If the feudal history of China is known through stories of kings and exquisite harem, then the monarchy of Vietnam’s history is also equally splendid and mysterious. Although historical records have endured the harsh times of war, luckily the story of the life and artistry of the last Empress of the Nguyen dynasty, Hoang Thai Hau, is still preserved.
Hoang Thi Cuc, later known as Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau, was born on January 27, 1890, in Thua Thien-Hue. Even before she was born, Cuc had to experience the separation of her mother, as her mother took half a step, leaving Cuc to live with her father and two half-siblings. The loneliness continued when her father passed away early, and shortly after, her biological older brother sold her as a concubine to earn money.
Historical records note that despite the difficult circumstances, Cuc still maintained her virtuous qualities and gentle nature. When she entered the palace, she was chosen to serve the Queen Mother, the widowed wife of King Dong Khanh and the mother of Prince Buu Dao – who later ascended to the throne as King Khai Dinh. Prince Buu Dao, during his visits to his mother, noticed and admired the concubine Cuc, who not only had an attractive appearance but also a kind heart. This love blossomed, and in 1913, Hoang Thi Cuc gave birth to Nguyen Phuc Vinh Thuy – the last king of Vietnam, Bao Dai.
Although life in the palace for Hoang Thi Cuc was not always filled with happiness, due to the contempt from her mother-in-law stemming from her humble origins, people still couldn’t help but be curious about the beauty secrets. Despite being just a concubine, she exuded a mesmerizing charm that even the nobility could not ignore.
Thanks to the stories recounted by Le Thi Dinh, the last concubine, along with historical records, the future was revealed about the beauty methods that Cuc applied, all derived from natural ingredients that were familiar from the palace garden.
Washing hair with reed
The proverb “A person’s teeth and hair are their beauty” is not groundless, as in the past, people valued natural beauty with long, silky, and shiny hair. Especially in the court, the concubines used a unique method to nourish their hair, namely using reed water to wash their hair.
After the reed fruit is dried and cleaned, it will be simmered to obtain a dark glossy water with a gentle natural fragrance. This water, when diluted with clean water and used for hair washing, not only helps strengthen the hair but also preserves its long-lasting black color and prevents graying. It was through washing their hair with this water that the concubines had the beautiful hair that many people desired.
Facial care with pollen powder
Pollen powder, with its small delicate flower shape, is made from pure beeswax, removing any unwanted impurities. The next step in the production process is blending it with distilled rainwater and ten types of precious medicinal sources, kept secret by the palace. Making pollen powder is an art that requires the balance of the five elements: Metal represents the metal utensils used; Wood represents the precious herbs used to make the powder; Water is the pure rainwater, carefully collected several times a year for gradual use; Fire is the heat used to cook the product; and Earth is represented by the clay pots used in the processing.
It is said that this powder has the ability to bring about the flawless beauty of ancient beauties: fair, soft, with the ability to blur brown spots and slow down the aging process. There is a legend that Tucung, the mother of King Bao Dai, used pollen powder her whole life, and thanks to that, she maintained flawless skin without a blemish, even though she lived to be a hundred years old.
Applying lip balm with beeswax
During the Nguyen dynasty, beeswax was considered a rare and precious ingredient, preferred by noble ladies in the palace to make lip balm for daily beauty. When beeswax is melted, it will be mixed with olive oil and then filtered through a thin cloth to ensure the softness and smoothness of the product. Then, depending on personal preferences, natural colorants such as rose petals and lotus flowers are added to create special lip balm.
These colorants are usually extracted from natural ingredients, bringing delicate and natural colors to lip balm. Beeswax lip balm not only provides moisture and a light shine but also ensures long-lasting lip color, creating a noble and glamorous beauty for the ancient palace ladies.
Eyebrow pencil made from rattan trees
In descriptions of the beauty of ancient women, they are often compared to having delicate eyebrows like a crescent moon and sharp eyes like phoenix wings. One of the secrets behind those refined eyebrows is the use of wood from rattan trees. This wood is carved into eyebrow pencils, and the shaving is then finely processed into a smooth powder to create eyebrow powder. This method creates a makeup product that not only harmonizes with natural color but also is friendly and safe for the skin.
Lady Le Thi Dinh commented that the empress was always meticulous and focused on every detail. Therefore, in her makeup routine, she was very careful to avoid smudging her makeup while ensuring that her eyebrows were not too dark or too light.
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