Beauty

Face ‘feng shui’ is a thing and here’s how you can alter your destiny with it

02.02.2021

By Wei Yeen Loh

Face ‘feng shui’ is a thing and here’s how you can alter your destiny with it

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, your face is likely the map to your destiny—according to feng shui principles, that is. In Chinese geomancy, it is said that every feature, spot, mark and detail on your face bears significance (whether positive or otherwise).

While there is no scientific evidence of face feng shui‘s benefits on one’s wellbeing, a growing crop of facial aesthetic trends these days are uncannily aligned with face feng shui principles. We speak to aesthetic practitioner Dr. Karen Po from Astute Clinic on how facial aesthetic treatments can help improve one’s face feng shui, and what is the hallmark of an ‘auspicious’ face:

Can you please walk us through what a “lucky face” is? Does each specific facial feature need to look a certain way?

“While I am no expert in feng shui, I understand that according to the traditional Chinese practice or face reading (physiognomy), a face can be deemed ‘lucky’ or ‘unlucky’ based on the ‘mountains’ and ‘rivers’ of the face, which indicate wealth and fortune. We all desire ‘lucky’ face (fu xiang) that draws good fortune and luck. A face that is balanced on both sides indicates that the individual is well aligned to attract prosperity.

“On the contrary, signs of misfortunes are mostly from moles, spots, coloured marks and indentations. Where they are found on your face can give you an idea at what age you will face these problems or obstacles. Also, another fun fact: Do you know that dull ashen skin, darkness or shadows on any part of the face is generally not good qi?”

Fece Feng Shui
Image: Pinterest

a. Forehead:

“The forehead signifies luck sent from heaven and is considered the ‘first prosperity mountain’ of the face. A forehead that is smooth, round, prominent and wide indicates good fortune, power and wealth according to feng shui. The forehead should also be clear of lines, blemishes, spots or moles.”

b. Eyes:

“Eyes that shine and are slightly moist are said to indicate great fortune, regardless of shape, size or colouring. Eyes should be bright with clear sclera and ideally framed by arched, full, well-trimmed eyebrows, indicating good healthy and prosperity. Droopy and sleepy-looking eyes caused by eyebags or dark eye circle signifies lack of vitally and energy. Having double eyelids are not important—the most important aspect is the shine and vitality of the eyes themselves.”

c. Nose:

“The nose is another wealth spot of the face signifying one of the rivers of the face. An ideal nose is said to be rounder and fleshier, for more wealth luck. It should look balanced and smooth, with no spots or blemishes. A woman’s nose is the prime indicator of the potential achievement of her man, particularly with the modern indicators of success—career, wealth and so on. A good nose of a lady that would ‘prosper’ her husband should be tall and with a decent nose bridge. Any hump is not good sign for marriage; the same goes for spots of any colour on the nose, which could denote signs of obstacles/misfortunes, especially for moles on the tip of nose.”

d. Lips:

The mouth is the second ‘river’ on the face. According to feng shui, plumper, fuller and rosy lips are deemed lucky for both men and women, and are said to be able to attract wealth. Irrespective of size or shape, the lips should never be dry or chapped as this indicates drying of the river and hence loss of luck. As long as the lips are well moist, it draws luck and wealth.

e. Chin and Jawline:

The chin is the second ‘mountain’ of the face. An auspicious chin is one that is fleshier, prominent and well-contoured, as it displays luck and stability during older ages with supportive friends and subordinates. A recessed chin with jawline that lacks definition is not ideal. In men, a strong jawline also indicates a strong personality, masculinity and authority whereas a receding jawline indicates misfortune and weakness.

f. Cheeks:

High cheekbones and fuller cheeks are highly desirable in welcoming greater wealth and prosperity into your life. Well-defined or prominent cheekbones that are fleshy are said to signify authority and success in one’s career.

“Interestingly, many of these traditional beliefs do align with what is considered a desirable or attractive according to aesthetic medicine, such as smooth round forehead, contoured chin, a symmetrical or well-balanced face, and clear unblemished skin with smooth skin texture. However, not all the feng shui beauty standards can be applied to everyone. As aesthetic physicians, our role is to assess the individual’s face and bone structure to determine what characteristics or features can or should be enhanced (or downplayed), in order to achieve a result that is both aesthetically pleasing and desirable to the individual.”

