title: Quantifying the impact cosmetic make-up has on age perception and the first impression projected.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  First impressions are lasting, consequential and defined as the immediate judgment made of another from zero acquaintance. Multiple studies have reported the benefits of cosmetic make-up. We set out to investigate the psychosocial and aesthetic effects of cosmetic make-up in order to better understand why women wear it.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven women were recruited in order to examine the effects of cosmetic make-up on first impressions. The photographs of individual subjects wearing the control cosmetics, their own make-up, and no make-up were randomly assigned to three binders (A, B, and C). Three hundred evaluators participated (100 evaluators per book) and completed a 10-point First Impression Scale for each of the 27 photos in their binder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis of the collected data was conducted in SPSS using two-tailed t-tests to determine the statistical significance of the differences between first impressions of Own Make-up vs No Make-up, No Make-up vs Control Make-up, and Own Makeup vs Control Make-up. There was a significant difference in improvement in all pairings across all 8 categories in the First Impressions questionnaire particularly in perceived age between own make-up, no make-up, control make-up (41, 42, 38; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study evaluated the first impressions, age perception, self-esteem, and the quality of life impact that cosmetic makeup has on women's appearance and confidence. Subjects wearing cosmetic make-up appeared 4 years younger than those wearing no make-up. And the control cosmetic make-up subjects on average projected a 37% better first impression than subjects wearing no make-up. We objectively quantified and qualified the benefits of applying cosmetic make-up. Make-up can reduce the perceived age, improve the first impression projected and increase the self-esteem of those who apply it.
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Dayan
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siracusa
authors.forename: Selika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Borst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001504:Beauty; D003358:Cosmetics; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics