Gemma Chan

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’.

What is an Eye canthal Tilt? Why is a positive tilt more attractive than a negative tilt?

The eye canthal tilt is the angle between the internal corner of the eyes (medial canthus) and the external corner of the eyes (lateral canthus). This tilt is a crucial section of periorbital aesthetics. The eye canthal tilt can be negative, neutral, or positive. The canthus tilt is considered positive if the medial canthus angle ranges between 5 and 8 degrees below the lateral canthus. A negative canthal tilt is achieved when the medial canthus tilt varies between -5 to -8 degrees beneath the lateral canthus. A neutral tilt is when the medial canthus and lateral canthus are in line. A positive canthal tilt gives one a more attractive, sharper, and younger look.

According to a study held at the University of Toronto by Bashour & Geist (2007), canthal tilt is a power cue for female facial attractiveness. The possible explanation to this phenomenon as per Bashour & Gest is “The fact that palpebral fissure inclination is steeper in children than adults makes it a neonatal feature, and the fact that it is again steeper in females than males after puberty also makes it a sexually dimorphic feature.”

In their publication “The beautiful eye”, medical doctors Volpe & Ramirez from Johns Hopkins Hospital mentions “In women, the intercanthal axis averages +4.1 mm or +4 degrees. This upward tilt of the intercanthal axis is one of the most distinctive qualities of the beautiful eye. When one looks at any truly beautiful face, this upward tilt is found to be present.”

In the book “Cosmetic Patient Evaluation” by Tian Ran Zhu from Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, USA mentions that “The concept of the canthal tilt is critical as it serves as an important indicator of aging. A positive canthal tilt with lower eyelid lightly tilting upward along lateral canthus exudes youth, health, and exuberance. On the contrary, a depressed tilt projects old age, melancholy, and weariness.”

Their findings are widely corroborated by other studies, a positive canthal tilt can make women look “attractive and younger” (Askham et ali, 2019), and “feminized” (Facque et al, 2019). Further to that, the canthal tilt can add a gradually “masculinized appearance” if the tilt depresses with age as the soft tissue descends (Somenek, 2018).

When measuring the canthal tilt, “A positive value designates an upward tilt of the lateral canthus and a negative value a downward tilt. This upward tilt of the intercanthal axis is one of the most distinctive qualities of the beautiful eye” (Volpe & Ramirez, 2005). Bashour & Geist (2007) test this directly in their comprehensive study, they find that a positive canthal tilt adds to the attractiveness of the female face and explain why they think this occurs.  The results revealed that female faces with positive canthal tilt are preferred 93 percent of the time.

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.

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 high set eyebrow is more attractive than a low set?

In his famous paper, Cunningham mentioned that the expressive features of highly set eyebrows were associated with female features. To corroborate his finds, two studies mentioned below are finds the high set eyebrows are sexually diamorphic feature.

Packiriswamy et al. in their paper “Anthropometric and Anthroposcopic Analysis of Periorbital Features”, quantified the aesthetic dimensions and position of periorbital features.The study involved 300 male and 300 female subjects with ages ranging from 17 to 25 years.Standardised facial photographs of the subjects were taken in frontal view and the aesthetic dimensions and position of periorbital features including eyebrow height(EH) were measured using Image analyzer. The study demonstrated that interbrow height was significantly greater in females than males(p < 0.005).

In a study carried out by Price et al. “Eyebrow and eyelid dimensions: An anthropometric analysis”, ideal eyebrow and eyelid dimensions were studied among 68 male and female subjects, divided into three age cohorts(20 to 39 years, 40 to 59 years, and 60 to 79 years) and by gender.The subjects were then photographed in the frontal view with brow fixation, first with eyes open in primary gaze, and then with eyes gently closed.The standardised digital images were then analysed using a measuring software.It was found that eyebrow height was significantly larger in women than men(p < 0.001).

The scientists Zhao et al in their study “Data - Driven Research on the Matching Degree of Eyes, Eyebrows and Face Shapes”, go on to explain that although eye to eyebrow distance does serve as a proxy for female attractiveness, it is heavily influenced by overall face shape.Shorter, rounder faces are scored as most attractive when they have high set(or more distal) eyebrows with a higher degree of curvature.Whereas square or longer faces are considered most attractive with exactly the opposite: lower set, flatter eyebrows(Zhao et al, 2019; Baker, 2007). The eye to eyebrow distance and shape can accentuate other attractive facial features, slim the overall facial appearance and alter the perception of eye size but the bi - directionality of this relationship means that the ideal eyebrow placement varies with individual facial aesthetics.