As I welcome you to another Weekend Read, and before anything else, may I just say that today is World Mental Health Day.  My emotions are all over the place for so many differing reasons, not least because it is a subject that is so close to many of our hearts.  Most specifically I have, as you know, been writing about bullying and the mental cruelty that is bestowed upon innocent people, which so often results in mental trauma and, tragically, in some instances, suicide.  All I ask is that we are each mindful of this, not only today, but for all time.  And of course it is in the sharing that we can begin to heal.

After the avalanche of emails I received last weekend on this subject, so many of you mentioned Sally Brampton and how her articles in The Sunday Times had been a life-line at a time when you needed it the most.  She was of course the poster-girl for depression and mental illness as I have written so many times.  She has left us with an innate gift, her wisdom, truth and honesty, so I just want to say here, by way of a reminder, that all of Sally’s articles will remain on our site forever and they can be accessed at any time.

And one more thing, to lighten everything up, which we must.  Sally had the most wicked sense of humour and so everything wasn’t always dark; far from it.  The balance was there, albeit in moderation at times, and let me tell you that we would sometimes do some very naughty things together.  They were, for the most part, so insane that the tears of laughter would roll down our faces, often for hours.  We didn’t really know how to behave.  So we didn’t.

So on from that, it is important to know that the light is always there, even if we think it is hidden.  Together we can find it through the greatest of adversities and challenges that we all face at this time.  We just need to be open to receive the love, friendship and support that is there for each of us, if we look.  And we have to look.  So that’s what we’ll do.  We’ll look.  Together.
Sally Brampton

Onwards, and I have so much to report this week that I am almost, but not quite, beside myself.  But I know where I have to begin and it is of course in recognition and support of World Mental Health Day.  And that support comes in the shape of a Magnolia Rhodiola Complex treat.  It has been our bestselling supplement to help alleviate stress, anxiety and low mood since the day Shabir formulated it, and that was many years ago.  To keep things neat, I will refer you to Shabir’s article, linked below, which will tell you everything you need to know about Magnolia Rhodiola Complex.

So the treat. I am lowering the price of this crucial supplement by £5 for one day only, which is today, Saturday 10 October.  This means that instead of being £28 for 60 Capsules, it now becomes £23 for 60 Capsules and this offer is good until midnight BST, or whilst stock last.  And I’m cautiously saying, it may not.  Also I just want to say that if you are on prescribed medication, such as antidepressants, you cannot take Magnolia Rhodiola Complex.

We take it as it comes, and it doesn’t matter how it comes, as long as we can each find a solution that is correct for us.  We believe that Magnolia Rhodiola Complex is the very best solution in its genre and it continues to help and support so many of you.  It also doesn’t have to be a forever thing, although those of you who take it, absolutely swear by it and won’t come off it.  And that’s fine too.  Whatever it takes.  To help find the calm.
Magnolia Rhodiola Complex £23 for 60 Capsules (Offer Ends At Midnight BST Saturday 10 October); How To Combat Stress Effectively

I am now going to try and behave myself.  Basically because it’s on the subject of Shabir.  I know I won’t be able to uphold this for very long, but for the purposes of the next three paragraphs I am going to be on my best behaviour (do you know how difficult that is) as I tell you that he has just formulated a new product for me.  Well, actually he formulated it some time ago, but I have been putting it through its paces and after much testing, I can now share this with you.  So please don’t fall over as I introduce Fulvic Body Lotion to you.  Yes.  FULVIC BODY LOTION.  Screaming capitals.  I’m a drama queen, don’t you know!

I think the easiest thing I can do here is to invite you to use it, and say nothing else.  I mean it is Fulvic after all.  Except I have to say a few words because there are two breakthrough skincare technologies in this formulation that are so brilliantly advanced, that when I run my hands up and down my legs (my hands, please note), it feels like I’m wearing silk stockings.  I’m not actually sure that I’ve ever actually worn silk stockings, but that’s a minor detail.  You get the gist.

The two technologies included are Synastol TC and HydroSynol DOI, which may not mean much to you, but they meant everything to Shabir, who went on one (one!) when he was researching, and you can read all about them on the product page.  All I really care about (in my simple mind) is that Fulvic Body Lotion delivers on promise.  Actually more than that.  It needed to be one of the most efficacious body lotions you will have ever used.  And I think you may well find that it is.  I am so incredibly fussy about the products that I use, and if it didn’t cut it, I would have sat and sulked in the corner and not shared it with you.  However, another hero is born.  And I’m debating who the hero is.  Shabir or Fulvic Body Lotion.  Answers on a postcard.
Fulvic Body Lotion by Ful.Vic.Health (that’s us!) £20 for 200 ml 

Another paragraph.  Another launch.  And it comes from Dr Colette Haydon, founder of LixirSkin.  There is something a bit daunting when you launch products for a close friend because of course you want the very best of everything for them, the product and the brand.  But I will overcome that because of the brilliance of the product.  And the brilliance of Colette.  Many of you do of course know that we launched LixirSkin for Colette and so it gives me the greatest pleasure to introduce you to Peel Express, which is a resurfacing and rehydrating mask in one.  The story continues.  In a rather magnificent way.

