If you’re a woman with a baby face, the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover” could be one that you relate to. In a society where so many make assumptions based on appearance, some of which are implicit, it’s important that we challenge our judgments. Still, inferences made by others can be hurtful or inaccurate. On some days, you may get friendly comments that make you smile. On other days, the comments you receive might leave you feeling annoyed, frustrated, or even uncomfortable.
If you look younger than you are, it can make social interactions more complicated. All people use discernment and facial recognition to engage with others, so prejudice isn’t necessarily the culprit. It could be that your vibrant visage gives people pause because they have other expectations. Their assumptions are theirs to process.
In essence, your beautiful baby face gives you a chance to surprise folks with your ageless wisdom. And while being teased about it can be hurtful, these facial features are considered empirically attractive. Plus, you’ll likely age gracefully. Talk about some good genes!
Your bright-eyed baby face is like a rare jewel; it’s not unlikely that your look is fresh, fiery, and fierce. Despite what others say or think about the way you look, it often captures attention. That’s something you can be proud of and use to your advantage.
We all create narratives in our minds to understand and cope with the world. We have thoughts and experience emotions based on those narratives. So, our natural and instinctual reactions to others are usually dictated by those conditioned responses.
For women who have a baby face, that can be especially difficult because our minds can immediately associate a youthful face with naivety. It may be an incorrect or irrational assumption, but our brains are hardwired to recognize faces and gather information from what we see.
New research on the neurobiological aspects of facial recognition helps us understand the unique way people view others based on their faces. These false and misleading impressions are common across all of humanity, but science has confirmed what women with baby faces may have suspected all along; people’s perception of a youthful face is skewed by the brain itself.
According to a study conducted by Leslie A. Zebrowitz and Joann M. Montepare, people tend to overgeneralize others based on their appearance. The research project, “Social Psychology Face Perception: Why Appearance Matters,”gives a detailed account of how this behavior works. As it turns out, women with baby faces often experience what’s called “baby face overgeneralization,” or BFO forshort.
This isn’t to say that it’s okay for people to make assumptions about you. All of us should challenge stereotypes and assumptions rather than relying on what we are conditioned by society to believe is true based on appearance. This is true acrosstheboard and does not just relate to a person's face.
What Does Research Tell Us About Being A Baby-Faced Woman?
Learn How To Love Your Baby Face With ReGain
Speak With A Licensed Counselor.
Understanding how and why other people view you differently can help you approach social situations and challenges more effectively by using a head-first strategy. But what does the research say about what it’s like to live behind a youthful face? Is there any effect on a woman’s self-esteem or mental health as a result?
As a matter of fact, there are many mental, emotional, and social side effects associated with being a young-faced woman. In the workplace, women with youthful faces are often more successful and make solid leaders.On the other hand, though, some baby-faced women get passed over for challenging tasks and leadership roles.
In theory, people may react to those with baby faces in much the same way they react to actual baby faces. They’re less suspicious, more forgiving, and somewhat skeptical of them.
Researchers have been trying to pinpoint which facial features constitute a baby-faced look for years. Some even created sophisticated computer models to analyze the differences between child and adult faces. So far, these are the characteristics they’ve come up with:
- Big, wide eyes
- Thick, pouty lips
- High foreheads
- Short chins
- Small nose bridges
- High-set eyebrows
- Rounded face shapes
- Chubby cheeks
Interestingly, a person’s true age had little to do with whether their facial features were considered baby-like. That means senior citizens can look young as well, even if they have wrinkles around their eyes. Meanwhile, researchers continue to expand their knowledge on facial recognition, perception, assumptions, and the social implications thereof.
More studies are still needed, but most can agree on one thing—there are pros and cons to being a woman with a baby face in today’s society. Perceptions and impressions may change with knowledge and advocacy, but the baby face overgeneralization hypothesis continues to be relatively consistent.
Being a woman in the modern world can already come with challenges, both when it comes to appearance and a broad spectrum of other parts of life. However, having a baby face as a woman can make things even more complicated. While it’s important to increase and maintain high self-esteem despite your facial features, it’s also crucial to consider the cons. Here’s what you need to know.
The Cons of Having a Baby Face
These are some of the common disadvantages of being a woman with a baby face:
- Associates and authority figures may devalue your thoughts, opinions, or capabilities. This is not fair, and it is something you can speak out about in the workplace and other relevant, appropriate environments, whether that’s alone or with someone else.
- Some people might assume you think and act younger than your age, even if this is not a person who has actually witnessed the way you think or act.
