According to a study from the Universities of Bristol and St Andrews in the UK, published in the Journal of Primatology, we regard people with a pink or yellow tinge to their skin as being the healthiest.
Researchers used computer software to tweak the colour in photos of Caucasian faces, and they found that upping the pink and yellow colouring made that person appear healthier.
In analysing why, the researchers suggest that a pink skin sends a subconscious message to the viewer that the person has more oxygenated blood in their system, thanks to a strong heart and lungs. A yellow tinge may communicate the idea that the person eats a lot of red, orange and yellow fruit and vegetables which are rich in disease-fighting carotenoids.
Interestingly, those faces with a dark golden appearance — in other words, those who looked tanned — were not considered as healthy.
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