Cupid's Bow: What It Is and What It Looks Like (2024)

A Cupid’s bow is the name of a lip shape where the upper lip comes to two distinct points toward the center of the mouth, almost like a letter ‘M’. These points are usually directly in line with the philtrum, otherwise known as the grooved space between the nose and mouth.

A Cupid’s bow mouth resembles the double-curved bow often seen carried by the Roman god, Cupid. Some people have more pronounced Cupid’s bows than others, and some don’t have one at all.

A Cupid’s bow gives the lips a heart shape, which may be how it got its name. Some upper lips are uniform in shape, and others dip down in the middle, revealing two distinct peaks of the upper lip. The latter is known as a Cupid’s bow. Taylor Swift has a famous Cupid’s bow, and it’s generally viewed as an attractive feature.

Cleft lips affect approximately 1 in every 600 babies born. This is a condition that causes a split in one side of the lip all the way through one nostril. It can affect just the lip, or the lip and the palate.

The cleft lip is often corrected with surgery, which, because of scarring, can cause one side of the Cupid’s bow to look more pronounced than the other. This may result in slightly uneven lips.

There is no research supporting that the Cupid’s bow has any function for the body’s health or well-being. Anecdotally, some theories say that the dip in the center of the lip gives the lip more space to move and express, thereby increasing the range of non-verbal communication.

Most people have a Cupid’s bow, or at least a variation of the size of their upper lip. You will notice that most people’s lips dip slightly in the middle, but on some, this feature is much more pronounced.

People with extremely full upper lips, or those who have had Botox fillers, may not have as noticeable of a Cupid’s bow as the plumpness reduces the definition of the upper lip.

If you’re looking to surgically enhance your Cupid’s bow, or have a more pronounced philtrum, some people opt to have a lip lift. A lip lift is a permanent solution.

The cosmetic procedure is an in-office surgical procedure and it shortens the space between the nose and the top of the lip (philtrum). This procedure is unlikely to be covered by insurance and is permanent.

Some people opt for a Cupid’s bow piercing, also called a Medusa piercing, which is different than a lip ring. The piercing actually goes directly in between the two points of the bow, onto the philtrum.

It typically takes six to twelve weeks to heal, and the aftercare is involved because the piercing is on the face, and close to the nose and mouth.

While it’s healing, you should not smoke, and avoid getting makeup or skincare products too close, which may cause infection.

A Cupid’s bow is where the upper lip comes to two distinct points toward the center of the mouth. This looks a bit like the double-pointed bow that Cupid is often depicted holding. Most people have some sort of Cupid’s bow, though some are more pronounced than others.

Because of corrective surgery, people born with a cleft lip may have one side of the bow look more pronounced than the other, and people who have lip fillers may not have as pronounced of a bow.

Cupid's Bow: What It Is and What It Looks Like (2024)

FAQs

Cupid's Bow: What It Is and What It Looks Like? ›

A Cupid's bow is where the upper lip comes to two distinct points toward the center of the mouth. This looks a bit like the double-pointed bow that Cupid is often depicted holding. Most people have some sort of Cupid's bow, though some are more pronounced than others.

What is your Cupid's bow? ›

The cupid's bow is the double curve on the upper lip, named for the shape of a bow and arrow carried by Cupid. The peaks and shadows of the cupid's bow can change the look of a person's lips, smile and overall appearance.

What ethnicity has Cupid's bow lips? ›

Caucasians typically have a more distinct cupid's bow with a classic “double curve” shape. Black people may have a less pronounced cupid's bow. Asians may have a different shape and prominence of the cupid's bow, with a more subtle curve or a flatter appearance.

Are Cupid's bows rare? ›

Less Than 5% of People Have This Rare Lip Shape #anatomy Cupid's bow lips, named after the bow-like shape that resembles Cupid's bow and arrow, are characterized by a distinct and alluring lip shape. These lips have a well-defined curve on the upper lip, creating a natural indentation in the center.

Are Cupid's bows attractive? ›

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.

Is A Cupid lip attractive? ›

As well as having a voluptuous look, the most attractive lips often also feature a striking cupid's bow, which catches the eye due to its sharp points.

What is the most attractive lip shape? ›

Science has found that the most attractive lip shape has an upper-to-lower lip ratio of 1:2. Lips are most desirable in different shapes and forms for different people – 60% of people prefer a 1:1 ratio where the lips are completely symmetrical and evenly full.

