In some cultures, temporary body decorations are applied to mark such celebrations as weddings, feasts, and religious festivals, or to signal events such as funerals or warfare. Tattooing and scarification are permanent forms of body painting which may identify the wearer as a member of a specific culture, society, or institution. Tattooing and scarification, practiced around the world, serve similar functions. The indelible designs may symbolize marriage, passage rites, clan identity, or social status. The use of color can enhance our appearance, especially by emphasizing facial features such as lips, cheeks, and eyes.
Many cultures color the body in some way.
Although the application of body paint may be prompted by different circumstances, the promotion of self-esteem remains the primary motive. For example, the strikingly decorated face of a man from New Guinea conveys a certain status within his society, while American women beautify themselves by applying a wide range of cosmetics. For centuries, body paint has been derived from materials found naturally in the environment, such as plants, rocks, minerals, and even insects. Fashionable women of the Elizabethan era decorated their faces and bodies with red and white substances. Powdered borax created a pale white face, neck and shoulders, while red ochre produced rosy cheeks.