Your lips are unique. Their precise shape, contouring, and relation to nearby facial features might evoke others, but there’s no one with quite the same lips.
On the other hand, most pairs of lips follow one or more common lip shape patterns: heart-shaped, round, full, thin. According to a 2023 study in the Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research, the "thin" lip shape made up 33% of the sample whereas voluminous or full lips made up 11% of the sample.
Knowing which shape(s) your lips are ensures you make informed aesthetic decisions and let your lips live their best life. Let’s take a look at the most common types of lips and how you can make the most of yours.
Different Types of Lip: Common Lip Shapes
These are the most common types of lip shapes. Remember, while your lips may fall into one or more of these general categories, their precise shape — and the way they complement the rest of your face — is unique to you.
- Thin Lips. People with thin lips have less lip volume and less pronounced lips overall.
- Full Lips. Full lips are relatively voluminous, with fullness spread evenly between the top and bottom lip.
- Wide Lips. People with wide lips have wider smiles with a characteristic “ear to ear” look. Their lips can be thin, full, or in between.
- Small Lips. People with small lips have narrower smiles, and their mouths appear smaller overall.
- Wide Upper Lip (Top Heavy Lips). People with these lips have more volume in their top lip than their bottom lip. The philtrum (the groove between the lips and base of the nose) may be narrower or less pronounced as well.
- Wide Lower Lip (Bottom Heavy Lips). Bottom heavy lips have more volume below the mouth than above it.
- Round Lips. Round lips have rounded edges and even volume, lending the appearance of a circular or oval-shaped mouth.
- Heart-Shaped Lips (Cupid Lips). This distinctive lip type is characterized by a pronounced philtrum and Cupid’s bow (the part of the lips just below the philtrum) and a sharper, narrower lower lip.
- Bow-Shaped Lips. Bow-shaped lips also have a pronounced Cupid’s bow. The lower lip tends to be fuller than with heart-shaped lips.
- Downturned Lips. This lip type is marked by subtle downturns at the corners of the lips. The upper lip may appear to overhang the lower lip a bit at the corners.
How to Enhance the Shape of Your Lips
You’re born with your general lip shape, for sure. But you can do quite a bit to accentuate and enhance that shape without resorting to invasive surgery or irreversible cosmetic procedures.
This work begins with topical products like lipsticks and lip balm. If you want a bit more help, consider hyaluronic acid fillers (dermal fillers) that temporarily define and volumize your lips.
Know Your Lipsticks, Lip Balms, and Lip Liners (And Application Techniques)
No matter what your lips are like, there’s a lip application to make them pop.
Wide lips? Blend two lipsticks: a lighter shade around the center of your mouth and a darker shade toward the edges. Brush them together to create a smooth transition between your lip lines and skin.
Thin lips? Use a darker lip liner around the edges of your lip to add an appearance of volume, then apply a softening lip balm to produce a sultrier look. If you have uneven lips, a similar technique works well on the thinner one (upper or lower).
Naturally full lips? Start applying lipsticks that accentuate your lips’ existing curves and body, choosing a shade that complements your skin.
Natural Lip Enhancement Options
If you’d like to create fuller lips, you can try lip plumping glosses and serums.
Certain lip products contain ingredients like capsicum or menthol that can temporarily increase lip volume and create the illusion of fuller lips. These work by stimulating blood flow to the lips, causing them to swell slightly.
Some popular options include the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer, which contains hyaluronic acid spheres to hydrate and plump the lips, and the Jan Marini Hyla3D Lip Complex, which is infused with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and retinol to provide both immediate and long-term benefits.
Adding an exfoliating and hydrating lip care routine can also help improve the appearance of the lips. Regular exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, while deeply hydrating products like lip balms and oils can smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, making the lips appear plumper.
Certain facial exercises and massage techniques may help stimulate blood flow and collagen production in the lips, leading to a more youthful, voluminous appearance. This includes exercises that target the muscles around the mouth, as well as gentle massage of the lips themselves.
Consider Temporary Lip Fillers
If you’d like a longer-lasting but still temporary solution, consider lip injections with hyaluronic acid fillers.
Depending on your natural lip lines and volume, your aesthetician will recommend one of several types of lip fillers to achieve the results you desire. If you aim to add volume, Restylane®-L provides a structural base for repeated treatments; Restylane Kysse is ideal for softening and adding subtle volume.
These treatments last longer than lipsticks or lip liners, but don’t worry: They’re not permanent. To maintain the lips you love, you’ll most likely need to follow up every few months.
Your lips are a unique and expressive feature that deserve to be celebrated. Whether your lips are naturally thin, full, wide, or heart-shaped, there are a variety of techniques you can use to enhance their appearance and let your natural beauty shine.
From strategic makeup application to temporary lip fillers and natural enhancement alternatives, the options are endless when it comes to shaping and defining your lips. The key is to focus on accentuating your individual lip shape and features, rather than trying to conform to a one-size-fits-all standard of beauty.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. By understanding the unique characteristics of your lips and experimenting with different enhancement methods, you can unlock your lips' full potential and let your smile light up the room. So embrace your pout, and get ready to pucker up!
