12 Types Of Lips + How To Care & Change Your Lip Shape?

Are you giving your lips the care they deserve? Dry, chapped lips can be difficult to hide and are a constant nuisance.

However, knowing the type of your lips can help you care better and enhance the size, shape and look of these natural assets. Ayurveda advises the use of moisturising herbs that help improve the texture of your lips and prevent common lip problems.

Read on to know your lip type, best lip care tips and ways to contour your lips for a beautiful, aesthetic look.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

“Vata results in dry, dark and thin lips. Pitta dosha may make the lips appear red and full of blood. Kapha dominant prakritis have plump, well hydrated and voluminous lips."

Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

What Are The Different Types Of Lips?

1. Thin Lips

In thin lips, the height and volume of both the upper and lower lips are less. The upper lip does not have a defined arc and both the lips are equal in dimension.

Make-Up Tips For Thin Lips

Drawing over your lip line and blending the edges with your natural lip colour can give your lips a voluminous appearance.

Applying gloss or a lighter shade of lipstick on the upper lip can also make it appear full.

2. Top Heavy Lips

When the upper lip has more volume and protrudes out, the shape is called top-heavy. Here, the upper lip is more rounded and does not have a defined bend or cupid’s bow.

Make-Up Tips For Top Heavy Lips

To give a more balanced look to your lips you can try applying a little gloss or white shadow at the centre of your lower lip.

You may also outline the lower lip and blend it in using a lipstick to create more volume in the lower lip.

3. Bottom Heavy Lips

The exact opposite of top-heavy lips are bottom-heavy lips. Here the lower lip creates a pout due to added volume.

Make-Up Tips For Bottom Heavy Lips

Balance out the look by outlining your upper lip or adding gloss or white/ nude shadow to the centre.

You can use foundation to blend the lower lip border with the rest of your face to give it a less voluminous appearance.

4. Wide Lips

Wide lips are stretched out making your smile look bigger. Often the smile is the most striking feature for people with wide lips. Hence, it is important to sport a balanced look with the right lip make-up.

Make-Up Tips For Wide Lips

Soft shades and nudes are good for wide lips.

You may outline your wide lips for a fuller pout.

5. Heart Shaped Lips

One of the most desirable lip shapes is the heart shape. It is characterised by a defined V-shaped cupid’s bow upper lip and a usually sharp, slightly tapering lower lip. This lip shape needs minimal contouring.

Make-Up Tip For Heart Shaped Lips

You may draw a light coloured line or a shadow at the centre to give your heart-shaped lips a fuller pout.

6. Fuller Lips

Voluptuous full lips have been a beauty marker for ages. In this lip type, the lips have more volume and tend to protrude out. African people genetically have voluminous lips compared to other ethnic groups.

Make-Up Tips For Fuller Lips

If your lips protrude too much, heavy facial and eye make-up can draw away attention from them, giving a more balanced look.

For small fuller lips, you can make your lips the centre of attraction with bold lip colours.

7. Proportioned Lips

People with proportioned lips have finely balanced upper and lower lips. The upper lip is generally slightly fuller in appearance with a cupid’s bow. As per research, the width of a perfectly proportioned mouth should measure 1.6 times the width of the lower part of your nose.

Make-Up Tip For Proportioned Lips

Simple, subtle lip colours work great for proportioned lips.

8. Small Lips

Small lips are less in width and are characterised by a round shape giving the appearance of a small pout.

Make-Up Tip For Small Lips

Opt for light lipstick shades and glosses that give your small lips a fuller look.

9. Defined Cupid’s Bow Lips

People with defined cupid’s bow lips have the centre of their upper lip come together to form a perfect bow-like shape.

Make-Up Tip For Defined Cupid’s Bow Lips

If your cupid’s bow is too sharp, you can get a subtle look by either smudging your lipstick or blending the peaks with foundation.

10. Undefined Cupid’s Bow Lips

Here, the M shape formed at the centre of the upper lip is less prominent.

Make-Up Tip For Undefined Cupid’s Bow Lips

You can outline the peaks of the upper lip for a more defined cupid’s bow. Highlighters are also another great option.

11. Plump In The Centre Lips

While many people try to achieve this look with surgeries and fillers, some lips naturally tend to be fuller or plump in the centre. In this shape, the upper and lower lips tend to protrude out at the centre.

Make-Up Tip For Plump In The Centre Lips

To further highlight your pout, use a gloss at the centre.

12. Downward Turned Lips

Here, the edges of the lips have a slight downward dip, giving the face a more serious appearance. The width of the lower lip in this type is smaller than the upper lip. This unevenness gives the downturned look.

Make-up Tip For Downward Turned Lips

The goal is to lift the lips. Thus, outlining the edges of the upper lip is better avoided. Outline the lower lip with a dark lip liner to create an upward look.

Common Lip Problems

1. Cheilitis

Cheilitis is a common lip problem that causes inflammation, peeling and burning sensation in the lips. Cheilitis is an umbrella term that includes a wide range of lip problems, with the most common described below.

A. Exfoliative Cheilitis

Here, the skin on the lips keeps peeling off in layers. This hinders moisture retention in your lips causing extreme dryness, burning sensation, pain and skin irritation. Weather changes, frequently licking your lips and vitamin B deficiencies are major causes that lead to this lip problem.

B. Angular Cheilitis

When the corner of your mouth develops a crack or sore, it is referred to as angular cheilitis. Angular cheilitis can make it difficult to open the mouth or eat salty, acidic and spicy foods. Inflammation, redness, pain and irritation are common symptoms of angular cheilitis.

