Think that makeup doesn't matter much? Think again! No matter how you feel about makeup, it's a scientific fact that beautiful faces are favored over plain ones in many social situations. Since so many of us aren't born beautiful, we rely on makeup to make our faces appear more symmetric and desirable. A 2010 article published by the New York Times reveals a lot about makeup bias in the workplace, according to a study it reports on. This study, by Procter & Gamble, says that 149 participants viewed 25 photos of women's faces, with and without makeup. In just a few milliseconds, the participants judged the attractiveness of the faces and the plain girls lost.
The photo viewers in the study stated that the women wearing makeup appeared more competent than those that were bare-faced. Unfortunately for women, of the 149 viewers/participants only 61 were men. It's not men judging us, it's the women!
In the study, people preferred:
- Luminosity of skin
- Large eyes
- Colorful lips
- Even skin tone
However, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. The participants decided that wearing too much makeup had the opposite effect. They thought excessive makeup made women look:
- Untrustworthy
- Unprofessional
- Amateurish
So what's the best makeup wardrobe for a professional women?
- Foundation with a touch of luminosity but doesn't leave the face shiny.
- Brown or light black eyeliner that enlarges the eye, unnoticeably.
- Flesh toned lipstick with a slight touch of color-minus the lip gloss.
- An invisible concealing product that hides skin tone deviations.
Things professional women should watch for is makeup that's too dark or looking too "Gaga" for the office. Invest in a lighted makeup mirror so you can get a true picture of what you look like before you leave home. It's better than being surprised when you get to work.
More from this contributor:
How to lighten a lipstick shade
7 tips for growing your natural nails
6 secrets for growing longer hair
