Comedolytics to the Rescue!

solving a common complexion problem

Welcome readers, old and new!

Please hit the ❤️ above to clarify what you might get in an FDA-approved product.

Last week’s Flash Sale—active till March 12^th—generated a lovely influx of new paid subscribers who are probably interested in learning what they’ve gotten themselves into.

First, welcome to a community of smart, accomplished, compassionate people who have recently (and generously) shared their joyful recommendations for sunscreens and cosmetics.

Second, you now have access to the sprawling HNTFUYF archives, where you can while away an afternoon or evening perusing the goods. HNTFUYF’s guardian angel suggested we link to five of the most popular posts to give new readers an impactful place to start. “A trail map through the HNTFUYF forest,” they said. We do love a metaphor (you might’ve noticed). Here’s a map; follow the links!

• My personal skincare routine.

• Aging gracefully? I don’t think so.

• This is your skin on booze.

• Hype in a jar. What’s in your medicine cabinet?

• The “I feel bad about my neck” club.

If you get lost… good! You’ll surely stumble upon a thicket of practical and beneficial information. What you won’t stumble upon is an undergrowth of hype and misleading marketing.

🌲 🌳 🌲

A reader plagued with a complexion problem—blackheads? enlarged pores?—has questions about a popular solution.

Q: I am in a constant battle trying to keep my nose free of blackheads. As I’ve aged, the pores on my nose have enlarged and often fill with gunk. I use retinol but I still develop blackheads. I know squeezing them is terrible but sometimes it’s the only answer. I’m curious about hydrocolloid nose strips for this issue. Any thoughts? Thanks for keeping me anchored in reality and out of the beauty rabbit hole.

After the paywall, a bit of detective work.

HNTFUYF is a payola-free, reader-supported zone. I get no cut from sales when I mention a product. My recommendations are offered without obligation, making HNTFUYF one of the very few places where you can get unadulterated beauty advice.

The answer to this Q&A sits quivering with excitement behind a paywall. For full access to all posts and the archives, please become a paid subscriber at the current Flash Sale rate of $30/year (ends March 12th). Can’t afford a subscription? Write to me at valeriemonroe@substack.com and I’ll give you a comp. 🙏