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.
What are the most attractive lip shapes? 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.
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.
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. Lead researcher Dr. Geoff Beattie says the study shows lips represent one of the most sensual aspects of a woman's body and play an important part in sexual attraction.
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).
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.
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.
So where did “big lips” come from? In 2006, Angelina Jolie was crowned People's "World's Most Beautiful Star" and was praised for her luscious lips. Then in 2014, none other than Kylie Jenner shared her selfie with new, giant lips that single-handedly powered the craze for injectables.
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.
Why are lips seductive? They are the source of expressions of love, sexuality, intimacy, and all types of communication. There is a reproductive drive in chasing after full lips, given their connotations with sexual vitality; some have even suggested that lips are attractive because of their resemblance to the labia.
Full lips are the most common of shapes and are typically defined by lips that are equally plump on the top and bottom.
Women with full lips are extremely confident and courageous. They are social butterflies. They are also very generous and caring in their relationships. When they care, they care very deeply.
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.
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.
Lips come in a variety of shapes characterized by the upper lip to lower lip ratio. A 2017 study from JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery showed the most attractive ratio is 1:2 of upper and lower lip. An increase in surface area of 53.5 percent was also deemed most attractive.
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.
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.
The Swedes and the Danes are famous for their high cheekbones, blonde hair and full, wide lips. Indians have lips that are all over the map. Some of us boast wide, full lips while others have narrow and thin lips. But it is the Africans who take the cake in the lip department.
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.
The desire for plump lips isn't just about thickness, it's about hydration, health, and smoothness. A 2009 study showed that women with bigger, fuller lips appear younger than their biological age.
Psychologists say that the first thing a man pays attention to when meeting a woman is her lips. That's why lips are considered to be a symbol of femininity, sensuality and seduction!
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.
Large beautiful lips bring a striking and pleasing balance to the face. However, when the lips are too large, various functional challenges can result, including labial incontinence, problems eating and drinking, speech impediments, and/or drooling. The technical term for overly-large lips is “macrocheilia”.
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.
#1 – Angelina Jolie
She isn't just famous for her role as Lara Croft – her iconic, pouty set of lips is widely seen as one of the actress's distinguishing characteristics. Defined by one-of-the best known and loved lip shapes — fullness on the top and bottom — Jolie's pout has been one-to-pin for decades.