Realistic Facial Expressions
Smiles and laughter
Duchenne smile — cheeks lifted, crow’s-feet
Closed-mouth smile — lips pressed, soft eyes; polite smile
Tight-lipped smile — corners up, lips thin; controlled smile
Crooked grin — asymmetric corners; one-sided smile, smirkish
Dimpled grin — cheek dimples visible
Tooth-baring grin — upper+lower teeth; broad grin
Open-mouth laughter — head back, eyes squeezed; belly laugh
Silent laugh — wide grin, no voice, shoulders up; air laugh
Laugh-cry — tears pooling, mouth wide; joy-cry blend
Snort-laugh — nostril flare, brief snort; micro-flare
Surprise and Fear
Surprised “O” — rounded lips, brows high; gasp
Jaw-drop shock — mandible low, tongue visible
Startle flinch — lids snap, chin jerks; blink-reflex
Eye-pop surprise — sclera all around; wide-eyed
Fear grimace — lips stretched sideways
Micro-gasp — small “o”, clavicles rise; shallow inhale
Disgust, Contempt and Pain
Nose wrinkle — scrunched bridge, lifted upper lip
Elvis sneer — one-sided upper-lip raise
Snarl — teeth bared, flared nostrils
Bitter grimace — corners down, chin boss
Pain wince — lids squeezed, nose crease
Contempt smirk — one corner lifts, eyes narrow
Tired, sad and thinky
Yawn — mouth stretch, eyes watery
Quivering lip — micro-tremor pre-cry; about-to-sob
Stifled sob — lips pressed, chin dimpling; held tears
Pout — protruded lower lip, brows pinched; sulk
Pursed “hmm” — lips forward-flat, eyes up-left; thinking
One-brow cock — asymmetry + micro-smile; skeptic humor
Anger, effort, determination
Jaw clench — masseter bulge, lips tight; teeth press
Lip curl — corners up but hostile; feral
Nostril flare — wide alae, hard stare
Shout / scream — uvula visible, throat cords; veins, spittle
Chin jut — mandible forward, neck cords; challenge
Chin tuck — compressed submental skin; bracing
Squinch — lower lids raised, upper lowered; intense focus
Skeptical brow + smirk — one brow up, corner twist; doubt
Mouth-centric, playful, odd
Fish-lips (duckface) — funneled/puckered lips
Lip funnel “ooo” — rounded, protruded
Lip bite — lower lip caught by incisors
Tongue-out “blep” — relaxed tip out; playful
Cheek puff (chipmunk) — inflated cheeks; air hold
Cheek suck — hollowed cheeks; model suck-in
Rabbit mouth — upper incisors shown, upper lip raised; quirky
Gurn — lower lip pulled over upper, jaw thrust; face pull
