Weekend Read 4 September 2021

Weekend Read 4 September 2021

Hello September.  And hello to each of you as we roll into the Autumn term, with Autumn (Fall) being my favourite season of the year.  It is said that Autumn represents the preservation of life and its basic necessities as we prepare for the Winter ahead, so that’s exactly what we are going to do over the coming weeks and months.  Of course, from a health and wellbeing perspective, we need to ensure that our immune system is strong, that goes without saying, but on from that we will continue to keep things very real, which includes making a stand for everything we believe in. 

And somebody who recently made such a stand is Lisa Armstrong.  Writing for The Telegraph, she had this to say under the heading ‘Why There’s No Secrets To Looking Youthful’, and I quote: ‘Wow.  Certain sections of the media must really think we’re stupid, judging by all those features revealing the ‘secret’ to so-and-so’s implausibly youthful looks.  The ‘secret’ invariably turns out to be drinking three litres of water a day.  Or a supplement or cream they’re paid to endorse.

I’m all for anyone using whatever means within reason (whatever that is, it’s wildly different for all of us) to look and feel better.  But a little honesty along the way wouldn’t hurt, would it?  If you’ve ever tumbled into one of those before-and-after black holes on the internet (guilty as charged), you’ll realise there’s almost no one in Hollywood who hasn’t had something fixed.  And yet still they hark on about water and Vitamin C serums’. 

Bravo Lisa, and I fully concur because it is just another incidence, in a whole long line of them, of consumers being duped, which is not only completely disingenuous, but it can play out in a harmful way to those who are impressionable. The lack of responsibility is astounding, but money and coercion is so often the name of the game.  Except, of course, it isn’t a game.  And it needs to stop.  Because the damage, in so many cases, is irreparable. 

Right, let’s do the products, and I am going to lead with a supplement, Diosmin Plus, which contains a potent and synergistic blend of botanicals that provide support for the circulatory system.  Bad circulation can result in any number of health concerns, which include varicose veins, restless leg syndrome and haemorrhoids.  As temperatures fall, many other aspects of poor circulation, such as cold hands and feet, may come to the fore.  Formulated with a clinically validated extract, Diosmin 95, Diosmin Plus helps enhance the healthy blood flow in arteries, veins and capillaries.  It also helps with maintaining the elasticity and tone of veins, so it is quite heroic in its genre.

Diosmin Plus also helps modulate inflammation, which is so often the root cause of many health (and skin) concerns.  And as ever, it is always far better to get to the root cause of an issue rather than try and slap a sticky plaster across it.  There is no such thing as a topical that will get rid of varicose or spider veins, that logic is obvious, but there are some wonderful products that can help support swollen legs, such as Mrs White’s Legs In The Air, and in the case of restless leg syndrome, Pure Magnesium Oil Spray.  If you have haemorrhoids, which are so very common, do try Viridian’s Organic Horse Chestnut Balm.

But back to Diosmin Plus, and if you go to the product page, you will see that Shabir has written six articles across this product, which will give you a further understanding of the circulatory system, and I have linked one of those articles below.  So, in preparation, or otherwise, I am dropping the price of Diosmin Plus from £26 to £22 for a few days, or whilst stock lasts.  Pumping up the volume.
VH Editorial: A Natural Remedy For Varicose Veins, Spider Veins, Haemorrhoids and Poor Circulation; Diosmin Plus £22 for 60 Capsules (Offer Ends Midnight BST Friday 10 September); Mrs White’s Legs In The Air £15 for 50 ml; Pure Magnesium Oil Spray by LifeFlo £12 for 236 ml; Organic Horse Chestnut Balm by Viridian Nutrition £18.70 for 100 grams

I think it is really important to caveat my words on all forms of supplementation.  I do this often, but I do so because it is so important to note that, with a few exceptions, most supplementation will take at least 28 days to kick in, thus my words on being prepared for the weeks and months ahead.  And if we are going to be prepared, then we really do have to talk about immunity and offer the appropriate guidance at any given time, with responsibility, understanding and knowledge of the ingredients, which we believe will help make a difference.  Authentically.

Given how things stand at this current moment in time, our recommendations do not change from previous years.  Obviously if anything changes in the future then we will address it at that time because research and development is ongoing.  We are still awaiting the outcome of the clinicals on Sambucol’s Liquid Original Formula, which should be interesting, but what we do know is that former studies show that Elderberry extracts help support our upper respiratory system and that these extracts will also help reduce the duration of influenza symptoms substantially.  If we are talking about core medicine cabinet products, this trusted tincture would be on that list.
Liquid Original Formula by Sambucol £8.99 for 120 ml 

And of course I cannot talk about immunity supplementation without mentioning Vitamin D, which is also the subject of several global ongoing clinical trials, exploring the role that it plays in relation to Covid-19.  It is really important to say here that there is not a supplement or ingredient that will prevent the onset of Covid-19, or its variants, but what we do know is that Vitamin D is an absolute core essential to take as we are mostly Vitamin D deficient.  This is nothing new, I have been on a Vitamin D mission for over ten years, it’s just that its awareness and relevance has obviously increased dramatically over the past 18 months.

