The research is the first to report on how males and females perceive women who wear make-up differently.

In her new study, published in the journal Perception, Dr. Viktoria Mileva, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Stirling, finds that make-up changes perceptions of status depending on who is making the judgment – males or females.

Dr. Mileva says, “While both sexes agree that women with make-up look more attractive when it comes to "high status", it really depends on who is looking. Men think women with make-up are more ‘prestigious’, while women think women with make-up are more dominant."

Research suggests that ‘high status’ can be obtained through two main routes. Either you are dominant, which means you are happy using forcefulness or manipulation to make people follow you. Alternatively, you can gain high status by prestige; by having positive merits and qualities that make other want to follow you.”

The study also found that women held rather negative views of other women who wear make-up.

Dr. Mileva added: "We did some follow-up studies as to why women might feel that women with make-up are perceived as more dominant, and it looks like it might be related to jealousy and threat potential – women rating women with make-up said they would be more jealous of them, thought they were more promiscuous, and would be more attractive to men than their non-make-up wearing counterparts."

“For example, at a job interview, knowing whether the hiring committee will consist of men or women might influence a female candidate's decision about wearing make-up. Whether the interviewers will view her as attractive, dominant, and/or prestigious can affect her and the interviewers' actions and perhaps the outcome of the interview itself. Thus, understanding the potential implications of cosmetics use are important not only for the wearer, but also for the perceiver.”