You never get a second chance to make a first impression, as the saying goes, and it looks like there's some truth to the claim, particularly for women who wear makeup.
Procter & Gamble Beauty and Grooming recently sponsored a Harvard study in which women were rated barefaced and then on three makeup styles. Researchers studied the reactions of people who viewed four looks on 25 different women: barefaced, then with "natural" makeup, "professional" makeup and "glamorous" makeup.
Makeup artists applied the looks to the 25 women of varying ages and races, and a professional photographer shot the women in the same light and atmosphere each time, cropping out clothing and hairstyles.
Study participants ranked each face on attractiveness, likeability, trustworthiness and competence.
The faces that didn't have makeup on were rated lower than any of the makeup looks in all four categories. Natural and professional makeup looks were rated highest in all categories, and while the glamorous look, which sported heavier, more dramatic makeup, was rated as likeable as the other two looks but not as trustworthy, while being rated more attractive and more competent.
Lead investigator Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., drew the following conclusions: "For the first time, we have found that applying makeup has an effect beyond increasing attractiveness - it impacts first impressions and overall judgments of perceived likeability, trustworthiness, and competence.
In today's world of self-portraits appearing on networking and dating websites, ballots, resumes and applications, the results of the study have broad implications." So does this mean that you need to run out and buy a whole slew of products? Probably not.
But you may want to consider how your look will be perceived if you're looking to impress.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
CHAN 2024Q: Ghana’s Black Galaxies held by Nigeria in first-leg tie
25 minutes -
Dr Nduom hopeful defunct GN bank will be restored under Mahama administration
58 minutes -
Bridget Bonnie celebrates NDC Victory, champions hope for women and youth
1 hour -
Shamima Muslim urges youth to lead Ghana’s renewal at 18Plus4NDC anniversary
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo condemns post-election violence, blames NDC
2 hours -
DAMC, Free Food Company, to distribute 10,000 packs of food to street kids
4 hours -
Kwame Boafo Akuffo: Court ruling on re-collation flawed
4 hours -
Samuel Yaw Adusei: The strategist behind NDC’s electoral security in Ashanti region
4 hours -
I’m confident posterity will judge my performance well – Akufo-Addo
4 hours -
Syria’s minorities seek security as country charts new future
5 hours -
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo re-appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
5 hours -
German police probe market attack security and warnings
5 hours -
Grief and anger in Magdeburg after Christmas market attack
5 hours -
Baltasar Coin becomes first Ghanaian meme coin to hit DEX Screener at $100K market cap
6 hours -
EC blames re-collation of disputed results on widespread lawlessness by party supporters
6 hours