Everyone’s lips are so unique that they can even help in identifying a person. The shape and size of lips varies from person to person.
Your lip shape makes you special. There are ways to make the lip shape look different or just enhance the natural shape.
But remember, you are special the way you are!!
Before we move on to discussing the different lip types and their shapes, let’s take a look at the normal parts of our lips and their anatomy.
Parts of lips
Our lip’s skin is different from the skin on our faces. It is much thinner than the skin on our face. Due to thin skin, the blood vessels underneath are visible giving a pink or red color to our lips.
Our lips are devoid of hair, sweat, or sebaceous glands. So, they don’t get the same benefit as the rest of our skin from our natural skin oils. It is more prone to dryness and damage.
Cupid’s bow
This is an indented V-shape in the center of the upper lip. It usually sits just under the tip of the nose.
Some people will have this more pronounced as compared to others. It actually helps in defining some of the lip shapes. For some people, this is the most attractive feature.
Philtrum
This is the area just above the Cupid’s bow. The middle dent-like area is called philtral dimple and two slightly raised lines on both sides are called philtral columns.
Vermilion border
Some people call it the lip border. This is the area between the facial skin and lip skin. Usually, it’s slightly lighter in color than the rest of the skin.
Tubercles
These are some bumps or prominent areas on our lips which can give them an outward protrusion. Our upper lip has three tubercles and the lower lip has two tubercles.
Different lip types and shapes
Based on shape and size, lips can be divided into 9 different types.
1. Full lips
These lips have both upper and lower lip balanced and equally plump. The pout tends to protrude out. For many people, this is the most attractive lip shape.
Makeup Tips
It depends on what you want to attain.
- If you want to balance the look of protruding lips, go for a nude lip color.
- Prominent eyebrows and eye makeup can also help in balancing the look, and so does a pop of blush on the cheeks.
- If you want to make the cupid bow more prominent, you can use a little highlighter on it.
2. Heart-shaped
These are one of the most desirable lip shapes. These have a prominent cupid’s bow, the V-shape in the center of the upper lip. The lower lip is also defined and sharp.
Makeup tips
- This lip shape hardly needs any special contouring.
- If you want to further enhance the cupid bow, you can add light color with a pencil or highlighter.
- If you want to soften the sharp V, you can use a smudged line of lip liner.
3. Heavy upper lips
As the name suggests, this lip shape has a heavier upper lip which may protrude out. The cupid bow is usually not well-defined.
Makeup Tips
- If you want to balance both lips, you can outline the lower lip and blend in with your lip color.
- Applying different colors of lip products to both lips may also balance them, with a darker color on the upper lip and a brighter or lighter color on the lower lip.
4. Heavy lower lips
Opposite to above, this lip shape is defined by a heavier lower lip. The lower lip creates a protruding pout.
Makeup tips
Here you can do just the opposite of what you can do with heavy upper lips.
- Outline the upper lip, to give it more volume.
- You can also use foundation or concealer to blend in the lower lip border, to make it look less protruding.
5. Wide lips
Wide lips have more length to them than volume. They make your smile big and can warm many hearts.
Makeup tips
If you want to add more volume to your lips:
- You can overline both the upper and lower lip.
- Go for soft and nude shades so that your lips don’t draw a lot of attention.
- Eye makeup and some color on the cheeks can help in balancing them.
6. Thin lips
Thin lips are less in height and volume. Usually, both the upper and lower lip are proportionate, they just lack the pout.
Makeup tips
To make the lips look bigger, one can try the following tips.
- Overlining the upper and lower lip can make them look bigger.
- The addition of some highlighter and gloss to both the upper and lower lip can make them look more voluminous.
7. Bow-shaped lips
These lips have a pronounced cupid’s bow; however, the lower lip is not sharp.
Makeup tips
You can follow the same makeup tips as for heart-shaped lips.
- To make the cupid bow look more pronounced, add some highlighter on the cupid’s bow.
