Your Five-Minute Face

plus, the benefits of tree-hugging

Welcome readers, old and new!

Please hit the ❤️ above to discover a previously unsuspected reason for hair loss.

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In times of stress, I’m a believer in distractions. My favorite? Beauty. Not only the kind you often read about here (more of that later), but also the kind you feel when dissolving into the flow of transporting music, or awakening to the glory of a fuchsia sunrise, or… hugging a tree.

Like many of you, Dear Readers, I’m currently stalked by stress, spooked it’s about to jump me and steal every last cent of my equanimity. So lately I’ve engaged in a few intimate encounters with the ancient trees here in Tokyo, which have an uncanny ability to ground me.

In the Shinto religion, ancient trees (shinboku) are considered sacred. A great deal of care is put into protecting them in recognition of the significance of their stature. Which implies respect—and which, I’m realizing as I write this, is related to the comfort they provide.

Respect—for nature, one another, the complicated histories we share, the environment, the law—has vanished in a flash of cruelty and greed. No wonder those ancient trees are calming: They represent the one assured path to repairing our fractured culture and to recognizing our universal dignity. How grateful I am to rest in the shade of their abiding beauty!

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Speaking of distractions, heard of navel oiling? It’s gone viral on social media, consequently infecting the public relations community.

A recent PR email suggested the Ayurvedic practice will help reduce bloating, improve gut health, aid in something called “natural detoxification,” and nourish the body. As if that weren’t enough to convince me, an accompanying video also promised a flatter belly.

FYI, there’s no significant scientific evidence suggesting that navel oiling results in any of these effects. And an online story promoting the practice in Vogue advised, “You want to be very conscious when choosing an oil.” Also, I’d add, when choosing how to spend a dwindling retirement account.

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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