One of the most popular methods of enhancing attractiveness is through makeup. From Hollywood glamour to girls’ night out, from red lipstick to false eyelashes, cosmetic adornment adds drama and style, both dramatic and subtle. But does it signal interest or availability? According to research, the answer depends on your audience.

Carlota Batres et al. (2018) investigated perceptions of women wearing makeup.[i] They found, consistent with prior research, that women were viewed as more attractive when wearing makeup than when not wearing makeup and that wearing more makeup made women more attractive. But Batres et al. sought to go further, extending prior research which found that women wearing makeup were also rated as less modest, more promiscuous, more interested in men, and more likely to have an extramarital affair.........

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