Moisturizing Miracle or Butt of a Joke?

plus, a cheap and cheery lagniappe

Welcome readers, old and new!

Please hit the ❤️ above for an unusual insight into selfies.

I always feel a little foolish taking a selfie, and I don’t love populating HNTFUYF with photos of yours truly unless it’s to show you something really wearable, comfortable, or price-worthy. (And to new readers, I don’t accept pay for play; there are zero product partnerships or collaborations offering financial reward for a mention in these hallowed halls.)

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Last weekend I grabbed a new Nivea lip balm in the drugstore, intrigued by the color and the claim that it contains 98% naturally derived ingredients, which evidently means the ingredients are mostly oils like sunflower seed, castor, and rapeseed.

The balm feels cushiony and moisturizing. And the reason for today’s selfie is that I found the shade—blackberry—surprisingly pretty. A pack of two costs less than a large bodega coffee. Small caveat: The balm has a slight berry-something flavor—so if that’s a deal breaker, it’s not for you.

Wearable, comfortable, price- and-smile-worthy.

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My accidental muse, L, recently noted on one of our long walks that I almost always wonder aloud what to have for dinner. (Salmon at least once a week, both when I’m in New York and Tokyo, as salmon’s omega 3 fatty acids and the carotenoid astaxanthin are believed to support skin health.)

L’s comment made me realize dinner is probably the subject I think about most on my walks. I never make anything fancy, but I do sit at a table with a placemat and a cloth napkin, either gazing at river traffic out the window, reading, or watching something online. I remember a well-known literary agent once saying her favorite dinner was a tuna salad sandwich on a tray in front of the TV in her library. She was financially (and prepositionally) rich; I loved the chic simplicity of her style. Though I don’t have a TV or a library, I do share her enjoyment of a solitary meal.

Do you think this much about food? How and where do you dine at home?

After the paywall, a reader wants to know what gives with a weird trend involving diaper rash cream and your face. Surprises abound.

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.

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