As I welcome you to the Weekend Read, I am going to extend an invitation to take you on another journey with me.  We have been on so many different journeys together, both non-product and product related.  Through it all I have always believed that the collectiveness of our own compassion and understanding serves to bond each of us when we need it the most.  And it is that bonding that is so fundamental to the very core our being, because surely it is far better to stand together, than to stand alone.  If we can.

I have written many words in the recent past about the fragmentation of our world, yet I remain eternally optimistic that light will prevail over dark, no matter what.  And light certainly prevailed over my head when I was asked to do the UK launch of another American skincare brand.  Except it’s not just another skincare brand.  It is a statement of intent and a movement.  As it stands in its own truth.  Every Product For Everybody. 

The Founder, Andrew Glass, sought to create a skincare brand regardless of gender, skin tone or skin type.  He had noticed a huge divide within the beauty industry between products marketed for men and women, together with the endless amount of products required in skincare routines.  The brand made its debut in the US with ‘Everything Serum’, together with the promise that each of the products in the range would target at least seven skin concerns within each formula.  Designed to work seamlessly together in sharing a cohesive ingredient story, please allow me to introduce you to Non Gender Specific, The Brand For All Humans.

I am going to begin by launching three products from Non Gender Specific (NGS), but before I do that, please allow me to say that I have always thought it to be an absolute nonsense that skincare brands are defined by gender.  It is of course yet another marketing exercise by an industry that continually jumps on bandwagons, but really when have you ever seen me write that Shabir is using a men’s skincare product, nor, for that matter, has he ever felt the need to formulate one.  Skin is skin.  And in Andrew, I have found somebody who is not only on the same page as me, but is prepared to debate the future of the beauty industry.  And I celebrate that, because he is light years ahead.  Of the crowd.

Before I write about the three products, I will just tell you that aside from one or two occasions when I have needed to test a skincare product recently, I have been using the NGS products for several months.  Which, I suppose, says it all really.  It is not that often that a product range truly astounds me, but NGS does just that.  I have always thought that any form of relationship is important, and that includes the products we choose to use, so although my relationship with these products begun some time ago, it is only now that I will invite you to join me, because I had to make absolutely sure that I was as passionate about them as Andrew is.  And I am.

I will of course begin with Everything Serum because this is the serum that put NGS on the map in the US.  Under the heading on the bottle it lists the following words: wrinkles, fatigue, elasticity, dark spots, pore size, brightness and skin rejuvenation, thus the seven targeted skin concerns.  I happen to believe it actually targets more, but then I have fallen for this orange-coloured serum which contains 17 natural ingredients.  These ingredients include lemon peel, mushroom, nettle leaf, pine bark and microalgae.  It is recommended that this serum should be used morning and evening, which I have been doing.  And I’m still on my first bottle, so it will last several months.
Everything Serum by NGS £49 for 50 ml

I’m also still on my first bottle of Everything Cleanser, which is somewhat of a miracle because I am so heavy-handed with my products.  It is extremely well-known that I adore cleansers and I have an entire wardrobe of them in my bathroom.  I think I have written many times that the day I fail to be excited about new products, will be the day I walk away from all of this.  But of course I’m not walking away just yet because more orange-coloured happiness has appeared with Everything Cleanser.

Containing over 20 natural ingredients, Everything Cleanser is a super green daily cleanser, which works to help cleanse pores, remove make-up and improve skin brightness.  As with Everything Serum, you only need to use a very small amount and you should massage this into your face, morning and evening.  Of course you should rinse it off, but there are times when I do leave it on my skin for several hours if I’m not going out.  A treatment in and of itself, I need to tell you that this is on a wait list in the US.  Probably because I stole all the stock.  For us.
Everything Cleanser by NGS £25 for 237 ml

The third and final product that we are launching today is Everything Mask.  It features a blend of Kaolin, Bentonite and Illite Clay that gently and effectively unclogs pores.  It also decreases breakouts and for those who don’t like chemical exfoliation, its powerful mix of potent botanicals, extracts and Apricot Seed Powder will definitely help to brighten skin.  I tend to use this once or twice a week and, once again, I am so thrilled to have this in my life because it truly makes a difference to my skin tone.  I also have two other NGS products in my life.  And we will be releasing them within the next few weeks.  If all goes according to plan.  One of them is so extraordinary, it literally takes my breath away.  Soon.
Everything Mask by NGS £34 for 50 grams

One launch done, two more to go, so I’m going to do a new supplement launch first.  Florassist Daily Bowel Regularity is a one-a-day probiotic for constipation and it is the latest specialised probiotic to launch in the excellent Florassist range.  It contains the clinically studied Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 strain shown to encourage and maintain bowel regularity, so long cut short, it encourages the production of specific short chain fatty acids that help speed up the motility in the gut leading to bowel regularity.  It has been formulated to aid both occasional and recurrent bouts of constipation, whilst also helping to support digestive health.

