The Mandatory Guide to Facial Expressions Now That Mask Mandates Are (Finally) Ending (For Now)

Though the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over (2,000-plus people die daily in the U.S. from coronavirus), mask mandates are being rolled back all over the country. On the one hand, we’re all eager to breathe free again and say goodbye to maskne. On the other hand, if we weren’t germaphobes before the pandemic, we definitely are now, and we’d prefer people keep their respiratory droplets to themselves.

Regardless of where you stand on masking (though if you’re anti, you’re dumb, let’s face it), the fact of the matter is that we’re all likely going to be seeing more of each other’s faces soon. And that means learning to re-read facial expressions. To that end, we’re going to help you remember how to recognize the seven universal emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, contempt and surprise) as declared back in the late 1800s by Charles Darwin in addition to a few we’re throwing in just for good measure.

It’s time to be a social human again, whether you like it or not. With this guide, you should be able to interpret others’ feelings accurately. As for how your interactions work out, we make no promises.

Cover Photo: Flashpop

expressions guide

Anger

Best used when: an anti-vaxxer coughs in your general direction.
Awe

Best used when: you have sex for the first time since the pandemic began.
Confused

Best used when: your boss decides to ditch they hybrid model and go back to in-office operations.
Contempt

Best used when: you're forced to sit through another meeting that could have been an email.
Disappointment

Best used when: the grocery store is out of your favorite oat milk. Again.
Disgust

Best used when: your mom wants to tell you all about her colonoscopy over dinner.
Fear

Best used when: a one-night stand tells you she's pregnant...and it's yours.
Happiness

Best used when: your favorite sports team finally wins.
Sadness

Best used when: housing prices skyrocket and you realize you're stuck in your parents' basement indefinitely.
Surprise

Best used when: your student loan holder cancels your debt. (Just kidding. That's never going to happen.)