- Others may give you playful or demeaning nicknames based on your face or stature.
- People may not realize that it is age-appropriate indeed when you’re with a same-age or older partner.
- You may get carded for cigarettes, lottery tickets, cough syrup, and spray paint.
- You could be the only one in your friend group to get accused of being underage.
- Younger people may flirt with you without realizing your actual age, which can be awkward.
- You may have to get used to bracing yourself for people’s reactions and responses to your age.
Having a baby face may also compel someone to overcompensate so they’re taken seriously as a grown-up. Remember, it’s typicallyillegal for an employer to discriminate against you because of your age or appearance alone. Setting boundaries and communicating what comments you’re okay (or not okay) with when it comes to your appearance may help, and it’s something that people who care for you should respect.
The Pros of Having A Baby Face
You possess a natural icebreaker and conversation starter.Depending on how you view things and what kinds of compliments you like to hear, here are some possible advantages of being a woman with a baby face:
- People might compliment your youthful appearance, even as you age.
- You may get mistaken for a younger relative (sister, daughter, etc.).
- Anti-aging techniques aren’t always necessary.
- You may get carded for consumer items or receive age-related discounts.
- You might be younger-looking than your peers.
- People may automatically assume you’re friendly and sincere, in addition to other positive traits.
Being a baby-faced woman may not be so bad after all. There are always challenges to having a uniquely youthful look, but the benefits are substantial still. However, your perception of social interactions is as unique as your face. So, youdon’t have to try to convince yourself that your youthful face doesn’t bother you if that’s not really true. Instead, advocate for fair treatment when needed and take steps forward in the world confidently. That’s not to say that it’s about “proving yourself,” but you deserve to feel good about yourself and conquer the things you know you can.
Remember, people with young faces are delightful examples of how a book’s cover isn’t always indicative of what’s inside. Youthful facial features can make anyone look more likable, trusting, and innocent, and that’s not often a negative thing.
Learn How To Love Your Baby Face With ReGain
Speak With A Licensed Counselor.
Disregard the judgmental looks that some people give you because of your youthful face. Consider it a compliment that you have such an attention-getting appearance. Meanwhile, don’t let someone else’s opinion dictate how you feel about yourself. If outside perceptions impact your life, which is simply human and is nothing to feel ashamed of, seeing a therapist could be helpful as you learn to address it both inside and externally. Get the compassion, support, and encouragement you need at ReGain. ReGain is an online therapy platform with licensed mental health providers who can help you work through complicated feelings related to self-esteem, appearance, and a variety of other concerns. Your thoughts, emotions, skills, and areas of knowledge matter. Therapy can help you put your best face forward, whatever that means to you.
FAQs
Are baby faces attractive?
What does it mean when someone has a baby face?
What makes an attractive female face?
What facial features are most attractive?
What makes a baby face different from a mature face?
Why are we attracted to baby faces?
What do men find most attractive in a woman?
What physical features makes a girl beautiful?
What attracts a man to a woman first?
How can I be irresistible to men?
FAQs
Is it good to have a baby face as a woman? ›
Eons ago, babyfaces may have been an honest signal of youth – but since those with these features have a reproductive advantage, they've become exaggerated over time. They may also be a signal of good hormonal regulation, since holding on to some babyish features, such as small chins, is linked to oestrogen.
What are the disadvantages of a having a baby face? ›The Cons Of Having A Baby Face
Some people might assume you think and act younger than your age. Others may give you playful or demeaning nicknames based on your face or stature. People may judge your romantic relationship as inappropriate, even when you're with a same-age partner.
The babyface usually refers to adult faces that have a facial feature similar to that of infants (Berry and McArthur, 1985). It is usually defined as a round face with big eyes, high raised eyebrows, a narrow chin and a small nose.
What if a girl says you have a baby face? ›They might mean that you look young for your age, or that you have features that make you look like a child. Sometimes people use it as a compliment, and other times they use it as an insult. If someone calls you baby faced, just take it as a compliment and move on!
What age does baby face go away? ›Usually this starts to occur in your mid- to late-20s, and you'll notice a reduced volume in chubby cheeks. Don't be so quick to lose your youthful roundness with drastic weight-loss plans, though.
What are the innocent face features? ›Larger eyes, smaller noses, smaller chins and chubby cheeks. We are hardwired into their innocent faces makes us less aggressive, more generous, smiley and helpful. These cues fly beneath our conscious most, it not all, of the time.
What does baby face personality mean? ›A tendency to see people and things with baby-faced features as more naïve, helpless, and honest than those with mature features.
