Komachi-beni Make-up
Isehan Honten Co., Ltd.
ca. 2015
Beni, a rich scarlet pigment made from the red dye extracted from benibana (safflower) petals, has a long history in Japan dating back to the Nara period (710-784). Over the centuries, it was used in various forms, from paint to lipstick to food colouring, and the colour red was thought to protect from smallpox and other diseases.
Komachi-beni, derived from beni, was developed during Japan's Edo period (1603-1868). This cosmetic could be applied not only to the lips but also to other parts of the face and body. When layered, the pigment would change from a deep rouge to a very striking iridescent green as it dried. It was an essential beauty product for both women and Kabuki actors.
One popular style during the Bunka and Bunsei eras (1804-1830) was the sasa-iro beni (bamboo grass red) look, where the top lip was left red while the bottom lip was painted green. At the time, beni was as valuable as gold, making this fashionable look a luxury reserved for those who could afford it.
Isehan Honten, a company founded 1825 Edo (now Tokyo), is the only surviving producer of komachi-beni using time-honoured techniques.
Product information as seen on the Beni Blog for Komachi Beni "Chitose" White Lily:
This new design, "White Lily", features an Arita ware dish decorated with the lily, which has been used as an analogy for the beautiful figure of a woman, as in "standing like a peony, sitting like a peony, walking like a lily"
This product released on March 17th, 2015.
Additional information
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