Well, quite a lot, as it turns out that full and sumptuous lips are the most preferable lip shape of them all — but according to a global study, there's one key trait that distinguishes the perfect pouts from their equally plump, yet sub-par, counterparts.
According to a survey done by the Insider among over ten thousand people from 35 countries; the majority of participants picked the most symmetric and full lips over others. The study also indices that pouting lower lip is almost as attractive as having full lips.
In the subjective assessments, a lip proportion of 1 to 1.6 (upper lip to lower lip) was rated as most attractive: average score of 4.21 out of a possible 5. The 1:1.6 proportion is widely accepted as the "golden ratio" for beautiful lips.
According to Dr Marisa Coen in her essay for The Science of Relationships, fuller lips have long been desired by women because, as evolutionary psychology suggests, they signify strong mating potential. “Facial features serve as a cue of attractiveness,” explains Coen.
Based on what these online people said, we now know that the most attractive faces are those with a lower lip that's about twice as big as the upper lip; and an overall lip size of about 9.6 percent of the total area of the lower third of the face.
A study of 1,000 people in 35 countries revealed that the perfect lip shape is all down to symmetry. More than 60% of respondents thought a 1:1 ratio between the upper and lower lip was the most attractive shape. A cosmetic surgeon in London said a heavily-defined cupid's bow is the most-requested lip feature.
Full lips are the most common of shapes and are typically defined by lips that are equally plump on the top and bottom.
Full lips were deemed the most attractive feature but the appeal of thin lips increased by more than 40 per cent once make-up had been applied.
Lip fillers for men are becoming increasingly common, with one news outlet reporting the “rise of the macho mouth” and a 74% increase in male patients requesting dermal fillers between 2015-2016. While men don't always want to feel more feminine, they can appreciate how great a fuller lip can look.
First impressions count, especially when it comes to the laws of attraction. And as shallow as it might be, research reveals the facial feature men find most attractive on a woman: her lips. So when you meet someone new and notice his eyes, he's actually looking at your lips.
It is thought that females desire fuller lips because it signifies strong mating and maternal potential. Basically, the research indicates that we are more likely to be more affectionate towards an adult with softer, childlike features such as jutting cheeks or plumper lips.
While some people may have naturally thin lips, they can also be a sign of ageing, sun exposure or a result from smoking. As you get older the collagen in your lips breaks down and the muscles tire, leaving your lips looking and feeling thinner. This can also lead to wrinkles around the lips.
The Golden Ratio
If we follow the Phi Ratio of Beauty, otherwise known as the “Golden Ratio” of 1.618, the perfect lips would be 1.618 times larger than the top lip and 1.618 times wider than the width of the nose. If you're determined to accentuate your lips, you may find it helpful to keep these proportions in mind.
Thin lips really don't look that bad, however self-conscious you feel. Keep them well moisturised, smile a lot, and find a great lipstick; you'll look just fine, and so much more attractive than if you had your lips plumped up.
Can someone tell you have lip fillers when kissing? Because your lips will retain their natural texture and softness a few days after injected, your fillers cannot be felt by you or your partner when kissing!
Done well, dermal filler can be absolutely amazing. It can make you look less tired, less sad, less saggy and more attractive. It can reshape your lips and restore hollows under your eyes. But some practitioners don't – or can't – keep their patients looking natural.
The desire for full lips
Full lips have long been desired by women because they signify youth and femininity. Evolutionary psychology also suggests that women with a full pout are often associated with a strong mating potential. One of the most visible signs of ageing is a pair of thin and flat lips.
Men prefer a woman who has less body fat and more muscle than that. She'll still weigh a fairly regular amount, but she'll be significantly fitter and more muscular than average, with a leaner waist, stronger hips, and broader shoulders.
Research across a variety of cultures has demonstrated that men typically find the curvaceous female form sexually attractive. Other studies have shown that wide hips in women are associated with health and reproductive potential, so the attraction makes evolutionary sense.
Studies have also shown that Caucasian women were found to have thinner lips than Asians, with the smallest upper lip height and volume.
Cupid is the rarest of all lip forms. Cupid has a powerful, youthful appearance, and is very prominent in pre-adolescent females. Due to the natural growth process in a female's lips, the fullness of the lips fill in the middle first, then the sides.
Men of Chinese descent had the largest total lip volume. Regarding upper lip (measured from the midline of the upper lip vermilion border) to lower lip height ratio, Chinese women were found to have a mean ratio of 1:1.25 when measured both by caliper and surface distance.