Before the Covid-19 mask became the norm, humans relied on a simple smile — lip corners upturned and little more. This smile could easily greet people, but remains hidden behind a mask.  What’s a body to do?  

Smiles can vary, some sporting happiness, fear, anger, embarrassment, insolence or insincerity.  A 19th century French neurologist, Guiilame Duchenne ( 1806—1875), studied facial expressions, one of which became identified as the “Duchenne smile;” — the mouth turning up (contraction of the zygomatic major muscle) and the cheeks lifting and the eye sockets crinkling to create crow’s feet (contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle.)  The Duchenne Smile is considered a natural smile of enjoyment and differs from other smiles as it employs only the upper face muscles.  Other smiles do not reach the eyes but reside only in the lips and possibly cheeks. “Why Psychologists Study The Duchenne Smile, And What It Means For You,” by Danni Peck, betterhelp.com, February 13, 2020.         

Every once in a while, a new word bursts on the scene.  In the Covid-19 era, behind every mask may be a “smize,” which is defined as: “a playful or alluring expression of the eyes.” dictionary.com., and “smizing,” as: “a facial expression where you smile with your eyes; giving someone happy eyes.”  Urban dictionary.com.  Etymologically, the term “smize” was coined by the supermodel Tyra Banks in 2009, when she urged models to “smile with your eyes.”  ”Stylish Mask, but You’re never Fully Dressed Without a Smize, by Jen Murphy, Wall Street Journal, page A1, August 27, 2020, page A1.  Now, just how can one make that happen?  

The Wall Street Journal article, cited above, provided some examples.  A Denver restaurant in the Halcyon Hotel, prepares staff daily by gathering in a “in a circle with their masks on and run through a series of facial-expression drills that involve arching their eyebrows, crinkling their noses and, most importantly — smizing.”  In addition, they also practice brief and subtle facial movements to express welcome and learn awareness of a guest’s needs.  What surprised me, was that the hotel engages a “Director of People and Culture,” who supervises the training:  “We need to be able to determine who is fake smiling and whether someone is lifting the upper eyelids in fear or in surprise.”  (id.)  As consumers, we need to pay more attention to what goes on behind the mask.

After all, behind every mask may lurk: a smile, a smize or a smirk.