The Matsigenka use facial adornment as a form of self-expression. By harvesting seeds from the achiote and huito plants, they produce red and bluish-black dyes to decorate the skin. While the practice is shared by both sexes, the specific patterns and motifs serve to differentiate between male and female identities.

The designs provide information about the status or plans of the wearer. For example, in women they indicate at what moment of their menstrual cycle they are in, while other designs are directed to supernatural beings, either to attract them with a protective purpose or to drive them away (Rosengren, 2004).

According to previous studies, this was a form of sankenari or something that is painted, sankenari can also mean "jaguar". The term suggests that it is a spotted or painted animal (Rosengren, 2004). Another facial adornment used by women was the curique, a silver or seed piece that adorned the nose. These facial adornments are not only an artistic expression, but also play an important cultural and symbolic role in Matsigenka identity.

The Matsigenka used to wear feather crowns, or matsairintsi, as part of their traditional dress. Today, this custom is practiced by fewer individuals within the community. The crowns were made with feathers of birds of various colors, such as the curassow, toucan, and red macaw. Cotton thread was used to intertwine the feathers and achieve a distinctive finish that would identify them from others. These crowns were reserved for special occasions, as David Ríos tells us:

“It is our custom to wear our mark, it is like saying, a true matsigenka custom (...) we wear it to walk, to go to a party, or to visit. When our people come, we identify ourselves as true Matsigenka people." David Ríos, Shipetiari, 2023.

Feather crowns are adornments made by both men and women. It is an art form that requires special skills, whose knowledge gets transmitted to the maker from an early age, before he/she can master it. Some distinctions can be seen in the details and durability of the crowns, as David explains:

“Women make it better than men, and it lasts, because they make it by weaving, while men make the crowns provisionally. At least it can last us a year or two, while if the women weave it well, it lasts three or four years." ~David Ríos Rivera, Shipetiari, 2022.

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Those who make these objects have a deep knowledge and mastery of traditional techniques, allowing them to create pieces of great quality and beauty. Although some of these objects have an ephemeral life, they are made with great care and attention to detail, seeking to achieve a level of perfection in their elaboration.