2. Cold Sores

Lip sores caused by Herpes Simplex infection are commonly termed as cold sores. This is a viral infection of the lips that causes pus-filled blisters at the edge of the lips. It is a highly contagious skin disease that can spread through physical contact.

3. Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction of the skin caused by skin irritants. It occurs when a hyper-sensitive immune system perceives a new skincare product, metal or even a natural substance as a threat and launches an immune response. This causes inflammation, redness, small blisters, skin irritation and pain on the lips. The reaction may occur a few days after the skin has been exposed to the allergen.

4. Fordyce Spots

These are enlarged sebaceous glands that appear on the moist tissue lining the lips. They have the appearance of white or yellow bumps on the lips. Fordyce spots are not a disease and can become more common as one ages.

5. Lip Milia

Milia on the lip occurs when dead skin cells are trapped within your skin pores. These look like tiny bumps on the lips. Milia is harmless and often disappears on its own.

“The shape of your lips can also help an ayurvedic physician to ascertain your prakriti. Vata results in dry, dark and thin lips. Pitta dosha may make the lips appear red and full of blood. Kapha dominant prakritis have plump, well hydrated and voluminous lips”, says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

How To Take Care Of Your Lips?

1. Exfoliate Once A Week

Gentle exfoliation is the key to smooth and soft textured lips. Your lips also accumulate dead skin cells making them appear dry and dull. Gently exfoliating them with the below mentioned natural ingredients helps to remove dead cells, increase new cell production and prevent lip darkening and other lip problems.

• Sugar and honey
• Dry coconut powder and coconut oil
• Oatmeal and honey/ milk
• Orange peel powder and honey
• Coffee and honey

2. Protect Your Lips With Natural Lip Balms

Lip balms are an essential part of lip care. They keep your lips moisturized, prevent dryness, improve moisture retention and aid skin renewal.

A. Beeswax

The naturally derived wax-like substance from honey bees is a great moisturizer for dry lips. Beeswax prevents inflammation and skin irritations caused by various lip problems. It helps soften and bring youth and freshness to damaged lips.

B. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help to heal chapped lips. It prevents superficial moisture loss and keeps your lips hydrated for a long time.

C. Castor Oil

Rich in ricinoleic acid, castor oil acts as a humectant and traps in essential moisture. Applying castor oil twice daily to dry lips can soften chapped lips.

D. Almond Oil

Almond oil is rich in Vitamin E, an antioxidant essential for skin healing. It moisturizes dry lips and keeps them looking luscious.

E. Carrot Seed Oil

An excellent source of vitamin A, carrot seed oil helps to rejuvenate your lips and also protects them from direct sun damage.

F. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly has been an age-old remedy for chapped lips. It protects the lips and prevents further moisture escape.

3. Stay Hydrated

Drinking adequate water keeps your lips hydrated and allows better moisture retention.

4. Use Sunscreen

Frequent sun exposure is not just bad for your skin but also for your lips. Lip darkening, dryness and damage are a few effects of the sun. Use lip balms that contain sun blockers or simply dab a bit of sunscreen before stepping out.

5. Avoid Bad Habits

Bad habits like peeling dry lips or frequently licking your lips can cause lip damage. Apply a lip balm whenever your lips feel dry.

6. Avoid Chemical Lipsticks

Contact dermatitis is a big risk to those who frequently apply lipsticks that contain harmful chemicals. Chemicals like dyes, poly parabens, palmitate etc. not just harm your lips but are also toxic to the body if swallowed. If you can’t do without it, herbal lipsticks are your safest bet.

7. Eat A Vitamin Rich Diet

Research shows that vitamin deficiencies, especially Vitamin B, are significant causes behind cheilitis or chapped lips. Including the various vitamins in your diet ensures proper nutrition, good blood circulation and health to your beautiful lips.

Vedix Tip: Ayurveda recommends the application of ghee twice daily to cure chapped lips.

How To Change The Shape Of Your Lips?

1. Make-Up

Proper make-up is the easiest hack to a fuller pout. Playing with light and shade effects to accentuate the shape of your lips is painless and requires minimal effort. Follow the tips mentioned in this article to choose the right shades and methods that suit your lip type.

2. Lip Fillers

Lip fillers are dermal fillers that are injected into your lips to give them a fuller appearance. Though these are temporary measures, they give immediate results with minimal side effects.

A. Collagen Fillers

Collagen, a protein that naturally occurs in your body and gives structural support to your skin, was previously used in lip fillers. However, due to various side effects and their short-lived effect, collagen fillers are less frequently used now.

B. Hyaluronic Fillers

Hyaluronic acid fillers [2] are now the most popular dermal fillers that are used for lip augmentation. This is a naturally occurring substance in the human body and is used to improve the shape and volume of your lips. The possible side effects of hyaluronic acid fillers may include localized inflammation, numbness, allergic reactions and temporary skin discolouration.

3. Lip Surgery

If you wish to permanently change the shape of your lips, lip surgery is the option. With surgery, you can alter the volume of your lips and change their structure by altering the size of the philtrum. However, as it is a permanent surgical process, there are chances of it going terribly wrong. So make sure to consult your doctor and opt for an experienced plastic surgeon to do the job.

The Last Word

Your lips are priceless assets and you want them to stand out. Though their shape and structure are genetically determined, simple make-up hacks can accentuate the appearance of your lips. You can follow a good herbal lip care routine to keep your lips looking smooth and flawless. However, if you are not pleased with the shape or volume of your lips and desire a more permanent solution, lip fillers and surgeries are always there.

Know Your Dosha Now