Traditional face painting with Achiote (Bixa orellana)
The bright red spiny achiote fruit contains numerous small red seeds which, when crushed, produce a bright red-orange dye, containing the carotenoid pigment bixin.
Face and body painting have been important parts of Amazonian culture for centuries. Face painting, in particular, has played an important part in hunting, warfare, and courtship.
Traditional designs could designate status and identity.
A man’s facial paint can give him courage and power; a woman’s facial paint gives her … well, sex appeal.
Face painting also played important social roles; among the Shipibo, for example, painting a man’s face in traditional designs was a job performed only by women.
(Singing to the Plants)