Why do celebrities not post their babies faces? ›Why do celebrities hide their babies' faces? Not all do - but some prefer to for various reasons. To be seen, they may fear it would increase chances of kidnapping or unwanted paparazzi. Some may want to keep their children's identity away from public to just allow them privacy and normalcy.
What is the difference between a face and a baby face? ›The term face began as an abbreviation of babyface, and up until the mid 1990s, the two terms meant essentially the same thing. This changed with the birth of Extreme Championship Wrestling, the start of World Championship Wrestling's nWo storyline, and the Attitude Era of the World Wrestling Federation.
Do babies prefer looking at attractive faces? ›Human infants, just a few days of age, are known to prefer attractive human faces.
How can I make my baby face naturally? ›
- Chemically Exfoliate. The number one method to get you baby-soft skin is exfoliation. ...
- Physically Exfoliate. ...
- Drink Plenty of Water. ...
- Try a Honey Face Mask. ...
- Use the Right Moisturizer. ...
- Slather on SPF. ...
- Get Your Vitamin C Intake. ...
- Sleep With a Humidifier.
RDL Baby Face Hydroquinone + Tretinoin Solutions/Astringents are effective treatments to whiten skin, clear acne, even out skin tone and make skin smooth and soft.
What is it called when you have a baby face? ›Hemifacial Microsomia (HFM) in Children.
What makes you look younger than your age? ›Skin brightening treatments, like Microdermabrasion, Light Peels, Micro Laser Peels, or the Clear & Brilliant Laser treatment all help patients to look 10 years younger or more, with just a few treatments. These treatments can be used in order to combat the signs of aging in the face, such as: Wrinkles. Age spots.
What does baby face mean guys? ›baby face (plural baby faces) A face, often chubby, resembling that of a baby; a youthful face. quotations ▼ (often derogatory) A person having such a face, especially a young man having a beardless appearance. quotations ▼
Why do guys like saying baby girl? ›When a man refers to a woman as "baby girl," he is implying that she is the sweetest, cutest, and most beautiful woman on the globe nine times out of ten. He notices how great you are on the inside and exterior. He sees you as a beautiful lady who will support and encourage him in any attempt he makes.
How do you know if a girl likes you face to face? ›- She Looks At You When You Are Not Noticing. ...
- She Makes Plans With You. ...
- She Treats You Differently. ...
- She Introduces You To Friends And Family. ...
- She Turns Nervous Or Shy. ...
- She Gets Touchy-Feely. ...
- She Offers To Cook For You. ...
- Her Friends Treat You Differently.
BBG is an acronym that could mean two things: BBG = beautiful baby girl. This can be referred to as a grown-up person (female) that you love and you call her "your bbg" OR. This can be referred to as an actual baby, which is a girl and you would call her "your bbg"
Do you ever lose baby face? ›In toddlers and preschoolers, chubby cheeks are so adorable. But, part of getting older is getting a leaner, more sculpted face, and many people lose fullness in their cheeks in their teens and early 20s. Some people, though are genetically disposed to having full cheeks throughout their lives.
What week does baby face fully form? ›When is baby's head fully formed? Your baby's head will begin to form quite early but won't be fully formed until about 24 weeks. At this stage, the baby will have the face of a newborn.
At what age does baby cheek fat go away? ›
Sometime around 12 months, baby fat begins to disappear and neck elongation begins. This usually corresponds with when babies are able to stand and walk (ie, 10 to 18 months). Growth rate usually starts to be less rapid between years 2 and 3.
What is the most rare face feature? ›Diamond. The diamond shaped face is the rarest of face shapes, and is defined by a narrow forehead, wide cheekbones and a narrow chin. Diamond shaped faces are usually narrower at the eye line and jaw line, with high and often dramatic cheekbones.
What is the most attractive feature on your face? ›The following features are deemed universally attractive by most cultures: Faces that achieve golden ratio proportions or a more triangular shaped face. larger eyes and wider-set eyes. medium-thickness, well-groomed brows that don't meet in the middle.
What is the most attractive feature of a human face? ›Wide eyes, full cheeks, and a refined nose are essential features of a good looking face. However, facial beauty is more than the sum of these parts. It's about how all your facial features come together. How your eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, and jaw just look perfect relative to each other.
Can babies tell if someone is attractive? ›Babies are drawn to attractive people
A decades-old experiment found that newborns and young infants spent more time staring at faces that adults deemed attractive. The study consisted of images (chosen by adults) of faces that are considered beautiful and others that are considered less attractive.
Babies who are tested at 3 months of age or at 6 months of age show eye tracking consistent with preference for female faces.
