Rouge
British Museum. EA10470,3
In Ancient Egypt, rouge was more than a simple cosmetic, it was a vibrant symbol of vitality, health, and spiritual regeneration, bringing a life-giving flush to the cheeks and lips of both men and women in a culture where beauty and divinity intertwined.
Ancient Egyptian blusher or rouge was typically made from red ochre, a naturally occurring iron oxide-rich clay, or from ground hematite. These minerals were ground into a fine powder using stone palettes or grinding stones. The powdered pigment was then mixed with animal fat or plant oils to create a smooth paste, ensuring better adherence to the skin and giving it a vibrant, long-lasting colour.
The prepared blusher could be stored in a variety of vessels. Small jars or pots made of alabaster, faience, stone, or even simple clay were the most practical containers for holding the paste or powdered pigment. These were often accompanied by cosmetic sticks or spatulas used to apply the rouge. Cosmetic spoons, though primarily associated with mixing and offering substances like unguents or perfumes, might have been used to transfer powdered pigment to a mixing palette or to offer the paste during ritual contexts. However, they were not typically used for long-term storage of blusher itself.
This small ivory box (Met Museum. 16.10.425), discovered during the Met Museum’s Egyptian Expedition in 1916, features a swivel lid secured by a peg at one end. Originally, a second peg at the opposite end would have allowed the box to be tied shut with string, keeping its contents secure. The lid is adorned with an incised rosette framed by a zigzag pattern, likely created with an early compass, and once inlaid with Egyptian blue. Such boxes, crafted from ivory, bone, or wood, were probably used to store dry cosmetics such as rouge. Found near the head of a coffin, the box was accompanied by a selection of jars and combs, now in the Museum’s collection, including alabaster, serpentine, pottery, and ivory objects.
Blusher was worn by both men and women, particularly among the upper classes and priesthood. For men, a touch of rouge could signify health, vitality, and even a connection to divine beauty. For women, it enhanced attractiveness and radiated a youthful glow. In both cases, the use of red pigments was more than cosmetic; it reflected social status and an alignment with the life-giving power of the sun and regeneration.
Fragments of red ochre pigment and cosmetic containers used for storing rouge have been found in tombs and are displayed in collections of museums around the world. While the actual rouge paste has rarely survived due to its organic components, traces of red pigment in cosmetic containers and on applicators testify to its once-prevalent use.
