If I have learnt anything over the past 18 months or so, it is that there is an absolute need to continue writing about our lives and the changes that keep coming before us.  I am very well aware that there are times when my messaging is somewhat repetitive, but I do so in the full knowledge that in each and every moment and circumstance there are those who are facing all forms of adversity, both ongoing and new.  So as I welcome you to another Weekend Read, I will continue this journey with you because I know no other way.  And actually, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I think that I have always known that we are guided to a certain extent.  I rarely write about this, but I do believe that certain people come into our lives for a reason and that, in turn, determines a phase of our lives, the outcome of which is unknown at that given time.  Experience dictates that mostly these people appear for the better good, but there are the exceptions to the rule, as we all know only too well.  The trauma of these experiences can harm to such an extent, that a big black hole opens up and we fall headfirst into it.  Or we are pushed over the edge.  By others.  I’ve seen it.  And I’ve experienced it.

It is at times like this that we really learn who our friends are and mostly you can count on one hand (sometimes two) those who truly have our backs.  As ever, I have written these words in response to your emails sent last weekend, which I so often do.  The one thing that never ceases to amaze me is how the perpetrators of abuse will so often preach kindness to the world, yet in truth they are the dark assassins of destruction.  The expectation is that they think they can get away with it.  The truth is that they won’t.  In the end. 

So on the subject of guidance, just perhaps there is a greater energy force that has brought us all together, not only for the products we recommend, but in any given moment, to try and make sense of the seemingly senseless.  But on from that, I have an absolute trust that if we are guided in life, then we are guided in the products that come before each of us.  This guidance has happened so many times, I could actually write a book about the varying circumstances and that would include Ionicell.  And you know what’s coming next.

The long and short of it is that Shabir and I were at an exhibition in America, it was towards the end of the day and I was bored looking at random products.  I get bored easily.  We actually hadn’t found one product we liked, which can so often happen, but ‘Shabir The Intrepid’ would not give up, which was just as well because as we walked the final aisle, something caught his eye.  It was Ionicell.  And an hour later, Shabir was still in a deep conversation with the manufacturers, whilst perusing the White Paper and numerous studies on the supplement.  It’s a patented form of Fulvic Acid, he said, and with that he placed an immediate order.  And I started to sing.

Of course, Fulvic Acid wasn’t new to us, I had been writing about it for several years prior to this, stating over a decade ago that Fulvic Acid would go on to be one of the most important ingredients of our time.  The new side of the equation was that Fulvic was now available in capsule form, which was exciting and of course the rest is history as we followed through with the liquid version, Fulvic Acid Elixir, and on from that each of the Fulvic products.

But it’s Ionicell that we are talking about here and at the time of launch we stated that, in our opinion, Ionicell would go on to be the next generation hair, skin and nails supplement.  And that statement still holds true today because although the market continues to be saturated in this genre, with our ongoing research and development, we don’t believe that anything can touch Ionicell in efficacy.  I don’t need to add anything.  The White Paper is on our product page, together with further product information, and with that I am dropping the price of Ionicell from £20 to £17 across the weekend.  Rocking it.  Alongside HA from last week.  And I take both.
Ionicell For Women £17 for 60 Vegicaps (Offer Ends At Midnight BST Sunday 22 August); Hyaluronic Acid High Strength Capsules £35 for 30 Vegecaps

I absolutely promise you that I don’t take every supplement that I write about, but because I am so often asked about the supplements that I take, I will tell you that aside from taking several core supplements, such as Ionicell, HA and Mega Probiotic ND, I will not live without Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes, for so many reasons, but mostly because I am prone to bloating and I will not allow my digestive system to become sluggish as my stomach enzymes decrease with the ageing process.  So if you bloat or suffer from constipation (most women do), do try this supplement as I take the price down from £23.25 to £20 across the weekend.  We will not succumb to the bloat.
Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes £20 for 60 Capsules (Offer Ends At Midnight BST Sunday 22 August)

And what of Shabir, you may well ask.  Well, several years ago he wrote about his essential top six supplements for optimal health.  So I asked him if he wanted to change anything on his list because, after all, many new supplements have been released in the interim.  No, he didn’t want to change anything and in some way this is of course a testament to our belief that we will only recommend what we believe to be best-in-class supplementation in each genre.  And that sometimes it is the proven formulations that will so often outclass the shiny new expensive products that talk to ‘designer’ audiences.  As if we were stupid.  I detest elitism.  Across all things.