What is the rarest lip shape? ›

Butterfly lip form is the rarest lip shape. This lip shape gives women strong expression and youthful appearance. Women mostly have this type of lip shape during puberty. Doing lip augmentation in a dose gives your lips a natural spring form.

Which race has the thickest lips? ›

Chinese women had the thickest lower lip, as well as the greatest upper lip volume. Male lips were found to be more similar to each other across ethnic groups; however, Caucasians men had the thinnest lips. Men of Chinese descent had the largest total lip volume.

What is the rarest lip shape Cupid? ›

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.

What are butterfly lips? ›

The trend involves lifting the lips with Steri-Strips and then providing a significant plumping effect using dermal filler to over-emphasise the Cupid's bow. It's called 'butterfly lips' as the resulting effect is a volumised, slight separation of the top lip, mirroring the appearance of a butterfly's wing.

What lip shape has no cupid bow? ›

Round Lips. These kinds of lips are prominently round and lack a cupid's bow.

How do you know if you have Cupid bow lips? ›

A Cupid's bow is the name of a lip shape where the upper lip comes to two distinct points toward the center of the mouth, almost like a letter 'M'. These points are usually directly in line with the philtrum, otherwise known as the grooved space between the nose and mouth.

What are rosebud lips? ›

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English rosebud mouth/lipsa mouth or lips that have a small round shape and are very red → rosebudExamples from the Corpusrosebud mouth/lips• Corrie had a short, snub nose and rosebud mouth, and her eyes were a smoky grey.

Why do people put lipstick over their Cupids bow? ›

“Blurring the cupid's bow to soften sharp peaks and round out the shape can be achieved by smudging lip color along the edges of the lip lines with a sheer lip tint or soft matte lipstick,” she says.

Which lips is more attractive for girls? ›

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).

Which color lips are more attractive? ›

In Caucasians, much of the contrast between the lips and facial skin is in redness. Red lips have been considered attractive in women in geographically and temporally diverse cultures, possibly because they mimic vasodilation associated with sexual arousal.

When a man looks at your lips? ›

He is looking at your lips

If his gaze keeps slipping down to your lips while he's talking to you, it's a sign that he is admiring you, fantasising about you and might even want to start a stable, long-term relationship with you," says Madan.

What is the hardest lip shape to fill? ›

M shaped lips refers to the top lip that resembles the letter “M,” and is the most difficult lip shape to treat. This is because the muscles on the upper lip curls inferiorly and the anatomy can be challenging to release.

Is a bigger top or bottom lip more attractive? ›

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. Whatever that really means.

What lip shape makes you look younger? ›

Protruding Cupid's Bow

The cupid's bow is the area right above the center of your lips, earning its name due to the arch/bow shape it creates. Youthful lips have a projected Cupid's Bow that keeps the lips from sagging, giving them a more voluminous look.

What is the most common lip shape in the world? ›

1. 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.

Who has perfect heart shaped lips? ›

Heart-shaped lips have a bottom lip that is fuller towards the middle and thinner at the sides. Combined with the cupid's bow on top, this results in lips with – you guessed it – a heart shape. Celebrities with this sought-after lip shape include Gal Gadot and Taylor Swift.

Who has the worlds biggest female lips? ›

Andrea Emilova Ivanova, 25 and from Sofia, Bulgaria, had 43 lip surgeries and got four more hyaluronic acid injections in her cheekbones. She made waves after claiming she spent £1,600 on cheekbone filler to obtain a chiselled look.

Which gender has bigger lips? ›

Gender Differences: The distance between the top lip and the base of the nose tends to be shorter in women, and when the mouth is open and relaxed, women tend to show 2 – 4 mm of their upper teeth while men tend not to show any upper teeth at all. Female lips are also, on average, a little fuller than male lips.

What culture has big lips? ›

The Surma people is made up of three ethnic groups: The Mursi, the Suri, and the Mekan people. The Suri and the Mursi share a similar culture. Their women's beauty is determined by how large their lip plate is.

Is a Cupid's bow feminine? ›

Cupid's Bow Lips

Cupid lip shapes are often considered to be very feminine and sexy. If you have Cupid's bow lips, you can make them look even more pronounced by using a light color on the outer edges and a darker color in the center.

