How to Smile with Your Eyes

Learn what your genuine smile looks like. Scientists have found that there are over 50 different types of smiles, and studies suggest that the most sincere of them all is the Duchenne smile – a smile where your eyes naturally squint. A "polite" smile won't engage the eye muscles. Only a sincere smile will activate those muscles. This is why smiling with your eyes makes your smile seem more genuine. Whenever something makes you happy or you smile to express your true emotions, your eyes will smile alongside your lips. The corners of your eyes will form wrinkles, which makes your whole face appear more in harmony with your smile.

• Look at a picture of yourself smiling when you're genuinely happy, or watch something that makes you laugh out loud, then take a selfie. Make sure you're really feeling joyful when you take that picture.
• Now compare the photo of you smiling in a joyful moment with a picture where you're forcing a smile or faking it for a school photo session. Can you see the difference in your eyes?

Feel the difference on your face. Now that you've noticed the difference, think about that feeling. A genuine smile that engages both your eyes and mouth typically feels easier, more natural, and comfortable. This contrasts with the forced smile you give when someone says, "Smile for the camera!": after a few seconds of holding that smile, you start to feel the muscles in your face getting tired.

• Once you recognize the sensation of smiling with your eyes, try to remember it. Practice combining your whole face when you smile. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.
• Additionally, recall how it feels when you're not smiling with your eyes. That sensation will help guide your actions and allow you to adjust your smile to make it more authentic.

Practice mimicking a Duchenne smile. While it may be a bit tricky, you can imitate this smile by squinting slightly to create a small crease beneath your eyes. Look in the mirror and try it out. If you notice small crow's feet forming under your eyes when you do this, you're on the right track. Once you're comfortable with the technique of smiling with your eyes, you can use it to enhance your smile, whether it's a subtle or fleeting one.

• Every time you smile, regardless of the reason, try to squint your eyes just a little. Don't overdo it, or your face will look strained; a gentle squint will make your eyes sparkle more.
• Try engaging in eye contact while you squint to make a bigger impact on the person you're smiling at.

Try smiling with just your eyes. Have you become proficient with the classic Duchenne smile? Try smiling without moving your lips. Those who truly master the art of smiling with their eyes can express happiness or joy without moving their mouths. This doesn't mean you have to keep your mouth tightly closed, but rather, try to leave your mouth in a neutral position while smiling with your eyes.

• This type of smile is ideal for conveying quiet happiness. It's when you don't want to show too much by smiling broadly but simply want to express your satisfaction with the current situation.
• You can also smile with just your eyes when you need to maintain a pleasant expression for an extended period. Perhaps you're in a long meeting and want to appear relaxed without seeming forced. Smiling with your eyes can make you seem more approachable and positive.

Think positive thoughts. A genuine smile comes from true happiness. Research on what makes people happy reveals that it's not material wealth or high achievements; it's simply adjusting your outlook on life. In other words, strive to be Optimistic and genuine smiles will naturally appear on your face throughout the day.

• Think about who has the most genuine smile? Children! They don't worry as much as adults because life is simpler for them. Try to emulate their carefree attitude to be more relaxed and cheerful!
• Don't force yourself to smile unless you genuinely feel happy. Stop being someone who just aims to please others. If you continue to smile only to be polite or agreeable, you're over-controlling your appearance and preventing your Duchenne smile from shining through. A true smile comes from your own joy, not someone else's.

Find the place that brings you happiness. When you're in a situation that doesn't make you feel joyful, yet you don't want to show you're feeling down, you need to find a place that brings you joy. This means thinking about something that could make you jump for joy or something that could effortlessly put a smile on your face.

• This exercise will help you identify what truly makes you happy. Look into the mirror and cover the lower part of your face with a handkerchief or something similar. Then, start thinking or speaking about your happiest memories while smiling. You'll notice that at certain moments, your eyes will become “sparkly” and you'll have “crow's feet” near your temples. That’s your Duchenne smile! The closest action to controlling a smile with your eyes is when you think of beautiful memories and let your face do the rest.

Be confident with your smile. If you still worry about things like the color, alignment of your teeth, overly protruding gums, bad breath, etc., you're subconsciously holding back your smile because you feel self-conscious. Paying attention to these issues will help you have a brighter and more genuine smile.

• Check out the article on teeth whitening and eliminating bad breath to address these two simple concerns that may be the source of your hesitation.
• If you truly want an outstanding Duchenne smile, pay attention to your eyes as well. Care for your eyebrows and apply a bit of makeup to highlight your eyes.

Don't hold back when talking to others. When you’re speaking, try to focus on the conversation instead of thinking about yourself. Look into the other person's eyes and truly “see” them. If you're genuinely happy to meet them and they say something that pleases you, you'll naturally smile. If you're concerned about how you appear to others, it will reflect in your smile. Instead of worrying about your expressions, allow yourself to comfortably express your emotions.

• Observe others’ smiles while they talk. Do they smile with their eyes? If you notice a Duchenne smile on someone’s face, you know it’s genuine, which might help you relax more in the conversation.
• On the other hand, if their smile seems fake, it will be harder for you to smile genuinely. If you want to seem sincere, think of something happy, or at least remember to squint your eyes!

Try the squinching smile (smiling by pulling the corners of your mouth). Similar to smizing, squinching involves slightly lowering your lower eyelids and narrowing your eyes while gently smiling without opening your mouth too widely. It’s more subtle than a full smile with your eyes, and it gives the impression that you're friendly and interesting. Some say this smile makes a person more photogenic because it reflects confidence and sexual appeal.

Try the teeging smile (big smile). This smile requires more use of your mouth than your eyes, although both are involved. Teeging means opening your mouth slightly to show your teeth while pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth. At the same time, try smizing or squinching with your eyes. When done correctly, teeging gives off a playful and endearing vibe. If you decide to use this smile for a selfie, it’s better to take the shot from an angle rather than straight on.

Relax and Laugh Out Loud (LOL). Laughing loudly at something funny is an excellent way to brighten your mood. Try stopping mid-laugh to take a selfie, capturing your genuine smile. You’ll appear joyful, cheerful, and attractive, and most importantly, it won’t be forced or fake.

• When you smile, let it be a natural and relaxed one. Don’t let anyone dictate how you should smile. Smile in your own unique way, and that will create a beautiful smile.
• The Duchenne smile and wrinkles go hand in hand. This is especially true for truly happy people, as wrinkles can’t affect them because they always maintain a positive attitude!
• If you find it difficult to smile because your face feels too tense or you have a headache, try doing a relaxation exercise.
• When practicing different types of smiles, make sure you're in a private space. Otherwise, people around you might give you strange looks!

• You might end up looking worse if you do the techniques incorrectly!