Does the skin on the face also play a role in face feng shui i.e. crystal clear skin vs skin with blemishes, marks, scarring etc?

“In general, it is believed that luck favours those with glowing, clear and blemish-free skin as it indicates a smooth sailing life. Skin colour and texture is also important. A face that is bright and luminous is said to be more lucky than one that is sallow and dull.”

Fece Feng Shui

What kind of aesthetic treatments can help improve face feng shui?

“There are several aesthetic treatments in the market that can improve your face feng shui or get you your desired facial features, ranging from minimally-invasive to surgical treatments. Minimally-invasive treatments, such as thread lifts, dermal fillers and lasers, are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to surgical treatments or implants, as they are less invasive, have less downtime, and provide greater flexibility in the long run.

“The type of treatment that I would recommend is based on the pathophysiology of patient’s concerns and the patient’s desired outcome. For example, to attain a smooth, round and wrinkle-free forehead, we can use botulinum toxins (Botox) to relax the tense, hyperkinetic muscles, or a hyaluronic acid (HA) filler like Juvederm to volumise and contour the forehead, smoothen fine lines and hydrate the skin.

“On the other hand, areas of the face that require sculpting may benefit from a filler like Juvederm Volux®, which we typically use to contour the chin and jawline to create a more attractive, slimmer and defined face-shape. For moles and blemishes, we can use lasers to address them while colour, tone and texture of the skin can be addressed with microinjections and lasers.

“Before undergoing any type of aesthetic treatment, it is important to always consult a certified aesthetic physician in order to get a professional assessment of your face in order to get spot on diagnosis, hence customised treatment(s). Often times, what individuals think they need or want may not be suitable for their face structure. A qualified aesthetic physician will discuss your concerns, needs and the outcome you hope for, and align it with the type of treatment that is suited for you.”

With regards to popular aesthetic trends nowadays, are these considered “auspicious” in face feng shui: V -shaped chin, 3D face, a narrow and high nose bridge, thick lips, etc?

“The above trends may not necessarily align with feng shui principles. They have become popular and sought-after due to various factors including the influence of social media, celebrities, and Korean culture. In fact, these trends may not suit most types of faces. Everything has to be in harmony and balance. I personally believe in a more holistic approach to achieve a natural yet sophisticated look, rather than blindly following beauty trends. Anything extreme does not necessarily means good—always seek opinion from a licensed and experienced doctor.

“Let’s take the chin for example: the V shape visage with pointy chin for women has become extremely popular among the aesthetic and surgical patients in recent years. I have had patients who have come to me requesting for a more V-shaped face because they feel it is desirable and trendy, but in reality not every patient’s wants equates to his/her needs. It is a beauty trend but is not an auspicious look according to the feng shui principle.

“That being said, for somebody who has a small weak chin, then it has to be addressed for a more balanced, sophisticated look while improving the feng shui of the chin. For a ‘lucky face’, a fleshy face with round plump chin on a woman is said to be bright, cheerful and have better luck. If a woman wants to make her face too thin or chin too sharp, not only it may not look aesthetically pleasing but in feng shui, it weakens the energy of the face and may not be able to hold hers and her husband’s luck.

Fece Feng Shui
Image from Koreaboo: Korean actor Ji Chang-wook reportedly got a nose job back in 2012—as speculated by fans

“I have a male patient in his early 40s who had a short, recessed chin, but he came in requesting for a tall, sharp and defined nose bridge as he believed that his luck/fate could be improved. But from my perspective, restoring the proportion and balance of his face is necessary—in order to maintain a more harmonious look, I suggested dermal filler to augment his chin, but the patient didn’t want that. Nonetheless, I performed nose threads for him to achieve a straight, tall, and defined nose. A few months after that, this patient came back to my clinic and was in very good spirits—his business prospered and he was even awarded a ‘Datuk’ title. So, there you go!

“On the other hand, I had a female patient in her 50s who had her face fillers injected by a non-medical personnel (which is illegal in Malaysia by the way!) based on face feng shui principles. Her temple and cheeks were excessively filled until it looked masculine, resulting in an awkward-looking and puffy visage. Hence, one has to remember that too much of a good thing can be bad—enhancements only need to be done accordingly to achieve a harmonious and balanced look.”

For more beauty advice from experts, click here.

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