Rouge (cosmetics)

A rouge compact containing a mirror and brush

A dancer wearing rouge

Shale rouge palette of the Naqada I culture, c. 4000–3500 BCE

Rouge (/ˈruːʒ/; French: red), also called blush or blusher, is a cosmetic typically used by women to redden the cheeks so as to provide a more youthful appearance, and to emphasize the cheekbones.

History

Rouge was used as early as in ancient Egypt. It was also applied on the lips, the way lipstick would be used today. In some times and places, such as the English Regency, both men and women wore rouge. In Britain in the late Victorian Age, wearing visible makeup such as rouge was associated with low morals.^[1] Ladies resorted to pinching their cheeks (and biting their lips) to make them appear red instead.

Various substances have been used as rouge. In ancient Greece for example, crushed mulberries were favoured, while red beet juice, crushed strawberries and red amaranth^[2] have also variously been used.

Contemporary

Modern rouge generally consists of a red-coloured talcum-based powder that is applied with a brush to the cheek. The colouring is usually either the substance of safflor (the petals of safflower), or a solution of carmine in ammonium hydroxide and rosewater perfumed with rose oil. A cream-based variant of rouge is schnouda, a colourless mixture of Alloxan with cold cream, which also colours the skin red.

Types of Blush

Pressed-powder

Majority of blushes found in drugstore or high-end stores are in the form of pressed-powder. The blush lies flat on the pan, unlike baked blushes. These are best suited for people with oily skin. Pressed-powder blushes usually lasts long on the skin, easily blended and very buildable. For these reasons, pressed powder blushes are usually used by makeup artists during special occasions like weddings or events that projects harsh lighting. Pressed-powder blushes come in 3 finishes: matte, shimmer and satin.

Cream

Cream blushes usually come in a pump bottle. These blushes are best suited for people with dry skin. Using a pressed-powder blush for people with dry skin is not recommended because the powder might cling to dry patches. Cream powder, however, is very easily blended using fingers or a stippling brush. Since the nature of the blush is liquid, it can be layered with a powder blush to improve longevity of use.

Mineral baked

Mineral baked blush is different from pressed-powder blushes mainly because of its appearance on the pan. It is luminous, has shimmery veins and shaped like a dome. Mineral baked blushes are from a liquid form that is baked into solid form. This means that there is less talc and more pigment. Because it is originally liquid form, spraying the pan with water can make the blush creamy and more opaque. However, it does change back to its solid form when it dries. Mineral baked powder is very sheer when applied, but is buildable and can be the perfect choice for someone who is going for a more flushed and natural look.

Blush Brushes

• Stippling brush: suitable for softening out harsh lines and blend together blush, bronzer and highlight. It is most suitable for applying cream blush.
• Fluffy brish: suitable for dispersing the colour of the blush, creating a natural flushed look.

References

External links

• Modes In Makeup, a brief history of cosmetics
• The History of Makeup
• The Pervasion of Rouge (also known as A Defence of Cosmetics), by Max Beerbohm