What are heart-shaped lips?

Heart-shaped lips are characterized by prominent plumpness in the center, a well-defined Cupid's bow, and gradually diminishing fullness toward the edges.

What is the rarest lip shape?

The Cupid's bow, or heart-shaped lip, is the rarest as it is defined by two distinct peaks outlining the Cupid's bow, a slight dip in the middle of the lower lip, and concentrated fullness in the center of the pout. The shape is rare as the lips naturally lose fullness in the center and soften at the peaks with age.

Which lip shape is most attractive?

The most attractive lip shape is the one that complements your facial proportions, structure, and features. This will differ from person to person, however, the most highly requested lip shape is the Hollywood lip which features a full upper and lower lip and soft, rounded Cupid's bow.

Heart-Shaped or Puffy? Plastic Surgeons Reveal the Most In-Demand Lip Shapes

By

Hallie Gould

Updated on 05/14/24 03:04PM

Medically reviewed by

Dara Liotta, MD, FACS

Plastic Surgeon

Reviewed by

Dara Liotta, MD, FACS

Plastic Surgeon

If there was an award for Most Hyped Facial Feature, it most certainly would be given to the lips. For centuries, folks have been painting and lining their mouths for the most illustrious smile. Whether you have large, pillowy lips, a perfectly heart-shaped pout, or a Mona Lisa kind of smile, your natural lip shape has something to celebrate. And if you're not so jazzed about your natural pout? We live in the era of options to get you the lips you so desire. From makeup techniques and products aplenty to the more (semi) permanent options of fillers, nips, and implants, now is the time for experimenting with lip shapes—and plastic surgeons have a front-row seat to the most sought-after shapes.

We tapped two board-certified plastic surgeons to tell us which lip shapes are the most coveted in their offices and offered a few of our tips for mimicking the famous pouts on your own.

Meet the Expert

Z. Paul Lorenc, MD, FACS, is an NYC-based board-certified plastic surgeon.
Katerina Gallus, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the founder of Restore SD Plastic Surgery in San Diego, CA.

Heart-Shaped Lips

Taylor Swift Heart-shaped cupid's bow lip shape — Gareth Cattermole / Getty

This might be the most romantic lip shape. "Taylor Swift has a well-defined Cupid's bow. Because of this, her lips are heart-shaped," plastic surgeon Dr. Z. Paul Lorenc says. Heart-shaped lips have the greatest fullness at the center, getting visibly less full toward the edges. The Cupid's bow is distinguished, with two distinct peaks and a visible dip in the center. To sweeten up these lips even more, wear a sexy red or a flirty pink hue. We love the peppy pink, glossy sheen of YSL Beauty Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick in Flashing Rosé.

Natural Lips

"In my practice which includes patients from their 20s to their 70s, women most often want their own shape—just enhanced," says plastic surgeon Katarina Gallus, MD. "They would like a little fullness but stay with the proportions that they have. This tends to give the most subtle natural look." She names Sofia Vergara as a celebrity torchbearer for this irresistible look. For a your-lips-but-better look, grab a lip liner that matches your natural lip color, or is one to two shades darker, and practice lining to achieve your desired shape.

Russian Lips

A woman with a pronounced Cupid's bow — @LACYREDWAY / Instagram

"Russian lip filler is another big trend," says Gallus. Similar to the "Cherub Lip" trend seen on TikTok, this "started as a technique but now means doll-like lips with a pronounced Cupid's bow," she explains. "Filler that is done this way can be tricky so it is important to go to an experienced injector for Russian lips." To achieve a similar look at home, use dark liner on the outer corners of the lips and switch to a lighter liner as you graduate toward the center. You can double-up and recreate the same gradient with lipstick for a fuller-at-the-center pout. To amplify the look further, add concealer to the edges to make the lips appear narrower.

Perfectly Proportioned Lips

Is there such a thing as perfect lips? According to Lorenc, yes: "Rihanna has the perfect lip shape—very proportioned and well balanced." Re-create Rihanna's lip with her signature red lipstick, Fenty Beauty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in The MVP. In order to give a woman the lip shape she desires, Lorenc uses both filler and neuromodulators such as Botox and Xeomin. "I not only fill the lips in different areas and with different amounts of filler," Lorenc explains, "but Botox and Xeomin are also used to lift the corners of the mouth and get rid of any existing wrinkles."

Puffy Lips

Where there's a conversation about lips, Kylie Jenner's pillowy pout almost always comes up. It's been years since she first debuted her bee-stung lips, but the obsession with full lips (and fillers) is still going strong. She has what Dr. Lorenc calls puffy lips: full and pillowy on the top and bottom. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is another superstar whose lips have this coveted shape. To cheat the look, all you need is matte lipstick and matching lip liner. Of course, Kylie herself has you covered—she created her signature lip kits for this exact purpose.

Hollywood Lips

And the most requested shape is the Hollywood lip! Is it any wonder? Angelina Jolie is this sexy pout's poster girl. "[She] has both a full upper and lower lip. She doesn't have a very accentuated Cupid's bow but instead a rounded upper lip," Lorenc says. In his practice, patients come in seeking Angelina Jolie's covetable pout year after year. For a similar look, use lip liner to trace over your Cupid's bow in a rounded arc rather than defining each individual peak.

FAQ

What are heart-shaped lips?

Heart-shaped lips are characterized by prominent plumpness in the center, a well-defined Cupid's bow, and gradually diminishing fullness toward the edges.
What is the rarest lip shape?

The Cupid's bow, or heart-shaped lip, is the rarest as it is defined by two distinct peaks outlining the Cupid's bow, a slight dip in the middle of the lower lip, and concentrated fullness in the center of the pout. The shape is rare as the lips naturally lose fullness in the center and soften at the peaks with age.
Which lip shape is most attractive?

The most attractive lip shape is the one that complements your facial proportions, structure, and features. This will differ from person to person, however, the most highly requested lip shape is the Hollywood lip which features a full upper and lower lip and soft, rounded Cupid's bow.