Men, take note: The rosier your complexion, the healthier—and more attractive—women will perceive you to be, according to scientists at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland who studied how oxygen found in one’s blood can alter your skin’s shade.
With the help of computer graphics, the researchers had college students change the color of faces in photographs in an attempt to make their peers look as healthy as possible. The team found that, for all faces, participants added more oxygen-rich blood color—or redness—for a healthy appearance.
“Our skin contains many tiny blood vessels that carry blood laden with oxygen to the skin cells, allowing them to 'breathe,' and allowing us to lose heat during exercise,” said lead researcher Ian Stephen. “People who are physically fit or have higher levels of sex hormones have more of these blood vessels and flush easier than people who are unhealthy, unfit, elderly or smokers. Physically fit people also have more oxygen in their blood than people who are unfit or have heart or lung illnesses.”
“Since your attractiveness relies upon how healthy you look, you might be able to make yourself more attractive by being kind to your heart and lungs in doing more exercise or quitting smoking,” Stephen said.