I do need to say here that I have been writing about the brilliance of Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes for the longest time.  Digestive enzymes play a role in helping to relieve bloating, stomach pain and constipation, but there is no clash of products here as they do, in fact, work really well together.  And if you do suffer from recurrent bouts of constipation, as so many do, Shabir recommends you take both, if you can.  The pharmacist has spoken.  And deviating slightly, Shabir is currently studying, because each and every year he has to complete certain pharmaceutical exams in order to retain his qualifications.  It’s important.  And peaceful.  For me.

Anyway, back to it and because Shabir is constantly updating his articles, he has now included Florassist Daily Bowel Regularity in his article about probiotics, which I have linked below.  It is in this article that you will read all about the other specific probiotics and of course it is all headed up with our bestselling and core broad-spectrum probiotic, Mega Probiotic ND.  I know many of you will ask if you can take a core probiotic and a specific probiotic.  The answer is a resounding yes, and to help make life easier I am now taking the price of Mega Probiotic down from £21 to £18 for a few days because we should never, ever under-estimate the importance of probiotics.
VH Editorial: What Can’t Probiotics Do; Florassist Daily Bowel Regularity by Life Extension £20 for 30 Capsules; Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes by Life Extension £23.25 for 60 Capsules; Mega Probiotic £18 for 60 Capsules (Offer ends midnight BST Friday 17 September)

Straight into the next new launch we go and it’s another new product from Ameliorate.  This time it is their Deep Cleansing Hair & Scalp Mask, which is an intensive hair and scalp treatment for dry, flaky and sensitive scalps.  It has been clinically proven to help re-balance the scalp and has been formulated to reduce impurities and excess oil, together with product and pollution build-up.  It is suggested that you use this mask once or twice a week, massaging it into dry hair.  The recommendation is that you should leave it on for approximately fifteen minutes before shampooing out, although when I was testing, I left it on for three hours, because I like breaking rules.  Rather a lot.

I have been writing about scalp health for the longest time, at least twelve years I think, and of course I am incredibly biased because we have our own Fulvic haircare range.  I also know that I have recommended using the Fulvic Acid Conditioner as a hair mask, so why am I writing about another hair mask.  The fundamental reason is because we all have a choice and having put Ameliorate’s Deep Cleansing Hair & Scalp Mask to the test, I am really impressed with the results, and I think you will be too.  And just to say, I don’t actually have scalp issues, but I do love intensive treatments.  Rather a lot.
Deep Cleansing Hair & Scalp Mask by Ameliorate £20 for 225 ml

Before we move on, I just have a couple of things to say here about hair and the importance of hair health.  This is absolutely not to take anything away from Ameliorate’s product, but in the overall scheme of things there shouldn’t really be a need for a product to eliminate product build-up.  But there is.  And the reason there is, is because there are so many products on the market which are all about results, without taking into consideration the fact that certain ingredients will wreck your hair.  And just perhaps that is why Color Wow’s Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer remains a bestselling product.  Fulvic too.  I think we will leave it there.  This could get serious.
Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer by Color Wow £23 for 200 ml

Let’s do another one of those important health concerns and this time it is all about our cholesterol levels.  I’m not sure what the exact statistics are at the moment, but when Shabir wrote his article on this subject it was thought that cardiovascular disease was the main cause of death in the Western Hemisphere.  Last week I also threw the focus on cardiovascular disease, in relation to the benefits of the amino acid, Arginine.  This week I want to continue on theme by referring you to Shabir’s article about how to lower cholesterol naturally together with the importance of understanding cardiovascular health.

Both Shabir and I have long believed that it would be somewhat irresponsible to recommend any form of supplementation without backing up our statements with in-depth knowledge.  Additionally, it is even more irresponsible not to be made aware that certain supplements can contra-indicate with prescribed medication.  So with that said, I am going to refer you to Shabir’s article where he does the lowdown on cholesterol and recommends two products, both of which I am reducing in price for the interim.  So, BergaMet Pro+ drops from £42 to £38 and Cholestsafe drops from £25 to £19.  And if you are on prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication, please do not take these supplements without referring to your GP.
VH Editorial: How To Lower Cholesterol Naturally; BergaMet Pro+ £38 for 60 Tablets; Cholestsafe £19 for 90 Capsules (Offers end midnight BST Friday 17 September)

Staying with supplementation, I wrote about the importance of Vitamin D3 last week and such was the response to Vitamin D Zooki, I thought I may as well do another YourZooki treat this weekend.  And it’s Liposomal Glutathione.  Known as the ‘master antioxidant’, Glutathione offers support for protecting cells and it also helps to combat oxidative stress.  It will also help support clearer thinking, improve energy and decrease inflammation, the enemy of health and skin. 

