Do Women Have a Primal Urge to Wear Makeup?
So much for the "natural look": New research shows that there may be a biological urge that drives women to wear eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick. In a study published recently in the journal Perception, Richard Russell, assistant professor of psychology at Gettysburg College, found that women's faces have greater color contrast between eyes, lips, and surrounding skin than men's. "Though people are not consciously aware of this, they unconsciously use contrast as a cue to tell what sex a face is," Russell said.
"Cosmetics are typically used to exaggerate this difference. And since femininity and attractiveness are highly correlated, making a face more feminine also makes it more attractive." Your science lesson for the day.
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