DO FACE MASKS MAKE PEOPLE LOOK MORE ATTRACTIVE?

You’ve probably heard someone complain about how they miss seeing people’s faces in public.  But there’s a benefit to face masks:  They make people SEXIER.  (???)

Researchers at Cardiff University have found that both men and women are perceived to look better with a mask covering the lower half of their faces.  And that’s NOT because of all the designer face masks that are coming out.

The people in the study were asked to rate the attractiveness of faces:  Without a mask, with a plain cloth mask, with a blue medical face mask, and holding a plain black book covering the lower part of their face.

The study found that a face covered with a disposable surgical mask was the most appealing, followed by a cloth mask.

The researchers say it’s possible this is because masks direct more attention to people’s eyes, but this IS a change from before the pandemic.  So, they think it might have more to do with people feeling vulnerable now, and medical masks coming across as caring, reassuring, and positive.

Related: Men were less likely to wear face masks because they're 'not cool'...

(Another study out of Temple University came to a similar conclusion in August of 2020, saying even “attractive” people are sexier with a mask.)