- To make it less defined, use a concealer or add a smudged lip line.
8. Round lips
Round lips are more or less the same in width all around with a less defined cupid’s bow.
Makeup tips
- You can use a lip liner to give a more defined look to your upper lip.
- If you have small and round lips, go for lighter shades to make them look fuller.
9. Downward-turned lips
These lips have a lower lip with less width than the upper lip. This makes the edges of the lip (where the upper and lower lip meet) dip down.
Makeup tips
- The aim is to lift the edges. You can do it by lining the lower lips.
- Use a lip liner darker than your natural lip color which can give a more defined look to your lower lip.
- Avoid lining the upper lip.
Which is your lip shape?
You don’t have to try to choose one lip shape from these. There are several more types or hybrids of these 9 different lip shapes.
The best makeup trick for you will depend on your unique lip shape and your facial features.
Which is the ideal or most attractive lip shape or type?
There is no simple answer to that. The preference varies from person to person. There are two studies that looked into this:
- One study found that the 1:1.6 ratio of the upper lip to lower lip was found the most attractive.
- Another study found that the 1:1 ratio of upper to lower lip was the most attractive.
How to change your lip shape and size?
We all inherit our facial features from our parents. They are part of our genetic markup.
If you want your lips to look different or are looking for something special, there are a few ways to do it.
1. Moisturize your lips
If your lips are looking dry and thin, just adding a layer of moisturizer can make them look slightly more voluminous.
2. Topical hyaluronic acid
You can find several hyaluronic acid lip serums in the beauty market. They can plump up your lips and make them look bigger.
Over time, hyaluronic acid can help in stimulating collagen production in the lips which may replenish some of the lost volume from aging.
3. Makeup
Makeup can help in defining the shape of the lips and some tricks can make them look more voluminous. You might have to try and see what works for your lips and facial features.
Also, since this is temporary, you can always try a new look the next day.
Below are some more options which are invasive and they come with some risks.
4. Lip Fillers
Lip fillers are one of the easiest ways to go a step further to change lip shape. If injected appropriately and at the right places, they can give great results.
The various lip fillers include:
Hyaluronic acid fillers
These are the most commonly used fillers these days. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that is naturally found in our skin. For the fillers, a synthetic form is used.
It can help in enhancing the shape of your lips. It is a temporary filler and the results usually last 6-18 months depending on the brand. Restylane and Juvederm are some of the popular ones.
Collagen fillers
Collagen lip fillers used to be very popular; however, most people these days prefer hyaluronic acid fillers.
Silicone fillers
These are permanent fillers so no maintenance is required. However, they are not very popular these days.
5. Botox
Botox injection can not only help in smoothing out wrinkles but it can also make your lips look fuller. The technique “Lip-flip” involves an injection of botulinum toxin along the lip border to enhance the shape of the lips.
6. Lip implants
Lip implants are a permanent solution for lip augmentation.
They can be of two types:
- Autogenous implants: These use your own fat or tissue.
- Alloplastic implants: These use outside implant materials – extended polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone.
7. Lip surgery
This is a permanent solution if you know what you really want. It will take a little longer to heal. Lip surgery can not only increase size and volume but can also decrease the size if you are not happy with a larger pout.
There are different kinds of surgeries and your doctor may help you in deciding which is the right choice for you.
How to take care of your lips?
We talked about changing the shape of the lip or enhancing it, but it’s equally important to take care of lips to avoid various skin problems like hyperpigmentation, thinning of lips due to aging, sunburns, or lip cancer.
1. Don’t use irritants on your lips
There are many fragranced lip balms with essential oils, menthol, or artificial fragrance.
Some people might do fine with them but if you have sensitive skin, it’s best to avoid these ingredients. They can irritate the skin, and cause inflammation and hyperpigmentation.
