14 DAY TRIAL // A group of researchers has determined that, among Caucasians, the color of a person's face is a major factor in determining their attractiveness level for individuals of the opposite gender. A yellowish, light complexion has been determined to be the healthiest, and therefore the most appealing, by a set of experiments. The researchers in charge of the investigation believe that this may be owed to the fact that a lighter skin hue indicates a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, LiveScience reports.
“Effectively health and attractiveness are pretty much the same thing,” study researcher Ian Stephen says. The expert is based at the University of Bristol in England. He adds that a number of previous studies seem to point to this conclusion as well, alongside a host of upcoming researches, yet to be published. The UB team predicts that their finds will hold true for other ethnic groups as well, though they admit that the hypothesis will have to be rigorously checked before any conclusions are drawn. Details of the new study appear in the December issue of the International Journal of Primatology.
Other cues of attractiveness that have been identified on people's faces are symmetry and shape, but the latter may be considered a subjective matter. “Most previous work on faces has focused on the shape of the face or the texture of the skin, but one of the most variable characteristics of the face is skin color,” Stephen adds. He explains that, in the new experiments, 54 Caucasian participants were asked to modify the color on photos of 50 men and women, so that those in the pictures looked as healthy as possible. The vast majority of the test subjects increased the rosiness, yellowness and brightness of the skin of models' faces.
“In the West we often think that sun tanning is the best way to improve the color of your skin. But our research suggests that living a healthy lifestyle with a good diet might actually be better,” the expert says. “If you're starving yourself then you'll look unhealthy for other reasons. I wouldn't suggest you eat nothing but salads, because you won't be getting enough calories and [would] lose a lot of weight, and that in itself doesn't look good. If you end up anemic you won't have the red component in your face,” he adds.
The science group believes that the rosiness of the facial skin may be generated by it being flushed with oxygen-rich blood, suggesting a powerful heart, lungs and circulatory system. The yellow component may be derived from the carotenoid pigments, which can be found in fruits and vegetables, suggesting a healthy and balanced diet. The preferences that the participants displayed in creating the healthiest looking face most likely came from evolutionary adaptations, which sought to increase the chances of only the healthiest individuals perpetuating their genes.