Rouge is a reddish cosmetic powder or cream that people apply to their cheeks to add color and make their face look healthier or more lively. The word comes from French, where rouge simply means “red.”

For most of history, women (and sometimes men) used rouge to brighten their appearance, especially for special occasions or performances. In the 1700s and 1800s, rouge was extremely popular among wealthy Europeans, who applied it generously to their cheeks and lips. Actors still use rouge today as part of stage makeup, since bright theater lights can wash out natural skin tones.

In modern times, people usually call cheek rouge blush instead, though the words mean essentially the same thing. You might hear the phrase “rouge your cheeks” in older books or historical movies.

The word also appears in Moulin Rouge, the famous Parisian theater. And in the phrase rouge et noir (red and black), it refers to the colors on a roulette wheel or in certain card games.

As a verb, rouge means to apply rouge to your cheeks.