How to Easily Read Faces and Facial Expressions

It is much easier to read facial expressions and find out what someone is feeling than is believed. You will learn how to recognize 'micro-expressions' small facial expressions that show what a person is feeling.

 1. Before trying to read anyone's face, teach yourself to recognize 'micro-expressions'. These are small facial expressions, a different one for whenever someone is feeling an increase in any different emotion. They are:
Happiness - A smile, quite an obvious one, however, if there is no wrinkling, increase in puffiness or general muscle movement around the eyes, the person is faking the smile.
Sadness - Eyebrows up, lips down-turned. Eyebrows up can also mean the person is feeling guilty
Contempt - One corner of the mouth rises, like a sort of 'half-smile'. In extreme contempt, the person's mouth shifts over in an odd way.
Disgust - The top lip is raised, showing the teeth in extreme cases, like a scorn.
Surprise - Gaping mouth with eyebrows raised. If this expression lasts longer than a second, the person is faking it.
Fear - Eyebrows raised and lower part of the mouth lowered in extreme cases. Swallowing also indicates fear.
Anger - Lips tightened, flaring nostrils, eyebrows pulled down and together are all signs of anger.

 2. Start looking. When you've taught yourself to recognize micro-expressions try looking for them in people you see everyday.

3. Carry a mirror around you all the time. Not just to see if you look nice but to study your face when you feel a certain emotion. How does your eyes go when you are happy, how does your expression turn to when you are frustrated with such terrible customer attendance? Then look for these expression in people.

4. Establish a 'baseline' in the person you're looking for micro-expressions in. A baseline is their normal muscle activity when feeling little or no emotion. Ask them normal questions. Take mental note of their muscle activity when telling the truth. You're pretty much done. Just look for micro-expressions and try and fit them in with what the person is saying.