Influence of facial shape on perceived attractiveness

TL;DR

This study shows that facial shape significantly influences how attractive people are perceived to be, especially in females, with specific facial features linked to higher attractiveness ratings.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence that three-dimensional facial shape correlates with external attractiveness ratings, with distinct patterns for males and females.

Findings

Facial shape significantly influences attractiveness ratings in females (η² = 0.075; P < 0.001), with features like balanced proportions and angular contours linked to higher scores.

Attractive male faces tend to have angular structures and reduced lateral fullness, though the association was not statistically significant (P = 0.106).

The study confirms that facial morphology impacts societal perceptions of attractiveness, aligning with prior research on self-perceived attractiveness.

Abstract

Facial attractiveness is often regarded as subjective, yet perceptions are strongly influenced by cultural, social, and biological factors. This study aimed to investigate whether and to what extent three-dimensional facial shape is associated with attractiveness ratings assigned by external evaluators, and whether these associations differ between males and females.

A total of 601 young adults (393 females; 208 males), aged 21–35 years, were assessed using three-dimensional facial photography. Facial shape was quantified using 29 anatomical curves and 1,021 landmarks analyzed through geometric morphometric methods. Six external examiners (three males, three females), matched in age to the study population, independently rated attractiveness using Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). Multivariate regression models were applied to examine associations between facial shape and attractiveness scores. Analyses were conducted separately for males and females to account for biological differences in facial morphology.

Facial shape was significantly associated with attractiveness ratings in females (η² = 0.075; P < 0.001). Higher attractiveness scores were linked to well-balanced vertical facial proportions and a more angular facial appearance, with sharper contours, reduced facial fullness, and mild profile convexity. A fuller and more projected upper lip was also characteristic of higher-rated faces. In males, effect size was comparable (η² = 0.070), but the association did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.106). Attractive male faces tended to exhibit an angular and well-defined facial structure, decreased lateral fullness, slightly increased lower facial height, central facial projection, and a straight profile.

Facial shape is associated with externally perceived facial attractiveness, with statistically significant effects observed in females. The findings align with previous research on self-perceived attractiveness and underscore the influence of facial morphology on societal perceptions of attractiveness.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40510-026-00617-2.

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