So Shabir’s article is listed below.  There are of course one or two products on his list that I also take, and there is one supplement on there, namely Krill Oil, which has long-term manufacturing issues.  As ever, product scarcity goes with the territory at the moment, so on Shabir’s instructions, I will substitute that with Cleanmarine Krill Oil, which I have linked below.  In so doing I will ease that substitution by reducing the price from £21.99 to £19 across the weekend, together with dropping the price of Alive Once Daily Multivitamin Ultra Potency from £29 to £25.  This is, of course, Shabir’s favourite multivitamin.  Still.
VH Editorial: My Essential Vitamins For Optimal Health; Cleanmarine Krill Oil £19 for 60 Capsules; Alive Once Daily Multivitamin Ultra Potency £25 for 60 Tablets (Offers End At Midnight BST Sunday 22 August)

Let’s do beauty and I will tell you that Alpha Arbutin 2% and Kojic Acid 1% Serum had a moment all of its own last weekend.  I have no idea who was talking about it, but somebody must have been because the demand was overwhelming.  This has happened several times before with this product, which really doesn’t surprise me because it really does help target age spots, freckles, melasma and hyperpigmentation.  It is also a natural alternative to hydroquinone-based products, which may cause inflammation, and inflammation is the root cause of most compromised skin conditions. 

So in a nutshell, Alpha Arbutin inhibits the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme that controls the amount of pigment produced by pigment cells.  Kojic Acid, derived from mushrooms will help lighten age spots and skin discolouration and in addition, Shabir added Niacinamide to this formulation, which helps block the transfer of pigment onto the skin’s surface, and Paper Mulberry Extract which helps suppress pigment production.  That’s more or less the ingredient wrap, but the product wrap will now follow as I invite you to try this serum for £9, which is a saving of £3.  And I’ll take this offer right through the week.  As I thank that unknown person.  With a distanced hug.
Alpha Arbutin 2% and Kojic Acid 1% Serum by Garden of Wisdom for VH £9 for 30 ml (Offer Ends At Midnight BST Friday 27 August)

Anyway, the next thing I need to say is that I feel bad for Miracle Lotion.  Poor Miracle Lotion, we have listed it since the beginning of VH time.  It went through a tragic reformulation and I thought we had lost it forever.  And then when it got resurrected to its former self, I launched Fulvic Body Lotion and it disappeared into the background, but I still do love it and despite the competition, so many of you are still loving and using it.  It remains one of those iconic VH products, and it always will.  Beauty can be flippant, we all know that, but there is nothing flippant about the heroic and original Miracle Lotion.  So let’s do a treat as I reduce the price from £16 to £13.  I feel better.  Now.
Miracle Lotion £13 for 237 ml (Offer Ends At Midnight BST Sunday 22 August)

Staying more or less on subject, I am very well aware that there are product clashes all over the place and what works for one person, may not necessarily work for another.  I wrote about this very subject last week when I was citing how notoriously difficult it was to determine the efficacy of creams for eczema.  So last week we did Shabir’s recommendation for the eczema cream, which was Basix Skin Defence Cream, and this week I will do the liquid, which is of course Thyme Out.  Because it has become pretty legendary.  In its own lifetime.

But of course its legendary status has not been achieved purely based on its efficacy for eczema, it performs a rather magnificent song and dance as it helps treat psoriasis, rosacea, cold sores, itchy and inflamed skin and prickly heat.  Shabir has written an article about prickly heat, so I’ll link that below because he mentions Thyme Out in that article, but essentially it works its magic based upon the power of Thyme.  And just in case you haven’t experienced its magic, I will make life a little easier as I take the price of Thyme Out down from £18 to £15 for a few days.  Added to that, we found Thyme Out in America too.  It was a very happy moment then.  And it still is.  Unless a riot occurs and we run out of stock.   
VH Editorial: Preventing Prickly Heat; Thyme Out (The Original) £15 for 200 ml (Offer Ends At Midnight BST Friday 27 August)

And having just written the word ‘prickly’, it is extraordinarily apparent where I’m going next.  I don’t think I want to say or do anything more, other than to link you to Shabir’s article on Prickly Pear and follow through by taking the price of 100% Prickly Pear Seed Oil down from £20 to £17.  And that really is it.
VH Editorial: Beauty Benefits Of Prickly Pear Seed Oil; 100% Pure Prickly Pear Seed Oil by Garden of Wisdom for VH £17 for 30 ml (Offer Ends At Midnight BST Sunday 22 August)

Moving on, I need to tell you that after a long absence, Cleavers is now back in stock and we have thankfully cleared the wait list.  Whilst I would not categorise Cleavers as an essential core supplement, what I will say is that both Shabir and I believe it is hugely beneficial to take a one-month course of Cleavers two or three times a year.  It is an excellent diuretic, it plays a role in supporting immune health, but fundamentally it supports our lymphatic system, which is the largest circulatory system in the body.

