Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder what’s going on with all the big lips

493 replies

Laurendelaney1987 · 19/08/2025 08:31

Everywhere I go I see women with massive lips. It looks like so many women are wearing lip fillers.

i totally get that if you’re someone with really thin lips then you may want to plump them up, but I see this look on lots of women from their 20s to 60s.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
MistyGreenAndBlue · 22/08/2025 01:31

Feelinglost10 · 21/08/2025 18:03

I didn’t say women who haven’t had things done are those things. I said those women exist in the world too and you can guarantee people who have had work done aren’t looking at them judging.

Oh yes they are. I see it all the time. And I don't believe you haven't seen it too. It just doesn't suit your narrative to say so.

OriginalUsername2 · 22/08/2025 01:37

CoffeeCantata · 21/08/2025 18:59

@Tabitha005

Quite!

The trope that all criticism must be due to jealousy is very tiresome, and tells you a lot about the person who thinks it does!

Definitely. I automatically assume a woman who comes out with this is so used to feeling jealous that they presume everyone does.

I want no part of it. I go bare face. I still think they all look like fish people from Bikini Bottom.

Flomingho · 22/08/2025 02:10

If people like having it done and it improves their confidence then that's positive. However, I do wonder what happens if they stop getting it done and how it affects the skin

hehehesorry · 22/08/2025 05:17

It's a fun look, I think women who care about it one way or another feel threatened by it even if they don't like the look for themselves because it's very sexualised. I haven't met many pretty women who care what other women do to their face, but I've heard a few past it women talking down on it like their beauty advice is relevant. I suppose it's relevant to other women like themselves like it is on here, but nobody else cares what the boden birkenstock brigade has to say about beauty no matter how loud and often they say it. If you care this much about seeing lip filler or eyelash extensions I'd recommend an exercise class or something to take your mind off it.

Isittimeformynapyet · 22/08/2025 06:53

hehehesorry · 22/08/2025 05:17

It's a fun look, I think women who care about it one way or another feel threatened by it even if they don't like the look for themselves because it's very sexualised. I haven't met many pretty women who care what other women do to their face, but I've heard a few past it women talking down on it like their beauty advice is relevant. I suppose it's relevant to other women like themselves like it is on here, but nobody else cares what the boden birkenstock brigade has to say about beauty no matter how loud and often they say it. If you care this much about seeing lip filler or eyelash extensions I'd recommend an exercise class or something to take your mind off it.

Nice try. It still looks ugly though.

Tell me more about this feeling "threatened".

SpaceRaccoon · 22/08/2025 07:06

@hehehesorry by your own logic, you must feel extremely threatened to produce that level of vitriol.

CoffeeCantata · 22/08/2025 07:19

hehehesorry · 22/08/2025 05:17

It's a fun look, I think women who care about it one way or another feel threatened by it even if they don't like the look for themselves because it's very sexualised. I haven't met many pretty women who care what other women do to their face, but I've heard a few past it women talking down on it like their beauty advice is relevant. I suppose it's relevant to other women like themselves like it is on here, but nobody else cares what the boden birkenstock brigade has to say about beauty no matter how loud and often they say it. If you care this much about seeing lip filler or eyelash extensions I'd recommend an exercise class or something to take your mind off it.

I have to say, the women I’ve seen with the extreme version of this look HAVE made me feel threatened, but not in the way you mean.

The one in the dentist’s…didn’t dare catch her eye for fear of a mouthful of expletives, by the way she spoke to the receptionist.

To me, they might as well have a t shirt that says “I’m insecure, angry and desperate for a fella…any fella!”

InTheMidnightHours · 22/08/2025 07:44

This reply has been hidden

This reply has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

RampantIvy · 22/08/2025 08:23

Feelinglost10 makes her living out of women's insecurities and therefore doesn't understand that many women just don't want to look artificial and don't like the artificial look

I'm sure that many women who have subtle tweaks look fabulous, but this thread is about the extremes that many women go to. They don't seem to realise that they just become caricatures of themselves.

DD likes watching Love Island, and last year one of the women had such extreme lips that she couldn't even close her mouth properly, so she walked around with the vacuous look that people have when their mouth is open all the time.

Another woman the same age as DD (24 at the time) looked 10 years older than DD because of all the work she had done to her face.

The trope that we must be jealous couldn't be further from the truth.

CoffeeCantata · 22/08/2025 08:34

MistyGreenAndBlue · 22/08/2025 01:13

Ok so all this is wrong. Sorry but I can't let this misinformation pass.

