Why are faces so different, so full of expression yet so often ambiguous? What makes some alluring, others ugly and why should it matter? Indeed, why do we have faces at all? The face is a social sea we live in, and its familiarity blinds us to its mysteries. This is an exploration into key questions with forays into evolutionary physchology, gain theory and socio-biology. It also discusses the history of mirrors and kissing, the man in the iron mask, nose rings, the power of staring, clown make-up, eye spots on fish and insects, hypnotism, and the idols of Easter Island.