The hottest Beauty Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Unsexy Things That Are Surprisingly Great

Total Rec • 9286 implied HN points • 22 Jun 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. Finding value in unsexy products can lead to surprisingly great discoveries, separating genuine quality from flashy marketing gimmicks.
  2. Shopping for uncool items allows you to prioritize personal preferences over brand influence, leading to a more fulfilling shopping experience.
  3. Embracing unsexy brands helps in appreciating products for their true value and reduces the chase for novelty, fostering contentment and a more thoughtful consumption approach.

Beauty Is Stone Cold in the Arts, but Hot as a Consumer Product

The Honest Broker • 17288 implied HN points • 01 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Beauty
  1. Beauty is now seen as something you can buy, rather than something deeper found in art and nature. People care more about products than artistic expression when it comes to beauty.
  2. Artists often dismiss beauty, thinking it’s just about being pretty or sentimental. They struggle to connect with the real power of beauty, which should evoke strong feelings in the audience.
  3. Despite all this, people still crave beauty and are willing to spend a lot of money on it, showing that there is a strong desire for authentic beauty in our lives.
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Desire Digest 001

Many Such Cases • 1698 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Beauty
  1. The term 'hawk tuah' became popular online from a viral clip where a woman casually talks about her sexual desires. It shows a fun, carefree attitude towards sexuality, even if it gets commercialized later.
  2. Beauty products are increasingly marketed to signal desire rather than encourage real experiences of intimacy. For example, lip colors are now designed to evoke a feeling of sexiness but might not reflect actual sexual interactions.
  3. Feeld's new feature lets users connect with multiple partners, which aims to embrace non-traditional relationships. However, it raises questions about whether we need more labels when exploring unconventional dynamics.

Old Woman Hands

The Unpublishable • 15684 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. The author reflects on her nail-biting habits and the impact of beauty norms on self-expression.
  2. Nail salons can present health risks for workers due to exposure to chemicals.
  3. The author finds a small reminder to appreciate uniqueness over conforming to beauty standards.

Meet The Lipsdick: A Dick-Shaped Lipstick

The Unpublishable • 12421 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. A lipstick shaped like a penis was launched, sparking discussions about beauty standards and feminism in the industry.
  2. The product's marketing as empowering and innovative is being questioned, as it may perpetuate stereotypes and lack depth.
  3. The controversy highlights issues with media coverage of such products, raising concerns about critical thinking and substance in journalism.

The Taylor Swift Manicure That Has Unsettled My Spirit

Hung Up • 6250 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. Taylor Swift's colorful and glittery manicure at a football game sparked discussion and fascination among fans.
  2. Swift's fashion choices and persona are seen as approachable and relatable compared to other celebrities.
  3. There is speculation that Swift's unique style may not align with high fashion brands, but she continues to engage and intrigue her audience with her personal flair.

My Hair, The Bird's Nest

The Unpublishable • 11163 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Beauty
  1. The author reflects on her relationship with her hair and her grandfather's influence on her self-image.
  2. The narrative explores themes of beauty standards and societal pressures.
  3. The story delves into the complexities of family dynamics and personal identity.

#246: The ethics of “optimizing” for beauty

Maybe Baby • 1383 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. You can stop optimizing your face for beauty without abandoning grooming; developing a personal style and basic self-care can make you feel attractive in a different, healthier way.
  2. Personal taste matters — some people genuinely prefer a bare face and find it more authentic, but aging and the beauty industry’s standards warp self-perception and make divestment harder.
  3. Criticizing the beauty industry and loosening impossible standards helps reduce pressure, while still recognizing that wearing makeup or getting procedures can be a valid personal choice and shouldn’t be shamed.

ANOTHER WORLD EXISTS

The Unpublishable • 10849 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Beauty
  1. Kim Kardashian's alien-themed campaign for SKIMS reflects a cultural beauty ideal
  2. The poem highlights societal focus on skincare technology and beauty standards
  3. It comments on humanity's superficial pursuit of perfection while longing for connection

I Wear the Same Thing Every Day and I Love It!

CAFÉ ANNE • 6014 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. The writer wears the same outfit every day and finds it freeing and efficient.
  2. The writer received $100 from a reader and is getting reader suggestions on how to spend the remaining $64.
  3. The newsletter has grown significantly, with 10,000 total subscriptions and 70% growth in paid subscriptions.

