Writers need good descriptions of facial expressions in their stories to help the
readers picture the characters, to convey emotions, and to set up lines of
dialogue without having to write “said” or any of its synonyms. However, it’s easy for us to rely on the same descriptions over and over again.
EYES/BROWS NOSE SKIN
his eyes widened her nose crinkled she paled
her eyes went round his nose wrinkled he blanched her eyelids drooped she sneered she went white his eyes narrowed his nostrils flared the colour drained out of his his eyes lit up she stuck her nose in the air face his eyes darted he sniffed his face reddened he squinted she sniffled her cheeks turned pink she blinked his face flushed her eyes twinkled she blushed his eyes gleamed he turned red her eyes sparkled she turned scarlet his eyes flashed he turned crimson his eyes glinted MOUTH a flush crept up her face his eyes burned with… her eyes blazed with… she smiled her eyes sparked with… he smirked her eyes flickered with… she grinned WHOLE FACE, etc. _____ glowed in his eyes he simpered the corners of his eyes she beamed he screwed up his face crinkled her mouth curved into a she scrunched up her face she rolled her eyes smile he grimaced he looked heavenward the corners of his mouth she winced she glanced up to the ceiling turned up she gave him a dirty look she winked the corner of her mouth he frowned tears filled her eyes quirked up she scowled his eyes welled up a corner of his mouth lifted he glowered her eyes swam with tears his mouth twitched her whole face lit up his eyes flooded with tears he gave a half-smile she brightened her eyes were wet she gave a lopsided grin his face went blank his eyes glistened his mouth twisted her face contorted he plastered a smile on his his face twisted face her expression closed up tears shimmered in her eyes she forced a smile his expression dulled tears shone in his eyes he faked a smile her expression hardened her eyes were glossy her smile faded she went poker-faced he was fighting back tears his smile slipped a vein popped out in his tears ran down her cheeks he pursed his lips neck his eyes closed she pouted awe transformed his face she squeezed her eyes shut his mouth snapped shut fear crossed her face he shut his eyes her mouth set in a hard line sadness clouded his features his lashes fluttered she batted her lashes he pressed his lips together terror overtook his face his brows knitted she bit her lip recognition dawned on her her forehead creased he drew his lower lip face his forehead furrowed between his teeth her forehead puckered *
she nibbled on her bottom
a line appeared between her lip brows he chewed on his bottom lip his brows drew together his jaw set her brows snapped together her jaw clenched his eyebrows rose his jaw tightened she raised a brow a muscle in her jaw twitched he lifted an eyebrow he ground his jaw his eyebrows waggled he snarled/his lips drew back she gave him a once-over in a snarl he sized her up her mouth fell open her eyes bored into him his jaw dropped she took in the sight of… her jaw went slack he glared he gritted his teeth she peered she gnashed her teeth he gazed her lower lip trembled she glanced his lower lip quivered he stared she scrutinized he studied she gaped he observed she surveyed he gawked he leered his pupils (were) dilated her pupils were huge his pupils flared