The Origin Resource of Ancient Rouge: Toxicity of Beauty

The dictionary explanation of blush is a reddening, as of the face; rosy or pinkish tinge. It seems blush is just something that can add color to our cheek. However, if you know the origin resource of ancient rouge or now called blush, you’ll know it’s not just about the color, also stands for romantic death.

Where does the human habit of wanting to put color on the cheeks come from? In fact, the beginning of many human behaviors often follows biological impulses and religious reasons. Experts have found that the earliest evidence of humans applying blush in Ancient Egyptian pictographs, showing women and men wearing red cheek blush. Now let’s see more details about the origin resource of ancient rouge.

What is Rouge/Blush?

Nowadays, more and more people are applying blush as an important part of makeup. But few people know the origin resource and history of rouge and its evolution. It’s also interesting knowledge. Blush used to be poisonous, but people still flock to it, so what’s its charm? The following article will provide the answer.

According to the dictionary, rouge is any of various red cosmetics for coloring the cheeks or lips. Rouge is one of the most ancient cosmetic products that is used to color the cheeks. The base of rouge is close to that of foundation products of the same dosage, but its covering power is weaker than that of foundation. And the tone is darker than that of foundation. Usually it’s popular to use red pigments , but there are also brown, blue, bronze and beige colors to suit the needs of cosmetic applications.

Ancient Egyptian

The origin resource of ancient rouge shall start from the Ancient Egyptian Civilization Period. The ancient Egyptians love cosmetics not because they are fell in the beauty of vanity, but for the reason of health protection. The sun-drenched heat of the Nile Delta made the ancient Egyptians particularly conscious of and in need of skincare and beauty. Therefore, in ancient Egyptiens, every people wear makeup every day no matter who you are. That gradually came into a rule. Men, women, and children have to follow the strict rules of personal hygiene, which were dictated by climate, religion, and society.

On the west bank of the Nile River, near Egypt’s Valley of the Empress, are the ruins of the village of Deir el-Medina. The labyrinthine, waist-high stone walls and crumbling artifacts belonged to village workers. Those workers, during the New Kingdom, worked in the underground tombs of pharaohs and queens such as Tutankhame. Oils and animal fats shielded the Egyptians from the heat and sun of the Nile Delta, protected their skin, and relieved muscle pain. Employers usually include them as part of their workers’ wages. Sometimes they were scented or extracted to make thick lotions, primitive balms, which were cosmetics used by Egyptians for health care. The laborers considered the ointment to be the key to their health and well-being, without which they would have stopped working and asked the government to intervene. From that we can see the makeup culture of ancient Egyptians.

And then, when taking care of skin became a habit, ancient Egyptians started to develop their creativity to flert with color and then the earliest makeup trend appeared. Some people began to mix ground red ochre (a natural pigment) with fat to create a red tint and then smeared on their lips and their cheeks. The ancient Egyptians were bold in their pursuit on using of color, combining all kinds of natural dyes to come up with all kinds of blush formulas. Gradually, people began to apply and spread this method, and blush began to enter Roman civilization.

Ancient Roman

The wealthy and powerful Roman Empire, the trendency of society was to be hedonistic, and the upper classes were even more extravagant. This resulted in that the country reached a historical peak in the use of spices and cosmetics. In addition to the traditional ochre, white lead powder used by the Sumerians, and cinnabar used by the Greeks, they also used seaweed which contained mercury and also was a highly toxic formula in their blushes, which made their blushes become poisonous.

The aristocrats’ blushes were made from fruit and vegetable juices (such as mulberry and seaweed), comfrey roots, and cinnabar, which were also poisonous to the human body. Also, under the influence of the ancient Egyptian civilization, makeup became a daily routine for the Romans, especially the aristocrats. What’s more, the aristocratic ladies even competed with each other to see whose face was whiter and whose blush was more vivid. We could say that the whole Roman skin was soaked in cinnabar and lead. No one know if it also was one of the reason for the later destruction of Roman civilization.

Toxicity of Beauty

What is the reason why people are still clamoring for blush with even knowing it is highly toxic in ancient times? In fact, blush was not only a symbol of beauty, but also a symbol of status. The ancient aristocracy did not need to worry about subsistence, nor did ladies need to worry about politics or the market. Makeup became their only way to waste time and one of the sources of comparison between them. So the pursuit of bright blush was actually a pursuit of status.

Until the 18th century, the best-selling books of this period in England described women’s blush as “innocent beauty is attractive,” referring to the combination of “dead white and red halo.” And it introduced a blush-making method using a mixture of saffron, rosewood, and Brazilian woods. It was the first truly non-toxic blush in history, and this way is still in use today, which become the origin of healthr blush. And the origin resource of ancient rouge is going to end in this period.

With the development of blush today, toxic substances have been completely discarded. Modern blushes are mainly made up of non-toxic artificial colors, and more kinds of blushes have been produced for people to choose from. Toxicity of beauty becomes a past while the charm of beauty lingers.

Types of Modern Blush

a. Liquid Blush

Liquid blush is a liquid product, including suspension and emulsion of two kinds. And the base system is dispersion and emulsion respectively.

b. Cream Blush

Cream blush is also known as rouge cream, which is a bright tone, hydrophobic, similar to theatrical makeup oil colors, actor makeup for color cosmetics. It has also appeared in daily makeup. It is spreadable, suitable for dry skin, and easy to use.

c. Solid Blush

Solid blush is the most common type of blush, including powder and glue, etc. It’s a kind of compressed solid block product. And there are 2 usual forms: powder blush as well as loose powder blush. Solid blush is most convenient to use and it’s also easy to operate and grasp, which is suitable for beginners. But solid powder adsorption capacity is strong. It will draw the skin’s moisture and oil. So it’s not suitable for dry skin.

d. Gel Blush

Gel blush is available in two types: anhydrous gel and hydrogel. The anhydrous gel is based on an oil-based gel and the hydrogel is based on a water-based gel. They are jelly-like, transparent, and trembling elastic, and form an elastic film when applied to the skin. The gel blush makes a naturally transparent and shiny finish, which is suitable for natural light makeup. Apply evenly with fingers or a sponge.

e. Aerosol-type Blush

Aerosol-type blush is commonly used are mousse-type blush, which is the colorant pigments dispersed in the emulsion and projectile. And it also contained in a metal pressure can with a nozzle valve. Applied to the surface of the skin, it can form a shiny film. And the texture is fresh to make natural fresh makeup. However, the production of aerosol blushes is complicated to produce and expensive.