Lipstick and Paychecks: How Makeup Affects Women’s Earnings in the Workplace

Truffle Culture examines new research suggesting that being well-groomed – from a swipe of lipstick to a styled hairdo – can actually boost women’s earnings. In a workplace that aspires to reward merit, why does appearance still pay?

The “Beauty Premium”: When Looks Pay Off

A professional appearance – from attire to makeup – often plays a role in how women are perceived at work, with real effects on their earnings. The idea that attractiveness can translate into higher paychecks isn’t just a folk saying – it’s backed by data. Economists and sociologists have long documented a “beauty premium,” where workers deemed conventionally attractive earn more on average than their peers. In fact, one analysis found that individuals rated as more attractive earned about 20% higher incomes than those of average attractiveness, even after controlling for factors like age, education, and background . This edge spans both genders and can influence everything from hiring decisions to promotions. For example, a field study in the hiring process showed that attractive women had a 36% greater chance of getting a callback for a second interview compared to others . In short, looks matter – and this has tangible economic consequences.

But what exactly makes someone “attractive” in professional settings? Is it all about genetic luck, or can it be cultivated? Recent research suggests that for women, it’s not just about the face you’re born with – it’s about the effort you put in. In other words, when it comes to earning power, beauty may be less an innate trait and more a set of Behaviours.

Grooming as Good Business: Makeup, Hair, and Higher Salaries

Studies by sociologists Jaclyn Wong and Andrew Penner shine a spotlight on how grooming – things like wearing makeup, styling hair, and choosing polished outfits – drives the beauty advantage for women at work. Analyzing data from over 14,000 employees, they found a striking result: “grooming explained the entire effect of attractiveness on income for women.” In their study, women who put more effort into their appearance earned more money than women who didn’t, regardless of natural facial features . In contrast, men also saw some payoff for grooming, but were additionally judged on innate traits (like facial structure) – implying that women must invest more in their appearance to reap the same rewards as men . As Penner summed it up, “for the labor market return, what matters is not your innate attractiveness but rather how you present yourself” .

What does this mean in practice? Essentially, a woman who comes to the office with carefully applied makeup and a put-together look can end up earning significantly more than a woman who skips the cosmetics – even if both have similar facial features. In fact, less “naturally” attractive but well‐groomed women were found to outearn women rated as highly attractive who lacked grooming. Put another way, a polished appearance can outweigh plain good looks in terms of paycheck impact. One analysis noted that women who were judged “below average” in physical attractiveness but who invested in professional grooming actually earned more on average than even “very attractive” women who were not well-groomed . Beauty, it turns out, isn’t just something you have – it’s something you do .

These findings underscore a reality many professional women know intuitively: looking “put together” is often treated as part of the job. Everything from a neat hairstyle to a bit of foundation and mascara can send subtle signals of professionalism, competence, or confidence. Employers (consciously or not) seem to reward women who conform to these polished beauty norms – with real dollars.

Makeup, Trust, and the “Confidence” Boost

Why might wearing makeup or being well-coiffed translate into higher earnings? One reason is the effect on perceptions – not just of attractiveness, but of traits like trustworthiness and capability. Research from psychology and economics suggests that makeup can shift how women are perceived by colleagues, clients, and even strangers in ways that can benefit their careers.

In an experimental study published in 2024, women were photographed bare-faced and with professional makeup, then rated in a controlled “trust game.” The results were eye-opening: observers trusted the women with makeup more, and as a result, entrusted them with more resources (money) during the game . On average, participants – both male and female – gave 22% more money to a woman when she was wearing makeup than when she wasn’t. Men in particular were swayed: they transferred about 30% more to women who had a polished, made-up look . The makeup didn’t change the women’s skills or honesty, of course, but it increased perceived attractiveness and confidence, which in turn increased others’ willingness to cooperate and trust .