In his article, Shabir gives the lowdown on the role of the lymphatic system because unlike the circulatory system, which has the heart as the pump, the lymphatic system does not have a circulatory pump and given that the lymphatic system is a collection point for toxins and waste, it is really important to get these toxins eliminated from the body.  A sluggish lymphatic system may also be a root cause of tiredness and fatigue, which is something most of us can relate to right now.  And please, please don’t forget to body brush.  You will feel so much better if you can manage to body brush daily.  And your skin will thank you too.  As those dead skin cells go flying.  Into oblivion.
VH Editorial: The Lymphatic System; Cleavers by Viridian Nutrition £17.30 for 90 Capsules; Giving It The Brush Off by Temple Spa £18

I want to do one more health concern if I may, and that would be Candida.  There are approximately 150 known species of Candida, which are a yeast-like group of fungi that exist in more than 80% of people.  They usually exist in the genitourinary tracts, respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract and typically they exist without being harmful, however an abnormal overgrowth of these fungi can cause infection, often referred to as Candidiasis, and it is one of those very common health concerns, which can be heightened by eating too much sugar, a weakened immune system or if you have taken a long course of antibiotics. 

The primary supplement to help the eradication of Candidiasis is Advanced Intestinal Care and as Shabir states in his article, in 1982 scientists at the University of Canterbury discovered that Horopito was more effective at destroying Candida albicans than the powerful pharmaceutical anti-Candida drug, Amphotericin B.  I will caveat this by saying that there are certain essential pharmaceuticals that cannot be replicated by natural supplementation, but this is clearly not one of those instances, so this would be our recommendation.  Pragmatically and effectively.  Because we all have a choice.
VH Editorial: How To Treat Candida; Advanced Intestinal Care £23 for 60 Capsules

Let’s do some feedback.  The first thing I want to say is that because we will only allow reviews on verified purchases, it will take time for the reviews to build, so in many instances reviews are just not available yet and I’m not going to sit here and add all the reviews I have received over the past year or so.  Inevitably that means that the products I write about, together with some of our bestselling products, will be populated to a far greater extent than others.  Just two examples here, the first is Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer, which we are continually struggling to keep in stock, and the second would have to be a Fulvic product, so it’s Fulvic Acid Elixir.  Thank you. 
Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer by Color Wow £23 for 200 ml; Fulvic Acid Elixir £30 for 480 ml

Finally, remember Zam-Buk.  I’m not sure whether I love the tin or the product more, but it went missing for a very long time and I forgot to tell you that it had returned.  So I’m telling you now because this is the product that first appeared on chemist’s shelves in 1903, before the advent of antibiotics.  It was considered an important first-aid medicine for preventing infection from cuts and abrasions.  It is formulated with Eucalyptus, Pine and Thyme Oil.  And it’s just a little bit fabulous because it also deals with insect bites, bruises, burns and chilblains.  Retro personified.  And then there’s Rose Petal Salve.  In all its scented glory.
Zam-Buk Antiseptic Ointment £3.99 for 20 grams; Rose Petal Salve £3.99 for 20 grams

Straight into the Saturday only treat, so with every order placed for £30 or more, excluding p&p, we will send you a rather special eye gel to help cool your eyes.  It is Windows Of The Soul (3 ml) by Temple Spa.  As ever, I am putting the product link below so that you can read all about it and I hope you enjoy using it.
Windows Of The Soul by Temple Spa £30 for 15 ml

The end bit and there are a few more things I want to talk about, which are non-product related.  So many of you reached out after I released the last Weekend Read.  Some were about your own experiences and others were concerned about my welfare, which of course touched me deeply.  Of course it is painful to write about your own experiences, but the need to stand up for the things I believe in is far greater than my own emotions.   

I cannot protect any of us from hate and abuse, I cannot protect myself because I still receive abusive emails, but everything in life is a process and an evolvement.  I trust in the process and I also believe in symbiotic relationships, where mutualism serves both transparency and respect.  And that very mutualism will, I hope, strengthen our resolve, even for a brief moment of time, as we sing this song to each other.  Because nobody has the right to take our soul away.  So we will not let them.
You’ve Got A Friend by James Taylor; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x

 

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