So let’s make things simple.  Shabir has written the definitive on Vitamin D, which I’ve linked below.  It is a solid piece of work, which gives an in-depth on the vitamin that really isn’t a vitamin.  It states the facts, which is all we ever need in order to make an informed choice and because we each have a choice, Shabir recommends two different forms of Vitamin D supplementation, the first is an oral spray, D3000 which is absorbed sublingually into the bloodstream, and the second is Vitamin D Zooki which provides liposomal Vitamin D3 to ensure greater delivery of this vitamin to each and every gland within the body.  In recognition of its importance, I have taken the price of Vitamin D Zooki down from £23.99 to £18 for a few days.
VH Editorial: The Benefits Of Vitamin D; D3000 Vitamin D Oral Spray by Better You £8.45 for 15 ml; Vitamin D Zooki by YourZooki £18 for 14 x 15 ml Sachets (Offer Ends Midnight BST Friday 10 September)

I think we will leave the subject of immunity there for this week, because I now want to talk about the skincare products we launched last week, namely Self-Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum and Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment, both from Dermelect Cosmeceuticals.  I wrote last week that the Self-Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum, over a specific period of time, sold one product every four minutes in the US, so it had rather a lot to live up to.  So please allow me to say this: 

It is not easy launching new brands because there is always an expectation, no matter what.  Additionally when a product name has the words ‘self-esteem’ in it, I have to balance the psychological effect that will have against the efficacy of the product.  It would be irresponsible not to.  And given my opening paragraphs, together with Lisa’s words, I am not about to play with anybody’s self-esteem.  No brand or product launch is worth that.  No matter what.

So having launched with the confidence that this serum more than held its own in the efficacy stakes, I smiled when I received a few emails from those of you who had been using it for several days because it had been spotted on the new section of our site, before I had written a single word.  And being ahead of the game, as it were, these emails supported the notion of transformational beauty sleep and its multi-tasking exfoliating properties. The serum was created to help support compromised skin conditions and to help diminish dull skin.  And we have now put it on the map.  The UK map.  The journey with Dermelect Cosmeceuticals has just begun. 
Self-Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum by Dermelect Cosmeceuticals £36 for 30 ml 

And let us not forget the other launch, Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment.  Which is helping to transform our feet.  Alongside Fulvic Acid Nail Cream.  The marriage.   
Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment by Dermelect Cosmeceuticals £20 for 103 ml; Fulvic Acid Nail Cream £12 for 30 ml

We may as well continue with beauty, and because I did three beauty treats last weekend, I will do the same this weekend.  So let’s begin with one of those small niche brands that I have always supported.  It is Harborist, which offers a tight curation of products specifically formulated for sensitive skin types, although they are suitable for all skin types.  Environmental Moisture Light, is one of their products that promises advanced skin protection and is particularly suitable for those with dehydrated skin.  Loaded with omega-rich Raspberry Seed extract, you may want to put this on your skin, most especially because I have taken the price down from £45 to £22.50.
Environmental Moisture Light by Harborist £22.50 (Whilst Stock Lasts)

Actually, strictly speaking, this next treat is not a beauty treat.  When we did the global launch of Ameliorate, we actually did it on a health platform versus a beauty platform because we were talking about a very specific skin condition, Keratosis Pilaris (KP).  So what I’m doing here is linking the launch editorial, but on from that I am taking the price of the hero product, Transforming Body Lotion, down from £24 to £21 and added to that, in a very limited offer, I will also include the 30 ml size of Transforming Body Lotion because I feel like it.  And actually, I will never forget this launch because it put KP on the map (another map).  Together with the true definition of skin health.
VH Editorial: Treatment Of Keratosis Pilaris; Transforming Body Lotion by Ameliorate £21 for 200 ml + Transforming Body Lotion 30 ml (Limited Offer Whilst Stock Lasts)

The final treat comes from our Garden of Wisdom range, and it’s the not-often-spoken-about 100% Pure Squalane Oil.  The not-often-spoken-about part of the equation is my fault because I have tended to throw the focus on the ‘big’ serums, such as Neurophroline, C-Deep and HA, but truthfully this serum really deserves more attention than I give it because it is an exceptional hydrator and it is also highly effective in helping to relieve cracked or chapped skin.  It will also help treat areas of the skin that are prone to cracking, chapping, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.  It has a lot going for it.

