A new study has delivered some surprising news for fans of lip fillers — and it’s flipping the script on what we think makes lips attractive.
While plumped-up pouts have dominated social media feeds thanks to celebrities and influencers, researchers from the American University of Beirut found that people actually prefer lips that look more natural — and less “cosmetically enhanced.”
📊 What Did the Study Reveal?
The research, published in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, used AI-generated images of the same woman with various lip shapes and sizes. Over 200 participants were asked to rank these lips from most to least attractive.
Surprisingly, the top-rated lips were those with a natural upper-to-lower lip ratio between 0.618:1 and 1:1 — a far cry from the heavily filled look that’s become trendy in recent years.
In simpler terms? People preferred lips that appeared soft, smooth, and naturally proportioned, not dramatically plumped.
“Cosmetically overtreated lips were rated as unaesthetic and unattractive,” the researchers stated.
👄 The Golden Ratio for Lips?
Yes — there’s actually math involved! The most attractive lips had an upper lip height that was 25% of the total lip width, aligning with what some call the “golden ratio” of beauty.
Many consider the likes of Angelia Jolie to have perfect lips (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
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Think of celebrities like Angelina Jolie or Scarlett Johansson, whose lip proportions naturally align with these standards. It turns out, their appeal isn’t just celebrity status — it’s symmetry and balance.
📉 Why This Matters
In today’s image-obsessed culture, many people — especially women — are influenced by filtered selfies and celebrity aesthetics. According to the study, this has fueled a massive demand for lip fillers and other cosmetic enhancements.
The study hopes to deter people from lip filler (Getty Images)
However, the researchers hope their findings will encourage a shift toward natural beauty, reminding people that “less is more.”
“Patients often come in wanting to look like Hollywood stars, but those expectations can lead to overdone and unnatural results,” they warned.
💡 Final Thoughts
While beauty will always be subjective, this study reinforces that natural-looking lips still hold timeless appeal. If you’re considering lip enhancement, aim for subtle changes that enhance your own features rather than chasing trends.
✨ You can read the full study here or explore tips on achieving a natural lip look without fillers via trusted beauty experts like Byrdie or Allure.