Can someone's face tell their personality? ›Social psychologists have shown, for instance, that our facial expressions are associated with specific emotions and are interpreted similarly across a breadth of human cultures. This suggests that, irrespective of language or culture, emotions can be conveyed through physical expressions.
What facial features age best? ›Round faces tend to age very well compared to other face shapes due to the fact they store a lot of fat in the cheek area. This can keep you looking younger for longer than those who lose fat quicker. This means that a gaunt and dull complexion takes longer to develop.
What makes a girl look older? ›Your skin is another obvious indicator of your age. This doesn't just include wrinkles, but things like dry skin and tired eyes, which can both be avoided. Reddit user Redhaired103 posted in /r/AskWomen that dark circles, pale skin, puffy eyes, and heavy makeup can also make you look older.
Why do some girls look younger than others? ›Both genetics and lifestyle-related factors have an influence on our youthful appearance. The key to understand perceived ageing is the interaction between these two elements. Epigenetics can provide this key.
Why does Mindy Kaling not show her kids faces? ›
“I have no judgment for people in the public eye who share photos and videos of their children,” she said. “My sense is that [my kids] have no real consent right now to do that. ... I feel like I might as well wait until they get old enough so they can tell me if they want to be part of my social media or not.”
Why do people hide their children's faces on social media? ›For the child's privacy/parental preferences. Some families do not want too many pictures of their child on the internet and if it's group picture the picture might still want to be posted, but with respect to parental choices.
Why don't Instagram models smile? ›Modeling today is more about doing the job well than ever before. Smiling is believed to distract attention from the clothes, which should be the focal point of attention during a fashion show.
What is the opposite of a baby face? ›4. sweet-faced. adjective. having a pleasing face or one showing a sweet disposition.
How to look older than your age for guys? ›- Upgrade Your Professional Attire.
- Go For a Classic Watch.
- Grow Some Facial Hair.
- Modify Your Speaking Habits.
- Opt For a Classic Hairstyle.
- Avoid Casual Attire.
- Add Some Muscle To Your Frame.
- Upgrade Your Accessories.
Being a beautiful baby did not predict who would become the best-looking adults, a new study found. Facial attractiveness is not stable from infancy into adulthood, suggests research published in the journal Infant Behavior & Development.
Are attractive babies attractive adults? ›Then they asked several hundred college students to rate the the individuals—in infancy and in adulthood—for attractiveness. The upshot? There was no correlation between attractiveness in infancy and (young) adulthood. Some ugly ducklings turned into swans, some baby swans become ugly ducks.
Why do babies like certain people more? ›And research suggests that babies evaluate people in much the same way, preferring people who like the same foods, clothes, and toys that they like. This preference helps us to form social bonds, but it can also have a dark side.
What to do when you have a baby face? ›- Drink a lot of water. ...
- Clean up regularly. ...
- Use sunscreen. ...
- Use suitable facial products. ...
- Have a healthy diet. ...
- Regulate stress levels. ...
- Exfoliate your skin. ...
- Home remedies for Facial Treatment.
Eat the food provided Low calorie but high nutrition Always eat fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, fish on a regular basis. Don't stress your face. Always laughing and smiling can help lighten a child's face. Exercise regularly For good health and will make you look younger, up to 3-8 years old.
Does baby face mean cute? ›
A babyface is a face that is considered youthful and cute.
Why is baby skin so flawless? ›Scientists theorised that the secret to why babies have such soft skin lies in the white, milky substance called vernix that envelopes the fetus when it is in the womb but it is wiped off almost immediately after birth.
Why do women's faces look different after having a baby? ›The main reason for this is the change in hormones. During pregnancy, the body produces much more oestrogen and progesterone, which increase blood flow to the skin. The increased blood flow provides the skin with more nutrients, which helps to keep it healthy and plump.
Are you age slower if you look younger? ›According to a new study, when you look significantly younger than your chronological age, it's not just an optical illusion, your skin is actually aging a slower rate than normal.
What hair length makes you look younger? ›Shoulder-length hair (or longer) with layers
Forget what you thought about long hair past the age of 40—thick hair actually looks more youthful and polished when it falls shoulder-length or longer. Shorter hair has a tendency to expand at the ends, leaving you with an unflattering triangle effect.
Typical youthful features: high cheekbones, full cheeks, and a defined jawline. Generally as we age, facial bone changes, soft tissues (like muscles) fall due to gravity, and skin sags and droops downward.
