Beauty is most certainly in the eye of the beholder. Although, there is a science behind what is pleasing to most. Symmetry is probably the most important factor in relative beauty.

Max Factor invented a device for measuring the face. I’ve not found any actual articles explaining the true nature of the device, but my guess would be that he would measure the face and then subtly change the features to be more symmetrical through make-up. Max would contour the face, shape the brow and even change the hairline, as he was first a wig maker.

Some of the women (and men) that are considered the most attractive people in the world have near-perfect symmetry. Their eyes are the same size and are the same distance away from the nose. The lips are the same thickness on the top and the bottom. The ears stick out of the head at the same angle on both sides. This could go on and on, but you get the point.

The Greeks also believed in this theory of beauty and math, and the common element in many of the things that we find beautiful. ?According to mathematicians as far back as the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, this element is a ratio of 1:1.618, known as the Golden Ratio. ? The ratio is based on Fibonacci numbers, where the first two numbers are 1 and every following number in the sequence is the sum of the previous 2 numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13,21, etc… Now, when you take ratio of each number to the number before it (like 1/1, 2/1, etc…) and if you kept going through the Fibonacci sequence, the ratio becomes closer and closer to 1.618!

This Golden Ratio occurs often in nature; you can see it in the spiral of a seashell or in the distribution of petals on a sunflower.

On a human face, the ratio of the width of the nose to the width of the mouth in a beautiful face is 1:1.618, the Golden Ratio. Now take the distance from the hairline to the tip of the nose and then the distance between the nose and the chin. The ratio on an attractive face will again be 1:1.618. Greta Garbo, Cindy Crawford and even Queen Nefertiti all (supposedly) have this “Golden Ratio Face”.

The secondary point is coloration. Some people are simply attractive because of the contrasts between their skin and hair color. Black Hair/Blue Eyes, Brown Skin/Green Eyes, Blonde hair/Tan Skin, etc. (Aishwarya Rai; arguably, the most beautiful woman in the world, right; and 80’s Actor, Jon Erik Hexum: accidentally kiiled himself on set at age 26, below)

Everyone can easily make subtle changes in both of these areas.

Changing your make-up is the easiest way to make a change. If you feel that your eyes are too close together, move the contour shadow more to the outside. If they’re too far apart move the contour toward the inside corners. Likewise, if your upper lip is thin, but your bottom lip is full, put your liner on the outside line of your lip on the top and the inside line of the bottom. Cheek color and placement can also contour the face to give either a slimmer or rounder look.

As far as contrast is concerned, if your hair color is the same (or similar) as your skin, take it three shades lighter or darker depending on your preference. You can always make a more dramatic change, but you may want to go to a wig store and see what you’d look like first. Many people also use enhancer contacts to change their eye color for extra contrast.

A little powder and a little paint, CAN turn you into something that you ain’t.