This trust effect aligns with other studies finding that a little cosmetics can confer an image of competence. A team at Boston University found that women who wear “professional” style makeup (think natural, office-appropriate looks) are often seen as more capable, reliable, and personable than if they had no makeup on – essentially being rated more competent by observers . The boost in confidence that many women themselves feel when wearing makeup may also play a role. Feeling that one is put together can translate into more self-assured behavior – which colleagues and bosses might interpret as leadership potential or job mastery, further reinforcing those positive workplace outcomes.

All of this suggests that makeup and grooming can create a kind of virtuous cycle for professional women: enhancing how others see them, which can lead to better opportunities and higher pay, which in turn validates the effort spent on appearance. It’s a modern twist on “dress for success” – extendable right up to your eyeliner and lipstick.

Walking the Fine Line: Professional vs. “Too Much”

If looking polished brings rewards, does wearing more makeup always mean more money? Not exactly. The cultural expectations around women’s appearance are a double-edged sword. “Well-groomed” is good, but “overdone” can backfire. There’s a fine line between looking professionally put-together and being perceived as excessively made-up in ways that can undermine credibility.

Several studies highlight the nuances. While moderate makeup can enhance perceptions of competence, heavy makeup can do the opposite. Research in 2019 found that women wearing very heavy eye makeup were judged to be the “least warm” and “least competent” compared to more subtly made-up or bare-faced women . Likewise, a 2018 study noted that women in leadership roles were taken less seriously as competent leaders if they wore too much makeup . In the professional context, a bold nightclub look or an overly glam style might inadvertently signal a lack of seriousness or authenticity to some observers. The result? The same woman could see her authority or trustworthiness questioned by colleagues or superiors, just based on an overly made-up appearance.

Ironically, women are also penalized for too little grooming in many scenarios. There’s still an expectation in many workplaces that a woman should wear at least some makeup to appear “professional.” In one UK survey, two-thirds of hiring managers admitted they’d be less likely to employ a woman who came to an interview without makeup . And until recently, some companies outright mandated makeup: for example, until 2023, Qantas Airways required female flight attendants to wear lipstick and other cosmetics as part of their uniform code. (Qantas has since dropped this requirement, giving women the choice to go makeup-free, though other airlines like British Airways still require makeup for female cabin crew .) These norms illustrate the pressure on women to hit a very specific target: look attractive and polished, but not so much that it’s seen as unprofessional or “distracting.”

The burden of these expectations isn’t just psychological – it’s also measurable in time and money. On average, women spend significantly more of both to maintain a work-appropriate look. One analysis in the UK found that the average woman will spend around £18,000 on makeup and beauty products over her lifetime and devote about 55 minutes each day to grooming and “getting ready” routines . That’s over double the time men spend on equivalent routines . It’s a substantial investment aimed at meeting an unspoken professional standard – one that men generally aren’t held to in the same way.

Truffle Takeaway: Appearance Still Pays – But At What Cost?

In an era where we’d like to think that skill and hustle alone drive career success, the evidence is clear that looks and presentation still play a powerful role in shaping women’s financial outcomes. Professional women can, in fact, earn more by wearing makeup and keeping a polished appearance, tapping into a persistent beauty premium in the workplace . The flip side is that this “makeup bonus” highlights a lingering double standard: women are effectively nudged to invest extra time, money, and effort just to level the playing field – to be seen as equally competent and worthy of trust .

Whether we like it or not, the culture of most workplaces continues to reward a narrow band of feminine appearance: one that signals “put together” but not “trying too hard.” The onus falls on women to navigate this tightrope, deciding whether the promise of higher pay or better opportunities is worth the daily routine of mascara and heels. As companies slowly rethink dress codes and as conversations about equity progress, one might hope the future of work puts less emphasis on lipstick. Until then, the data suggests that for many women, “looking the part” remains more than just vanity – it’s business sense . The challenge moving forward will be creating a culture where women’s credibility isn’t tied to concealer – where accomplishments can shine more than gloss.