The Science of Beauty

Beauty may seem to be in the eye of the beholder, but there's actually a science behind it. In fact, scientists from Israel's Tel Aviv University created an algorithm that morphs a face into its most scientifically beautiful version, as reported in The New York Times. Researchers have investigated what constitutes the "ideal" face for years, and they found that certain traits are universally deemed attractive. Read about what makes a scientifically "beautiful" face and how some people go to surgical extremes to achieve it, while some are born lucky, like James Franco -- whose face needed no adjustment when tested against the "beauty" algorithm.

Facial Symmetry

The symmetry of the face is one of the best indicators of attractiveness, according to Dr. Andrew A. Jacono, a board-certified facial and reconstructive plastic surgeon in New York City. When one side is the mirror image of the other, it signals health, strength and fertility. Denzel Washington's mug, for example, is unusually symmetrical. "Symmetry is the first principle of facial harmony," Dr. Jacono says. The principle is also corroborated by studies by New Mexico State University psychologist and researcher Victor Johnston.

How to Achieve It

The quest for symmetry may account for the popularity of facial implants, injections and sculpting, since they can help achieve balance. This may also explain the rise of asymmetrical haircuts, which can disguise an uneven face.

Full Lips

If you find yourself attracted to Scarlett Johansson's luscious lips and don't know why, it may be because full lips can be a measure of a woman's youth and fertility. High estrogen levels in a post-pubescent woman make lips fuller, but as hormone levels decrease with age, your kisser tends to lose its color and plumpness. It's clear that people other than Johansson's husband Ryan Reynolds find this look attractive. A study published in 2003 in the journal "The Angle Orthodontist" found that the fullness of the lips is associated with a person being considered "aesthetically beautiful."

How to Achieve It

For an as-needed lip boost, stick with glossy lipstick, which gives the illusion of fullness. Matte color, on the other hand, can make them look smaller. Common cosmetic procedures include transferring fat or filler into lips to boost their size, according to Dr. Jacono.

Small Nose

Women with "baby faces" or features like a small nose and big eyes are seen as more attractive because they appear more youthful, according to the research at Universities of Regensburg and Rostock in Germany. When describing their ideal nose, patients often cite Nicole Kidman's.

Curvy Eyebrows

Evenly balanced eyebrows can lend your face additional symmetry, and shapely, arched eyebrows like Eva Mendes's can also help define the eye and provide an instant eye-lift, Dr. Jacono says.

Small Chin

A delicate, V-shaped chin like Eva Longoria's is another feature of a "baby face," according to the German studies. Researchers at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland also found that a pointed, narrow chin appears more feminine than a squarer jaw, which is perceived as masculine.

Clear Skin

It may come as no surprise that skin like Charlize Theron's, which has a slight sheen and is free of wrinkles and blemishes, is the ideal skin type. A 2006 study study in the journal "Evolution and Human Behavior" found that skin tone and evenness was a predictor of facial attractiveness.

Large, Bright Eyes

Big, shining eyes like Mena Suvari's are also consistently found attractive. They are prominent features of the ideal "baby face" and indicate high estrogen levels, according to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences in 2005. And because the peepers are often the first things we notice about someone's face, they make an immediate impression.

Source: AOL Health