26 Comments
Oct 18, 2022Liked by Valerie Monroe

I think you’re spot on with hoping to have some control over aging. I am turning 70 ….. 70!!!!! in a couple of weeks and my head is filled with dark thoughts every time I look in the mirror. I mean how did I get here? If it would just stop raining it would help I think Oz is going to float away never to be seen again, I keep expecting Noah to knock on the door. Anyway I’m nearly 70. I feel 40 but look 80 and I know in my heart the creams and exfoliants aren’t going to do anything useful. All that’s left is to smile …. hugely!!!

Expand full comment
Oct 18, 2022Liked by Valerie Monroe

Val… thanks for the preview of your upcoming hair article. One thing I’d love to see more supported is the normalizing of wearing hair. I’ve personally struggled with hair loss since puberty. While, I’ve taken finasteride, spironolactone, use minoxidil, and various vitamins, I found the thing that gives me immediate results 100% of the time is a well placed, high quality hairpiece. I don’t wear it all the time and I’ve never kept it a secret, but I always get the impression that people are gossiping about me behind my back. Sorry my hair isn’t thIck and my scalp shows! I’m now 51 and sort of feeling a bit of smug validation now that my friends are dealing with thinning hair. When I suggest a topper or clip in extensions, the reaction is, “I could never.” Why not?

Expand full comment

You beat me to the skin cycling post!! Spot on. I'm also citing these incessant "recovery" PR pitches :)

Expand full comment

On the topic of skincare products... you might be interested in this...? A good friend of my daughter's is one of the women behind a website called SKINSKOOL—a site that will find less expensive alternatives to whatever crazily expensive cream you're using by comparing the ingredient list. Don't know why I didn't think to mention this before now!

Expand full comment

How to break the cycle of being a sucker: know that you’re a sucker.

- the girl on her way to the dermatologist who will surely convince her to spend way too much on neck serum, which is OBVIOUSLY different from face serum.

Expand full comment

I think this, what you are doing, is the vanguard, frankly: debunking all the prescriptive baloney that is part of the mass enchantment of making us all think we are defective unless we buy something. It's so hard to get people to trust themselves and what they think, in part because we don't spend enough time thinking our own thoughts. There is too much noise in our heads from others telling us what to do.

Expand full comment
Oct 18, 2022Liked by Valerie Monroe

Dear Val, another round of applause for HNTFUYF! When I read The New York Times article on skin cycling, my first thought was, “Can’t wait to see what HNTFUYF will have to say about this!”

And your take, as always, was spot on!

Leave it to the ever-spinning marketing machine to fill a gap that never existed (the “need” for “recovery” products) so that brands can jump on the skin cycling bandwagon.

Looking forward to your next post on thinning hair. I’m intrigued by what I’ve read so far about oral Minoxidil, but the potential side effects would make me think twice about using it. Next week’s edition of HNTFUYF is sure to spark lots of interesting conversations!

Expand full comment
Oct 18, 2022Liked by Valerie Monroe

Loving the reference to the dead bug Val 🤣😂. I’m certainly a skin care addict and just got rid of some products because I have noticed my skin has changed after I turned 41!! Now I’m rethinking everything 😝. Thanks for the great content as usual 😊.

Expand full comment
Oct 18, 2022Liked by Valerie Monroe

you forgot 2 other methods of speeding up the damage ....drinking from straws and whistling! I'm proof in the pudding!

Expand full comment