Facial expression guide
Sadness
Start at the inner ends of the eyebrows.
What to look for
- 1The inner ends of the brows rise and draw together.
- 2The lip corners may turn downward.
- 3The lower lip may push slightly forward.
The inner brow angle can be easier to miss than the downturned mouth. Compare the brow line against neutral before looking at the lips. In a sadness pattern, the upward pull near the center of the forehead is an important part of the combination.
Try this observation exercise
Study the upper half of the face first. Find the change in the inner brows, then check whether the mouth corners also move downward. Switch examples and repeat this top-to-bottom scan.
Further reading: Paul Ekman Group’s sadness guide. Our learning approach.