New Study shows that Makeup Alters Perception

Ladies, here’s something we all know already!

A new study performed by Procter & Gamble, claims that wearing makeup has a significant impact on how people perceive women – more importantly, that women seem “more attractive competent, likable and trustworthy.”

Study participants were shown photos of women either wearing no makeup or wearing one of three different cosmetic looks — natural, professional or glamorous.

In the first study, subjects were first shown images of women, who were of different ages and ethnicities, for 250 milliseconds. In a second study, a different set of study subjects looked at the same photos for an unlimited amount of time so they could carefully inspect each face.

Study participants then rated the women in terms of competence, likability, attractiveness and trustworthiness.

Nancy Etcoff, lead author and associate researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital said that “We found that when faces were shown very quickly, all ratings went up with cosmetics in all different looks,” and that “The women were judged as more competent, likable, attractive and trustworthy.”

But when subjects had the chance to examine photos for a longer period of time, the same perceptions didn’t carry over.

“When they got to the more dramatic makeup looks, people saw them as equally likable and much more attractive and competent, but less trustworthy,” Etcoff said. “Dramatic makeup was no longer an advantage compared to when people saw the photos very quickly.”

While the study shows the obviousness of how makeup enhances our appearance (ladies, how long have we known this?), we feel that at the end of the day our personality and qualifications makes a more lasting impression.

Be confident and don’t believe the hype!

YOU are smart AND beautiful!