Influence of ethnicity on aesthetic preferences for lip characteristics in Caucasian male and female faces.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In an era where globalization and social media significantly reshape beauty standards, it is imperative to delve into the subjectivity of beauty and attractiveness. The lips, a key element in facial aesthetics, contribute significantly to the perception of attractiveness, and also have a profound impact on an individual's self-esteem. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of ethnicity on the aesthetic preferences for lip characteristics, among male and female faces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study encompassed a sample of 231 study participants (153 women and 78 men) with an average age of 23.2 ±â€¯2.8 years, representing ethnicities such as African, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian. Participants were asked to rate a series of images showcasing various lip variants, providing insights into their aesthetic preferences. RESULTS: Demographic analysis revealed gender and ethnic variations in aesthetic preferences for all the investigated lip parameters. Women were 2.42 times more likely than men to prefer no Cupid's indentation on a female model (p = 0.0019). CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the importance of understanding cultural influences on beauty standards and challenges the notion of a universal beauty ideal. The evolving role of social media trends, such as Cupid's bow indentation elimination, raises questions about the dynamic nature of aesthetic preferences among different ethnicities.