London - It sounds like the perfect excuse to hog the bathroom mirror for an extra few minutes in the morning.
Women who wear make-up are perceived as more competent than their bare-faced counterparts, a study has revealed.
But think twice before getting carried away with the blusher brush - because an overload of cosmetics leaves the wearer looking shifty.
Scientists in the US asked men and women to study a series of photographs of women and rate them for competence, likeability, trustworthiness and attractiveness.
Researchers found that the heavier the woman’s make-up was, the less trustworthy they were considered.
However, they were more likely to be seen as competent and attractive. Only likeability remained unaffected by the amount of make-up applied.
Dr Nancy Etcoff, assistant clinical professor at Harvard University, said: “Women with more make-up were seen as having less social warmth and being less trustworthy.
“This could be because a natural face is seen as more innocent. We may subconsciously think of make-up as a disguise, as something trying to deceive us.”
But Dr Sarah Vickery, principal scientist at Procter and Gamble, which funded the study, said cosmetics addicts shouldn’t reach for the cleanser just yet. She added: “It is a trade-off because while they were viewed as less trustworthy, in return they were seen as powerful, competent and beautiful.” - Daily Mail