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 a “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 misfortune 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: did you know that dull ashen skin, darkness or shadows on any part of the face are generally not good chi?

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1. 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.

2. Eyes

3. 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 significant other 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 or misfortunes, especially for moles on the tip of nose.

4. 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 moist, they draw luck and wealth.

5. 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 that displays luck and stability during older age, with supportive friends and subordinates. A recessed chin with a 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.

6. 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 the smooth round forehead, contoured chin, 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, for instance crystal clear skin vs skin with blemishes, marks or scarring?

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 the patient’s concerns and 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.

Are popular aesthetic trends nowadays also considered “auspicious” in face feng shui? Examples: V-shaped chin, a narrow and high nose bridge, thick lips

Let’s take the chin for example: the V-shaped visage with a pointy chin for women has become extremely popular among the aesthetic and surgical patients in recent years. It is a beauty trend, but is not an auspicious look according to the feng shui principle. 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 her 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 partner’s luck.

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.

I have a male patient in his early forties who had a short, recessed chin, but he came in requesting a tall, sharp and defined nose bridge as he believed that his luck and 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 also had a female patient in her 50s who had face fillers injected based on face feng shui principles. Her temple and cheeks were excessively filled until they looked masculine, resulting in an awkward-looking and puffy visage. Too much of a good thing can be bad!

This article originally appeared on Buro Malaysia.

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