RESUMEN
(1)The use of cosmetics (facial make-up and hair care) leads to more favourable appearance ratings by others (both males and females). For make-up there were more favourable ratings on all of the six appearance scales, and for hair care there were more favourable ratings on four of the six appearance scales. (2)The use of cosmetics leads to more favourable ratings of personality as perceived by others (both males and females). Facial make-up enhanced ratings on eight of the fourteen personality dimensions tested and hair treatment led to more favourable ratings on ten of the scales.
RESUMEN
Synopsis This review demonstrates the importance of outward appearance (especially of the face and head) in physical attractiveness and describes the methodology and results of objective experiments which assess interpersonal attraction, others' perceptions of the physically attractive and self-perception. It shows that, although cosmetics have been used, inter alia, to manipulate physical attractiveness in some of these experiments, there are little data showing benefit of cosmetics per se to the individual. Consequently, the review is a first step in designing objective studies to test the hypothesis that cosmetics are of demonstrable benefit to the user.