On the connotations of smirk...

[Zootonius]

If I write, "She smirked after teasing her lover," it implies she was self-satisfied. There is nothing negative in that usage.

 

[ElectricBlue]

If I write, "She smirked after teasing her lover," it implies she was self-satisfied. There is nothing negative in that usage.

But for some, "self satisfied" might mean "smug", especially if there's some teasing involved - so it could be negative. The full context is important.