Do guys fall for pretty faces? ›The scientists go on to explain that for men, physical attraction, particularly a beautiful face "is a sign of fertility and the survival instinct draws them to women who can carry on their line." Women, however, take a bit longer to decide if a man will make a suitable partner.
How do you know if a guy likes you face to face? ›Men who are interested in you will likely face directly toward you during conversation. Even if you're with a group, he might turn his whole torso to face you. Watch to see if he's trying to “close you off” and keep you to himself.
Do guys like it when you call him baby? ›Yes! There is just some special emotional attachment that comes with babe or baby. When I started dating my girlfriend, she was all the time using such pet names to call me. She mentioned it without a blink of an eye, and I would just feel the special connection with her.
When a guy calls you baby and you're not dating? ›It can be confusing to be called baby if you're not in a serious relationship. In fact, if he calls you baby, it could be a sign that he's not yet ready to commit to you. If he starts calling you his girlfriend, it will make things too real for him. Or he may be calling you baby for some other reason.
When a guy calls you babe and you're not dating? ›
He's a close friend. Guys often do not say much, but such overtones are their silent way of expressing what you mean to them. Calling you 'babe' is how they express they like you as a friend and feel close to you. There might be a possibility that a commitment phobe loves you.
What are the signs of a pretty girl? ›- Your passion speaks louder than your looks. ...
- You are yourself around others. ...
- You don't chase the limelight. ...
- You know how to talk. ...
- You are independent. ...
- You care about more than just yourself. ...
- You have an open mind. ...
- You have a soul.
When a man refers to a woman as "baby girl," he is implying that she is the sweetest, cutest, and most beautiful woman on the globe nine times out of ten. He notices how great you are on the inside and exterior. He sees you as a beautiful lady who will support and encourage him in any attempt he makes.
What makes a face look baby? ›Introduction. The babyface usually refers to adult faces that have a facial feature similar to that of infants (Berry and McArthur, 1985). It is usually defined as a round face with big eyes, high raised eyebrows, a narrow chin and a small nose.
Does baby face fat go away? ›Usually, the size of the fat pads diminishes with age. Some people might develop a leaner, more shapely face by their teens, but others might still have prominent, chipmunk cheeks into their 30s, 40s or even older.
How does a baby's face change over time? ›A newborn's face may look quite puffy or even distorted due to fluid buildup and their trip through the birth canal. This often changes a lot during the first few days as the baby gets rid of the extra fluid, while that folded ear, flattened nose, or crooked jaw usually comes back into place over time.
Are baby cheeks attractive? ›For a start, there's a ton of evidence that babyfaces are attractive to humans, so perhaps ancestors with the supermodel look had more suitors and more children (sexual selection). This is backed up by the fact that babyfaces are especially attractive in women – and women tend to be more baby-faced than men.
Why are my cheeks so chubby but I'm skinny? ›If you're slim and still have chubby cheeks and a rounded face, then you probably have large buccal fat pads. A buccal fat pad is an area of fat in the cheeks between the facial muscles right below the cheekbones.
Does having a baby face mean your still growing? ›Not necessarily, although at 16 you likely are still growing and changing in some ways. However, as someone who is well over the age of 16, yet still looks almost exactly the same as I did when I was that age, the “baby face” may be a lasting feature for years and even decades.
What age does your face change the most? ›The biggest changes typically occur when people are in their 40s and 50s, but they can begin as early as the mid-30s and continue into old age. Even when your muscles are in top working order, they contribute to facial aging with repetitive motions that etch lines in your skin.
At what age does your face get bigger? ›
Most people begin to notice a shift in the appearance of their face around their 40's and 50's, with some also noticing a change in their 30's. But with these physical changes brought on by aging also comes a change in the appearance of our face - Luckily, there is treatment available.
Does baby face shape change with age? ›The shape and appearance of a baby's face – and variety of expressions – often change drastically by adulthood, making it hard to model and predict that change.
At what age do girls look the cutest? ›After surveying over 16,000 individuals across eight different countries who were all asked at what ages they think men and women are most beautiful, the data found that the overall average age where women are found to be most attractive is 28.
What age do girls lose baby face fat? ›Usually, there is a significant increase in buccal fat between the ages of 10-20, and then a slow, ongoing reduction until about 50. With that said, everyone is different.
What makes a girl look younger than her age? ›Skin brightening treatments, like Microdermabrasion, Light Peels, Micro Laser Peels, or the Clear & Brilliant Laser treatment all help patients to look 10 years younger or more, with just a few treatments. These treatments can be used in order to combat the signs of aging in the face, such as: Wrinkles. Age spots.