Hello and as we roll into October together, we will continue to take each day as it comes with love and hope in our hearts.  I don’t think any of us can forget where we were a year ago, but that was then and this is now.  Many lessons have been learned, scientific research is ongoing and I have the belief and trust that the words and thoughts we share will help uphold the optimism that is so needed at this time.  And with that optimism comes a moral responsibility, which, I believe, is seriously lacking across the media. 

It is little wonder that so many are experiencing anxiety and emotional stress, fuelled by the fearmongering click-bait articles that seem to appear every hour of every day, reinforced by the news channels, which I refuse to watch.  I wrote more or less the same words last year, but I actually think it has got worse.  And that saddens me.  It saddens me because so many are influenced by the media to the detriment of their wellbeing.  And I can’t see it ending any time soon.  Notwithstanding any of the above, I continue to subscribe to certain newspapers, which is purely out of loyalty to those who so strongly supported me and VH in the past.  Nothing more.  

So let’s do the products and after writing the above, I think there is only one place for me to go.  I am of course going to write about Magnolia Rhodiola Complex, which is our bestselling supplement for stress and anxiety.  But before I do that, can I just say that I am fully aware I am often repetitive with the treats I share with you.  I made a decision right at the beginning of the pandemic about several things, the two most relevant being the need to communicate weekly and the need to support you however and wherever we could.  And both are ongoing.  Ad infinitum, it would seem.

Of course I have written many words in the past about Magnolia Rhodiola Complex, so the first thing I am going to do here is refer you to a review we have recently received, which I set out below.  I love abdicating certain aspects of the Weekend Read to others, so in line with everything I have written about only truly realising the efficacy of certain supplements if you stop taking them, the following:

‘I stopped taking Magnolia Rhodiola for a few weeks.  My anxiety and stress levels went through the roof and I even asked my doctor for medication as I felt that bad.  I re-ordered this supplement before I started taking the prescription meds and my anxiety improved so much, I never took the prescribed medication.  Magnolia Rhodiola are the best supplements I have taken, and I take a lot’.

Three things.  My continual thanks to those of you who continue to send feedback, it truly helps so many when trying to make a decision.  Secondly, I think half the world takes some form of prescribed medication for anxiety and stress.  It seems ridiculous that there is still some stigma attached to taking anti-depressants, but the need is very real and I have always believed in integrated medicine.  And finally, please do not take Magnolia Rhodiola Complex if you are on prescribed medication, so for those who are not and do benefit from this supplement, I am dropping the price from £28 to £23 for one day only.  Today.
VH Editorial: How To Combat Stress Effectively; Magnolia Rhodiola Complex £23 for 60 Capsules (Offer ends at midnight BST Saturday 2 October)

I’ll take this next treat right across the weekend.  It is Vitamin C Serum 23% + Ferulic Acid and this was, in fact, the first product Shabir formulated for our Garden of Wisdom range.  Providing the best form of high-strength Vitamin C, pure L-Ascorbic Acid, it helps correct and target dull-looking skin, hyperpigmentation and accelerated ageing skin.  We have had several famines and long wait lists in the past for this product, and I nearly died a million deaths when I was told there were packaging issues associated with the pandemic.  And those issues are still ongoing.  But manageable.  Just about.  

So as I reduce the price of Vitamin C Serum 23% and Ferulic Acid from £10 to £8, I believe that I have correctly balanced the anticipated level of supply and demand, and if not, I will just have to eat humble pie.  It wouldn’t be the first time.  And I doubt it will be the last.  But let’s move on from that as I link you to Shabir’s article about Vitamin C and healthy skin.  Which just also happens to mention the importance of Vitamin C supplementation, most especially Liposomal Vitamin C.  And in another one of my moments, I am repeating what I did last Saturday, reducing the price of Liposomal Vitamin C from £39.99 to £35.  If only to reiterate repetition.   
VH Editorial: Vitamin C And Healthy Skin; Vitamin C Serum 23% and Ferulic Acid £8 for 30 ml; Liposomal Vitamin C by YourZooki £35 for 30 x 15 ml Sachets (Offers end at midnight BST Sunday 3 October)

If Vitamin C is one of the core supplements for immunity, which we believe it is, then so too is Vitamin D3.  I don’t think I can ever stress enough the importance of taking D3, so all I want to do here is to say that there are many differing forms of D3, as you are each aware.  When it comes to taking D3, we are all different.  Some like to take it in a spray form, some in a liposomal format and there are others who like to take it in a softgel capsule, such as Life Extension’s Vitamin D3 5000iu.

