The Best-Looking Facial Traits, As Determined By Science

Ever since the early days of human history, facial attractiveness has shaped and defined how we treat one another. And several millennia down the line, not much has really changed. Thanks to the so-called “pretty privilege,” there are plenty of opportunities and advantages that go hand-in-hand with being blessed with a pleasing appearance.

But what exactly is it that makes someone physically appealing? Over the years, several researchers have set out to answer this question, conducting studies that measure what people look for in a face. And thanks to their work, we now have a scientific formula that explains why some individuals are generally considered more attractive than others.

Now, we can look at celebrities who are constantly praised for their appearance — and understand the science behind it. From Amber Heard and Kim Kardashian to George Clooney, countless stars share the same traits, putting them at the top of attractiveness polls. But these characteristics are not as obvious as you might think. 

One of the things that complicates the issue of facial attractiveness — at least on a scientific level — is that beauty ideals have changed drastically over the years. In 9th-century Japan, for example, a black smile was considered desirable. So for centuries, men and women colored their teeth using a noxious mixture of vinegar and iron filings.

Later, during the Renaissance, the British Queen Elizabeth I was considered the ultimate beauty icon. And as a result, pale faces such as hers became a desirable trait. In fact, some women went so far as to practice bloodletting in order to recreate the monarch’s drained look — although for many cosmetics were a preferable alternative. 

Although Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603 her influence on beauty standards continued into the Victorian era. By then, pale skin had come to symbolize innocence and virtue, and, unlike today, a glow or a tan was considered undesirable. But if you thought that bloodletting was bad, the women of 19th-century England took things even further.

At the time, you see, tuberculosis was rife in cities such as London. Even today, the bacterial infection kills over a million people every year, and back then it was even more deadly. But the translucent skin, weight loss, and blushed lips and cheeks caused by the disease were considered attractive at the time, prompting some women to intentionally contract it.

In the 21st century, certain elements of the tuberculosis look still rank highly on the attractiveness scale — although these days women use makeup to recreate them. But the question of what makes a man or woman beautiful has grown ever-more complex. And that has led some curious researchers to turn to science for answers. 

In the late 19th century, German psychologist Gustav Fechner theorized that the ancient Greek concept of the Golden Ratio might play a role in perceptions of human beauty. Simply put, this is a mathematical term which describes two quantities that relate to each other in a specific way. And throughout history, many great works of art and architecture have conformed to this standard.

So can the Golden Ratio apply to human faces too? In 2016 Dr. Julian De Silva, a surgeon on London’s prestigious Harley Street, conducted an experiment to find out. Using facial mapping technology, he analyzed the features of a number of female celebrities to see how closely they matched the ancient formula.

As reported by British newspaper Metro, it turns out that by this definition actress Amber Heard has what could be described as the most attractive face in the world, with features that match the Golden Ratio by 91.85 percent. According to Dr. De Silva, reality television star Kim Kardashian comes a close second, measuring in at an impressive 91.39 percent.

Following that, it seems, is original It-girl Kate Moss, whose features match the Golden Ratio by 91.06 percent. And next come models Emily Ratajkowski and Kendall Jenner, scoring 90.8 and 90.18 respectively. But Dr. De Silva didn’t stop there. Armed with the results, he went on to create a computer-generated image of the ideal female face.

In the end, Dr. De Silva’s hypothetical woman combined the best features of all five celebrities — as well as some others, such as Scarlett Johansson, who didn’t make the final cut. But does this chimera really represent the peak of female attractiveness? Or are there other factors at play which are more difficult to measure?

Over the years, many scientific studies have attempted to get to the root of attractiveness once and for all. And, confusingly, researchers have reached a number of different conclusions. But there is one thing upon which almost everyone seems to agree: symmetry is a vital component of an appealing face.

In fact, you might have heard the claim that attractive people have symmetrical faces repeated before. But what is it about this trait that makes it so appealing? In the past, experts believed that those with balanced features appeared healthier, making them appealing as potential mates on a subconscious level.

Now, though, scientists aren’t so sure, website The List noted recent research had cast doubt on any connection between facial symmetry and health. Instead, some have proposed that these features are appealing because the human brain finds it easy to process them. But at the moment, experts are divided on what the exact cause behind this phenomenon might be.

Confusingly, another key trait identified in attractive faces is asymmetry. Although these two points might seem to contradict each other, it turns out that humans can’t always spot unbalanced features in others, due to the way in which we process information. And so, any little quirks or imperfections might subconsciously add appeal.

“If you have a very symmetric, very easy to process face, then you have one problem: You won’t be remembered so well,” the University of Bamberg’s Claus-Christian Carbon told science magazine Nautilus in 2014. Using actress Meryl Streep as an example, he said, “The little imperfections of her face can be [read] as a sign of authenticity.”

Another important factor in attractiveness, scientists believe, is what a paper published in the journal Perception refers to as “the perception of weight in the face.” But which is considered more desirable — a fuller or thinner visage? According to one U.K.-based study cited by The List, both men and women found slimmer features more appealing, although men on the plumper end of the scale were considered healthier by their female counterparts.

Bizarrely, another study, this time from El Salvador, revealed that technology also plays an unexpected role in the appeal of facial weight. In a paper published in the scientific journal PLOS One, researchers wrote, “We found that people without internet access… preferred women with higher adiposity than people with internet access.”

