I simpered awkwardly, showing skin (9)
I believe the answer is:
epidermis
'skin' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'i simpered awkwardly' is the wordplay.
'awkwardly' indicates anagramming the letters.
'i'+'simpered'='isimpered'
'isimpered' anagrammed gives 'EPIDERMIS'.
'showing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for epidermis that I've seen before include "Outer layer of skin" , "Outermost layer" , "Protective covering" , "Surface of the skin" .)