How do we decide if someone’s face is attractive? A study published in The Laryngoscope explored this scientifically. Mayo Clinic researchers tracked where people focus when encountering a new face—resulting in some intriguing findings.
40 Neutral Faces to Examine
The experiment included 154 participants shown 40 images of male and female faces from various ethnic backgrounds. Each portrait featured neutral expressions and no enhancements. Depending on their assigned group, participants rated attractiveness, looked for cosmetic signs, or observed freely.
Using eye-tracking software, researchers recorded how long each participant’s gaze lingered on different facial regions: eyes, nose, mouth, hair, jawline, etc.
The outcome? All groups focused primarily on the “central triangle” of the face—eyes, nose, and mouth—confirming past research. However, those judging attractiveness had a particularly focused gaze.
Men and Women Look at Different Things
By comparing eye movements with attractiveness scores, patterns emerged. The more attractive a face, the longer participants focused on the triangle zone, plus the mouth and hair. But men and women noticed different features:
- Men mainly focused on women’s mouths.
- Women tended to study men’s eyes and hair.
This aligns with older theories: men are drawn to signs of youth and fertility, while women may prioritize cues like status or grooming.
And when there’s no attraction?
Interestingly, for faces deemed unattractive—even by gender—gazes often drifted toward the forehead or neck. When something seems “off,” our eyes gravitate away from main features.
Useful Beyond the Science of Attraction
These insights aren’t just for romance—they’re valuable in cosmetic medicine. Knowing which areas catch the eye could guide subtle enhancements for maximum impact.
However, the study has limits. Faces shown were static, not reflecting real-life interactions. Researchers didn’t analyze specific features like eye shape or facial symmetry—all influencing attractiveness. Despite a diverse participant pool, cultural backgrounds and personal experiences affect facial perception.
What’s next? Researchers suggest exploring dynamic expressions or video interactions—ideally in real-world settings. While similar studies are done on dating apps, it’s time to bring this science into face-to-face connections.
Sources
- Fearington, F.W., Pumford, A.D., Awadallah, A.S. and Dey, J.K. (2025), Gaze Patterns During Evaluation of Facial Attractiveness: An Eye-Tracking Investigation. The Laryngoscope. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.31967
- Eye-tracking study reveals which facial features truly matter in attraction, Psypost, 7 mai 2025.
This article first appeared on doctissimo.com – Author: Magali Régnier