I have documented evidence-based statistics across all forms of D3 and it was an interesting exercise to undertake.  It remains a constant fascination for me to know what your preferences are, and that goes across all products, but with the emphasis on D3, the stats were far higher than I thought on Vitamin D3 5000iu.  So that told me.  And with that understanding, I will now take the price of Life Extension’s Vitamin D3 5000iu down from £10 to £8.  So that’s the second £8 product on this Weekend Read.  Within a couple of paragraphs of each other.  All further information on the product page.  As ever.
Vitamin D3 5000iu by Life Extension £8 for 60 Softgels (Offer ends at midnight BST Sunday 3 October, or whilst stock lasts)

In total transparency, I believe most of you know that I absolutely love launching new brands and new products.  I remain in awe of research and development, and there are many times when I have had to sit on launches for the longest time, and let me tell you I am currently sitting on two new brand launches, one of which is quite close to launching, but I know it won’t be this month, so let’s throw the focus on a skincare brand we have listed since the inception of VH.  And that brand is, of course, Derma E.

When Derma E released Crepey Skin Repair Treatment, the demand was extraordinarily high and it has remained that way.  I think it may have had something to do with the fact that although it was formulated to help hydrate and firm the skin on your neck, arms and chest, I wrote that you could also use it on your face.  And as so many of you are now doing this, I thought I should acknowledge and celebrate that with you. 

And actually, I am going to make this exceptionally easy if you wish to join in.  If you buy Crepey Skin Repair Treatment, then I will automatically include a set of three products from Derma E, which have an approximate value of £20.  Those three products are Microdermabrasion Scrub, Vitamin C Intense Night Cream and Hydrating Day Cream.  They will arrive in little pots, each containing 14 grams and they are very cute.  It gives you an opportunity to try products you may not have tried before, but because this is a limited edition offer, there is only one gift per customer.  And it will be over, when it’s over.
Crepey Skin Repair Treatment by Derma E £20 for 180 grams

Back to health, and as we were struggling to understand the implications of Covid-19 last year, many articles were written about the importance of zinc.  I don’t think I will ever forget, because as a result there was a zinc shortage and it was a real struggle to keep it in stock, but actually it was a real struggle to keep anything in stock.  So in a now slightly calmer moment, I will refer you to Shabir’s article on zinc, where he talks about its uses, side effects and benefits.  Please do read his notes about certain zinc supplementation, because as ever, not all supplements are created equally, and crucially certain zinc supplementation should not be taken long-term.  Be safe.  And informed. 
VH Editorial: Zinc Supplements: Uses, Side Effects And Benefits; Zinc Caps by Life Extension £8 for 90 Capsules (the third £8 product!)

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most painful infections a woman can get and the most common complaint is an intense burning sensation when trying to urinate.  The most common and popular self-treatment has been the use of cranberry juice, but I believe there is a problem with cranberry juice because of its high sugar content.  These are Shabir’s opening words on his article about recurrent UTI’s, a health concern that can also affect men, most especially those with prostate enlargement.

I will leave you to read the full article, but for the longest time Shabir has always recommended Cysticlean.  Clinical studies have proven that Cysticlean breaks the cycle of recurring UTI’s when used for between three and six months as it has an anti-adhesive effect on E.coli, the bacteria responsible for the majority of UTI’s.  Such is the importance of taking the correct supplementation for this health concern, I am reducing the price of Cysticlean for the entire month of October from £39.99 to £29.99.  In order to help.
VH Editorial: Is Drinking Cranberry Juice A Myth; Cysticlean 240 mg PAC £29.99 for 60 Capsules

Staying with health, I have another new product to tell you about.  It’s from YourZooki, and it’s called Gut Biome Zooki.  Essentially Gut Biome Zooki is a probiotic supplement containing three specifically picked strains of live bacteria for your gut health and it has been designed to help maintain a healthy balance in your gut’s microbiome.  Microbiomes help protect against germs and each serving of Gut Biome Zooki contains 35 billion colony forming units of live bacteria encapsulated in natural lipids to help shield the live bacteria from digestion in the stomach.  That’s it, in a nutshell, except I will launch this at £40, instead of the listed price of £44.99.  Throughout October.
Gut Biome Zooki by YourZooki £40 for 30 Servings