Firstly, fillers are mainly made with hyaluronic acid which does occur naturally I agree but which DOES NOT dissolve - ever. It migrates to other areas of the face and body. Most disturbingly often into the lymphatic system where it causes dangerous blockages that are permanent. These blockages affect your immune system and have been linked to cancer.

Secondly. The substance used to dissolve fillers is called hyalouronidase and is untested and unregulated and destroys not only fillers but your own naturally occurring hyaluronic acid leading in some terrifying cases to the skin becoming so weak it literally starts falling off the bone and hanging loose.
It's not worth it.

@MistyGreenAndBlue

Yes! I queried this information yesterday, but despite the pp asserting it so confidently they didn’t answer my questions. I can’t find anything about the hydrolic acid they mention on google. I think they’re confused.

But it’s a comfort to know that by injecting acid into your body you can dissolve the fillers, isn’t it (NOT)?

It’s worrying what people are prepared to do on the basis of ignorance.

MyDadWasAnArse · 22/08/2025 08:44

Going off topic slightly but still relevant ... What's all this lemon bottle stuff? Looks terrifying.

MapWall · 22/08/2025 08:48

RampantIvy · 22/08/2025 08:23

Feelinglost10 makes her living out of women's insecurities and therefore doesn't understand that many women just don't want to look artificial and don't like the artificial look

I'm sure that many women who have subtle tweaks look fabulous, but this thread is about the extremes that many women go to. They don't seem to realise that they just become caricatures of themselves.

DD likes watching Love Island, and last year one of the women had such extreme lips that she couldn't even close her mouth properly, so she walked around with the vacuous look that people have when their mouth is open all the time.

Another woman the same age as DD (24 at the time) looked 10 years older than DD because of all the work she had done to her face.

The trope that we must be jealous couldn't be further from the truth.

Yep. My 20-something kids are horrified by the Love Island look thankfully and are not remotely tempted. The young people I know are gorgeous and it’s certainly not insecurity or jealousy that put them off ‘tweakments’!

Ponoka7 · 22/08/2025 08:49

MistyGreenAndBlue · 22/08/2025 01:13

Ok so all this is wrong. Sorry but I can't let this misinformation pass.

Firstly, fillers are mainly made with hyaluronic acid which does occur naturally I agree but which DOES NOT dissolve - ever. It migrates to other areas of the face and body. Most disturbingly often into the lymphatic system where it causes dangerous blockages that are permanent. These blockages affect your immune system and have been linked to cancer.

Secondly. The substance used to dissolve fillers is called hyalouronidase and is untested and unregulated and destroys not only fillers but your own naturally occurring hyaluronic acid leading in some terrifying cases to the skin becoming so weak it literally starts falling off the bone and hanging loose.
It's not worth it.

What's the percentage of that? As in cancer, compared to eating bacon, or the damage fizzy drinks do to women's teeth and bones? As in, how often has it ever happened in the UK when licensed products have been used?

MapWall · 22/08/2025 08:52

hehehesorry · 22/08/2025 05:17

It's a fun look, I think women who care about it one way or another feel threatened by it even if they don't like the look for themselves because it's very sexualised. I haven't met many pretty women who care what other women do to their face, but I've heard a few past it women talking down on it like their beauty advice is relevant. I suppose it's relevant to other women like themselves like it is on here, but nobody else cares what the boden birkenstock brigade has to say about beauty no matter how loud and often they say it. If you care this much about seeing lip filler or eyelash extensions I'd recommend an exercise class or something to take your mind off it.

As a very secure, confident and reasonably attractive and stylish woman in my fifties, I worry about the pressures on the next generation. Personally I am lucky enough not to feel vaguely threatened by your definition of ‘pretty’. In any case, I don’t define myself by my looks, and I wish others didn’t too.

I don’t like Birkenstocks though. Or crocs or UGGs. Sorry to disappoint ;-)

CoffeeCantata · 22/08/2025 09:03

Ponoka7 · 22/08/2025 08:49

What's the percentage of that? As in cancer, compared to eating bacon, or the damage fizzy drinks do to women's teeth and bones? As in, how often has it ever happened in the UK when licensed products have been used?

Time will tell. Have all these things injected by backstreet untrained amateur practitioners been subjected to years of testing, as pharmaceutical drugs are? I don’t know - you may know more, but I bet the beauty industry is far less regulated.

MapWall · 22/08/2025 09:14

Injecting something into your face to dissolve something else you have injected for cosmetic reasons. How depressing.

