After taking stock of the eyes, take note of what’s happening with the rest of the face of the potential non-truth-teller. There are several key signs to watch for in a liar, and the bigger the lie, the more obvious these signs may be. But again, it usually depends on how often this person lies, how comfortable he is doing it, and whether he thinks he’s close to getting caught.

Flushing and Blushing

For starters, a flushed face is a sign of nervousness or embarrassment, and something that unskilled liars are especially prone to. This response is also tied into the chemistry of the fight-or-flight reaction, and exhibits itself in red patches on the cheeks, neck, back, and even the torso. This blotchiness is usually more visible in fair-skinned people, so if Dick happens to be of Mediterranean descent and Jane has just returned home all tanned after a Caribbean cruise, it’s not likely that you’ll be able to see either one of them blushing from anxiety.

There’s the Rub!

You might think that flared nostrils would be a clear indication of someone’s guilt, but you’d be wrong. While flared nostrils can indicate anxiety or anger and defiance, all of which might be experienced by someone who’s hiding the truth from you, these emotions might also be the legitimate reaction to being accused by you. So should you discount the nose in its entirety when you’re deciding about someone’s veracity, or does it hold other secrets regarding the truth? If you ask someone a point-blank question and she answers by rubbing her nose, that’s actually a fairly good indication that she isn’t being truthful. In fact, any sort of self-touch to the face shows that a person is feeling a little anxious (self-touches are designed to soothe the nerves, remember).

Take a look at your doughnut suspects now. Dick is rubbing the heck out of his nose while Jane is simply chomping away at her gum.

Head Issues

A liar uses his head in very particular ways. For example, if Dick stands before you proclaiming his innocence and shaking his head excessively while he speaks, that’s a sign of anxiety and an indication that all is not well with him. If he remains silent and tilts his head down or to the side, he’s either trying to avoid eye contact or he’s thinking of a way to choose his words very carefully, both of which indicate that something’s up with him. If he raises a hand to the back of his head or neck—another self-touch—that also signals nervousness.

If Dick is displaying any of these characteristics while he’s under the bright light of your doughnut interrogation, it looks as though you may be closing in on your suspect—especially if Jane is standing by with a rather level, steady head on her shoulders.