Beyond the Mask: The Art and Science of Reading Faces for Insight and Connection

We may not realize it, but we all read faces. In fact, we register faces in about 1/17th of a second – faster than the blink of an eye. Each time we see a face, we tell ourselves a story about the person whose face it is. Hollywood has been using this for the past 100 years. Think of Bambi with the big eyes and round, soft cheeks. We see those features, which induce a softening within us; we know they’re no threat.

On the other hand, think of the wicked witch in Snow White or The Wizard of Oz. They have sharp, pointed features. Automatically and unconsciously, we think of ugly, nasty personalities. More recently, we have the Klingons and the Ferengi in Star Trek- The Next Generation. The former has big, bony features, no soft lines, and a deep, staccato voice- all designed to create an image of aggression and force. The Ferengi have large noses and ears, both associated with money-making.

The beauty industry has banked – literally – on female tastes and preferences changing frequently. From lip fillers to various eyebrow shapes to Botox to cosmetic surgery, ideas of what is or isn’t beautiful have varied from generation to generation. It’s quite likely that an icon like Marilyn Monroe would be considered ordinary-looking and overweight in today’s world.

From a face-reading perspective, this all provides fascinating material. The ancient Oriental tradition recognizes that our static facial features provide information about personality, behavior style, communication patterns, stress triggers and responses, family influences, and much more. Each facial area and feature relates to part of our life history and our potential. The eyes, ultimately,

are the most important features. There’s an old saying that they are ‘the windows to the soul.’ Whether or not we accept that, they certainly provide deep insights into the individual’s emotional state and overall vitality. Think of the late, great Robin Williams, whose eyes conveyed warmth and sadness. If we think of Vladimir Putin, we see eyes, which, even as a young boy, conveyed distance and coldness. These are just two very different examples, but making eye contact is vital to reading people.

When mask-wearing was ubiquitous, the eyes were often the only visible feature, and it was an ideal opportunity to read the person behind the mask – all too often, in public, we present a persona as a mask to hide behind. I’m often asked to help people who have been conned or have doubts about someone they’re negotiating with. A clear facial photo affords me to look at the eyes – and, of course, the rest of the face. While observing the eyes in live action is more informative, a still photo allows me to provide my client with tailored questions to draw out their protagonist’s real character and intentions.

The eyebrows were the other most visible feature in recent times. They’re the first thing I notice when I want to know how people prefer to receive information. Yes, I know many women have their eyebrows sculpted, changing the shape, length, thickness, etc. In simple terms, eyebrows that are mainly straight indicate a preference for logical, linear thinking. Curved eyebrows denote a more person-centered personality. Some years ago, a client had very thin eyebrows. I told her to ensure clients gave her information in bite-sized chunks. Her pattern had been that all people overload her with data, confusing her and causing her to lose business. When she changed her approach, her business improved dramatically.

In the Oriental system, the nose is, amongst other things, associated with our ability to make money. Look at any of the richest people in the world; you’ll see that none have small noses. Someone with a small nose will likely have to work very hard in, rather than on, their business to create real financial success. If you’re looking for a romantic partner, be wary of those with small nostrils, as they will likely be thrifty with their money. On the other hand, those with large visible nostrils like to spend!

You may have heard the term’ power cheeks.’ This refers to prominent upper cheekbones, characteristics of many leading male actors in Hollywood for many years. Such cheekbones are associated with drive, energy, and vitality. A large nose is another feature of those associations. These are desirable features if we’re looking for a partner who can express themselves and has stamina in the bedroom.

If we return to the image of Bambi for a moment, we recall the lovely rounded cheeks. When we see a human with rounded cheeks, we recognize them as empathetic. We instinctively associate softness and roundness as indications of a friendly nature. The one caveat I would mention here is if the eyes are small. That may well be a sign of an individual who hides a very self-focused personality behind an friendly exterior.

Returning to cosmetic changes to facial features, I have a particular perspective as a face reader. I refer to such changes as an ‘external manifestation of a desire for internal change.’ They are often an indication of an underlying insecurity. The features that have been altered provide insights into the area of personality around which they feel insecure. My clients come from all walks of life, but our personalities’ personal and professional dimensions are always interlinked.

There are many ways to look at a face; one particularly important way is to divide it into two vertical halves. The right side of a person’s face reveals their public persona, and the left reveals their private persona. Even when the two sides appear relatively symmetrical, differences will be revealed. One side of the mouth might be turned up, and the other level or turned down; one nostril might be larger. In particular, the eyes might be giving different messages.

I recommend looking at clear, frontal facial photos of celebrities and politicians. Before looking too closely:

1. Take a few slow, deep breaths and relax.
2. Allow yourself to be curious rather than biased for or against the person.
3. Cover one side of the face, and ask yourself what feeling you are getting, especially from the eye.
4. Switch sides and repeat.

It’s not about getting it right or wrong but more about activating often dormant abilities. Celebrities and politicians are so often trained and practiced at appearing confident and happy in public, but there’s often great discomfort in private.

As a species, we have only had verbal language for between 150,000 and 200,000 years. Our ancestors survived because they were skilled at reading faces, facial expressions, and body language. They had to recognize very quickly whether someone was friend or foe. These abilities are still hard-wired into us. We talk about instinct, intuition, and gut feeling, but we often second-guess ourselves. Let’sarting practicing with facial photos, as mentioned, to begin to restore those abilities to their rightful place in our daily lives. For all the technological advances we’re seeing, there’s an epidemic of loneliness in people’s lives, and learning to read faces helps provide an opportunity for real connection.

I wish you joy in practicing and taking your relationships to a new level.

Learn more about them at https://clearsightcommunications.com/ and follow them at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-mcguire-face-magic/.