Chinese Beauty Standards: What Makes a Face Attractive in China?

So, beauty standards are a big deal everywhere, but in China, they’re extra important. With more Chinese folks seeking cosmetic treatments (both surgical and non-surgical) from Western-trained doctors, it’s crucial to understand what they consider "beautiful." To figure this out, researchers conducted an online survey with 1,417 Han Chinese participants (599 men, 818 women, mostly aged 25–35). Here’s the tea:

What Do Chinese People Find Attractive?

1. Face Shape: Oval is the winner! Think long, thin faces with pointy chins. Square jaws? Not so much.
2. Jawline: For women, a soft, smooth jawline is preferred. For men, it’s a toss-up between a strong jaw and a softer one.
3. Chin: Pointy and narrow for women, round and slightly pointy for men. Flat, wide chins? Hard pass.
4. Nose: Straight or slightly concave noses are the go-to. No big bumps or hooks, please!
5. Lips: Full lips with a well-defined Cupid’s bow (you know, that little dip in the middle) are a must. Tapered edges? Even better.
6. Facial Profile: Straight profiles are the most attractive. Convex (think protruding chin) or concave (sunken chin) profiles? Not so hot.

Let´s look more in detail:

What Type of Noses Do Chinese People Like?

1. Most Preferred: A straight nose profile (42.27%) was the top choice. Think clean, balanced lines—no bumps or curves!
2. Second Favorite: A slightly concave nose profile (29.64%) came in next. This means a gentle inward curve, but not too dramatic.
3. Third Place: A straight nose with a slightly pointed tip (10.73%) was also popular. It’s all about that subtle refinement!

Other nose shapes didn’t score as high, so it’s clear that simplicity and balance win when it comes to noses in Chinese beauty standards.

What Chin Shapes Do Chinese People Prefer?

For Women:

Most Preferred:

1. Sketch 6 (32.89%): A narrow, mildly pointed chin with a rounded apex.
2. Sketch 2 (26.25%): A narrow, pointy chin with a triangular base.
3. Very Pointy Chin (18.63%): Also popular, but less so than the top two.
4. Least Preferred:
5. Rounded, wide, or flat chins (Sketches 1, 3, 5, 7) were seen as less attractive.
6. Key Takeaway: Women’s beauty ideals favor a narrow, slightly pointed chin with a shorter lower face.

For Men:

Most Preferred:

1. Sketch 6 (30.42%): A round, wide chin was the top choice.
2. Sketch 4 (27.17%): A narrow, very pointy chin came in second.
3. Sketch 5 (16.94%): A narrow, less pointy chin was third.
4. Least Preferred:
5. A wide, flat chin with an angular jawline (Sketch 3) was the least attractive.
6. Key Takeaway: Men’s beauty standards lean toward a narrow lower face, with a mix of round or pointy chins.

What Jaw Angles Do Chinese People Prefer?

For Women:

1. Obtuse Jaw Angle (Soft, Smooth): A clear majority (83%) preferred a softer, less angular jawline for women.
2. Why? A softer jawline is seen as more feminine and harmonious.

For Men:

1. Split Preference: It was almost a tie! About 50% preferred an angular, well-defined jawline, while the other 50% leaned toward a softer, obtuse jaw angle.
2. Slight Edge: There was a tiny preference for the softer look, but it wasn’t statistically significant.

What Female Facial Profiles Do Chinese People Find Attractive?

Most Preferred:

1. Straight Facial Profile (Class I): A whopping 85% preferred the straight profile (Sketch A2), and 60% chose the straight profile with a slightly projected chin (Sketch B1).
2. Why? A straight profile is seen as balanced and harmonious.

Less Preferred:

1. Concave Profile (Class III): While not the top choice, it was still more attractive than a convex profile.
2. Convex Profile (Class II): This profile, characterized by a protruding chin, was rated as the least attractive.

What Lip Shapes Do Chinese People Prefer?

Top Choices:

1. Lip Shape 4 (33.10%): Narrower, plumper lips with a well-defined Cupid’s bow and balanced upper-to-lower lip ratio.
2. Lip Shape 1 (29.50%): Similar to Shape 4 but with a slightly different balance—still featuring a defined Cupid’s bow and rounded edges.
3. Other Preferences:
4. Narrow lips (Lip Shape 3) were preferred over fuller lips that lacked a defined Cupid’s bow.
5. Lips that taper toward the corners (oral commissures) were favored over lips with even fullness across.

Surgery or No Surgery?

1. Most people (53%) said no thanks to cosmetic surgery. But if they had to choose, 82% would go for non-surgical options like fillers or Botox. Who wants to go under the knife, right?
2. Oh, and 83% of participants believe being beautiful makes life better. Confidence boost, career prospects, maybe even better luck in love? Sign us up!

Why Does This Matter?

1. Beauty standards in China are tied to culture, luck, and even career success. For example, a wide, square jaw on a woman is thought to bring bad luck to her husband (yikes!).
2. Chinese folks want to look like beautiful Chinese people, not Westerners. So, doctors, take note: your patients want to enhance their natural features, not erase their ethnic identity.

The Bigger Picture

1. While there’s a universal idea of beauty (symmetry, balance, etc.), each culture has its own quirks. For Chinese people, it’s all about oval faces, straight profiles, and soft jawlines.
2. This survey helps doctors understand what their Chinese patients want, so they can deliver results that make everyone happy.

Limitations? Sure, There Are a Few.

1. The survey was online, so it mostly reached younger, urban folks. Older generations or people in rural areas might have different opinions.
2. Only female facial profiles were included, so we don’t know as much about male beauty standards.
3. Some regions (like Shanghai and Beijing) were overrepresented, so the results might not apply to all of China.

Final Takeaway

Chinese beauty ideals are all about harmony, balance, and keeping it natural. Whether it’s a pointy chin, a straight nose, or full lips, the goal is to look like the best version of you—not someone else. And hey, if a little non-surgical tweak can boost your confidence and quality of life, why not?

So, there you have it! Beauty is universal, but the details? Totally cultural. 🌏✨

The numbers are given by the study: Samizadeh S, Wu W. Ideals of Facial Beauty Amongst the Chinese Population: Results from a Large National Survey. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2018 Dec;42(6):1540-1550. doi: 10.1007/s00266-018-1188-9. Epub 2018 Jul 9. PMID: 29987486; PMCID: PMC6280816.