In a 2023 YouGov poll, 43% of people said eyes are the first thing they notice about a face. Smiles came in second at 28%. But attraction is more than a single feature.
Researchers have spent decades measuring what draws people to certain faces. The answers are surprisingly consistent across cultures. Here's what science says about each feature, from eyes to skin.
What Do People Notice First About a Face?
Eye-tracking studies show that people look at your eyes first. A 2017 study in Royal Society Open Science found that viewers fixate on the eye region within the first 200 milliseconds of seeing a face. That's faster than a blink.
After the eyes, attention moves to the mouth and nose. The triangle between these three points is where most of the action happens. Researchers call this the "core face region," and it accounts for about 80% of where people look during conversation.
Think about meeting someone new. You look at their eyes to read their mood. Then your gaze drops to their mouth as they talk. This pattern is hardwired into human behavior. Even babies as young as two months old follow this same pattern.
Celebrities like Zendaya and Chris Hemsworth are often praised for their striking eyes. It makes sense. Your eyes are the first thing people see.
Why Are Eyes Considered the Most Attractive Feature?
Multiple surveys rank eyes as the most attractive facial feature. A 2023 YouGov poll found that 43% of people chose eyes as the first thing they notice about someone's face. No other feature came close.
What makes eyes so powerful? Three things stand out:
- Color contrast. The white of the eye against a colored iris creates a strong visual signal. This contrast helps others read your emotions and intentions from a distance.
- Expression. Your eyes communicate more than any other feature. A slight squint, a wide-eyed look, or a soft gaze all send different messages without a word.
- Limbal ring. The dark circle around your iris tends to be thicker in younger, healthier people. Studies show that faces with visible limbal rings are rated as more attractive.
Celebrities known for their eyes include Aishwarya Rai, whose blue-green eyes have been called the most beautiful in the world. Megan Fox's light blue eyes and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's expressive brown eyes show that color matters less than clarity and contrast.
For more on how different face shapes frame the eyes differently, your bone structure plays a role in how your eyes are perceived.
How Much Does a Smile Change Your Face?
A genuine smile can make you up to 10% more attractive. A study published in Cognition and Emotion found that smiling faces are consistently rated as more attractive, more trustworthy, and more approachable than neutral expressions.
The key word is "genuine." Researchers distinguish between a Duchenne smile (which engages muscles around the eyes) and a social smile (mouth only). People can tell the difference, even subconsciously. A real smile creates crow's feet around the eyes and lifts the cheeks.
Julia Roberts built an entire career on her wide, genuine smile. Anne Hathaway and Idris Elba are also frequently mentioned in "best smile" lists. What they have in common is that their smiles reach their eyes.
Your smile also affects how others perceive your face shape. Smiling lifts the midface and can make a round face appear slightly more oval. It highlights the cheekbones on angular faces.
| Facial Feature | % Who Rank It Most Attractive | Key Research Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Eyes | 43% | First fixation point in eye-tracking studies |
| Smile | 28% | Increases attractiveness ratings by up to 10% |
| Jawline/Chin | 11% | Strong predictor of perceived masculinity |
| Lips | 9% | Red lip color draws 7.3 seconds of gaze in 10 seconds |
| Cheekbones | 6% | High cheekbones linked to perceived trustworthiness |
| Nose | 3% | Mostly noticed when disproportionate |
What Makes a Jawline Attractive?
The jawline is one of the strongest markers of perceived masculinity in men. A defined jaw signals high testosterone, which is linked to genetic health. Studies in Evolution and Human Behavior show that women rate men with stronger jawlines as more attractive during the fertile phase of their cycle.
For women, the picture is different. Softer jawlines are often rated as more feminine and youthful. But a defined jaw isn't a disadvantage. Angelina Jolie's sharp jawline is one of her most recognized features. Keira Knightley's angular jaw adds structure to her face.
For men, Henry Cavill and Brad Pitt are textbook examples of strong jawlines. Their jaw definition creates a clear boundary between face and neck, which reads as masculine and healthy.
If you have a square face shape, your jawline is already one of your strongest features. The right haircut can either soften or highlight it based on what you want.
Do Lips Really Matter for Facial Attraction?
Yes, and the research is specific. A Manchester University study tracked where men looked on a woman's face. When a woman wore red lipstick, men spent an average of 7.3 out of 10 seconds looking at her lips. Without lipstick, that number dropped to 2.2 seconds.