Another new product launch, and this time it’s from Weleda.  It is the latest addition to their Skin Food range of products and so please allow me to introduce you to Skin Food Body Lotion.  Skin Food Body Lotion is an ultra-rich and deeply nourishing moisturising cream for skin that is in need of intensive hydration.  It has been formulated with aromatic plant extracts of pansy, chamomile, rosemary and calendula, which have been at the heart of their Skin Food Original formula since 1926, which is quite a heritage.  It is fragranced with sweet orange and aromatic lavender, which are balanced with the balsamic, gentle notes of benzoin for a warm depth.

I need to say here that I haven’t tested this product, because it contains oils and ingredients that I am highly allergic to.  All I will say is that I trust Weleda’s products and I know that this launch will be welcomed by so many, provided you haven’t got sensitive skin.  So if your skin is craving moisture, do try this and following on from the above, I will launch this at £12 instead of the listed price of £14.95.  And I’ll hold that launch price throughout this week.
Skin Food Body Lotion by Weleda £12 for 200 ml (Offer ends at midnight BST Friday 8 October)

Let’s do some updates.  Having written last week that we would be receiving the 2021-2022 version of Triple Flu Defense+ by the end of September, it is now October and I have literally just been told there is a delay.  The situation is totally out of my control and I can only apologise for those who are waiting for this product.  At this given time, I seriously can’t see it arriving before the middle of this month.  I’m so sorry.  But do keep checking the new section of our site in case a miracle occurs and it arrives sooner than anticipated.  Might as well thump my desk.  Thump.

On from that, we still have a wait list for Everything Cleanser from Non Gender Specific (NGS).  I think it will be a matter of weeks, not months, before we get this back in stock, but I am still waiting for confirmation.  Meanwhile, I was thrilled to read the following: ‘I’ve been using this as a kind of combined cleanser and shaving gel.  And its been brilliant for both.  Delighted with it.  Great product’.  I just love NGS.  And their ethos.  And perhaps one day I will publish the long list of brands we have delisted from our site because of their shocking behaviour and total lack of ethos and integrity.  Together with the reasons why. 
Everything Cleanser by NGS £25 for 237 ml (Wait List); Everything Serum by NGS £49 for 50 ml; Everything Mask by NGS £34 for 50 grams

Right, I promised you that I would report back on the highest selling Temple Spa product after last week’s Temple Spa treat.  I said at the time that I thought it would be Drift Away and I was right, it was.  This of course follows on from my dismal failure, a couple of weeks prior, in predicting which of the new Weleda shower gels would be the bestseller.  Anyway, as the nights begin to close in, I can think of nothing better than soaking in a hot bath, with candles burning and music softly playing.  We all have our favourite bath soaks, so I’m linking a small selection below and of course I don’t need to tell you which candles I will be burning.  Because you know.
Altitude Bath Soak by de Mamiel £48 for 400 grams; Bloomsbury Bath Soak by Soapsmith £25 for 500 ml; Softening Bath Milk Oil by Ameliorate £20 for 250 ml; Citrus Refreshing Bath Milk by Weleda £15.75 for 200 ml; GodSmell Candle by RoadScents £35; RoseRage Candle by RoadScents £35

Straight into the Saturday only treat we go and this week I am throwing the focus on our feet.  So with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include a Moisturising Foot Mask by Fusswohl.  Loaded with coconut oil, milk extract and hyaluronic acid, this is a twenty minute foot mask, which will leave your feet beautifully soft.  Of course this is a one-off treatment, but do try Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment as an ongoing treatment for dry, cracked feet.  Because we love it.  Very much.
Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment by Dermelect £20 for 103 ml

As we come to the end of another Weekend Read, all I really want to do here is to link each of you to a beautiful piece of music.  I believe it to be of the moment and my gift to you is 140 seconds of pure peace and calm.  Which I hope we can carry throughout the weekend.  As one.
October by U2; The VH Playlist

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.