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Hormone Levels Predict Attractiveness of Women

Make-Up Masks that Feminine Glow

Make-Up Mystery
Most women wear some form of make-up every day or on most days. It may be blusher, eye shadow or lipstick. Does make up make women more attractive? Perhaps not, according to a new study by St. Andrews University. Scientists recently revealed that wearing make-up may interfere with a woman’s natural feminine glow. Studies suggest that women who are fertile have a natural glow to their skin, a subtle sign that lets men know that a woman is fertile. Using make up may mask this natural glow.

Studies confirm the same is true for men, that more fertile men may have more good looking genes, meaning these men often appear more attractive to women. The latest study in this line of research suggests that make up may work wonders for less attractive women, tricking partners into thinking they may be more fertile than they actually are. For women who had a naturally feminine face however, make-up would not necessarily impact her odds of catching a man and may in fact hurt them.

Femininity and Fertility
In this small scale study conducted at St. Andrews University 56 women students were observed over a period of roughly one month. The study monitored key signs of fertility including hormone levels then photographed women during high and low stages of fertility.

These photographs were shown to men who rated the attractiveness of each woman. Women who had higher hormone levels, particularly women with higher estrogen levels suggesting greater fertility were preferred more often among the men, suggesting a link exists between a woman’s good looks and her fertility.

The study also asked men to rate women who wore make up compared with those that didn’t. Those not wearing make-up with higher hormone levels were designated more attractive and feminine. Among the women wearing make up the results suggested more random selection, indicating that make up may be a leveling tool helping offer women who are less fertile more of an advantage when in the playing field.

This study concludes that make-up can hide natural cues of a woman’s fertility. Make-up may also hide a woman’s natural beauty, which universally is often preferred by men than artificial faces.

The study points out that higher levels of estrogen in a woman’s body can contribute to a more feminine face. Women with higher levels of estrogen generally have more feminine bone structures and often also had corresponding smoother skin. This may mean that from an evolutionary perspective men may have preferred feminine faces as a sign that women were fertile and would produce more offspring for them.

Should you rush out to the make-up counter then to help ‘level’ the playing field? Probably not. Most studies, including one of thousands of men suggest that a majority of men (80% or more) prefer women who wear less make up and have natural looking faces.

Coating one’s face in make up merely suggests you may have something to hide, something more than a blemish or two. We all have natural beauty, and chances are you have at least one feature that sets you apart from the crowd. Why paint over it? When it comes to your face one thing is certain… natural is certainly better. So get out there and enjoy your natural beauty!