GIF-based FACS guide with isolated action units (AUs), proper FACS nomenclature, & corresponding muscle labels
*See AU 11 & AU 23 for rare reference shots of nasolabial furrow deepener & lip tightener.
Eyebrow combination references HERE.
More upper face references HERE.
AU | Description | Facial Muscle(s) | Example GIFs |
1 | inner brow raiser | frontalis, pars medialis | ![]() |
2 | outer brow raiser | frontalis, pars lateralis | ![]() |
4 | brow lowerer | corrugator supercilii, depressor supercilii, depressor glabellae (aka procerus) | ![]() |
5 | upper lid raiser | levator palpebrae superioris | ![]() |
6 | cheek raiser | orbicularis oculi, pars orbitalis | ![]() |
7 | lid tightener | orbicularis oculi, pars palpebralis | ![]() |
9 | nose wrinkler | levator labii superioris, alaeque nasi | ![]() |
10 | upper lip raiser | levator labii superioris, caput infraorbitalis | ![]() |
11 | nasolabial furrow deepener | zygomaticus minor | ![]() |
12 | lip corner puller | zygomaticus major | ![]() |
13 | sharp lip puller | levator anguli oris (aka caninus) | ![]() |
14 | dimpler | buccinator | ![]() |
15 | lip corner depressor | depressor anguli oris (aka triangularis) | ![]() |
16 | lower lip depressor | depressor labii inferioris | ![]() |
17 | chin raiser | mentalis | ![]() |
18 | lip pucker | incisivii labii superioris and incisivii labii inferioris | ![]() |
20 | lip stretcher | risorius w/ platysma | ![]() |
22 | funneler | orbicularis oris | ![]() |
23 | lip tightener | orbicularis oris | ![]() |
24 | lip presser | orbicularis oris | ![]() |
25 | lips part | depressor labii inferioris or relaxation of mentalis, or orbicularis oris | ![]() |
26 | jaw drop | masseter, relaxed temporalis and internal pterygoid relaxed | ![]() |
27 | mouth stretch | pterygoids, digastric | ![]() |
28 | lip suck | orbicularis oris | ![]() |
43 | eyes closed | relaxation of levator palpebrae superioris; orbicularis oculi, pars palpebralis | ![]() |
45 | blink | relaxation of levator -palpebrae superioris; orbicularis oculi, pars palpebralis | ![]() |
46 | wink | relaxation of levator palpebrae superioris; orbicularis oculi, pars palpebralis | ![]() |
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