What Are Cupid’s Bow Lips & How Do You Define Them?

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Plus, learn if Cupid’s bow lips are rare and attractive!

Co-authored by Daniel Vann and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: July 20, 2026 Fact Checked

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Bow-Shaped Lips Explained

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Defining Your Cupid’s Bow with Makeup

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Are they attractive?

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Are they rare?

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Finding Your Lip Shape

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Bow-shaped lips are elegant, feminine, and youthful, sported by stars like Rihanna and Taylor Swift. But what defines this lip shape, and how can you enhance it? In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about bow-shaped lips, including what they are and how to define them—with exclusive insights from wikiHow's makeup artists. We’ll also explain whether bow-shaped lips are attractive, if they’re rare, and how to find out if you have them!

All About the Cupid’s Bow Lip Shape

Bow-shaped lips have a dip in the center of the upper lip that creates 2 defined peaks. To define your lips, draw an “X” from the left peak of your Cupid’s bow to the center dip with lip liner. Repeat on the other side, line the rest of your lips, and apply lipstick. Add highlighter over your Cupid’s bow to enhance the shape.

Section 1 of 5:

What are bow-shaped lips?

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Bow-shaped lips feature a defined dip in the center of the upper lip. Also called Cupid’s bow lips, bow-shaped lips are characterized by a distinct double curve on the upper lip, with a dip in the middle that aligns with the philtrum (the groove connecting the nose to the mouth) and two distinct raised arches on either side of the dip. The lips are typically fuller in the middle than at the sides, creating the look of a classic archer’s bow or a soft heart-like shape.^{[1]
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- Celebs with bow-shaped lips: Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Anna Paquin, Audrey Hepburn, Katy Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Jenson Ackles, Cillian Murphy, and Henry Cavill.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Daniel Vann is a makeup artist, licensed aesthetician, and the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, with over 15 years of experience in the industry.

Yuka Arora is a self-taught makeup artist with over 5 years of experience in the industry.

Charina Redugerio is a makeup artist based in New York City with over 13 years of experience in the beauty industry.

Frankie Sanderson is a makeup artist and founder of TheStudeo, specializing in hairstyling, makeup, and personal image.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Define Your Cupid’s Bow with Makeup

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Exfoliate and moisturize your lips. Gently exfoliate with a DIY or ready-made lip scrub, massaging it in circular motions and wiping off the excess with a paper towel. This will remove dead skin cells so your lip products apply evenly. Then, apply a thin layer of lip balm or petroleum jelly to restore moisture and prep your pout.
- To make a DIY lip scrub, mix equal parts olive oil and white sugar in a bowl until a paste forms. You can also combine one part honey and 2 parts sugar to make a honey lip scrub.
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Draw an “X” around your Cupid’s bow with lip liner. Locate the dip in the center of your upper lip, then take a sharpened lip liner in a shade that matches your lipstick (or is darker), and draw a diagonal line from the top-left of the peak down to the right corner of the dip. Repeat this on the right side to create a sharp “X” shape over your Cupid’s bow.^{[2]
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- You can always blend out your lip liner later, so don’t worry if it looks a little crazy!
- For a theatrical 1920s-inspired Cupid’s bow lip, makeup artist Daniel Vann says you can line your lips with a brow pencil or a brown lip pencil.^{[3]
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Finish lining your lips, then apply lipstick and lip gloss. Follow the natural outline of your lips with the lip liner to line the rest of your lips, then swipe on a thin layer of lipstick, making sure you don’t go outside the lines. Use a clean tissue to blot away any excess lipstick to prevent smudging or transfer. To help your lips look plumper and more voluminous, makeup artist Yuka Arora recommends applying lip gloss.^{[4]
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- If you want fuller lips, feel free to overline just above your natural lip line, but avoid overlining the dip of your Cupid’s bow. This can look super obvious (unless that’s the look you’re going for, of course).
- Makeup artist Charina Redugerio says you can apply a plumping lip balm before you line your lips for a fuller look. It usually contains ingredients that stimulate blood flow, which can create a temporary plumping effect.^{[5]
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Enhance your Cupid’s bow with a touch of highlighter or concealer. Makeup artist Frankie Sanderson suggests applying a shimmery highlighter or a bit of light concealer on top of your Cupid’s bow to make it pop. He explains that highlighting anything with lighter products brings it forward, which can make your lips appear fuller.^{[6]
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- Use a lip brush to apply concealer precisely to your Cupid’s bow and blend it out carefully. You can either set it with translucent powder or a shimmery highlighter for extra shine.

Section 3 of 5:

Are bow-shaped lips attractive?

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Yes, many people find bow-shaped lips attractive. Bow-shaped lips are often associated with beauty, elegance, and youthfulness, and paired with their distinctiveness and rarity, make for a highly desirable lip shape. A defined Cupid’s bow also adds structure to the face, enhancing facial harmony. Overall, bow-shaped lips are a very feminine, romantic lip shape!
- In one study, 62.7% of patients preferred enhanced Cupid’s bow lips, which was significantly higher than the 37.3% who preferred natural lips.^{[7]
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Section 4 of 5:

Are bow-shaped lips rare?

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While everyone has a Cupid’s bow, aka the dip or curve in the middle of the upper lip, some people claim that fewer than 5% of people have a highly pronounced one that forms a distinct “M” or heart shape (although there aren't a lot of studies on this, so take this number with a grain of salt). Bow-shaped lips may be especially rare because they combine precise symmetry and sharp definition, which aren’t natural features for most people.^{[8]
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Tell If You Have Bow-Shaped Lips

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See if you have a well-defined double-curve and dip in your upper lip. In a well-lit area, wipe off any lip products to see your natural lip shape. Then, look in a mirror, relax your lips and part them slightly, and pay close attention to your upper lip. If you have bow-shaped lips, you’ll have:
- A prominent V-shaped indentation in the center of the top lip that dips downward.
- Two elevated peaks on the upper center lip that taper toward the corners, creating an “M” shape.
- Not sure if you have bow-shaped lips or something else? Check out our in-depth guide to finding your lip shape!