Wrinkles under eyes – regret, lost inner parts & what the face really reveals
- Daniel Neuhaus
- Feb 6
- 7 min read
1. What are wrinkles under the eyes and why do they form?
Wrinkles under the eyes are among the most visible lines in the face. From a medical perspective, they develop due to thin skin, reduced collagen, dryness, or frequent facial expression. But from a Face Reading perspective, these lines tell another story.
They show us where a person has lost something – an inner part, a phase of life, a passion, or someone who once mattered deeply. Some of these wrinkles are soft and fine. Others appear deep, etched, almost like small shadows that remained.
The question is not: “How do I get rid of them?”
But rather: “What does this area reveal about my lived life?”
Contents at a glance
2. The Children Palace & the inner map of emotions
The area under the eyes is referred to in Chinese Face Reading as the Children Palace (子女宫 Zǐ Nǚ Gōng). It does not only reflect our relationship with actual children, but also:
how connected we are to our inner child
how we treat our own needs
how we have processed loss, farewell, or change
how much vitality and aliveness we allow ourselves
Wrinkles under the eyes that appear in this area often point to themes such as grief, regret, inner exhaustion, or lost parts of the self.
Many of these lines begin at the inner corner of the eye. This is crucial. Here, the face shows what we carry in our innermost being – often long before we are able to put it into words.
3. The regret line – when something valuable was lost
The most important line in this area is the regret line.
It begins at the inner corner of the eye and runs diagonally downward, often reaching the upper cheekbone. This line can indicate:
the loss of an inner part of the self
regret about what once was
a passion that is no longer lived
a former version of the self that is missing today
a relationship that left deep traces
ungrieved changes or major life breaks
It is the line of a person who feels:
“I am no longer the person I once was – and I miss something of myself.”
The deeper this line is, the stronger the sense of loss.
4. From regret to grief – when the line continues
When the regret line becomes stronger, it can develop into sorrow or grief lines.
These no longer begin at the inner corner, but at the outer corner of the eye and then run downward. At this point, the face tells us that a lost inner part has turned into a true farewell.
deep pain
lasting grief
an unprocessed loss
the feeling of “not finding oneself again”
These lines rarely disappear through aesthetic treatments – not because they are medically difficult, but because they are the expression of an inner process.
5. Which side are they more pronounced on? – This is crucial
Left side – personal, inner themes
They stand for:
intimate, hidden losses
unmet needs
parts of the self that were suppressed
personal dreams that were given up
Right side – outer world, relationships
This side points to themes such as:
separation
disappointed expectations
professional or social losses
the feeling of having to adapt
Depending on where wrinkles under the eyes appear more strongly, they tell a very different story.
6. What wrinkles under the eyes are NOT
Wrinkles under the eyes are not automatically:
a sign of lack of sleep
a purely age-related feature
a problem that needs to be “fixed”
a flaw
Many people have these lines treated without realizing that they may be covering up important inner information.
In Face Reading, it is not about removing.
It is about understanding how a person became who they are today.
7. The deep psychological meaning – lost parts of the self
Wrinkles under the eyes often indicate:
lost creativity
lost joy of life
an earlier self that was left behind
cut-off inner needs
wishes that once existed
a part of the self that has been silent for too long
Many people experience a strong resonance when this area is read.
Their face reflects something back to them that they have long felt, but were never able to name.
8. Developmental message – the invitation of the face
Wrinkles under the eyes want to tell you: “Reclaim what you have lost.”
Possible impulses here:
remember old passions
ask yourself: “What used to bring me joy?”
give yourself space to become yourself again
release bonds that keep you small
allow grief so that something new can emerge
integrate instead of merely functioning
The path is: self-reclamation instead of self-loss.
9. What you can specifically observe
Does the line begin at the inner corner of the eye? → lost parts of the self
Does it radiate far downward? → strong loss / regret
Only on the left? → very personal inner-world themes
Only on the right? → relationships, outer world, adaptation
Deep and long, running across the cheek? → transition into sorrow or grief lines
This way of reading has nothing to do with judgment. It is an invitation to encounter yourself.
10. Conclusion – why wrinkles under the eyes are valuable indicators
Wrinkles under the eyes do not form by chance. They are signs of a lived life and tell stories of loss, change, and rediscovery.
They show:
where we were hurt
where we lost ourselves
what wants to be seen within us
what wants to come back to the surface
And sometimes: what we are allowed to reclaim.
If you would like to go even deeper:
If you want to understand why tear bags are far more than a cosmetic topic and how uncried tears, kidney energy, and emotional burdens become visible there, you will find a deep look behind the façade here.
Black, blue, brown, red, or yellow – each color under the eyes points to something different. If you want to learn how to distinguish medical causes from emotional patterns, this article guides you step by step through the topic.
If you want to understand how different wrinkles form in the face and what they reveal about your inner story, you will find an in-depth overview here.
The philtrum reveals a great deal about connection, life energy, and attraction. If you want to dive deeper, you will find a clear guide here.
An important complementary article if you want to understand how fear, willpower, and chin structures are connected.
If you are curious about what your Fa Ling lines reveal about your life path, old beliefs, and goal orientation, this article takes you deeper into the symbolism.
If you do not want to look at these lines only on the surface, but truly understand them, you can book a personal reading here. Your face tells your story – and we read it together.
Video: A conversation about personality, empathy, and what faces reveal
In this episode of FlowGrade – For Life, I talk with Max Gotzler about what Face Reading can truly offer today. We walk through the foundations – physiognomy, facial expression, and body language – and discuss how personality shows itself in the face, where the limits lie, and why empathy is the core of this work.
At the end, I read a few facets of Max’s personality from his face – in the form of a small speed reading, in a live analysis.
Free Face Reading Webinar – live every month
In my monthly live webinar, I show you how Face Reading works in practice.
You will learn how facial features are connected to personality, resources, and inner patterns – and how you can use this knowledge for coaching, communication, or your personal development.
The webinar is interactive and offers plenty of space for your questions.
Join for free here:
FAQ – wrinkles under the eyes
What do wrinkles under the eyes mean in Face Reading?
They indicate regret, inner losses, and parts of the self that have not been integrated. Often, they point to a “former version” of oneself that is missing or was left behind.
Is there a difference between regret lines and grief lines?
Yes. Regret lines begin at the inner corner of the eye. Grief lines start at the outer corner of the eye and continue further downward.
Why are wrinkles under the left eye more common?
The left side represents inner, personal themes. This is where emotions appear that we do not want to carry outward.
Can these wrinkles be removed?
Medically: yes.
Emotionally: only when the inner loss has been processed.
Aesthetic treatments often only cover the visible surface.
What can I do if I notice such lines on my own face?
Ask yourself:
“What did I once love – and why am I no longer living it today?”
This is often the starting point for reclaiming lost inner parts.