That's Fairy Dust in Your Face Cream

how to avoid the swindlers

Welcome readers, old and new!

Please hit the ❤️ above for a glimpse into your future bathing experience.

Thank you to the readers who recommended various solutions for my cracked, burning thumbs. I’ve continued to smother them in 40% urea cream before bed and recently discovered another helpful healer: a thumb condom, though a friend suggested I call it something less vulgar, like a finger cot. (The use of “cot” for this protective sock comes from “cottage,” an etymological detail I find comforting.) Cream slathered under the cot seems to be a miracle worker, which shouldn’t surprise me, as a similar trick has worked for my heels with urea cream + toeless heel socks. Any day now, I’ll be swaddling my entire body in urea cream and saran wrap: Moisturizing for mummies.

Last week’s post about blepharoplasty invited many new readers, and because we know issues around aging eyes are often in our sightline, HNTFUYF-ers will soon be treated to a post about less invasive (i.e. non-surgical) options for dealing with eyelid overhang, dark circles, undereye puffiness, and the general reduction of sparkle associated with the mature squab. Sit tight.

I recently saw a story about product “dusting” in the beauty market, which piqued my interest; it seemed to be yet another way Big Beauty has pulled the wool over our (heavy-lidded) eyes. You should know what I found. Check it out after the paywall.

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

Can’t afford a subscription? Write to me at valeriemonroe@substack.com and I’ll give you a comp.