Unlike many facial oils, Squalane Oil is non-greasy and as such it is rapidly absorbed into the skin, so it can be applied twice a day as it tends to behave itself under make-up, and added to that, it is unlikely to clog pores.  So if you want to discover the numerous benefits of Squalane Oil, I am just about to make it easier for you as I drop the price of 100% Squalane Oil from £10 to £7.  This offer goes across the weekend, ending at midnight BST on Sunday 5 September.  If it lasts that long.  Also, just to add, do check out Thyme Out’s Bubble Bath & Soak if you are prone to compromised skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, on your body.  The treatment bath.
100% Squalane Oil by Garden of Wisdom for VH £7 for 30 ml; Bubble Bath & Soak by Thyme Out £20 for 470 ml

Many of you may remember when I wrote about the demise of the Kneipp products in the UK.  I was somewhat bereft at the time because I thought their products were amazing and I had been using them for many, many years.  There was a definite gap to be filled and I’m so happy that Weleda, a brand I truly respect, have released a series of new shower gels.  There are four of them in total, they are listed below and of course I am rather taken with all of them.  Which is a bit tragic for our stock levels.  I think I know which will sell the most.  I’ll declare that next week, if I remember.
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

One more health concern this week, and it’s a big concern, cardiovascular disease.  Over the past two decades, many scientific studies have demonstrated the importance of the amino acid, L-Arginine, in its vital role of helping protect the body from heart disease and high blood pressure, which is often referred to as the ‘silent’ killer.  L-Arginine is an essential amino acid, but the body is unable to manufacture it in sufficient amounts, which means that it has to be obtained from either foods or supplementation.

As ever with supplementation, it is the chain of events which are important, all of which are part of a process to ensure that the chosen supplement is processed in the correct way.  In the case of L-Arginine, its ability to act as a precursor to Nitric Oxide is the most important factor here, because Nitric Oxide is used to communicate with other cells within our body.  Shabir will take this further in his article, where he will explain why Nitric Oxide won the accolade of ‘Molecule of the Year’ by Science Magazine, which was followed by the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine for its discovery as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system.  Scientific respect.

Although I am throwing the focus on cardiovascular health, the benefits of Arginine are multi-faceted, which would include its positive influence on relieving migraines, helping to address erectile dysfunction and, by a chemical synthesis, it involves the conversion of ammonia into urea, thus protecting the liver.  So with all of that said, I am reducing the price of L-Arginine down from £20.75 to £17 with a caution that this supplement should not be taken if you have an active herpes infection, which includes herpes simplex, as in oral or genital herpes, or herpes zoster, as in shingles.  Safety first.
VH Editorial: This Amino Acid May Protect You Against Numerous Diseases; L-Arginine HCI by Lamberts £17 for 90 Tablets (Offer Ends Midnight BST Friday 10 September)

The fling.  Throwing all caution to the wind, let’s do a cross-brand treat before we head into the Saturday only treat.  And it’s Color Wow, Wow, Wow because Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer is currently one of our bestselling beauty products, which doesn’t surprise me at all.  Because it works.  So let’s combine the brilliance of Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer with the brilliance of Fulvic Acid Shampoo.  And we’ll do it like this.  If you buy Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer, we will automatically include the 60 ml size of Fulvic Acid Shampoo with every order of the Volumizer whilst stocks last.  The BIG experience.    
Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer by Color Wow £23 for 200 ml

And now, the Saturday only treat.  Having just looked inside the treat cupboard, which is loaded high, I am going to do another one of those lucky-dip moments.  I cannot tell you exactly what the gift will be obviously, but with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will include a gift with love from each of us to each of you.

As I end this Weekend Read, all I really want to say here, with reference to my opening paragraphs, is that true beauty comes from within, it always has and it always will.  The ageing process is miraculous in and of itself and I think it is something we should celebrate with wisdom and understanding, without the need to chase the empty promise of eternal youth.  The shame here is on the brands who will never learn, but more of the shame is perhaps on those who accept extortionate amounts of money to lie.  And that, in my book, is unforgiveable.  And ugly.

Finally, I have chosen this week’s song for several reasons, but mostly because I was told a story this week about a young girl who is struggling with anorexia, as so many are.  And as the story was being told, I immediately thought of Karen Carpenter who lost her battle to anorexia.  I have watched several documentaries about her and I cry every single time.  So this song comes with love, respect and understanding for the varying battles so many are facing, but it comes with a message of hope.  Because there is always hope.  Even through our tears.
Only Yesterday – Carpenters; The VH Playlist 

With love

Gill x

 

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