00:00This is the ancient art of making carmine rouge.
00:03Those white web-like clusters on the cactus aren't mold.
00:07They are cochineal bugs, tiny parasitic insects that produce a potent defensive chemical called carminic acid.
00:14The artisan seeds the cactus pads and waits three entire months for the colony to mature.
00:27She must then harvest them by hand, one small cluster, at a time.
00:44Once sun-dried, the massacre begins.
00:46She grinds the dried insects in a stone mortar.
00:50The bodies are pulverized into a deep, heavy purple dust.
00:54But this color isn't vibrant enough for an empress's lips.
00:57She needs chemistry.
00:58She boils the powder in mountain water.
01:06Watch closely as she squeezes fresh lemon juice into the pot.
01:10The citric acid causes a chemical reaction with the bug extract,
01:13instantly shifting the color from a dark violet to a blinding, luminous ruby red.
01:18She filters the liquid through linen to remove the crushed insect exoskeletons,
01:24leaving only the purest liquid dye.
01:33She turns out the dark blue.
01:39She turns out the dark blue.
01:40She turns out the dark blue.
01:42She turns out the dark blue.
01:44She turns out the dark blue.
01:44She turns out the dark blue.
01:45She turns out the dark blue.
01:45She turns out the dark blue.
01:45She turns out the dark blue.
01:45She turns out the dark blue.
01:45She turns out the dark blue.
01:47She turns out the dark blue.
01:47She turns out the dark blue.
01:48She turns out the dark blue.
01:50She turns out the dark blue.
01:58Now she creates the cosmetic base.
02:00She melts down natural beeswax, insect wax, shea butter, and rich camellia oil.
02:06This creates a solid, deeply moisturizing stick.
02:09She blends the concentrated bug extract directly into the hot waxes, stirring continuously to prevent the mixture from seizing.
02:17Before it cools, the liquid ruby is carefully poured into precision molds and left to cure undisturbed.
02:30Once set, she pulls it from the mold, a flawless velvet textured red bullet.
02:35She secures it inside a hand-carved bamboo tube.
02:39The result is a waterproof, hyper-pigmented cosmetic that ancient royalty once prized more than gold.
02:47Beautiful, luxurious, and 100% bugs.
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