<규합총서>에 기록된 우리나라 전통 피부미용

Abstract

Efficacy of ingredients used for basic skin care product described in Gyuhapchongseo, the Korean literature in Late Choson Period, was investigated. Perilla was used for whitening, lycium was used for baby face, and peach blossom, safflower, and benincasa hispida were used for glossy skin. These ingredients also had good medicinal effects in circulation, kidney, and lung. Face can reflect health status of human body according to the Korean medical book Donguibogam; skin tone reflects health of heart, spleen, and kidney; skin texture reflects health of kidney, lung, and heart; all kinds of skin problem are related to stomach. The ingredients of skin care products introduced in Gyuhapchongseo helped blood circulation and had medicinal effect on kidney, lung, small and large intestines. Thus method for skin care in the book was focused not only on improving women’s beauty but on medical effects, suggesting that the author Bingheogak Lee was deeply affected by Shilhak movement which was focused on present social problem and promotion of public welfare.