Surely men have moved on from scarlet women
FAR be it from me to quibble with great minds of science. Oh, all right then, go on. Surely this study is utter piffle. Because if it isn’t, all it really confirms is that men haven’t evolved in the last few thousand years.
See a set of rosy cheeks on a fair maiden and they go all caveman on us and want to whisk us back to their lair.
Men, are you really that Neanderthal? A ROSY glow is nothing to blush about – it makes a woman significantly more attractive, a study has found.
And men even claim it makes females appear more intelligent, too.
The findings may also help explain the universal popularity of the colour of love, from Valentine’s Day to lingerie.
Previous research has shown women are more likely to wear red or pink clothing during the fertile phase of their monthly cycle.
The international study, co-authored by Professor David Perrett of the University of St Andrews, said red’s association with health and fertility had a “halo effect” – creating a positive impression about potential mates and their good qualities.
“In social situations, including mate evaluation situations, the face is a focal point of attention, and facial cues convey important information,” the study revealed.
“Men’s perceptions of a woman’s healthiness contributes to their perceptions of her attractiveness as healthiness is an indicator of overall quality and reproductive potential.”
Investigators quizzed 500 men who were shown six composite pictures of women where their red skin colour was either highlighted or played down.
They were also asked a series of questions, including how healthy or intelligent a person looked.
“The total effect of increased redness on perceived attractiveness was significant,” the study continued.
“Faces with increased redness were perceived as healthier and more intelligent.”
The study in the journal Perception added: “Female displays of red on the face are viewed positively by heterosexual males.
“Increased redness on the face of female targets led to increased ratings of attractiveness, and decreased redness led to decreased ratings of attractiveness.”
The report concluded: “There is a halo effect surrounding healthiness – what’s healthy is good.”
Red has long been used to symbolise lust, passion and fertility – red lipstick and rouge were used to enhance women’s appearance as early as 10,000 years ago in ancient Egypt.
It has been found that female’s facial skin is redder when the sex-hormone oestrogen, which promotes fertility, is at its highest level in the body.
A side-effect of its presence is causing the skin’s blood vessels to dilate.
Also women, and men, often blush around the face, neck, and upper chest when sexually interested or excited. pulled on my trainers and heaved my unfit, wobbling body around a few streets.
It’s fair to say that after about 10 minutes, I could be described as rosy-cheeked. In fact, I was puce. By this time, there were quite a few people on their way to work.
And did a single man stop his car and propose, declare his undying love or merely gaze at my beauty?
I’m afraid not. The nearest I got was when some bloke asked if I needed a doctor.
See? Your average Scottish man is more sophisticated than this study makes out.
More interested in our personality, banter and charm than the colour of our cheeks.
And of course, we women only spend millions of pounds a year on rosy-pink blushers and red lipsticks for ourselves. It’s nothing to do with men, is it, girls?