Narcissists, Psychopaths, and Mascara
Friday, September 6, 2024.
Let’s face it: makeup has been around as long as people have had faces to put it on.
Cleopatra had her eyeliner; Marie Antoinette had her powdered wigs; and today, many of us can't leave the house without a touch of concealer (unless you’re a psychopath, but we’ll get to that later). So, what's behind our love affair with blush, mascara, and lipstick?
Apparently, your makeup habits might have a little something to do with your personality, and in some cases, the darker corners of it.
A recent study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior had a fascinating take: it seems that certain personality traits—particularly narcissism, extraversion, and (drumroll please) psychopathy—may influence how much makeup women slap on before heading out the door.
Because nothing screams “I need admiration!” quite like contouring for a casual coffee run.
The Study: You, Too, Can Psychoanalyze Your Foundation
Researchers took 1,410 Brazilian women and asked them about their makeup habits. But not in that gentle, “Oh, I love your lipstick” kind of way.
No, they went deep, pairing makeup use with a personality breakdown. They zoomed in on the “Big Five” traits—extraversion, sociability, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness—as well as the not-so-subtle “dark triad” traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.
If this sounds like a strange dinner party, wait until you hear what they found.
Women who scored higher on narcissism (yes, those who believe the world revolves around their winged eyeliner) tend to use more makeup.
Shocking, I know.
Narcissists are like the friend who insists on using Instagram filters to the point where you're not even sure it’s still them anymore. These women spent more time and money on makeup, carefully modulating their appearance depending on the social situation. If there’s a first date, you better believe they’re going full glam.
Extraverts: The Social Butterflies of Sephora
And speaking of social situations, extraverts—those outgoing, life-of-the-party types—weren’t far behind their narcissistic counterparts. These women used makeup to enhance their already magnetic personalities, splurging on cosmetics like it was a moral obligation to look fabulous while holding court at brunch.
The surprise here? Unlike narcissists, extraverts didn’t go as heavy on the makeup for different events. They’re basically always ready for their close-up, whether at the gym or a wedding.
Psychopaths: Less Lipstick, More Cold Stares
Now, if you’ve ever wondered why your friend Karen shows up to the office holiday party with nothing more than chapstick, you might want to check her for psychopathic tendencies.
Women scoring higher in psychopathy—marked by impulsivity and a general disregard for social norms—were found to use less makeup overall, maintaining a consistent "meh" level of effort no matter the occasion.
To be clear: just because Karen doesn’t contour doesn’t mean she’s plotting anything. She might just have better things to do.
However, it turns out the psychopathic crowd just doesn’t care about manipulating their appearance to fit the situation. Whether at a spin class or a wedding reception, the makeup routine doesn’t change. It’s like they’re sending a message: “I don’t need foundation to convince you of anything.”
The Neurotics: Makeup as Emotional Armor
And then there are the neurotic types. You know, the ones who triple-check if they locked the door and wonder if that text message sounded too passive-aggressive.
These women had dramatic swings in makeup use, depending on how much social anxiety they were feeling.
For a big social event? They’d go full Kardashian. At home alone? No makeup. Makeup, for them, was like emotional armor—something to help control how others see them when their internal world feels a little shaky.
Before You Go Throwing Your Lipstick Out
Now, before you start judging people based on their mascara preferences, it’s worth noting that personality traits don’t explain everything.
The study’s authors, led by Anthonieta Looman Mafra, were quick to point out that the effect sizes were small. Basically, just because your coworker doesn’t wear eyeliner doesn’t mean she’s a full-blown psychopath.
There are other factors at play—cultural influences, job requirements, allergies (hey, some of us just can't do bronzer without breaking out), and even religious restrictions.
Future research might look at how other people perceive a woman’s makeup use.
Do her friends think she’s “dressed up” when she considers it a no-makeup day? It turns out self-assessment and outside perception can be wildly different—especially when it comes to how we think we look versus what others see. Who knows? Maybe that smoky eye isn’t fooling anyone.
Why This Matters (No, Really)
So why dig into this at all?
Understanding the link between makeup use and personality traits can actually offer insight into social behaviors.
If makeup is a form of self-presentation, it’s useful to know how personality influences how we manage our appearances—especially in a world obsessed with how we look.
In the end, this study is less about passing judgment and more about understanding the choices people make in managing their appearance. It may even help fields like marketing, fashion, and mental health tailor approaches that better align with personality-driven behaviors.
It’s not about shaming your lip gloss habit; it’s about recognizing the motivations behind it—whether you're a narcissist fishing for compliments or a laid-back psycho who just can’t be bothered.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Mafra, A. L., Lukševičius de Moraes, Y., Varella, M. A. C., & Varella Valentova, J. (2024). Makeup usage in women is positively associated to narcissism and extraversion but negatively to psychopathy. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02154