No products in the cart.: $0.00
Beet Root Extract
ORY® product lines:
☑ Skincare
☑ Haircare
☑ Handmade Soap (color unstable — turns yellow/brown)
☑ Cosmetics (natural pink-red tint; betaine humectant) — full dual-use ingredient with color-stability caveats
Beet root is the deep red taproot of Beta vulgaris, used in skincare as a juice, powder, or extract for its distinctive pigments and nutrients. Its color comes from betalains — chiefly betanin — water-soluble antioxidants with documented radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity [1, 2]. Beet root also supplies vitamin C, folate, potassium, and nitrates, and it is the natural source of betaine (trimethylglycine), an osmolyte widely used in cosmetics as a gentle humectant that improves skin hydration and softens the feel of surfactant-based cleansers and shampoos. Beet root’s cosmetic value is therefore two-fold: a natural pink-red tint for lips, cheeks, and masks, and antioxidant, hydrating support for skin and hair. Its pigment is unstable in light, heat, and alkaline pH, which limits its color role in cold-process soap [3].
What is Beet Root made of?
Beet root is juiced, freeze-dried to powder, or extracted with water/glycerin; betanin is purified as a colorant and betaine is isolated from sugar-beet molasses. Constituents [1, 3]:
- Betalains (betanin, isobetanin, vulgaxanthin): Red-violet and yellow antioxidant pigments; anti-inflammatory [2].
- Betaine (trimethylglycine): Osmolyte and humectant; skin-conditioning, anti-irritant in cleansers.
- Vitamin C, folate, B vitamins: Antioxidant and nourishing.
- Phenolic acids and flavonoids (ferulic, caffeic acids, rutin): Antioxidant.
- Minerals (potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese) and silica: Nourishing.
- Sugars and fiber (powder): Humectant; mild exfoliant in masks.
What skin type is best suited for Beet Root?
Beet root suits all seven ORY® skin types as a gentle antioxidant, hydrator, and natural tint:
- Dry: Betaine humectancy improves hydration; beet powder masks nourish.
- Dull / Normal: Antioxidant vitamin C and betalains for radiance; natural flush.
- Combination: Hydrating, tone-evening serums.
- Mature: Antioxidant support; folate and vitamin C for repair.
- Sensitive: Betaine is anti-irritant in cleansers; betalains are anti-inflammatory; patch test for tint products.
- Oily: Water-based extract in light formulas; clay-beet masks.
- Acne-prone: Anti-inflammatory; use extract, avoid staining powder on active lesions.
What hair type is best suited for Beet Root?
Beet root brings hydration, antioxidant support, and a temporary red tone to haircare:
- Dry or damaged: Betaine improves moisture and softness in shampoos and conditioners.
- Sensitive scalp: Betaine reduces surfactant irritation; betalains calm.
- Color-treated: Beet juice rinses give a temporary red/pink tone to light hair; antioxidant protection.
- Curly and coily: Betaine humectancy supports moisture retention.
- Straight, wavy: Softening, hydrating rinses.
- Dandruff-prone, oily scalp, mature or thinning: Antioxidant, hydrating support; nitrate-rich tradition for circulation (unproven topically).
What are the benefits of Beet Root?
Beet root’s benefits are supported by betalain and betaine research [1–3]:
- Antioxidant: Betanin is a potent radical scavenger and lipid-peroxidation inhibitor [1, 2].
- Anti-inflammatory: Betalains reduce inflammatory enzymes and cytokines [2].
- Hydration: Betaine draws and holds water; improves skin softness.
- Anti-irritant: Betaine reduces surfactant sting in cleansers and shampoos.
- Nutrient support: Vitamin C, folate, and minerals nourish skin and scalp.
- Natural tint: Betanin gives pink-red color to lips, cheeks, masks, and rinses (temporary).
- Hair softness and shine: Betaine conditioning in haircare.
- Gentle exfoliation: Beet powder in masks and scrubs.
Dual use across ORY® product lines
Beet root extract and betaine fit all four ORY® lines; its color, however, survives only in cool, acidic, light-protected products.
Pros and cons of Beet Root
Pros
Cons
- Two actives in one plant: Betalain antioxidants plus betaine humectant.
- Natural pink-red: Dye-free lip and cheek color.
- Gentle and anti-irritant: Betaine improves cleanser tolerance.
- Affordable and familiar: Strong consumer recognition.
- Four-line utility: Every ORY® product (with color caveats).
- Color instability: Betanin fades with light, heat, oxygen, and alkaline pH; brown in soap.
- Staining: Temporary tint on skin, nails, fabric, and light hair.
- Limited topical clinical trials: Betalain skin evidence is mostly in vitro.
- Sugar content: Juice/powder formulas need robust preservation.
- Earthy odor: Noticeable in powder-based products.
What is the best application of Beet Root?
Beet root is a glow mask, natural tint, and hydrating cleanser ingredient:
- Glow mask: Weekly beet powder with yogurt or clay for dull skin (rinse promptly to avoid tint).
- Hydrating serum or cream: Betaine with hyaluronic acid.
- Gentle cleanser: Betaine to reduce surfactant irritation.
- Lip and cheek stain: Beet-based tint for a natural flush.
- Shampoo and conditioner: Betaine for softness and low irritation.
- Beet rinse: Temporary red tone for light hair.
- Soap: Beet-milk bars (color will not hold; betaine for lather).
- Cosmetics: Lip balm, cream blush.
Peer-reviewed references
- Esatbeyoglu T, Wagner AE, Schini-Kerth VB, Rimbach G. Betanin—a food colorant with biological activity. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2015;59(1):36–47.
- Sadowska-Bartosz I, Bartosz G. Biological properties and applications of betalains. Molecules. 2021;26(9):2520.
- Clifford T, Howatson G, West DJ, Stevenson EJ. The potential benefits of red beetroot supplementation in health and disease. Nutrients. 2015;7(4):2801–2822.
Disclaimer:
The information on this page is provided by ORY International, LC for educational purposes only. It summarizes published research about beet root and betaine as an ingredient, including laboratory and animal studies and clinical studies of formulas that may differ from ORY® products. Results from these studies may not apply to every person or to ORY® products. This page is not medical advice and does not replace advice from a dermatologist, physician, or other qualified healthcare provider.
ORY® Skincare, Haircare, Handmade Soap, and Cosmetics products are cosmetics. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition, including inflammation, hyperpigmentation disorders, hair loss, or any other condition. References to FDA or Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) findings describe the ingredient, not ORY® products, and do not mean FDA has reviewed or approved any ORY® product.
Results vary by skin and scalp type, formulation, and use. Beet root can stain skin and fabric temporarily, and any cosmetic can cause irritation, sometimes from other ingredients. Always patch test, follow label directions, and stop use if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are buying for a child, consult a healthcare provider before use.
ORY International, LC works to keep this page accurate and current but makes no warranty as to its completeness. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ORY International, LC is not liable for any loss or injury arising from reliance on this information or from use of any product contrary to its label directions. To report a reaction, contact us at [insert contact email / phone].
