10 Things That Actually Make You More Attractive (According to Science)

Here is the thing about attractiveness research: a lot of it is actually good news. The factors that influence whether someone finds you attractive are more varied, more behavioral, and more within your control than "do you have the correct face." Here is what the research actually suggests.

1. Smiling

Multiple studies have found that smiling significantly increases perceived attractiveness. A genuine smile — one that involves the eyes as well as the mouth — signals warmth, approachability, and positive affect. This is one of the most consistently replicated findings in attractiveness research. It also costs nothing.

2. Posture

Upright, expansive posture is associated with confidence and dominance — traits that research consistently links to attractiveness. Slouching compresses your height, makes you appear smaller, and is generally read as low-confidence by observers. Stand like you have somewhere to be.

3. Voice

Voice is consistently rated as an important factor in attractiveness. Lower-pitched voices tend to be rated as more attractive in both men and women (though with different effects in different contexts). Speaking clearly, at a moderate pace, with varied intonation reads as confident and engaged. This is learnable.

4. Scent

Olfactory attractiveness is real and significantly more powerful than people consciously realize. Research on pheromones, MHC compatibility (immune system genes), and basic cleanliness all suggest that how you smell matters. Natural body odor signals genetic compatibility in complex ways. The simpler version: being clean and using a scent you like (rather than one that overwhelms) is genuinely impactful.

5. Familiarity

The mere exposure effect: the more familiar someone is with your face, the more attractive they tend to find it. This is why people often find partners and close friends more attractive over time. Repeated exposure increases comfort and liking. Showing up consistently is, scientifically, a strategy.

6. Humor

A genuine sense of humor is one of the most consistently attractive traits across cultures and genders. Being funny signals intelligence, creativity, and social awareness. It also makes time with someone more enjoyable, which is the entire point. This is harder to teach than posture but worth noting.

7. Skin Health

Skin quality is one of the strongest predictors of perceived facial attractiveness — more so than specific features. Clear, even-toned, hydrated skin signals health and youth. This is heavily influenced by sleep, hydration, diet, and sun protection. None of these require a specific bone structure.

8. Wearing Red

Multiple cross-cultural studies have found that wearing red significantly increases perceived attractiveness. This has been documented in both romantic and social contexts. The effect appears in both genders and across cultures. It is one of the weirder robust findings in attractiveness research. Own a red shirt.

9. Confidence (Real, Not Performed)

Confidence is attractive. This is a cliché because it is true. Research on what signals confidence — eye contact, speaking at appropriate volume, occupying space, not excessively apologizing — consistently maps to higher attractiveness ratings. The important word here is "real": performed confidence reads as arrogance and is actively repellent. Actual comfort in your own skin reads differently.

10. Grooming

Neat, intentional grooming — whatever that looks like for your aesthetic — signals care for yourself, attention to social context, and general competence. This applies to hair, nails, clothes, and general presentation. It's not about fitting a particular style. It's about looking like you made a choice rather than just woke up.

The pattern here is clear: most of the factors that most influence attractiveness are behavioral, not structural. You cannot change your skull. You can control most of everything else on this list.

UglyNet™ analyzes your face, not any of these things. This means our scores are, by definition, only capturing part of the picture. You're welcome for this context.