If you’re reading this, you’ve likely asked yourself: “What is my lip shape?” And you’ve yet to reach a satisfactory answer.
Lip shape plays a bigger role in facial balance than many people realize. The proportions of your lips can influence how youthful, expressive, or symmetrical your face appears, which is why understanding your natural lip shape is helpful whether you are choosing makeup techniques or considering cosmetic enhancements.
If you’re looking to find your lip shape, you’ve come to the right place. There are many different lip shapes, and knowing which category yours falls into is key if you want to put your best foot (or lip) forward.
Let’s review the most common lip shapes, along with some less common ones, and learn how to accentuate each.
Common Types of Lip Shapes
Here are some different lip shapes, and how you can accentuate your face to look its best regardless of lip type.
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Full lips: Full lips are equally plump on the top and bottom. If you’re fine with that, a clear lip gloss or balm is all you need. Otherwise, use lip stain or liner to “extend” the lip you want to highlight. Many people with full lips focus on definition rather than volume, using subtle contouring to emphasize shape without overpowering the face.
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Round lips: Round lips are proportional but tend to have a “vertical” look that can make the mouth look small in comparison to other facial features. To counteract this, apply lipstick all over the lips while shading out the corners of your mouth a bit to create a more horizontal appearance. Softly blending color at the outer edges can help balance proportions while keeping the look natural.
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Top-heavy lips: For heavy upper lips, use a lighter shade of lipstick near the border of your top lip and a darker shade on your entire bottom lip, extending over your vermilion border (the boundary between your lip and skin). This technique draws visual attention downward and creates better balance between the upper and lower lips.
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Bottom-heavy lips: For heavy bottom lips, do the reverse: a darker lip color on the top vermilion border and a lighter shade on the lower lip. This helps visually lift the upper lip and prevents the lower lip from appearing overly dominant.
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Wide lips: Your lips are already a prominent facial feature, so they don’t need a lot of extra work. Use a clear lip balm or lip gloss that literally helps them shine without adding volume.
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Thin lips: Finding the best lip filler, such as a specially formulated hyaluronic acid lip filler, can increase your lip volume. Just be sure to work with a cosmetic medicine provider who has completed advanced lip filler training and other aesthetic workshops.
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Bow-shaped lips: Make your bow-shaped lips appear fuller with a darker stain or lipstick that accentuates your natural lip line. Carefully defining the cupid’s bow can enhance symmetry and highlight this naturally elegant feature.
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Heart-shaped lips: As with round lips, the top tip for heart-shaped lips — if you don’t like their verticality — is to use a darker lipstick or liner to “extend” them horizontally.
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Downturned lips: Downturned lips are longer than they are full and can make you look permanently annoyed. Use lip liners to achieve a plump, full-lipped look that says, “I’m fine, really.”
How to Identify Your Lip Shape
You know what your lips look like, but how well can you describe them? Identifying lip shapes works best when your face is relaxed and makeup-free. Lipstick, liner, or gloss can alter perceived proportions and make an accurate assessment more difficult.
To correctly identify your lip shape, do the following:
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Stand in front of a large, well-lit vanity mirror
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Relax and close your mouth
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Measure the distance between the bottom of your lower lip (in the lowest part, usually the very center of your lips) and where your upper and lower lips meet
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Do the same with your upper lip
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Measure the distance between the two philtral ridges (the vertical ridges between your nose and the top of your upper lip)
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Visually assess the overall volume of your upper lip and lower lip
Pay attention to symmetry as well. Subtle asymmetries are completely normal and often contribute to character, but recognizing them can help guide makeup placement or enhancement decisions.
This isn’t a scientific exercise and doesn’t produce perfect results. But it should give you enough information to figure out which of these lip shape categories yours belongs in.
How Can You Enhance Your Lip Shape?
Enhancing your lip shape starts with understanding what you want to emphasize or balance. Some people look to enhance their natural shape, while others prefer subtle adjustments that help fix uneven lips and make lips look thinner. While both approaches can be effective when guided by a thoughtful plan, it’s important to understand what you want to achieve before getting started.
Non-invasive options such as makeup techniques, hydrating treatments, and skincare can maintain lip health and appearance. Well-moisturized lips appear fuller and smoother, which enhances any natural shape, while regular exfoliation can also improve texture and definition.
For those considering aesthetic treatments, customization is key. Lip enhancements, like lip fillers, should work to complement existing features. Conservative approaches often yield the most natural-looking results.
Choosing the Right Lip Products for Your Shape
The right lip products can help you achieve more flattering results. Natural alternatives like lip glosses and balms tend to enhance fullness, making them a smart choice for lips that have thinned with age. Matte finishes, on the other hand, can help soften overly prominent shapes.
Lip liners are especially useful for subtle reshaping. They can enhance symmetry, define borders, and adjust proportions without appearing overdone. The key is blending rather than sharply outlining.
Color choice is also important. While lighter shades generally create the illusion of volume, deeper tones can refine and contour. Find formulas and shades that are comfortable and move with your lips naturally to complete the look.
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