Nail polishes simulate the texture of Ru ware, an extremely rare type of pottery from Song Dynasty (AD 420-479). [Photo/Official Weibo account of Gugong Taobao]

With only design concepts, the museum has already stimulated people's desire to buy. It has received over 30,000 likes and has been shared more than 60,000 times as of June 15, 2017. Many internet users, mostly females, have expressed their passion for the products and their will to save money for future purchases even if they may have to skimp.

A Weibo user known as Lingluan Nini forwarded the Palace Museum article on her Weibo page. "I'm so into the new designs! Make-up can also have a unique Chinese style," she commented.

"If the Palace Museum really starts a cosmetic business, it will become a powerful contender for all the other cosmetic brands," the official Weibo account of Beijing Media Club said.