Rouge

Ancient cosmetic red, originating from the Yanzhi Mountain of the Xiongnu, also called 'Yanzhi'

HEX#C03A4A

RGBrgb(192, 58, 74)

HSLhsl(353, 54%, 49%)

HSVhsv(353, 70%, 75%)

CMYKcmyk(0%, 70%, 61%, 25%)

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RGBArgba(192, 58, 74, 1)

HSLAhsla(353, 54%, 49%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(71.5%, 0.116, 10)

LCHlch(65.3%, 31.5, 7)

🎨 Color Palettes

Analogous2-3 adjacent hues (≤60°)

Triadic3 hues spaced 120° apart

Split ComplementaryMain color + colors adjacent to its complement

Complementary2 hues spaced 180° apart

Tetradic (Rectangle)4 hues forming a rectangle

MonochromaticSingle hue with varying saturation and lightness

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High Contrast Text

#FFFFFFRatio 5.3:1AA

Suitable for body text, headings, and primary content, ensuring readability for all users

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Standard Text

#F6E8E0Ratio 4.4:1AA Large

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

Aa14px Body

Large Text / UI Components

#D0C362Ratio 3:1AA Large

Suitable for large text (≥18px bold or ≥24px), icons, UI component boundaries

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Decorative / Dividers

#49C039Ratio 2.3:1Fail

Suitable for decorative elements, dividers, non-essential text

📊 Color Scales

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Lightness VariationFixed hue and saturation, stepwise lightness adjustment ±30%

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#72222B

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Saturation VariationFixed hue and lightness, stepwise saturation adjustment ±30%

#9B5F66

#A7525C

#B44653

#C03949

#CD2D40

#D92036

#E6142C

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#52282D

#723139

#953742

#BA3B4A

#D04E5D

#DE6876

#EA8691

Hue Fine-TuningFixed saturation and lightness, stepwise hue fine-tuning ±15°

#C0396B

#C03960

#C03954

#C03949

#C0393E

#C04039

#C04B39

💡 Use Cases

💄

Chinese-style Cosmetics

Brands like Florasis carve lipsticks with rouge as the main color, sculpting Eastern patterns into the bullet. Applying makeup becomes a cultural ritual.

🎭

Hanfu Makeup

Wearing Hanfu with a rouge makeup look is a complete Chinese-style experience. Peach blossom and wine-halo looks each have their charm, looking gorgeous in ancient town photos.

🧧

Souvenir Gift Boxes

Rouge-colored velvet gift boxes with gold ribbons are high-end and tasteful, the top choice for wedding favors and festival gifts.

🖌️

Meticulous Chinese Painting

Rouge pigment is used to shade flower petals and ladies' cheeks, layered thinly and repeatedly. Painted flowers look lifelike and fragile, making rouge the soul color of Chinese painting.

📜 Origin & History

Rouge originally came from the Yanzhi Mountains in Xiongnu territory, made from safflower. It was introduced to the Central Plains during the Han Dynasty. After Zhang Qian's diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, he brought back safflower seeds for planting, and rouge became central to Chinese women's makeup.

During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, rouge was all the rage; both noble men and women wore it. 'A New Account of the Tales of the World' records He Yan's beautiful complexion and how applying powder became a sign of romantic elegance for men.

The Tang Dynasty represented the zenith of rouge culture, with ever-changing female makeup styles. 'Wine Halo Makeup' reddened the entire face like drunkenness; 'Peach Blossom Makeup' added a light blush; 'Flying Xia Makeup' swept slantwise by the temples. Rouge became a symbol of the Tang Dynasty's open aesthetic.

After the Song and Yuan dynasties, rouge extended from makeup to Chinese painting. The color 'rouge' became an essential pigment for blushing faces and petals in meticulous court lady paintings. Rouge and powder are collective memories of Chinese women.

In 'Dream of the Red Chamber', rouge appears throughout. Baoyu loved eating the rouge off maids' lips; Ping'er used a small half-box of rouge cream to touch up her appearance. Rouge carries the beauty and fate of ancient women.

🧠 Color Psychology

Feminine SoftnessRouge is a color uniquely belonging to women. Inseparable for two thousand years from red makeup and beautiful women, it is the representative color of Eastern feminine beauty.

Classic SentimentRouge awakens the imagination of ancient boudoirs—bronze mirrors, dressing cases, scholarly beauty—it's the classic romance in the bones of Chinese people.

Self-Pleasing ConfidenceWomen apply rouge to please themselves as much as others. A touch of rouge lifts the complexion and is a ritual for boosting self-confidence.

Charming and FlirtatiousRouge is spring color and allure, carrying a hint of provocation and temptation—a subtle way for women to display their charm.

Memory of TimeRouge connects the youthful memories of generations of women, from a grandmother's dowry to a mother's lipstick—a tender inheritance.

Refined LivingRouge represents the pursuit of a refined life. Even on the simplest days, a bit of rouge can brighten one's mood.

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