Lasting Lashes

what to look for in a mascara, plus a lightnin' round with E. Jean Carroll!

Welcome readers, old and new!

Please hit the ❤️ above for a heads up about those of us who might be vulnerable to eating disorders.

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I want to explain why it’s unlikely you’ll find any direct references or comments here at HNTFUYF about the increasingly tragic situations flooding our newsfeeds.

I aim for these posts to be a respite—to offer calm among the kaleidoscopic flurry of disturbing, disorienting messages we now live with every day. Small miracles still abound; opportunities for gift-giving increase even while suffering increases; compassion is an act of joy and rebellion. And it manifests in your face. There’s even research on facial expressions demonstrating that kind compassion and empathic compassion have different effects on peoples’ suffering. Who knew there were different ways to look compassionate?

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Speaking of acts of rebellion: Though I don’t wear red lipstick—it’s unflattering on me—I love a red lip, especially on a face with no other makeup but mascara. Treading in the TikTok pool recently, I came across a history teacher’s fascinating anecdote about the symbolism of red lipstick during WWII. Watch her talk about it here.

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After the paywall, a reader wants to know whether certain mascara ingredients can help nourish her thinning lashes; an oculoplastic surgeon responds with much, much more about how to care for the fringe on your lids.

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Oh, and what’s this? An exclusive Lightnin’ Round with E. Jean Carroll, whose tangy memoir, Not My Type, is this summer’s juiciest blockbuster.

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

More of this post sits quivering with excitement behind a paywall. For full access to all posts and the extensive archives, please become a paid subscriber at the current rate of $40/year. Can’t afford a subscription? Write to me at valeriemonroe@substack.com and I’ll give you a comp. 🙏