Lip fullness also plays a role. Fuller lips are associated with youth because lips thin naturally with age. A study in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery found that lips with a 1:2 ratio (upper to lower lip) were rated most attractive, but the ideal varies across cultures.
Scarlett Johansson is often cited for her fuller lips. Priyanka Chopra's lip shape is frequently referenced in cosmetic consultations. For men, full but not overly prominent lips (like those of Ryan Gosling) score highest in attractiveness research.
Lip shape also interacts with your overall face proportions. People with round faces often have naturally fuller lips, which adds to the youthful appearance that round face shapes are known for.
How Do Cheekbones Affect How Attractive You Look?
High cheekbones are one of the most consistent markers of facial attractiveness across cultures. A study in Perception found that faces with prominent cheekbones were rated as more attractive, regardless of the viewer's cultural background.
Why? Cheekbones create shadows on the face. These shadows add depth and dimension, making the face look more three-dimensional. This is why contouring (the makeup technique that mimics cheekbone shadows) became so popular.
| Feature | Effect on Women | Effect on Men | Celebrity Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| High cheekbones | Reads as youthful, elegant | Reads as strong, healthy | Naomi Campbell, Tom Hiddleston |
| Defined jawline | Can read as striking or angular | Strong masculinity signal | Angelina Jolie, Henry Cavill |
| Full lips | Associated with femininity | Moderate fullness preferred | Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Gosling |
| Clear skin | Major attractiveness boost | Major attractiveness boost | Lupita Nyong'o, Chris Evans |
| Expressive eyes | Top-ranked feature overall | Top-ranked feature overall | Aishwarya Rai, Cillian Murphy |
Lupita Nyong'o and Cate Blanchett both have pronounced cheekbone structure. For men, Benedict Cumberbatch's cheekbones create a distinctive look that sets him apart.
If you want to learn which face shape is considered most attractive, cheekbone prominence is one of the factors that researchers look at most closely.
Does Facial Symmetry Make You More Attractive?
Symmetry is not a single feature, but it affects how every feature looks. Multiple studies confirm that more symmetrical faces are rated as more attractive. A meta-analysis in Behavioral Ecology reviewed 50+ studies and found a consistent positive link between symmetry and attractiveness.
The theory behind this is simple. Symmetry signals developmental stability. A face that grew evenly suggests that the person's genes handled environmental stress well during development. It's a health indicator.
But perfect symmetry isn't the goal. Perfectly symmetrical faces created by mirroring one half actually look slightly off. Small asymmetries give faces character. Meryl Streep's slightly asymmetrical features don't reduce her attractiveness. Neither do Ryan Reynolds' minor facial asymmetries.
What matters more is overall balance. A face where no single feature is drastically out of proportion with the others reads as harmonious. This connects to why oval faces are often considered the most balanced shape for both men and women.
What Role Does Skin Play in Facial Attraction?
Clear, even-toned skin is a surprisingly powerful factor. A study at the University of St Andrews found that skin color and texture had a bigger impact on perceived health and attractiveness than facial shape.
Three skin qualities matter most:
- Even tone. Skin without blotchiness or uneven pigmentation is rated as healthier and more attractive.
- Texture. Smooth skin signals youth. Visible pores, scarring, or rough texture reduce attractiveness ratings.
- Color. A slight warm undertone (from carotenoids in fruits and vegetables) was rated as healthier-looking than either a pale or tanned complexion.
This is one area where lifestyle has a direct impact. Diet, sleep, hydration, and sun protection all affect skin quality. Unlike bone structure, skin appearance is something you can change.
Celebrities like Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, and Halle Berry are praised for their skin as much as their other features. Healthy skin acts as a canvas that makes every other feature look better.
Which Facial Feature Matters Most Overall?
If you had to pick one feature, science says the eyes win. They're the first thing people notice, the highest-ranked feature in surveys, and the primary way we read emotions and build connection.
But the honest answer is that no single feature works alone. Attractiveness comes from how all your features work together. A stunning smile boosts average eyes. Great cheekbones frame average lips. Clear skin makes everything pop.
The research also shows that expression matters more than structure. A face that shows warmth, openness, and genuine emotion is rated higher than a structurally "perfect" face with a flat expression. This is good news because you can control your expressions even though you can't reshape your bones.
Your face shape provides the frame. Your features fill it in. And your expressions bring it all to life. Instead of focusing on any single feature, the most attractive people tend to highlight what they already have and carry it with confidence.