Given that I have often written that I rarely use acids on my skin, I made an exception when I received this gorgeous little jar of wonderment a few months ago.  It is a blend of acids, enzymes and humectants which will resurface your skin and boost the natural mechanism of hydration.  In so doing it encourages cell turnaround, which in turn helps renew the skin.  Fast.  And it does just that.  You will find that your skin gets an almost instant glow as it softens, smoothes and refines.  Additionally lines appear to fade a bit and if you follow a LixirSkin protocol, your skin will be ready to drink in Universal Emulsion, to achieve maximum plumpness.

It is best used at night, allowing the resurfacing action to build, which means your skin may well look even better the next day.  The excitement begins as you apply it to your face, neck and décolleté and start massaging until the jelly (yes it’s a jelly) turns white.  It is suggested that you leave it on for twenty minutes, although I left mine on for longer, which was pretty brave considering I don’t often do acids.

I am so thrilled with this product that I feel the need to celebrate.  And I will do so with Colette.  In the highest of heels.  It’s our thing.  And by way of a tribute, I tested Peel Express wearing heels.  In my bathroom.  On my own.  And somehow it felt the right thing to do.  You may wish to do the same.  For added effect, drench yourself in your favourite perfume.  And smile the smile of reflective fabulousness.  Of you.  And your skin.  In the mirror.
Peel Express £31 for 30 ml; Universal Emulsion £29 for 50 ml; Universal Emulsion £45 for 100 ml 

And back to health we go.  I know that so many of you are reading this in bed with a cup of tea or coffee and you may want to stay there for another 45 minutes or so as I refer you to the latest Trinny and Shabir video, in a whole long line of them.  Some of you may have already watched this as it went out live on Trinny’s Instagram channel about ten days ago.  For those who didn’t see it, Trinny and Shabir were discussing how to stay healthy this winter.  No frills.  Just the two of them in conversation and answering some of the questions posed.  Straight down the line.  And of course it’s mostly about immunity.  And also perhaps, in this moment, being in bed with Shabir.  What a thing to behold.
How To Stay Healthy This Winter with Trinny and Shabir 

If I may, I would just like to continue talking about Trinny and her new product, BFF De-Stress, which has blown me away.  It is an innovative tinted serum, it comes in twelve different shades and it has been formulated with NP-TriOX Technology, which includes the love-of-my-life ingredient, the stress-busting Neurophroline.  I think by now you all know my views on niche brands, I will support them wherever I can and so it is with absolute certainty that I can tell you that there is nothing like this product currently on the market.  It’s a first and call it what you want, but I’m calling it out as the best foundation I have ever used.  And that’s saying something.

Giving a buildable, breathable coverage, you can use as little or as much as you need; we are each different.  I declare this to be the new way in colour.  In time I believe it will be the only way, such is its brilliance.  And I’m just a little bit thrilled (make that quite a lot thrilled) that it comes from a niche-stable.  And that Trinny owns that niche-stable.  I know I have said this several times, but I just need to reiterate that there is no commercial relationship between me and Trinny.  There never has been, there never will be.  And I’m about to send you to Trinny London to discover more and choose your shade.  BFF De-Stress is a total triumph.  I wear Binky.  Amen.
Trinny London

Can we please talk about hero products again.  Most brands have a hero product in their range.  This would be the product that continually remains a bestseller and in the case of Aurelia Probiotic Skincare that would be Miracle Cleanser.  Fusing probiotic and peptide technologies, it is suitable for all skin types and as you may well have guessed by now, it is the subject of a treat; actually it’s a limited edition treat, which probably won’t last through the day, so you will need to be quick.

