Want to appear happy and healthy?

October 3, 2017

The beauty industry can seem flooded with creams, serums and all manner of potions, all of which claim to be the key product that will improve your appearance and make you more attractive. Likewise, we are encouraged to believe that losing a few pounds, or undergoing a cosmetic procedure will help to be as we want to be. However, the solution to our concerns about our appearance might be much more straightforward than all of that. It has been found that a simple, genuine smile can have a huge impact on how we are perceived by others.

The University of Swansea have recently carried out research, which has been reported upon in the Daily Mail. In this research, participants were presented with a series of images of faces. These faces all bore different facial expressions, were of different weights, were wearing different amounts of makeup, or were trying different methods to improve their appearance. The participants were asked to make a judgement about how attractive they perceived each of the faces to be. The research found that those images in which the faces were set in a genuine smile were judged to be far more attractive than other faces which, although were wearing makeup, or using special creams or techniques, weren’t smiling. The smiling faces were judged to be happier, healthier, and more attractive, seeming to be ‘glowing’.

The research attempted also to unpick which other key factors made a difference in terms of how attractive and healthy a person appeared. They found that displaying a genuine smile has as much of an impact on the ratings given to the images as did being an appropriate weight and having a Body Mass Index (BMI) rating in the healthy range. The amount or type of make-up being worn seemed to have little impact. In those images where the person’s face was resting in a frown or neutral expression, the person was rated as less attractive and healthy looking.

So, next time you’re in the beauty aisle surveying the latest creams and lotions, or thinking about whether that new shade of foundation is the answer, check out your facial expression first. A simple smile could really alter how you appear to others – and it’s free!

If you lack confidence in your smile, please do get in touch. We’re happy to help you consider your options to improve the appearance of discoloured or misaligned teeth. We also have a range of options for our clients who may have a missing tooth/teeth. We’d be very happy to discuss these with you and see what might work for you, so that you can make the most of your ultimate accessory.

For more information about the research, please visit the Daily Mail website: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4933120/Why-simply-SMILING-makes-attractive.html