Plastic Surgery

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 16 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Beauty
  1. Extensive cosmetic surgery can erase a person’s recognizable face and often feels excessive, while subtle, tasteful changes are more acceptable.
  2. Being comfortable and authentic in your own skin matters more than buying a perfected look. Energy and effort often attract people more than genetics or perfect features.
  3. Cosmetic work is reasonable for medical or minor fixes, but widespread pursuit of manufactured beauty and homogenized looks is worrying and can reduce individuality.

March 26: Fashion and Tech, united in Beauty

Respectful Leadership • 54 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. A curated mixer on March 26 in NoMad will bring fashion and beauty tech leaders together to collaborate and explore what’s next in the industry.
  2. The event is exclusive with limited venue capacity and a hand-selected guest list of founders, creators, strategists, advisors, investors, and builders for high-value networking.
  3. Tickets include a complimentary drink and bites, and hosts point to a Luma signup and newsletter for registration and updates.

How To Go On In A World Full Of Cruelty

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2202 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Beauty
  1. Feeling overwhelmed by the world's cruelty is normal. It's okay to take a break and fully experience those emotions before getting back to work.
  2. Finding beauty in everything, even in dark and difficult situations, can help keep hope alive. You can appreciate the world's chaos while still fighting for a better future.
  3. Love for the planet and all its creatures is a powerful motivator. This love drives actions and encourages resilience, even amid challenging times.

50something woman leaves the house without makeup shocker!

The Shift With Sam Baker • 1058 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. Leaving the house without makeup, especially as a woman over 50, can be seen as an act of courage and rebellion against societal beauty standards.
  2. As people age, their attitude towards makeup and beauty standards may shift, with some choosing a more minimal approach or opting to prioritize comfort and self-acceptance.
  3. The discussion around makeup, particularly going makeup-free, extends beyond just a fashion trend and can signify a larger movement towards women feeling empowered to embrace their natural beauty.

Immanuel Kant — Beauty

Ralph Ammer • 569 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Beauty
  1. Beauty leads us to truth and goodness according to Immanuel Kant.
  2. Our perceptions are structured by concepts inside our mind, creating our understanding of the world.
  3. Beauty is a relief from rational thinking, allowing us to enjoy the playful dance of our mind with the world.

How to see beauty

Ralph Ammer • 884 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Beauty
  1. Moments of excessive beauty can be hard to fully enjoy due to distractions and worries.
  2. When drawing, focus on what you find interesting, make a plan, and stay relaxed yet attentive.
  3. Accept imperfections in your art as they can capture the essence of the moment and experience.

What's got my attention this week #42

The Shift With Sam Baker • 299 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. The Shift With Sam Baker is a reader-supported publication that relies on paid subscribers for its existence.
  2. The newsletter includes links to interesting articles and writings about topics like midlife crisis, privacy issues, and life coaching.
  3. The newsletter also covers diverse subjects such as fashion, current events, and personal development.

The sordid tale of a Victorian beauty guru

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky • 93 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. Madame Rachel was a famous beauty con artist in the Victorian era, offering women dangerous beauty treatments that promised to enhance their looks.
  2. She created a lavish image for her beauty business, which made her clients believe they were getting special, luxurious treatments.
  3. Madame Rachel's methods included blackmailing clients with their secrets, showing how the beauty industry exploits insecurities, a tactic still seen today.

Back at it with the ✨MJC-mail!✨

Is It Just Me Or... • 648 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Beauty
  1. The author had a mix of experiences last month, from a dreamy photoshoot to battling food poisoning.
  2. The author celebrated walking in London Fashion Week in second-hand clothes for a good cause.
  3. The author shared a self-kindness win, emphasizing the importance of going back to basics in self-care.

The Intrinsic Value of Consciousness

Going Awol • 139 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Beauty
  1. Intrinsic value is value something has for its own sake, like pleasure or achievement, while instrumental value is value something has as a means to an end, like money.
  2. Consciousness is considered instrumentally valuable as it is a prerequisite for many intrinsically valuable things like forming relationships, feeling happiness, and experiencing beauty.
  3. The aesthetic value of consciousness lies in its beauty and the wonder it inspires, as it is seen as sublime and intricately mysterious.