I worked for about a decade in the semiconductor industry, in the cleanroom for hours a day in a mixed-sex environment. I can say that it depends on the person

I worked for about a decade in the semiconductor industry, in the cleanroom for hours a day in a mixed-sex environment. I can say that it depends on the person. Some people, it's true, look better with the mask on, because it focuses attention on their eyes, which may be their best feature. Some people have an amazing smile, and a mask is going to reduce the value of that. The article quotes the researchers, who just about admit that this isn't really about "attractive", so much as, "getting voted for by respondents". If you are pro-mask, you pick the picture of the person with the mask, to send the right message. Quite possibly if the research was done in an area where attitudes towards masks were more negative, they might get the opposite result. But, if you're in an environment (for years) where wearing a mask is just part of the normal day-to-day work routine, it depends on the person.