come in from the cold. It fades within a couple of hours and comes off entirely on a cup rim. It is colour and nothing more.
Common questions
Why does the colour change on my skin?
Cabbage pigment shifts with acidity. Skin is mildly acidic, so the purple in the bottle usually reads as pink or rose once it is blended in.
Does it smell of cabbage?
Faintly, for the first minute, then it goes. Simmering rather than boiling hard keeps the smell down, and the castor oil covers most of what is left.
This recipe is shared for general cosmetic enjoyment, not medical advice — see how we research and write in our editorial policy and the full safety guide.
