Facial attractiveness and skin color and texture

The main aim of this thesis is, in the form of a literature review and critical evaluation, to summarize the available findings from scientific research on the influence of skin color and texture on facial attractiveness. The first part briefly introduces some of the evolutionary perspectives on attractiveness and then the aspects primarily studied in the past that affect facial attractiveness, i.e., symmetry, averageness and sexually dimorphic features. The main section of this thesis is devoted to other important traits affecting facial attractiveness, that is, skin color and texture. Topics discussed include individual skin color traits (i.e., redness, yellowness, lightness and homogeneity of color), while this thesis tries to describe their association with actual health or physical condition. The influence of culture and gender on the perception of these traits is also included. Regarding skin texture, the topics of acne, scars, radiance and wrinkles and their effect on perceived attractiveness are discussed. Similarly to color traits, potential influences of culture and gender are also presented. Keywords attractiveness, color, texture, skin, perception, healt