Lips – expression, closeness & personality: what your lips really reveal
- Daniel Neuhaus
- Feb 6
- 8 min read
Lips are one of the most honest areas of the face. They react instantly to our felt emotions. In them, we can see how we make contact, how we express feelings, and how much of ourselves we are willing to reveal. Many people look first into the eyes. But in Face Reading, the true emotional language often begins with the mouth.
This article guides you step by step into the meaning of the lips. Their shape, fullness, contour, and emotional expression. And it shows you why this small area reveals so much about you – about closeness, communication, sexuality, and creativity.
Contents at a glance
Lips and emotional closeness – how we create connection
The mouth is one of the most immediate zones of expression. When something touches us, when we smile, when we think, are under stress, or feel fear – the lips reveal it.
They are not called the “closing muscle of the soul” for nothing.
In the lips, we can see whether closeness is allowed to flow or whether it is protected. Whether something wants to be said or whether words are being held back. Whether we are open or need a little more time to talk about our emotions.
Soft lips – soft transitions
People with soft lips often have an inviting expression. They appear emotionally accessible, resonate with others, and can create connection in a warm, effortless way.
Firm or thin lips – self-protection and clarity
When lips are thinner or firmer, this points less to distance than to a need for inner order. Many people express their emotions – if at all – only selectively.
And everyone knows this:
When we are annoyed, we press our lips together.
When we do not want to say something, we “bite” our lips together.
Our lips therefore tell not only something about our personality – but also about our history.
Full lips – openness, generosity, and self-expression
People with full lips carry a natural joy in sharing their feelings. They speak much more openly about what moves them and allow others to participate in their inner world.
They appear inviting, lively, and warm.
They give a lot – sometimes more than they receive.
They radiate generosity, emotionally and humanly.
If the lips are not only full but also long, the mouth appears like a stage:
These are people with presence, who want to be seen and who bring a lot of themselves into relationships. They are often people with strong communication skills.
Thin lips – clarity, structure, and caution in emotion
People with thin lips open up more slowly.
They choose consciously whom they trust.
They like to keep emotions to themselves until they feel safe.
They prefer to show closeness through actions rather than words.
Thin lips often stand for precision, clarity, and emotional structure. They do not say everything – but what they say carries weight.
If thin lips are additionally long, one often finds people who communicate a lot but put little emotion into words. They carry responsibility, rely on facts, and focus on mental strength. The expression “millionaire’s mouth” describes this type very well.
Why lips can change
Lips are dynamic. They change through:
exhaustion
emotional strain
longer phases of restraint
vitality and joy of life
state of health
When lips become thinner over the course of life, they sometimes tell of periods in which someone had to carry a lot alone. When they become fuller, this can indicate new freedom, warmth, or life energy.
The symbolic meaning of lips – the Wood element
In many traditions, lips belong to the Wood element, such as in the teaching of the five elements. Wood is the element of growth, expression, and interpersonal movement.
Wood wants to create connection. Reduced to its essence, this means:
Full lips say: “I move toward you.”
Thin lips say: “I protect my inner world.”
Lips in facial expression – a scientific perspective
In the medical context, lips are considered an important part of facial expression. They shape words, influence sound, show agreement, rejection, desire, concern, or restraint.
Their fullness, color, and shape are evolutionarily perceived as signals of vitality, health, and ability to connect.
That is why people react intuitively to lips – long before they understand why.
Studies: what research reveals about lips
Two studies show how strongly the lip area affects others:
Study 1: University Medical Center Freiburg (2015)
176 people were asked which lips they found particularly attractive.
The result:
Size, shape, and color all play a role.
A pronounced philtrum with a clearly shaped Cupid’s bow appeared particularly attractive.
The heart-shaped Cupid’s bow enhanced the effect in both women and men.
Study 2: Brody & Costa (2011)
Women with a more pronounced Cupid’s bow had a higher probability of experiencing vaginal orgasms during sex.
The cause likely lies in processes of neuronal development that influence both sexuality and lip shape.
These studies show:
Lips do not only work culturally – they work biologically.
How to recognize your lip shape
It doesn’t take much to determine your lip shape. All you need is a mirror and good light.
Step 1: Look into the mirror with a relaxed expression
No smiling, no pressing the lips together – a neutral expression shows the true shape, with relaxed facial muscles.
Step 2: Observe upper and lower lip separately
How full are they? Is one side more dominant? Is the lower lip larger than the upper lip, or perhaps the other way around? Are both lips the same size?
Step 3: Observe the contour
Heart-shaped, straight, curved, soft, firm – the shape reveals a lot about expression and closeness.
Step 4: Check lip length
Long lips speak of joy in communication and contact.
Short lips speak of focus, clarity, and self-protection.
Step 5: Include fine details
wide or narrow mouth shape
visibility of the heart-shaped lip contour
firmness or softness of the lip edge
relationship to the philtrum
If you would like to look more deeply:
In the article on lip shapes, you will find each shape described in detail – like small windows into different worlds of personality.
And the article on heart-shaped lips guides you into the fine nuances of the upper lip, into the very core of expression around closeness and attraction.
Further reading
If you would like to understand the lip area more deeply, these articles may be of interest to you:
Video: A conversation about personality, empathy, and what faces reveal
In this episode of FlowGrade – For Life, I talk with Max Gotzler about what Face Reading can truly offer today. We go through the fundamentals – physiognomy, facial expression, and body language – and discuss how personality shows itself in the face, where the limits lie, and why empathy is the core of this work.
At the end, I read a few facets of Max’s personality from his face – in the form of a small speed reading, in a live analysis.
Free Face Reading Webinar – live every month
In my monthly live webinar, I show you how Face Reading works in practice.
You will learn how facial features are connected to personality, resources, and inner patterns – and how you can use this knowledge for coaching, communication, or your personal development.
The webinar is designed to be interactive and offers plenty of space for your questions.
Join for free here:
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about lips and their meaning
Which lip shape is considered beautiful?
Studies show that harmonious shapes, gentle fullness, and a clearly defined heart-shaped contour are often perceived as attractive. However, beauty is subjective. In Face Reading, it is never about evaluation – but about expression.
What do lips reveal about personality?
Full lips indicate openness, warmth, and a love of connection.
Thin lips indicate clarity, self-control, and focus.
The upper lip stands for emotions and creativity, the lower lip for needs and activity.
Can lips change over time?
Yes. Through life phases, health, stress, or emotional patterns.
Lips are a dynamic area of expression.
How can I recognize my lip shape?
Look into the mirror with a neutral expression and pay attention to fullness, length, contour, and balance.
Do full lips have advantages?
They often appear emotionally inviting and expressive.
But thin lips also have strength – clear communication, focus, and structure. Every shape carries its own message.
Personal note
If you feel that your lips resonate with something inside you – something you would like to understand more deeply – we can explore this together in a personal Face Reading. Often, the mouth reveals more about closeness, boundaries, and inner movement than we might imagine. I would be happy to accompany you on this path.
If you would like to understand how face shapes, personality, and expression are connected.
Also interesting:
The upper lip carries a small heart-like contour that we often overlook. And yet, heart-shaped lips reveal a great deal about how we love, how we show ourselves, and how we shape relationships. If you are curious why some people appear immediately attractive while others carry a quieter warmth, this article guides you into the meaning of this special detail.
Taking a closer look at the philtrum is especially worthwhile. It connects nose and lips, heaven and earth – and shows how a person resonates on the inside. Here you will find a detailed and easy-to-understand introduction.
If you would like to understand what your lips reveal about your personality, your way of feeling, and your inner movement, you will find a deep and accessible introduction here. Each individual lip shape carries its own message.
