Respect, trust, affection and perceived competency all seem to be tied to the amount of makeup a woman wears, says a new study funded by Procter & Gamble.
Check out the above image. The same woman is shown from left to right wearing various levels of makeup (barefaced, natural, professional and glamorous). Viewers considered the women on the right side of the spectrum to be more professional and competent.
The study showed that wearing increased levels of makeup increases people’s perceptions of a woman’s likability, competence, trustworthiness and attractiveness.
According to Nancy Etcoff, a Harvard Psychology professor and the study’s leader, it has long been known that symmetrical faces and beautiful people are more well-liked. There has also been evidence in the past that makeup can act as a placebo effect, making the woman in question more confident because she perceives herself as more beautiful with makeup on. However, this study took that information a step further, proving that makeup can be credited for people inferring that a woman is capable, reliable and amiable.
Specifically, participants in the study judged women as being more competent when there was the existence of “luminance contrast” (a fancy term for how much the eyes and lips stand out compared to the woman’s skin), as compared to barefaced women.
So before your next job interview, prepare yourself. Try out smart, professional makeup options – not only will you feel more confident, but you will actually be perceived as more competent, more trustworthy and more hirable!
Sources:
http://www.mycollegesandcareers.com/2011/10/study-says-women-wearing-mak…
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/fashion/makeup-makes-women-appear-more…
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=17529894