Coolasfeck · 22/08/2025 09:57

Although I agree some people take ‘tweakments’ to the extreme, having skimmed the thread, I’m seeing a lot of ‘coping’ going on.

By this I mean I suspect that the core issue a lot of PP have with these trends is that they synthetically emulate a wider more diverse group of natural ethnic attributes which are harder for many women to achieve in order to be seen as ‘sexy/desirable’ by a lot of men.

Up until relatively recently in the UK, the standard for desirability was blond, thin celebrities. Although the vast majority of women hadn’t a hope in hell of looking like famous blond thin women, they could get away with buying a bottle of bleach and a pack of fags to stay thin, safe in the knowledge that many blokes wouldn’t be that fussed about features and body.

However, there’s now more exposure to diverse women and thus there’s been a push towards the more racially/ethnically ambiguous look e.g Kim Kardashian who has the curves of a black or Latina woman, tanned skin tone of a Middle Easterner, long straight hair of an Asian, plump lips etc etc.

Just eating celery and sitting under foils at the hairdresser is no longer enough to attract many men. They are looking at the entire package and that package occurs very rarely and is expensive to buy and get right.

Again I do believe some women have gone to extremes, or paid for shoddy work. However, I don’t think all PPs are genuine in their concern for these women. I think many are more angry that even if they did their best, their look is no longer the standard desired look - standard white British face and body with bonus blond hair and thin, which was achievable for many. This new ‘cherrypicking’ of all ethnicities of women is far harder.

Arraminta · 22/08/2025 09:59

hehehesorry · 22/08/2025 05:17

It's a fun look, I think women who care about it one way or another feel threatened by it even if they don't like the look for themselves because it's very sexualised. I haven't met many pretty women who care what other women do to their face, but I've heard a few past it women talking down on it like their beauty advice is relevant. I suppose it's relevant to other women like themselves like it is on here, but nobody else cares what the boden birkenstock brigade has to say about beauty no matter how loud and often they say it. If you care this much about seeing lip filler or eyelash extensions I'd recommend an exercise class or something to take your mind off it.

But again, it's only a 'fun look' to a specific sub-set of females, isn't it? There's nothing 'fun' about the potential long term health risks of the filler migrating in your body. But, the sub-set who use it probably never even passed GCSE Biology, so they are blissful in their ignorance.

And in a way, I actually get it, I really do. This female sub-set can never aspire to academia, or a successful professional career, or probably even owning their own home in a nice area. So they can only adopt the socio-economic goal indicators that they can aspire to e.g. how many times they've been to Dubai, who has the longest 'mermaid' extensions, who has the biggest pillow lips etc.

But those goals just aren't even on many women's radar, at all. It's nothing to do with envy, just that their ambitions and priorities are utterly different. My DD is 21 and her priorities this year are to hopefully win the Dean's Award and gain a First in her finals. She already has her graduate offer secured from one of the Big Four. Those sort of abilities & opportunities are completely unattainable to the Plastic Fantastic sub-set. Yet for the sake of a few quid DD could so very easily attain everything the PF aspire to with zero effort.

And that's why it has no value for DD because the PF 'look' just isn't a viable currency in her world.

Arraminta · 22/08/2025 10:04

And yes, I'm aware that, sadly, the vast majority of the PF sub-set wouldn't even properly understand most of what I've just written.

angela1952 · 22/08/2025 10:06

CoffeeCantata · 19/08/2025 15:09

I wouldn’t say it was fashionable exactly, as in Vogue. It’s a current trend, a craze, really.

Fashionable is something different.

It is certainly fashionable, in that you often see people on the street looking like this, and it's got to the stage when it's almost normal for celebrities and actresses that you see on various media.
My DD has done it, though a very gentle version. I did a double take when I first saw her, I still really don't like it, but it quickly settled down to a very slightly plumper look. Possibly getting used to the look is the problem, when it reduces naturally over time they tend to replenish the filler because they think their lips look too thin.
I'm guessing that there are far more people than we know (including those in the public eye) who use lip fillers but a very reduced amount that normal mortals like us would not recognise.

CoffeeCantata · 22/08/2025 10:35

angela1952 · 22/08/2025 10:06

It is certainly fashionable, in that you often see people on the street looking like this, and it's got to the stage when it's almost normal for celebrities and actresses that you see on various media.
My DD has done it, though a very gentle version. I did a double take when I first saw her, I still really don't like it, but it quickly settled down to a very slightly plumper look. Possibly getting used to the look is the problem, when it reduces naturally over time they tend to replenish the filler because they think their lips look too thin.
I'm guessing that there are far more people than we know (including those in the public eye) who use lip fillers but a very reduced amount that normal mortals like us would not recognise.

