Faces of the earth: Stunning pictures capture bold and beautiful make-up worn by tribes around the world

Photographer Eric Lafforgue, created series of photos to give  insight into the use of make-up around the world[CN]

摄影师Eric Lafforgue，创建了一系列的图片，让人们深入了解全世界化妆的用途。

The 52 year old snapper discovered make-up is worn both for sun protection as well as traditional ceremonies [CN]

52岁的摄影师发现。化妆既可用来挡太阳光，也可作为传统仪式。

Using make-up as way to connect, he learned about other cultures in Papua New Guinea, India and Mozambique[CN]

Eric Lafforgue使用化妆作为交流的一种方式，在巴布亚新几内亚、印度、莫桑比克等国了解了当地的文化。

A touch of the theatrical: A man dressed for Theyyam ritual with traditional painting on his face in Thalassery, India[CN]

感受戏剧：在印度Thalassery，一名男子用传统染料画脸，为Theyyam仪式准备。

A highlander warrior with a modern nose ring decoration In Mount Hagen during Sing Sing Ceremony in Papa New Guinea  (left) and a young girl with Shiva make-up in Maha Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India (right)[CN]

在巴布亚新几内亚哈根山（左图），一名男子在欢唱节日上穿戴现代鼻环。在印度Allahabad的大壶节一名年轻女孩七日丧期的妆容（右图）

Shot over a period of ten years by professional photographer Eric Lafforgue wanted to provide an insight into the use of make-up around the world. Two young boys dressed up in traditional make-up and accessories during the Borobudur Festival, Java Island, Indonesia,[CN]

专业摄影师Eric Lafforgue拍照历经10年，想要让人们深入了解全世界化妆的使用。图为印尼爪哇岛的婆罗浮屠节。两名小男孩配上传统妆容和穿戴配饰。

Eric captured many of his images by attending different tribal festivities. Pictured is a Melpa tribe woman during Mt Hagen Sing Sing, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea[CN]

Eric通过参加不同的部落节日来抓拍他的图片。图为巴布亚新几内亚，西部高地美尔帕部落一女子在欢唱节上。

A female tribal dancer smiles for the camera in Trobriand Island, Papua New Guinea (left) and a young child wears flower decoration on his head, Korcho, Omo Valley, Ethiopia[CN]

巴布亚新几内亚特罗布里恩岛一名部落女性舞者(左图)朝着摄像机笑和埃塞俄比亚奥莫谷的Korcho一名小孩头戴花饰。

Hulis Wigmen From Tari during a Sing Sing Ceremony, Mount Hagen, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

As well as ceremonies, make-up around the world is used as a protection from the sun. A Suri tribe man With body paintings posing with a Kalashnikov, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

An Indonesian man with traditional festival make-up during the Borobudur Festival, Java Island, Indonesia (left) and Arbore tribe teenager with painted face, Omo Valley, Ethiopia (right)

For centuries different cultures and civilisations have used forms of cosmetics for everything from religious rituals and enhancing beauty to promoting good health and even showcasing different class systems in society. Pictured is a Kathakali Dancer with traditional face make-up, Kochi, India

Eric said: 'The people I have come across are always happy to explain to foreigners, even if sometimes it is really complicated to understand all the links to the cultures they tell you.' Pictured is a Kikuyu tribe woman in Kenya

Skeleton Tribe Women During Mount Hagen Sing Sing Cultural Show, Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

A young football fan attends a match Kigali Stadium in Rwanda (left) and Eric captures a beautiful close-up portrait shot of a Samburu Tribe Woman, Kenya

A young boy smiles for Eric. He is covered in why body paint climbs back from the Omo River, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Dramatic performance: A Chinese opera actor at Goddess Of Mercy Temple, Penang Island, George Town, Malaysia

A Man With Traditional headdress and make-up in Tapati Festival, Easter Island

A detail of a Mursi woman with her painted face and a shell headdress in Omo valley, Ethiopia

For centuries different cultures and civilisations have used forms of cosmetics for everything from religious rituals and enhancing beauty to promoting good health and even showcasing different class systems in society.

Shot over a period of ten years by professional photographer Eric Lafforgue, the following series of photos give us an insight into the use of make-up around the world. 

The images show people using make-up for ceremonies in Papua New Guinea to women in Myanmar and Mozambique who use it as a protection from the sun.

The 52-year-old snapper said: 'I like photographing tribal people, so I try my best to attend different ceremonies. It was at a ceremony that I realised you can see make-up used in so many occasions.'

Eric also likes to use make-up as a topic of conversation and a way to learn about other's cultures. He said: 'Make-up is also a good way to create new relationships as it is a way to speak to people; to ask about their culture. 

The people I have come across are always happy to explain to foreigners, even if sometimes it is really complicated to understand all the links to the cultures they tell you.'

For Eric, the most unique and memorable make-up was the Theyyam in India, which is used as a popular ritual form of worship in India. He said: 'The term Theyyam is a based off of the word Devam or God.

People from the local districts consider the performers of the Theyyam themselves to be deities and look forward to getting blessed by them. To appear superhuman, colourful costumes and make-up are used in Theyyam dances. 

'The dancer has to lay on the ground to let the make-up artists draw on their face. It takes hours and extreme skill.

'It is part of the performer's duties to craft the pieces of clothing, apply make-up on to another performer, dance, sing, and know the stories of all the Gods. 

'The faces of the people are magnified by so many colours, so it has became a real part of my job and my photographic passion to capture the way it used around the world.' 

To see more of Eric's incredible world photography visit his website.