Resting Bitch Face
Creases that could crop up
Forehead lines: run horizontally across the top of the T-zone
Worry lines: create an "eleven" between the brows
Bunnies: etch the bridge of the nose horizontally between the eyes
Crow's feet radiate from the outer corners of the eyes
Laugh lines, also called nasolabial folds, create parenthesis around the upper lip
Lip lines: Form vertical hatches around the perimeter of the mouth
Marionette lines: Frame the chin vertically, and as the cheeks droop, jowl wrinkles form
We spend our lives warding off lines, but wrinkles can be an asset
We buy serums and creams to keep the creases at bay. But the bottom line is that eventually, we're going to get, well, a few lines.
And that's OK — maybe even a bonus.
After all, fine lines can be just as beautiful as the round-cheeked looks of youth. Something is endearing about a laugh line and genuine about an eye crinkle. We've got the details on types of wrinkles, what can cause them, how to slow them, and why we should think of the ones that ultimately appear as art rather than imperfection.
The lines of our lives
Some of us will experience "the elevens," those vertical forehead lines that can make us look like we're always in deep thought — even about what toppings we want on our froyo. Others will get more prominent crow's feet, giving us the appearance of a life chock-full of intense emotion, especially joy.
Dynamic wrinkles
These develop from repeated facial movements. If you pucker your lips around a straw frequently, for example, you might get lip lines.
Static wrinkles. These result from a loss of elasticity and the takeover of gravity. Wrinkles that come with jowls are static.
Dynamic wrinkles can become static wrinkles over time. For example, fine smile lines morph into more prominent nasolabial folds when our cheeks lose plumpness and slightly plummet in middle age.
What your wrinkles reveal about you
Although we can map out what wrinkles might appear, we will all reframe the wrinkle story differently. Our unique set of lines says something to the rest of the world. So, instead of removing our storylines, we should consider what they say.
Researchers have been busy studying how facial creases can impact how people perceive us. Depending on the wrinkles you start to get, they might impede your poker face or enhance it. Or if you were never one to hide how you feel, your fine lines amplify how you express emotion on your face.
They mirror our overall disposition.
A recent study shows that even when our faces are resting or neutral, we still provide cues to our emotions, and the wrinkles that form are part of what gives us away.
This is especially true for people with positive dispositions. You'll likely be perceived as happy or joyful if you're habitually beaming and develop laugh lines or crow's feet from smiles that reach the eyes.
Wrinkles can mimic contempt or resting bitch face.
Just as some people's neutral faces may indicate positivity, other people's relaxed mugs may show displeasure — but without that intention. In recent years, the phrase "resting bitch face" (RBF) came about online to describe this moody-looking countenance.
Researchers have studied the phenomenon of RBF, now used as a scientific term, via a technology that reads hundreds of points on the face to determine emotional expression. The technology registers a more significant percentage of contempt to be present in images of some people.
Inevitable wrinkles, like marionette lines, can accentuate RBF by giving the appearance of a downturned mouth. Forehead, worry, and lip lines can indicate displeasure, as well. You can take the researchers' test to determine if you have RBF.
If you do — own it. You're under zero obligation to smile for the sake of others. Many celebs rock the steely look. And some people who have RBF consider it their secret weapon to success.
But if it concerns you, slide the corners of your mouth back slightly. Trying this facial expression will evoke a neutral face, neither a scowl nor a grin. For something extra, go for a micro-eye squint.
They can highlight sincerity.
Crow's feet are nothing to screech about. According to a recent study, they can indicate just how genuine you are to others.
The eye crinkle we sometimes make when expressing both positive or negative emotion is called the Duchenne marker, and it's linked to how others perceive the intensity of our feelings.
And since wrinkles can indicate the expressions you've made over your lifetime, a pair of crow's feet can make you appear more authentic. The same goes for bunnies since we often wrinkle our noses during a big smile or when wincing in agony.
If you have areas of concern, contact us for a free consultation. Or make an appointment for our anti-aging services. Botox and fillers can help smooth out those wrinkles you no longer love.