Hollywood’s Most Gorgeous Lips — And What Makes Them So Beautiful, According to a Dermatologist
Thespotlyte | July 27, 23
Thanks to virtual lipstick filters on social media, and a bevy of Hollywood beauties with enviable pouts to admire — on and off screen — reminders of beautiful lips are all around us. And since lips naturally come in a variety of shapes and sizes, there’s not one singular ideal for the perfect pout.
“There’s no cookie cutter design to make lips beautiful,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Stefani Kappel of Stefani T. Kappel MD Dermatology in Newport Beach. “Each person has a different lip shape, lip size, lip volume, lip ratio that is different for each individual face, and ethnic background.”
Even so, there are certain elements that can make some lips more appealing than others. We consulted with Dr. Kappel to find out exactly what makes gorgeous lips, well, gorgeous. It turns out there’s more to it than you might think. Read on to see what she has to say and then take a look at 20 of Hollywood’s most beautiful lips for a bit of inspiration!
The Golden Ratio
Although perfectly symmetrical lips aren’t often found in nature, it turns out there is an arguably ‘perfectly-imperfect’ balance that is highly regarded as the ideal: the golden ratio. “In aesthetics, there is an optimal ratio of 1:1.6, with the bottom lip being a little bigger than the top,” says Dr. Kappel. This can vary from face to face, she says, but it is most common to see the bottom lip a little bit fuller than the top lip. This imbalance, she says, “I think, actually looks more natural and more beautiful.”
Trends Come and Go
Just like makeup looks rise and fall in popularity, so do lip shapes, says Dr. Kappel. The last lip shape to truly become ubiquitous was “the keyhole.”
“About five years ago, this was the trend because Angelina Jolie used to have fuller lips on the lateral side than in the middle,” says Dr. Kappel. “There’s a small space, about five to 10 millimeters that in the middle where the lips don’t touch when the mouth is fully closed. That’s where you get the keyhole.”
Though she still gets asked to create this look, Dr. Kappel says heart-shaped lips are currently a more common request. The heart shape is characterized by the center of the lips being extra full with a natural taper to the sides, leaving a pouty, “heart-shaped” center.
According to Dr. Kappel, this look is especially popular because more volume in the center of the mouth — particularly in the upper lip — creates a youthful appearance. “As we get older, the distance between the nose and the upper lip lengthens,” she explains. “When you have a fuller upper lip, the distance between the nose and the lip is actually shortened. That’s what’s more youthful looking.”
You, But Better
All in all, beautiful lips really are particular to every person, despite the trends. “It all goes back to knowing each individual’s anatomy,” says Dr. Kappel. This rings true for knowing our lips at rest, talking, laughing and smiling.
She adds, “If you smile pleasantly just for a photo, that may look different than a smile when your best friend is really making you laugh!” It’s not that one version is more attractive than the other, she says, but that it’s interesting to note the changes in our smile and appreciate them. After all, she says, “That makes you unique and who you are. And that’s beautiful.”
Now that we know what elements make for a gorgeous pout, scroll below to see some of our favorite lips in Hollywood for inspiration!
Dr. Stefani T. Kappel is a paid Allergan consultant.
Scarlett Johansson
Kerry Washington
Jennifer Lopez
Jessica Alba
Ciara
Sofia Vergara
Angelina Jolie
Kate Bosworth
Lupita Nyong’o
Cate Blanchett
Priyanka Chopra
Gwen Stefani
Constance Wu
Viola Davis
Jennifer Aniston
Rihanna
Emily Ratajkowski
Gabrielle Union
Emma Stone
Alexis Bledel
Jessica Biel