Perhaps in an age of Photoshop and unrealistic beauty ideals, though, the study’s findings make a certain degree of sense. Another arguably even more surprising finding is that successful women seem to be drawn towards the facial features of older men. As per The List, this is known as the “George Clooney effect,” and shows one way in which preferences can differ between genders.

“We’d assumed that as women earn more, their partner preferences would actually become more like those of men, with a tendency towards preferring younger, more attractive partners rather than those who can provide and care for their children,” Dr. Fhionna Moore, who conducted research into the effect, explained in 2010. “We think this suggests greater financial independence gives women more confidence in partner choices, and attracts them to powerful, attractive older men.”

But not all women prefer the older, rugged look. In 2016 a group of researchers in New Zealand and California identified a parallel phenomenon dubbed the “Johnny Depp effect.” According to this theory, some women actually find traditionally feminine features on men more attractive — which explains why the long lashes and soft eyes of many Hollywood heartthrobs seem so appealing. 

In fact, there is evidence to suggest that feminine faces in general appear more attractive to people, regardless of their gender and sexual persuasion. According to the an afrticle on th website of the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, several studies have shown that these features are viewed as warm and nurturing, signifying someone who would make a good partner.

Similarly, scientists have identified familiarity as one of the important factors affecting the attractiveness of a face. According to the Association for Physical Science, early humans may have come to associate easy-to-process features with feelings of comfort and trust. And even now, several millennia later, those preferences may continue on a subconscious level.

“Psychological scientists call this ‘cognitive fluency,’ and it’s a powerful bias that still shapes many of our everyday decisions,” author Wray Herbert wrote in 2013. “Unless we deliberately slow down and second-guess our automatic judgments, we are going to prefer what we know to what we don’t. Our world is not so perilous as it once was, but we still tend to operate by this ancient bias.”

Meanwhile, one study published in the Royal Society Open Science journal in 2016 has provided more evidence that humans are attracted to faces which are easy on the brain. By monitoring the brain activity of participants, it seems, researchers were able to determine which images they found more appealing. And soon, they discovered that “simple” features generated the most positive response.

But if you think that simple means natural and makeup-free, you might be mistaken. Speaking to News.com.au in 2016 the University of Queensland’s Bill von Hippel said, “My guess is lips and cheeks and eyes shaped in a prototypically attractive fashion are very easily processed themselves. So if contouring and lipstick makes it a more prototypical face, I’d imagine that meets the definition.” 

And if things weren’t complex enough, they’re about to get really weird. According to a study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin in 2010, people are attracted to others who resemble their family members. And it’s not the only research that has hinted towards a real-life Game of Thrones-type scenario.

As per website Business Insider, eight years earlier, another study found that the children of older parents tended to be attracted to more mature faces. And later research also revealed that both men and women were drawn to partners whose hair and eye colors matched those of their mother or father. But is this simply an extension of the familiarity effect — or is there something more complex going on?

So far, we have only looked at vague concepts that affect attractiveness: ideas such as symmetry and familiarity. But science has also identified some definitive attributes that make human faces more appealing. For example, as per The List, a study conducted by the University of Liverpool found that women were drawn to men with facial scars — but only when they wanted something short-term. 

“Women may have rated scarring as an attractive quality for short-term relationships because they found it to be a symbol of masculinity, a feature that is linked to high testosterone levels and an indicator of good genetic qualities that can be passed onto offspring,” the university’s Rob Burriss explained in a 2008 statement. “Men without scars, however, could be seen as more caring and therefore more suitable for long-term relationships.”

On the flip side of the coin, a team of researchers from Australia and Finland found that, when it came to serious relationships, women preferred a man with a beard. According to the study, which was published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology in 2016, facial hair indicated “a male’s ability to successfully compete socially with other males for resources.”

“Beards have consistently been shown to enhance men’s apparent age, masculinity, social dominance and aggressiveness intrasexually,” the piece continues. But, apparently, all facial hair is not considered equally appealing. According to the study, “ten days of beard growth,” or heavy stubble, came out on top of the attractiveness scale.

If you’re a woman, you’re probably fed up of being told to smile — particularly by men you have not even met before. And while you’re under no obligation to make yourself attractive to strangers, there is evidence to support the idea that smiling makes both men and women more physically appealing. 

According to a 1996 article published in the Perceptual and Motor Skills journal, a group of Brazilian researchers found that photographs of people smiling were consistently rated as more attractive. And that wasn’t all. While a broad beam was associated with happiness, grins in all forms seemed to suggest a kind personality.

Finally, in a study published in the journal Perception in 2004, researchers found that complexion also plays a big role in perceived attractiveness. The paper reads, “Results suggest that apparent health of facial skin is correlated both with ratings of male attractiveness… and with being a visual clue for judgements of the attractiveness of male faces.”

According to magazine National Geographic, this is not the only research out there that suggests people are drawn to faces with healthy skin. Perhaps this preference, like other attractive traits, is left over from a time when we were biologically programmed to seek out the strongest mate? Or maybe there is another explanation that scientists have yet to uncover.

Across the centuries, what makes someone attractive has always altered with the times, from the pale princesses of the Victorian era to today’s tanned and contoured reality-TV stars. And ultimately, beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder. But at least now we know some of the science behind it.