Your lips are like the stars of your face, second only to your eyes. As the curtain rises for each word you speak, your lips convey expression, personality, and attraction. Their shape makes a statement, for better or worse. That’s why knowing about lip shapes is so important when it comes to how your face looks.
In this guide, we’ll explore different types of lips. We’ll also talk about how to make your natural lip shape to look even better. Whether you have full, thin, or heart-shaped lips, there’s something here for everyone.
Overview of Common Lip Shapes
Before we dive into the details, let’s take a quick look at the most common types of lips out there. Remember, every lip shape is unique and beautiful in its own way.
Full Lips
First are arguably the simplest lips to categorize: full lips. True to their name, these lips offer complete plumpness both on top and bottom. The width of full lips is usually the same as the space between the two lines that connect your lips to your nose (called the philtrum).
Full lips exude an undeniable sensuality thanks to their youthful plumpness. As we saw in our “What is the Most Attractive Lip Shape” article, a study polling over 1,000 people across 35 countries found this shape the most attractive. Sixty percent of respondents favored full, equal lips like Scarlett Johansson’s over any other variety.
But perhaps the most famous pair of lips and Hollywood’s favorite belongs to Angelina Jolie. These seem to overflow with lip volume at first glance. Yet their exact proportions keep them balanced and proportional.
Thin Lips
On the other end of the spectrum lie thin lips. Streamlined and understated, these lips make a subtle yet elegant statement. Think Kate Middleton or Keira Knightley.
Several lip shapes fall under the small lips category. Shelf lips protrude outward, stacking the upper lip on top of the lower lip. Meanwhile, thin flower petal lips offer a plumper middle with narrow edges. Their dainty silhouette resembles a flower in bloom.
Thin lips can occur naturally or develop over time as collagen depletes. Either way, small lips have a delicate appearance with an appeal all its own.
Defined Cupid’s Bow
The Cupid’s bow is the dip in your upper lip, right under your nose. It looks a bit like a “V” shape. Dr. Julian De Silva, a famous British cosmetic surgeon, told The Independent that a well-defined Cupid’s bow-shaped lip is what most of his patients ask for.
He said by putting small amounts of filler in the right spots on the upper lip, we can make the bow shape stand out more. This makes the lines above your lip look sharper. When done well, it draws people’s eyes right to the middle of your lips.
Rihanna is known for her perfect Cupid’s bow-shaped lips. Many people wish they had lips like hers!
Round Lips
Round lips look full and plump with a nice curve around the edges. Drew Barrymore’s signature lip look features this delicate roundness. Her curved edges encircle her lips with subtle fullness through the middle. It’s a shape often described as “pillowy” for its lush and cushiony appearance.
Wide Lips
Wide lips are sometimes affectionately called sausage lips. This shape can make you look friendly and easy to talk to because your smile looks bigger, too. The natural lip lines can light up your whole face when you’re happy. It’s a feature that draws attention in a good way.
Beyonce is known for her perfect pout. Her lips help make her smile extra charming. Hyaluronic acid fillers can add volume and definition along the edges to prevent a “duck lip” look from over-plumping.
Heart-Shaped Lips
The name says it all – heart-shaped lips look like a heart! These lips usually have a pronounced Cupid’s bow on top and a fuller bottom lip. Taylor Swift rocks an iconic heart lip shape with those characteristics. The effect feels feminine, playful, and adorable above all else.
Prominent Lower Lip
This lip shape has become more popular in recent years. As the name suggests, the bottom lip is bigger and stands out more than the top lip.
Having a fuller bottom lip can make your smile look more relaxed and natural. It can also make your lips look more pouty. This shape can add a touch of sultriness to your look.
According to the study we talked about earlier, the second most popular lip shape was a larger bottom lip compared to the top. Kylie Jenner is well-known for this look. But be careful – there needs to be a balance. If the bottom lip is too much bigger than the top, it might look odd.
Prominent Upper Lips
Far less common are prominent upper lips, which flips the script on conventional beauty standards. A thinner lower lip recedes beneath a heavier upper lip. The fuller top lip in this variety is seen as undesirable to some.
Some with this natural shape turn to lip fillers to add volume below. However, a prominent upper brings a touch of mystery that flatters many. Much like Mona Lisa’s sly smile, not all beauty trends demand conformity.
