A Guide to crafting the perfect smirk
You know the looks. You see it in movies, on the faces of cute babies making their first laugh, and you might have even perfected it yourself. From a cutesy little shrug of the lips to a sly kiss of the teeth, crafting the perfect smirk is both an art form and a subtle power tool. Whether it’s a flirty coming-on or a defiant “can’t touch this” look, it can drive the energy of the room. Here’s your guide to stirring up some heat with a smirk:
Practice Makes Perfect
Like most things, part of mastering the smirk is getting comfortable with the mechanics. With a light heart, laugh a little and free up the muscles in your face. Sit still in front of a mirror, try out some smiles. Notice the different muscles in your cheeks, or lips, or between your brows. Once you feel relaxed with the basics of happy, sad, surprise and sleepy, start to play with the curve at the corner of your lips to find your unique smirk. Try out a teasing, coy one with a lifted eyebrow, a little brush of your lips, and the hint of a smile.
Focus on the Mouth
Once you’ve got the technique down, it’s time to really dial in the smirk. People often focus on the eyes when they’re trying to communicate with expression but the power of the smirk comes from your mouth. Put your energy into your lips and make them the focus. Breath, enjoy the fragrance of your lips, and move them. Go for a subtle lift, a quirking of one corner, a bite of the bottom lip. Find the perfect combination that works for you.
Put the Word in your Belly
You don’t need to explain why you’re smirking; the smirk speaks for itself. But one way to elevate the experience is to feel the energy of the word in your belly before you put it on your face. Let the word “smirk” create a sensation in your stomach. As you draw up that energy, allow it to move across your midline and see what shape it takes as it enters your face. Notice how your expression changes.
Feel the Room
Smirks vary in intensity and style depending on the energy of the room. A subtle smirk can sometimes be more powerful than an obvious one. Feel the energy of the moment and respond accordingly. If the mood is playful, your smirk will respond in kind with a gentler curve of your lips. On the other hand, if the mood is more urgent, you can up the level of your smirk and add a sparkle to your eyes.
Release the Tension
The power of a smirk lies in its uniqueness and its ability to be communicated without words. But if you’re not comfortable with the energy of a room, or you’re feeling a bit awkward and unsure of how to use the smirk, don’t be afraid to breathe, relax your muscles, and take a pause before you launch into your sly grin.
Play with Proportions
Once you’ve mastered the mechanics and the feeling of the smirk, you can start to play with the proportions. Think of your smirk as a sculpture that you’re perfecting. You can use small, subtle tilts of your lips, or opt for a bigger, more exaggerated smirk. Notice the subtle difference between a tight-lipped smirk and a wide, toothy version.
Use your Mind
A smirk isn’t just about the physical shape of your mouth; it’s also about the mindset behind it. Before you go in with your smirk, use your mind to go into the feeling of the smirk, to get in touch with the intelligence and confidence behind it. Think of a time when you were feeling brilliant, or an occasion when you totally shocked someone with your clear, concise thinking. All these experiences will add up as you craft your smirk.
Own It
The final step of perfecting the smirk is to own it. Once you’re comfortable with the energy, the motion, and the attitude, let it out and hold the space. No matter the situation, no matter the person, keep the smirk going and trust that it’s completely unique to you. It just might be the thing that gets you that upgraded seat on the plane, or wins you the attention of the cute guy or girl across the room. Go forth and smirk your way through life!
You know the looks. You see it in movies, on the faces of cute babies making their first laugh, and you might have even perfected it yourself. From a cutesy little shrug of the lips to a sly kiss of the teeth, crafting the perfect smirk is both an art form and a subtle power tool. Whether it’s a flirty coming-on or a defiant “can’t touch this” look, it can drive the energy of the room. Here’s your guide to stirring up some heat with a smirk:
Practice Makes Perfect
Like most things, part of mastering the smirk is getting comfortable with the mechanics. With a light heart, laugh a little and free up the muscles in your face. Sit still in front of a mirror, try out some smiles. Notice the different muscles in your cheeks, or lips, or between your brows. Once you feel relaxed with the basics of happy, sad, surprise and sleepy, start to play with the curve at the corner of your lips to find your unique smirk. Try out a teasing, coy one with a lifted eyebrow, a little brush of your lips, and the hint of a smile.
Focus on the Mouth
Once you’ve got the technique down, it’s time to really dial in the smirk. People often focus on the eyes when they’re trying to communicate with expression but the power of the smirk comes from your mouth. Put your energy into your lips and make them the focus. Breath, enjoy the fragrance of your lips, and move them. Go for a subtle lift, a quirking of one corner, a bite of the bottom lip. Find the perfect combination that works for you.
Put the Word in your Belly
You don’t need to explain why you’re smirking; the smirk speaks for itself. But one way to elevate the experience is to feel the energy of the word in your belly before you put it on your face. Let the word “smirk” create a sensation in your stomach. As you draw up that energy, allow it to move across your midline and see what shape it takes as it enters your face. Notice how your expression changes.
Feel the Room
Smirks vary in intensity and style depending on the energy of the room. A subtle smirk can sometimes be more powerful than an obvious one. Feel the energy of the moment and respond accordingly. If the mood is playful, your smirk will respond in kind with a gentler curve of your lips. On the other hand, if the mood is more urgent, you can up the level of your smirk and add a sparkle to your eyes.
Release the Tension
The power of a smirk lies in its uniqueness and its ability to be communicated without words. But if you’re not comfortable with the energy of a room, or you’re feeling a bit awkward and unsure of how to use the smirk, don’t be afraid to breathe, relax your muscles, and take a pause before you launch into your sly grin.
Play with Proportions
Once you’ve mastered the mechanics and the feeling of the smirk, you can start to play with the proportions. Think of your smirk as a sculpture that you’re perfecting. You can use small, subtle tilts of your lips, or opt for a bigger, more exaggerated smirk. Notice the subtle difference between a tight-lipped smirk and a wide, toothy version.
Use your Mind
A smirk isn’t just about the physical shape of your mouth; it’s also about the mindset behind it. Before you go in with your smirk, use your mind to go into the feeling of the smirk, to get in touch with the intelligence and confidence behind it. Think of a time when you were feeling brilliant, or an occasion when you totally shocked someone with your clear, concise thinking. All these experiences will add up as you craft your smirk.
Own It
The final step of perfecting the smirk is to own it. Once you’re comfortable with the energy, the motion, and the attitude, let it out and hold the space. No matter the situation, no matter the person, keep the smirk going and trust that it’s completely unique to you. It just might be the thing that gets you that upgraded seat on the plane, or wins you the attention of the cute guy or girl across the room. Go forth and smirk your way through life!
