For years now, media campaigns have been giving women the message they can lead better lives through the use of beauty products. If we just use a certain mascara/fragrance/hair colour, we will lead wonderfully frantic yet beautiful lives on the streets of New York, or look as good as Natalie Portman without any clothes on. Alas, upon trying said products, many of us are quick to discover that while yellow cabs and good-looking men don’t appear by our side, the products do have the ability to make us walk a little taller.
Now, L'Oréal Paris has taken things one step further, working with an international research firm to specifically develop a measuring tool that proves cosmetics products and good physical appearance can improve quality of life.
The new study was developed with research firm Data Mining International (DMI) and published in the US journal, Archives of Dermatology. Dr Artiel Beresniak, CEO of DMI says, The positive impact of cosmetics on self-esteem and wellbeing has been well-known since the Antique period, but this is the first time we are able to scientifically measure this impact on the key dimensions of quality of life.”
According to CosmeticsDesign.com, the measuring tool, know as beautyQol” has been tested on 3231 subjects across 13 countries.
The results got me thinking about how having good hair and make-up affect my attitudes in day-to-day life. If I don’t have meetings or events on, I’ll go to work clean-faced with a slick of moisturiser, which is in stark contrast to the weeks that I have back-to-back launches and (attempt to) have perfect hair at all times. I always put it down to wearing heels, but come to think of it, my preened appearance might have more to do with feeling more confident than I thought. As for my quality of life… the jury is still out on that one.
What do you think? Does the right hair and make-up have transforming abilities?