Face masks make men appear more attractive to women, study finds; Men may want to consider keeping their face coverings after January 29, and not just for health reasons.

Byline: By, Simon Meechan

Many will be thrilled to hear they will no longer have to wear a face mask in England, but single men want to consider keeping theirs on.

Researchers from Cardiff University's School of Psychology found women rated men's faces as more attractive when covered with a surgical style mask.

The results of the study indicate that men are perceived to be better looking when their mouth and nose are covered up.

Read more: All the COVID rules in place after Plan B

The researchers showed 40 male faces of "low to high attractiveness" to 43 woman. Each man was photographed wearing a cloth mask, wearing a surgical mask, covering their face with a book, and with an uncovered face.

Faces were considered to be most attractive when wearing a surgical-style face mask. The women also rated men's faces as more attractive when covered by cloth compared to not wearing anything on their face.

The research was carried out in February 2021, seven months after face coverings first became mandatory due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Co-author Dr Michael Lews said the research aimed to see if the pandemic had changed feelings and attitudes about face masks. It follows research in Japan from 2016 which found masks make men less attractive.

Dr Lewis told Cardiff University: "The results run counter to the pre-pandemic research where it was thought masks made people think about disease and the person should be avoided.

"The current research shows the pandemic has changed our psychology in how we perceive the wearers of masks. When we see someone wearing a mask we no longer think 'that person has a...

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