Makeup is no longer seen as something exclusive to women, as more men are beginning to embrace it. By enhancing facial features and concealing imperfections, makeup can even give men a more masculine appearance. And it’s not just for actors — men from all walks of life and age groups are recognizing the advantages of using it.

More and more men are starting to wear makeup, and a recent study aimed to find out if it can positively affect men’s appearance. A makeup artist applied subtle makeup on a group of men, the participants were then photographed, and the images were rated based on attractiveness. The results showed that the male faces were rated as more attractive when wearing makeup compared to when not wearing makeup.

While a beard can change any man’s face, making it more masculine, makeup can do the job almost as well. Researchers have found that makeup increases lower facial contrast, making a face look more masculine.

Any woman knows that masterfully applied makeup can change your look, but men can also benefit from concealers and facial powders. Makeup affects how we perceive men’s bone structure and makes male faces more attractive.

Men used makeup hundreds and thousands of years ago.

Yes, male makeup is not something new, and we can trace its history back to ancient Egypt where men would apply oils and fats onto their skin to protect it from the desert heat and harsh sunlight. Upper-class men of ancient Egypt often lined their eyes. You’ve probably seen the images of Egyptian kings with their eyes thickly lined with black kohl.

Men from ancient Rome were also encouraged to use makeup under the influence of those who conquered them, including the Egyptians. Roman men didn’t wear bright makeup, as it was frowned upon by society. Instead, they would wear light perfume, remove certain body hair, and sometimes whiten their faces.

During the times of Queen Elizabeth I, men were into powdering their faces, and in Japan in the 17th century, male actors from the Kabuki theater would wear eye-catching makeup with bright red and black lines on a thick white background created with the help of rice flour. Getting closer to modern times, we have to mention the era of old Hollywood that brought male makeup onto the big screen and into the public eye.