Definitely - and the subtle version, wher it’s hardly noticeable, is a different matter, agree. It’s the 2 raw sausages look that’s so horrible.

CoffeeCantata · 22/08/2025 10:52

@Coolasfeck
Aaaarrrggghhh…I’ve tried to avoid stooping this low but your post makes it hard not to.

I’m a modest person - I’m not conceited, but this will make me sound as though I am.

Some of the less perceptive posts on here ascribe criticism of the hyper-inflated lips and caterpillar brows etc look to a load of ugly, frumpy old bats being jealous. I’ve always been fairly attractive and slim and have had all the male attention I wanted. Sometimes I still get a bit more than I want! (Yuk - what a gross and sad level we have to descend to in order to make a point). I do not judge people’s worth by how attractive I deem them to be, btw.

I can only speak for myself, but I am old-fashioned enough to prefer natural beauty. In fact, I think it’s the only true kind. IWhen you see older women who can’t accept their ageing gracefully (I don’t mean tasteful tweaks and highlights - I mean radical surgery etc) it’s sad, but when I see young women who would be naturally lovely, with dewy skin, bright eyes, shiny hair and pink lips caked in thick makeup and with their lips pumped up to advertise their A level in fellatio to any passing Neanderthal, yes, I’m depressed.

On one level it’s their business but it’s also an indicator of what’s happening to women under the influence of social media and other pressures. I grew up with feminist ideas and strong self-esteem, and it seems a backward step.

That’s why it bothers me, not because I’m a jealous frump.

Sorry for any boasting.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 22/08/2025 11:07

And in a way, I actually get it, I really do. This female sub-set can never aspire to academia, or a successful professional career, or probably even owning their own home in a nice area. So they can only adopt the socio-economic goal indicators that they can aspire to e.g. how many times they've been to Dubai, who has the longest 'mermaid' extensions, who has the biggest pillow lips etc.

i can’t believe that actually got written in here and the person who wrote it didn’t get ripped apart. Female sub-set? The assumption that anyone who entertains aesthetic alterations using temporary measures is immediately assumed to be thick. Well we certainly know you aren’t a feminist.

T1Dmama · 22/08/2025 11:40

It’s dreadful what women are doing to themselves!
what with lip fillers, Botox, boob jobs, diet injections, bum lifts etc…. It’s all so fake and sad!

CoffeeCantata · 22/08/2025 12:29

Coolasfeck · 22/08/2025 09:57

Although I agree some people take ‘tweakments’ to the extreme, having skimmed the thread, I’m seeing a lot of ‘coping’ going on.

By this I mean I suspect that the core issue a lot of PP have with these trends is that they synthetically emulate a wider more diverse group of natural ethnic attributes which are harder for many women to achieve in order to be seen as ‘sexy/desirable’ by a lot of men.

Up until relatively recently in the UK, the standard for desirability was blond, thin celebrities. Although the vast majority of women hadn’t a hope in hell of looking like famous blond thin women, they could get away with buying a bottle of bleach and a pack of fags to stay thin, safe in the knowledge that many blokes wouldn’t be that fussed about features and body.

However, there’s now more exposure to diverse women and thus there’s been a push towards the more racially/ethnically ambiguous look e.g Kim Kardashian who has the curves of a black or Latina woman, tanned skin tone of a Middle Easterner, long straight hair of an Asian, plump lips etc etc.

Just eating celery and sitting under foils at the hairdresser is no longer enough to attract many men. They are looking at the entire package and that package occurs very rarely and is expensive to buy and get right.

Again I do believe some women have gone to extremes, or paid for shoddy work. However, I don’t think all PPs are genuine in their concern for these women. I think many are more angry that even if they did their best, their look is no longer the standard desired look - standard white British face and body with bonus blond hair and thin, which was achievable for many. This new ‘cherrypicking’ of all ethnicities of women is far harder.

Also, having re-read your post, what jumps out at me is your apparent acceptance of the idea that women’s purpose in life is to be attractive to men. This is not only very depressing but actually does not produce happiness for women. Of course people want relationships but you’re not going to find the best partner by distorting your natural appearance to try and fulfil some porn-addict’s fantasy. Decent men wouldn’t want a woman to feel she needed to do that - they’d be attracted to her for her real looks and character. So yes, if you want to attract the biggest (literal) wankers in your area, go ahead and morph into their bizarre, male-centric fantasy.

But don’t be surprised when they treat you as a sex object.