Make-up has been an important tool in improving appearance for women across cultures and generations throughout the centuries. From ancient Egyptians using soot and other natural materials to put together their look and English women applying egg whites on the face to achieve a paler complexion, women have various ways of enhancing attractiveness.

1. Face Power:
Make-up
Influences
Perceptions
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2. Face Power: Make-up Influences Perceptions
Make-up has been an important tool in improving appearance for women across
cultures and generations throughout the centuries. From ancient Egyptians using soot
and other natural materials to put together their look and English women applying egg
whites on the face to achieve a paler complexion, women have various ways of
enhancing attractiveness.
Psychologists believe that the enhancement of physical attributes translates to
a heightened sense of self-esteem—the outside, which is visible, influences what’s on
the inside, the invisible. But more than self-perception, make-up also affects the
perception of others. More importantly, it goes beyond the impression of
attractiveness.
Strong Influence on Others’ Perception
Research conducted by Procter & Gamble, along with Harvard University
professors, showed that putting on make-up can influence perception about a
person’s likeability, trustworthiness, and competence. This implies that make-up
serves as a powerful tool in managing the way people want to be perceived.

3. The study involved 25 female participants ranging in age from 20 to 50 and
coming from different races: African-American, Hispanic, and Caucasian.
Photographs of the subjects were taken—barefaced and in three looks the study
authors labelled as natural, professional and glamorous. The research consisted of
two studies, involving inspection of women’s images.
More than a Pretty Face
In the first study, 149 adults (including 61 men) evaluated each of the photos
for 250 milliseconds.
The results showed that all of the make-up looks were received positively:
attractive, competent, likeable and trustworthy compared to the barefaced look.
In the second study, a different group composed of 119 adults (including 30 men)
judged the same images with unlimited time. The results were quite the same, with
the natural and professional looks deemed more attractive.

4. A notable piece of information the research team gathered is the perception
about the glamorous look. Although considered likable, participants found it less
trustworthy. The same impression happens when women wear high-contrasting
make-up.
This means if cosmetics do not enhance natural beauty—picking the wrong
color or texture—it can backfire and trigger perceptions of untrustworthiness. These
findings only confirm the importance of choosing looks wisely, in accordance with
the occasion or any agenda.
Make-up is a great tool, not just in boosting self-confidence, but also
influencing the perception of others. Its effectiveness, however, depends heavily on
appropriate use.
RESOURCES:
http://www.redstellasalonaustin.com
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025656
http://psych.hanover.edu/research/Thesis07/ScottPaper.pdf