Anne Marie Duff

Why a sharper chin is more attractive than a flatter one?

The study, held at the Department of Anthropology, by Zaneta finds that “studies of female attractiveness consistently report that a small or narrow chin is associated with a more feminine appearance”.

The study(Jung et al., 2018) carried out by Ga-Hee Jung et al.at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 220 students were requested to rate facial figures with alterations to the bigonial width and the vertical length of the lower face.It was found that the highest preference score was indicated for the standard figure(golden ratio), whereas facial figures with large bigonial width and chin length had the lowest score.This study demonstrated that in general, the standard image based on the golden ratio was considered as most attractive.Further, a slender face with a sharper chin angle is favoured over a face with larger bigonial width.

This finding is further supported by a study which reported that broad and / or square chin can be aesthetically unappealing(Hirohi, 2021).

Another retrospective study involving 36 patients carried out by Zhang et al (2014) demonstrated that reducing mandibular width G - G distance from 119.9 mm ± 3.9 - 109.7 mm ± 3.5 and creating a sharper chin enhanced the aesthetic beauty significantly.

Why a larger lower lip is more attractive than a smaller one?

Fuller lips corresponding to facial width and larger vermilion height are considered beautiful in females. According to a study by Kar (2018), 1:1.6 is the ideal ratio of the vertical height of the upper lip to that of the lower lip. It means larger lower lips are deemed more striking compared to larger upper lips. A study by Modarai (2013) stated that a more prominent lower lip and its protrusive position relative to a chin's prominence provide a noteworthy impact on image rank.

Pallett (2010) states that females with larger lips, width ratios and average length will all the time be more good-looking in comparison to females with narrow lips. Larger lips show vitality and youth while flat, thin lips are suggestive of ageing signs (Trookman et al., 2009). During ageing, reduction in synthesis of collagen makes the lips deflated.

Full lips have long been desired by women because they signify youth and femininity. This Sexually dimorphic feature is an indication of reproductive health (Fink, & Neave, 2005).

The overall size of the lip is approximately 9.6 % of the entire area of the lower part of the face. It is invariably a common feature that people seek or accentuate accordingly. It appeals to the eyes and enhances the personality(Kar et al., 2018).The study by Popenko at al, the most appealing lips on white women had a surface area that was about 50 percent bigger than the women’s natural mouth size, took up about 10 percent of the lower third of their face and had that magic upper to lower lip ratio of 1:2.

Why a shorter chin is more attractive than a longer one?

A study at School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, UK by Perrett found that “very attractive female faces have more feminine features (a smaller chin and higher cheekbones)”.

The scientific paper by Thayer et al showed that males typically have “larger and more projecting lateral tubercles at the base of the chin” and this longer and broader chin phenotype is used to help us discern males from females.It should come as no surprise then, that females with longer chins are typically rated as less attractive, as this is more fitting with the attractive male face shape.

When men were asked to rate the attractiveness of women in a study (Cunningham et al 1986), an interesting observation developed: they preferred baby - like features.A small chin, a small nose and big eyes were not only preferred, but dictated the men’s likelihood to date, help and be sexually attracted to these women.The study quotes “Smaller chins were found to be desirable for women”.

Valenzano et al(2006) show that, Sexual differences in the female during their foetal development usually result in “horizontal reduction of the chin, [and] forward movement of the gonion(jaw angle)”. This aesthetic change in the developing female’s chin, helps create an ‘attractive shape’.

Why is a smaller nose width better than a wider one?

The study by Ferruccio Tersello at George Eastman Dental Hospital, “the nose width smaller than 1/4 of facial width” describes the beauty of the face. The study was held on 50 italian models selected for an important beauty contest. According to the report by Nikola Vučinić, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, men with medium width noses appear to be more attractive. It depicts that a man may have appealing face features however wide or big noses might lessen the beauty in general.

Another study by Doug Jones, Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan reports that a youthful face is one that combines a high ratio of lower-facial features with a small nose and ears and full lips(Doug Jones, 2011). Additionally, a face with unusually large eyes, a small nose, and full lips as compared to face height will have a low predicted age(Doug Jones, 2011). These studies shed light on how better is “a small nose” than the wider one for overall attractiveness.

The study by Van Zijl, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erasmus Medical Center, finds that the ideal nose width measures one-fifth of the width of an individual’s face as the alar base. Wider alar base and larger tip lobule can result in the appearance of an unusually and disproportionately larger nose when the anterior view is concerned.