Based on their results, a pair of “average lips” has measurements of 7.8mm for the upper lip at the midline and 12.2mm for the lower lip.
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.
What's in a pout? 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.
Full Lips
Full lips are the most common of shapes and are typically defined by lips that are equally plump on the top and bottom. This shape is easy to accentuate and looks great with bold lipstick looks.
Some studies actually saw that big lips contribute to a great extent to our attractiveness level. Why? It's all about the symmetry of course. As you might be aware, the more symmetrical your face is, the more attractive you will appear to other people.
1. Angelina Jolie. She has, without a doubt, the sexiest pout in the history of lips. In fact, there are online tutorials for women on how to get lips like her.
Thin top and bottom lips
Women with thin lips—think Kirsten Dunst—tend to be loners and rather timid, according to Haner. Their introverted personality also means that they are self-reliant; they are OK with being alone and are perfectly content with the idea of being independent.
The study polled over 1,000 people in 35 countries. Of those polled, 60% said they found a symmetrical, 1:1 top to bottom ratio the most attractive lip (think Scarlett Johansson). The next highest-rated, according to the poll, was a larger bottom lip compared to the top lip (like those rocked by Kylie Jenner).
Thin Lips
If both your upper and lower lips are not so full, you likely fall under this category.
The upper lip should be slightly larger than the lower lip with a gentle curve that peaks at what's called cupid's bow. The hinge of the upper lip comes in the form of the central philtrum that separates the two sides. Your upper teeth should also overlap the lower teeth by one millimeter.
It turned out that the picture on the far-left marked 'A' was actually seen as most attractive. Unsurprisingly to anyone with functioning eye balls, 'D', with a heavy upper lip, was the least attractive look. In fact, it was the heavier lower lip that was rated most attractive.
A natural-looking lip enhancement can balance other facial features, bringing your face into better harmony. Changing your lips' size and proportion can make surrounding features like a prominent nose or jawline look smaller, creating a more feminine appearance.
No. They may get smaller with age, but not grow. As an adolescent reaches puberty, their lips may widen to match the growth of their jawbone, but the tissue will often soften and recede with age. Which is why rejuvenation of the lips is so popular with those in their middle ages.
Conclusion: Lips tended to shorten in length and widen with age, resulting in a thinner and longer appearance. With regard to physiological parameters, there were important age-related changes in hydration and lip color.
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.
Researchers showed men photos of women, some wearing lipstick and some without and they found that shades of red lipstick captivated men the longest, 7.3 out of the first 10 seconds. And pink lip color was just behind that with 6.7 seconds out of the first 10. Fuller lips were also found to attract the eye for longer.
The possible science behind it
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.
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.
Cupid or Cupid's Bow is the rarest of all lip shapes.
Cupid's Bow on lips is usually very prominent in pre-adolescent girls. As an individual grows old, the fullness of the lips fills in the middle first.
Heart-shaped lips are similar to Cupid's Bow lips, as the top lip has a defined dip. The subtle difference is in the bottom lip. Heart-shaped lips have a bottom lip that is fuller towards the middle and thinner at the sides.
Studies have also shown that Caucasian women were found to have thinner lips than Asians, with the smallest upper lip height and volume.
Whereas the rest of the face may not show signs of getting older until patients reach their late 20s to 30s, lips can begin to lose important volume starting in the late teens. As the process continues and the mouth loses collagen, the lips can begin to flatten out and appear much thinner in just a few short years.
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.
“Taylor's lips are perfect – she has a gorgeous voluptuous pout and a beautifully shaped cupid's bow which so many women want.” Swift won't have perfect lips forever, says the plastic surgeon. The pop star is still young and is still in the best years of her life. As women age, their lips start to thin.