Liposomal Glutathione is the most powerful and absorbable form of Glutathione and so without further ado, I am lowering the price of Liposomal Glutathione from £39.99 to £36 whilst stocks last.  Perhaps I need to double-dose to get clearer thinking, because I actually think the retail price should be £47.99, but maybe something went wrong in Shabir’s head when he originally listed the product.  Trust me, I’m not delving into his brain to find out.  It is what it is.  For now.  And I hope we have enough stock.  
Liposomal Glutathione by YourZooki £36 for 30 Servings (Offer ends midnight BST Friday 17 September); Vitamin D Zooki by YourZooki £23.99 for 14 x 15 ml Sachets

I’ve got news.  And it’s happy, happy news because my most favourite candles are now back in stock after a prolonged absence.  The story goes something like this.  I launched the two RoadScents candles, GodSmell and RoseRage, for my friend Tina Gaudoin.  I think it can sometimes be difficult when you launch products for friends because there is always a chance that something could go wrong, but I was so totally obsessed with both of these candles, I would have been distraught at the thought of somebody else launching them.  At least I’m honest. 

I actually haven’t looked back to see what I wrote at the time of launch, but I do know that I was overwhelmed that their wonderful fragrances still remained the morning after the night before.  So, GodSmell first, which is a deeply spiritual candle scented with uplifting Patchouli, Sandalwood and Cedar.  Inspired by the Hindu God, Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles, I was consistently burning these through the tremendously difficult times we were mostly experiencing, often writing these newsletters with one or two burning by my side in consideration of our collective intent for hope.

RoseRage, the second candle, was inspired by the calming scent of Tina’s great grandmother’s Norfolk garden during a late, warm summer’s evening.  Loaded with the aroma of calming Red Rose, Jasmine and Musk, this too will scent an entire room and as the Autumn months begin to draw in, I am dreaming of burning several of these candles all at once.  With a burn time of approximately 40 hours, I don’t really know what more I can say about these candles or my feelings, other than it is like welcoming true and trusted friends back into my home.  Let there be light.  In abundance.  Thank you Tina.
GodSmell Candle by RoadScents £35; RoseRage Candle by RoadScents £35

It is now three weeks since we launched Dermelect Cosmeceuticals and two of its bestselling products, Self-Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum and Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment.  At the time of launch, I wrote that I was rather perplexed because I had three, or perhaps four, new skincare launches to do.  The fact that we rarely do skincare launches was bothering me considerably, so now, as we launch the second of those skincare brands, NGS, please allow me to say this.

I think it is very obvious that Dermelect Cosmeceuticals and NGS are very different.  I absolutely promise you that I would not have launched two brands within weeks of each other if they were similar in their offering.  I don’t think that would be fair to the brands, or fair to you.  Of course I am really excited about both brands, that goes without saying, and as the early feedback comes in on the two Dermelect products, I stand by my decision, however difficult it was, because each of the products, across both brands, are exceptional.  And although I think I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again, I don’t do mediocrity.  I couldn’t live with myself.  Seriously.
Self-Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum by Dermelect Cosmeceuticals £36 for 30 ml; Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment by Dermelect Cosmeceuticals £20 for 103 ml

Right, one more thing before we go into the Saturday only treat and that is to tell you that I was completely and utterly wrong about the Weleda Shower Gels I wrote about last week.  I promised to declare the bestselling shower gel this week and I really thought it would be the Relax Aroma Shower Gel, but in fact it was Energy Aroma Shower Gel, which speaks volumes about where our heads are.  In further shocking news, Relax Aroma Shower Gel actually came last on the list of four.  I think I should give up on my predictions.  Or stay in bed. 
Energy Aroma Shower Gel by Weleda £8.25 for 200 ml; Harmony Aroma Shower Gel by Weleda £8.25 for 200 ml; Love Aroma Shower Gel by Weleda £8.25 for 200 ml; Relax Aroma Shower Gel £8.25 for 200 ml

But before I take to my bed, I need to do the Saturday only treat.  This needs no write-up from me.  All I want to say here is that I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to live without this product.  I know I am pretty evangelical about it, but Fulvic Acid Elixir remains one of the core preventative supplements that I take because it helps the body heal, renew and restore.  And optimum health and wellbeing truly matters.  So with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, I will send you the 120 ml size of Fulvic Acid Elixir.  And with Shabir’s article on Fulvic linked below, I know we have enough for each of you.  Which pleases me.  Somewhat.
VH Editorial: The Elixir of Life; Fulvic Acid Elixir £30 for 480 ml

I will end this by saying that today is of course the 20th anniversary of 9/11.  So as the world remembers the tragic events of that day, can we please take a moment to think about all those who lost their lives, and to also remember those who were left alone in their grief.  We must never forget.  In solidarity and symbolism, I have a candle burning by my side as you are reading this.  And finally.  This song. 
Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy; The VH Playlist

Please have a gentle weekend.

With love.

Gill x

 

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