So here it is.  It is the 50 ml size Miracle Cleanser, which is worth £22, but whilst stock lasts we are offering it to you for £11.  Because it is a limited edition, there is only one product per customer and once it’s gone, it’s gone.  End of.
Miracle Cleanser by Aurelia Probiotic Skincare £11 for 50 ml 

Last weekend I wrote about the importance of taking Vitamin D, so today I am going to throw the focus on Vitamin C, which we believe plays an equally important role in the immunity stakes.  But it’s not only important for immunity, we also believe that Vitamin C is essential for skin health.  Shabir takes a look at this in his article about Vitamin C and healthy skin.  There is a nod to a Liposomal Vitamin C in this article and I will just put it out there that we have recommended all forms of liposomal supplementation for quite a few years because of their extended reach and efficacy.  It’s the way to go.  So we’ll go.
Vitamin C and Healthy Skin; Vitamin C Serum 23% + Ferulic Acid by GoW for VH £10 for 30 ml; C-Deep Vitamin C Serum by GoW for VH £18 for 30 ml; Altrient Liposomal Vitamin C £39.99 for 30 Sachets; Liposomal Vitamin C by YourZooki £39.99 for 30 Sachets; Micro-Liposomal Vitamin C by Aurora Nutrascience £22 for 160 ml

Take three girls.  Take three award-winning journalists.  Sarah Stacey, Jo Fairley and Alice Hart-Davis.  Add me into the mix and that’s four of us standing as one as Alice releases her new book, Start with Skincare.  It is sub-titled ‘what you really need to know about looking after your skin’ and you can read all about it in the article by the Beauty Bible girls below.  But there’s more.  In this article you will discover the difference between dry and dehydrated skin and I can’t help but smile because all three of them are huge fans of Garden of Wisdom.  I bestow a tiara on each of their heads.  In love and gratitude.  Go Alice.
Start with Skincare by Beauty Bible; Start with Skincare by Alice Hart-Davis

Let’s do some feedback.  Triple Flu Defense+ went crazy mad last weekend.  I’m not saying any more about it because you can listen to Shabir on this subject in the video with Trinny.  The one and only thing I will say is that we had enough for everybody, which was a huge relief, and it’s still in stock, which is somewhat of a miracle.  I believe in miracles and it would appear that Better You’s Magnesium Sleep Bath Flakes may well be on the verge of becoming a rather miraculous solution to helping us relax before sleeping.  Much needed I guess because we sold out within hours, but it’s now back in stock.  I thank the heavens above.
Triple Flu Defense+ (2020-2021) by Dr Nenninger £27 for 30 ml; Magnesium Sleep Bath Flakes by Better You £9.95 for 1 kg 

A couple of weeks ago I told you that I thought Shabir was running a secret society because I kept finding products on the What’s New section of the site that I knew nothing about.  And it has happened again.  Excuse me Shabir, but what exactly is Cool Cucumber & Apple Washing Up Liquid doing on our site?  I think he is in a world of his own.  And then I spotted that it was being ordered quite regularly so I kept my mouth shut.  With difficulty.

The Living section on our site is Shabir’s pet project.  The bestselling product is Terra Wash+Mg, which is an organic washing detergent replacement, otherwise known as The Laundry Revolution From Japan.  And when you find sandwich bags on there, just know that he has probably included them for his own use.  That’s fine.  He’s pretty low maintenance and I’m the polar opposite.  Don’t care.  A girl has to do what a girl has to do.  Regardless.
Living; Terra Wash+Mg – Organic Washing Detergent Replacement by Terra Wash £35

And what I have to do next is to tell you about the Saturday only treat.  And it’s a gift with a difference.  Actually make that gifts which are different.  With every order placed today (Saturday 10 October) for £25 and over (excluding p&p) we will send you something.  In other words it is ‘lucky dip’ time and even I don’t know what all the gifts are, so please don’t mail me and ask.  This will not show up on your order confirmation or invoice and is only available whilst stock lasts.

I want to end with a couple of things.  At the top of this bulletin I wrote about mental health and bullying, so I will just leave it there for this week.  What I will say is that I continue to be touched deeply by your experiences which we have been sharing in our safe sacred space.  Some of your words are so haunting that I think they will stay with me forever.  But that’s just fine.  They serve as a constant reminder that we cannot and will not let this go.  I absolutely promise you that I will not be silenced.  On anything.

So together with Shabir, Lara and the VH team, I thank you for your trust, loyalty and support.
Have a peaceful weekend.

With love

Gill x

 

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*Free gifts will only be granted if the items purchased are physical products and your total basket value exceeds the required amount noted.  Saturday only treats are subject to change should the specified gift run out prior to your purchase and are only included in orders placed between 7.45am (GMT) and Midnight (GMT) on the Saturday the Weekend Read is sent.  VH Addicts membership is a digital product and therefore will be excluded from the basket value.  Some gifts are blocked from international shipping due to local limitations imposed based on the country destination.  If this is the case, we will replace the gift with one that is able to be shipped to your destination.