Does Cupid's bow have a name? ›

The small bow that Cupid carries is one of the most frightening weapons in the history of war. Shakespeare called it the "Tartar's bow." Military historians call it the "double-curved" or "composite" bow.

What does a pointy Cupid's bow mean? ›

Lips with a peaked cupid's bow

People with a peaked cupid's bow—think Taylor Swift—are defined by their creativity; they constantly strive for self-expression in every form, with productive, artistic results, Haner says.

Why are big lips attractive? ›

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.

What is vermilion lip? ›

Vermilion: The red part of the lips (Fig. 1). It is covered with a specialized stratified squamous epithelium, which is in continuity with the oral mucosa of the gingivolabial groove. Confusingly, the vermilion itself is also often referred to as the lips.

Are thin lips attractive? ›

Thin lips can be attractive, depending on the individual's preferences and facial features. They are often associated with a youthful and innocent appearance. They can also give the face a delicate, romantic look. Preferred by those looking for subtlety in their beauty.

What is Cinderella lips? ›

Cinderella lip treatment is a temporary lip plumping procedure, named for it's “one night only” effects. Unlike more traditional fillers, which use hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally produced by the body, Cinderella lip treatment uses isotonic saline for short-term enhancement.

What are Russian lips? ›

What are Russian Lips? The term “Russian lips” refers to a technique that raises the pink of the top lip higher, whilst the bottom lip drops lower giving a deep 'V' shaped curve toward the chin. This technique tends to lift the lip rather than add volume, giving a flatter appearance from the side.

What are octopus lips? ›

Coined 'devil lips', or 'octopus lips', the procedure is said to involve inserting filler in the outer lip to create a wave effect across both the lips.

How do you get Cupid's bow? ›

A defined cupid's bow is achieved by placing filler close to the edges of the top lip, in the cupid's bow. Many people love the result of this technique because it looks incredibly natural.

How do you get a Cupid lip? ›

Apply a lipstick of your choice. Spread out the concealer towards the end of your lips, keeping the middle part thinner. You can use a brush to achieve this effect. Let this set in for two minutes, and then use gloss or a lighter shade of lipstick to shape your lips and make the ideal Cupid's Bow.

Are heart-shaped lips rare? ›

Full lips tend to be the most common shape which includes symmetrical volume on the top and bottom lip, while a defined cupid's bow or heart-shaped lips are rare and harder to come by.

What lips have no Cupid's bow? ›

Sausage lips are lips in which the top and bottom are plump and full. Often this type of lip doesn't have a very pronounced Cupid's bow.

What does a strong Cupid's bow mean? ›

Lips With a Peaked Cupid's Bow: This lip shape tends to mean the person is a good communicator, is quick-minded, and very creative. Because they're so quick-minded, they can also be highly reactive and often not think before speaking, whether what they're saying is kind or mean-spirited.

Is a Cupid's bow good or bad? ›

There is no research supporting that the Cupid's bow has any function for the body's health or well-being. Anecdotally, some theories say that the dip in the center of the lip gives the lip more space to move and express, thereby increasing the range of non-verbal communication.

What are the rarest lips in the world? ›

Butterfly lip form is the rarest lip shape. This lip shape gives women strong expression and youthful appearance. Women mostly have this type of lip shape during puberty.

What are jolie lips? ›

What is lip cleavage? It's one of the hottest beauty trends in the cosmetic world today. Also called “Angelina Jolie lips,” lip cleavage is the appearance of the full, pouty lower lip with a slight dent in the center.

How long should your Cupids bow be? ›

A shorter philtrum length with an enhanced cupid's bow is an attribute currently associated with a youthful-looking appearance. It's theorised that the ideal length of the area should be 11-13mm for females and 13-15mm for males, though this varies between individuals.

What your lips say about your health? ›

Cracked or peeling lips: Heartache, worry, dryness in the body, feeling cold. Discoloration or faded colour in the lips: Lack of proper circulation throughout the body. Hot/burning/red lips: Inflammation or too much heat within the body due to overly spicy foods, too much sugar, alcohol or caffeine.

How do you define your Cupid's bow naturally? ›

“To define your cupid's bow, you can line using your favorite lip liner in a deeper shade, contouring the corners of the mouth and blending the sides,” she says. “This makes the lips appear fuller.

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