Facial fat and attractiveness: what the research says.

The research

A study in Perception tested whether facial fat works as a cue to health. Observers' ratings of faces were linked to measures of facial adiposity and to actual body weight and health measures, which suggests a real signal underneath the first impression (Coetzee et al., 2009).

More broadly, reviews find that people agree strongly on who is attractive, across cultures, and that traits like averageness, symmetry and healthy-looking skin contribute (Langlois et al., 2000; Rhodes, 2006). Leanness of the face sits alongside these as a contributor you can influence.

What this means in practice

• Facial leanness sharpens jaw and cheek definition, which Hexum reads through jawline and gonial angle metrics.
• Body fat, sleep, sodium and alcohol all change how full a face looks day to day.
• Consistency beats extremes. A steady routine you can sustain shows up in weekly scans.

A simple plan

1. Scan today as a baseline, front-facing and in even light.
2. Hold a modest calorie deficit if you need one, with protein at each meal.
3. Sleep 7 to 9 hours, see our sleep and face guide.
4. Keep sodium and alcohol steady to cut day-to-day puffiness.
5. Rescan every week and compare.

Hexum users average a +35% improvement in Overall Score from first scan to week 6.^*

* Average change in Hexum Overall Score, first scan to week 6. Based on Hexum’s own user data; not a published study.

References

1. Coetzee V, et al. (2009). Facial adiposity: a cue to health? Perception, 38(11):1700-1711. doi:10.1068/p6423
2. Rhodes G. (2006). The evolutionary psychology of facial beauty. Annual Review of Psychology, 57:199-226. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.57.102904.190208
3. Langlois JH, et al. (2000). Maxims or myths of beauty? A meta-analytic and theoretical review. Psychological Bulletin, 126(3):390-423. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.126.3.390