WORDS HATTIE PARISH
There are some things that should be left firmly in the past: avocado bathroom suites, low-rise jeans, and, according to scientists, face mapping. The traditional Chinese and ayurverdic practice dictates that skin issues on certain areas of the face point to different internal organs and systems. And we can see the appeal: in a chaotic world, being able to understand and therefore exercise some control over our skin can act as welcome solace.
So, if the scientists are right and it’s all baloney, why does that pesky spot keep rearing its head in the exact same place? And how come a barrage of pimples decide to set up camp on your chin just as PMT kicks in? While there’s limited research into most areas of traditional face mapping, the science has caught up with a few theories, and new routes are now being explored. ‘We shouldn’t discount experience either’, says facialist Abigail James. ‘In my 20- odd years of having my hands on lots of faces, there are key things that crop up time and time again – that is not scientific, but it is significant.’