History of makeup (Imperial China)

Makeup in ancient China dates back to the 3rd century BC, where women adopted artisanal practices using natural products. These practices included the application of plant-based pigments to color lips and cheeks, as well as the use of powders to lighten the face. The trend of thin, arched eyebrows was also common, and eyebrow pencil and charcoal were used to highlight the eyes and create ornamental designs around them.

Chinese culture, like other Asian cultures, valued a fair complexion as a symbol of power and high social status, associating it with feminine fragility. The ideal aesthetic included women of small proportions, pale skin, delicate complexion, white teeth and luminous eyes. The use of white rice powder was intended to achieve a pale complexion, considered a symbol of beauty and social status, indicating that the person did not work outdoors. In addition to rice powder, Chinese women used various products to enhance their eyes, such as eyeliner made with charcoal powder and water, applied with a fine brush, as well as shadows in colors such as black, brown, and green.

Eyeliner was very popular and was applied to both the upper and lower lash line. Eyeliner was made with a mixture of charcoal powder and water, and applied with a fine brush. Eye shadows in colors such as black, brown, and green were also used to highlight the eyes.

The evolution of makeup during the Dynasties reflected the beliefs and values of Chinese society in each period.

During the Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty, light complexion color was linked with power, using thick layers of white makeup to hide imperfections and create an image of purity and mystery. Lip makeup was also important, using natural dyes from fruits and flowers to achieve colors such as red and pink, symbols of youth and beauty.

To color the lips they used colored pigments obtained from plant juices, minerals or animal blood. The most common was the so-called Vermilion, which was a compound with mercury that gave an intense and bright red color. However, Vermilion, due to its lack of adhesion, did not last long, and with the temperature of the lips the color dissolved. Because of this, mineral wax and animal fat were added, creating something similar to today's lipsticks.

In the Tang Dynasty, eyebrows gained importance, they had to be sharp and in dark tones. Lip makeup changed to the cherry shape, and a seven-step ritual was introduced that included applying powder foundation, lining the eyes, drawing eyebrows, applying designs on the forehead, concealing dimples, coloring cheeks and lips.

In the Song and Ming Dynasty, the cherry shape on the lips was maintained, and during the Qing Dynasty, the entire upper lip and a small outline on the lower lip was painted.

During the Zhou Dynasty, makeup colors were associated with social rank, using gold and silver for nobles and red and black for lower-ranking officials.

As for the lips, the fan design was emphasized in the times of the separation between the Wei, Shu and Wu kingdoms, and during the Sui and Tang Dynasty, the lips were colored in a cherry shape. The Song and Ming Dynasty resumed this cherry shape, and the Qing Dynasty, of Manchu origin, painted the entire upper lip.

During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the ornamental makeup known as Huadian, which was painted between the eyebrows, reached its peak. This makeup was an integral part of women's dress culture, but declined in the Yuan Dynasty.

Ancient China valued beauty and makeup as cultural and social expressions, reflecting a rich tradition throughout the dynasties. The combination of natural products and specific rituals contributed to the creation of an aesthetic standard that endured over the centuries.

I hope you enjoyed this blog and remember that "beauty and intelligence are two jewels that, when combined, create an incomparable treasure." See you in the next Blog. Remember to leave a like, comment and follow me on social networks.