Asymmetrical Lips
Asymmetrical lips are not the same on both sides. One side may sit higher with greater volume than the other. This irregularity traces back to facial asymmetry, which over half the population has to some degree. Injury is another possibility.
In years past, Lana Del Rey brought sexy intrigue to her uneven pout. She’s changed her look since then, but it shows how this lip shape can be part of a signature style.
Flat Lips
We generally define flat lips as lacking the pronounced Cupid’s bow ridges that contour most lips. Without this arching shape, flat lips appear smooth, lacking protrusion.
Despite their streamlined appearance, flat lips have an appeal all their own. Actress Julia Roberts glows with her subtle flat shape, which is iconic in Pretty Woman.
Oval Lips
Oval lips are a new trend that’s popular on TikTok. It’s not really a natural lip line shape but a way of applying lip liner to create an oval look before applying lip balm or lip gloss.
To get oval lips, you draw a tiny line in the middle of your Cupid’s bow and another one under your lower lip. Then, you use these lines to draw an oval shape in the center of your lips. You leave the edges of your lips free of makeup.
Another hot topic is the double lip line. This isn’t a lip shape either, but a line between your face and natural lip color that some women don’t like when they put on makeup.
What Shapes Our Lips?
Have you ever wondered why your lips look the way they do? What determines the shape of our mouths comes down to lip anatomy. The lips consist of skin, muscle, glands and nerves that all contribute to their structure.
But it’s not just muscles that decide our lip shape. A lot of it results from our genes and where our families come from. Different groups of people around the world tend to have different types of lips. For example, some studies have found that people of African descent often have more desirable, naturally full lips than Europeans.
Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Lip Beauty
Perceptions of beautiful lips shift subtly with each passing era. What charms in one generation feels outdated in the next.
In the early 20th century, pale rosebud defined classic Hollywood lips and glamor. Actresses like Marilyn Monroe made scarlet red lips iconic in the 1950s. Then Angelina Jolie brought the exaggerated collagen pout at the turn of the 21st century that still inspires us today.
Looking back shows how lip ideals evolve across cultures as well. Full lips that signaled high status in African civilizations faced ridicule in Western societies not long ago. How quickly opinions change form.
And while today’s inflated lips certainly suit current beauty trends, odds are they won’t withstand time’s test either. As history shows, natural beauty lives at the mercy of passing fads.
Cosmetic Enhancements for Different Lip Shapes
If you want to change how your lips look, there are many ways to do it. Here are some popular options:
● Lip Fillers: Dermal lip fillers add volume through injections directly into the lips. They come in natural and synthetic options for temporary or longer-lasting augmentation. With precision placement, fillers can specifically target desired areas without overfilling. Options like Juvederm and Restylane smooth fine lines while lifting and contouring drooping lips. Keep in mind that temporary lip fillers diminish within six months to a year. Repeat injections maintain results.
● Lip Lifts: A lip lift shortens the space between the nose and lips through tiny incisions under the nose. By removing a strip of skin, the upper lip moves up while the philtrum shortens. This reshapes a long or undefined cupid’s bow while exposing more of the upper teeth when you smile. Recovery takes about two weeks of swelling and bruising before final results emerge. But as a permanent solution, you’ll enjoy your new lip position for life.
● Permanent Makeup: This is like a temporary tattoo for your lips. It can define the shape of your lips and make them look fuller. Keep in mind that these tattoos do fade over time. Multiple touch-up visits help revive the vibrancy.
When choosing a lip enhancement, think about what kind of lips you have now and what you want them to look like. It’s important to pick a treatment that will look natural and suit your face.
Consultation and Personalization in Lip Enhancement
Everyone’s face is different. That’s why it’s so important to get a treatment that’s just right for you.
At SpaMedica, we believe in a personal approach. When you come for a consultation, we’ll look at your unique features. We’ll talk about what you like about your lips and what you’d like to change.
During your visit, our experts will sit with you to explain all your options. This way, you can make the best choice for you.
Get the Perfect Lips of Your Dreams at SpaMedica
However, you feel about your lips, know that their shape holds natural beauty in more ways than one. We each offer a distinctive mosaic of features that makes us perfectly imperfect.
But if certain flaws nag at your confidence, cosmetic treatments can help. With a personalized approach from SpaMedica’s skilled injectors, you’ll gain lips with balance, symmetry, and proportions that make you feel gorgeous.