Some of these ingredients are:
- Menthol
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
- Eucalyptus
- Camphor
- Citrus
2. Moisturize your lips
The skin on our lips is very thin so it is prone to dehydration and dryness. Keep your lips hydrated with a moisturizing lip balm that contains nourishing oils and occlusives which can form a barrier.
Some occlusives are petrolatum, shea butter, cocoa butter, dimethicone, etc.
3. Use a humidifier
If you live in a very dry climate, a humidifier can help in adding moisture to the air and prevent lip and skin dryness.
4. Avoid the use of abrasive scrubs on your lips
Your skin including your lips does not need a special exfoliation step, especially those big abrasive particles. The act of massaging the cleanser and washing your face can get rid of dead skin cells.
If your lips are excessively dry, it’s better to use a peeling gel or chemical exfoliator meant specifically for lips. Make sure to not overdo exfoliation and follow with a thick moisturizing balm to heal them.
5. Do not smoke
Smoking can not only increase your risk for several cancers but can also age your skin faster and make your lips look thin. So, it’s best to stop smoking.
6. Use sun protection
Sun can destroy the collagen in the skin and can lead to volume loss or hyperpigmentation. In addition, it can increase the risk of skin cancer.
So, always protect your lips by using a broad-spectrum lip sunscreen. If your skin is sensitive, choose a sunscreen with mineral sunscreen filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
7. Avoid licking your lips
You might be wondering if licking the lips can moisturize them. Instead, it’s the opposite. Repetitive licking can be the cause of your dry lips.
8. Remove lip makeup at the end of the day
Always take off your lip makeup products at night gently. You can use micellar water or a cleansing oil.
9. Stay hydrated
Lack of hydration in your body may show up on your lips. So, stay hydrated and take adequate fluids.
10. Eat a healthy diet rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants
Eating a healthy diet can promote healthy skin. Antioxidants can help in fighting every day’s oxidative stress which can age our skin and essential fatty acids can make our skin more supple.
Key points
There are 9 different types of lips based on shape and size. However, there is no standard classification and there are many more types or hybrids of these 9 different types.
There are several ways to change the shape of lips.
- Non-invasive methods include topical products and makeup.
- Invasive methods include fillers, Botox, implants, and surgery.
References
- Carey JC, Cohen MM Jr, Curry CJ, Devriendt K, Holmes LB, Verloes A. Elements of morphology: standard terminology for the lips, mouth, and oral region. Am J Med Genet A. 2009 Jan;149A(1):77-92. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.32602. PMID: 19125428.
- Kar M, Muluk NB, Bafaqeeh SA, Cingi C. Is it possible to define the ideal lips? Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2018 Feb;38(1):67-72. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-1511. PMID: 29756617; PMCID: PMC5952987.
- Heidekrueger PI, Juran S, Szpalski C, Larcher L, Ng R, Broer PN. The current preferred female lip ratio. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2017 May;45(5):655-660. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2017.01.038. Epub 2017 Feb 12. PMID: 28318919.
- Frank K, Moellhoff N, Swift A, Green JB, Schuster L, Gotkin RH, Hernandez CA, Voropai D, Haas EM, Cotofana S. In Search of the Most Attractive Lip Proportions and Lip Volume: An Eye Tracking- and Survey-Based Investigation. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2022 Aug 1;150(2):301-308. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000009361. Epub 2022 Jun 6. PMID: 35666164.
- Luthra A. Shaping Lips with Fillers. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2015 Jul-Sep;8(3):139-42. doi: 10.4103/0974-2077.167269. PMID: 26644736; PMCID: PMC4645142.
- Brody-Camp S, Raggio BS. Lip Implants. [Updated 2022 Jun 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan.
- Teixeira JC, Ostrom JY, Hohman MH, Nuara MJ. Botulinum Toxin Type-A for Lip Augmentation: “Lip Flip”. J Craniofac Surg. 2021 May 1;32(3):e273-e275. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000007128. PMID: 33170825.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for information purposes only and does not replace medical advice.