Good morning and as ever I want to thank you for your ongoing loyalty and support, but most specifically I want to thank you for your recognition and acknowledgement of the pioneering and cutting-edge formulations which we endorse and recommend. Following through from my words last weekend about Curcumin C3 Complex, we continue to advocate for clinically evaluated compounds, demonstrating that our health and wellbeing should be rooted in truth, not marketing noise.

Having written extensively about Curcumin C3 Complex last weekend, the story behind NAD+ Generator, which we launched in November 2023, is just as compelling. For several years we watched as the longevity market transformed into a chaotic battleground, as global tech billionaires and anti-ageing enthusiasts were chasing a single molecular holy grail, NAD+, the critical co-enzyme that keeps human cells alive, repairs DNA and powers the mitochondria, often called the ‘powerhouse of the cell’ as its primary function is to convert nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the chemical energy that powers cellular activity.

It is well established that as we age our NAD+ levels decline, leaving cells sluggish and vulnerable, and the health industry’s answer was an explosion of supplements, yet we believed there was a fundamental flaw in the mainstream approach. This approach was flawed because many supplements were attempting to force large, complex molecules such as NMN or raw NAD+ directly into the body, and it was flawed because the gut struggled to absorb it and the liver intercepted it, so we decided to rewrite the longevity narrative with NAD+ Generator.

Instead of relying on unstable molecules, NAD+ Generator was formulated with a clinically backed, patented powerhouse compound known as RiaGev®, which was an architectural blueprint for cellular rejuvenation. RiaGev® combines two precisely balanced building blocks, D-Ribose, the structural backbone of cellular energy, and Nicotinamide Ascorbate, a specialised form of vitamin B3 bound to vitamin C, enabling it to bypass the metabolic roadblocks which hindered most other supplements in the genre.

Because these ingredients are natural cellular substrates, the body is able to absorb them instantly and once inside the cells walls, the magic, as it were, happens as cells are prompted to manufacture their own fresh supply of NAD+. The data is interesting, because while the longevity market promised changes after months of expensive doses, clinical trials on RiaGev® revealed that it altered the cellular landscape in just three to five days. On from that, human blood tests showed an 11% spike in NAD+ and a massive 27.6% surge in NADP+, the advanced co-factor that supercharges cellular defences.

The other thing to say here is that cellular energy is a delicate ecosystem, and by utilising the RiaGev® pathway, NAD+ Generator simultaneously drives up ATP, the actual battery fluid of the cell, while boosting Glutathione levels by over 11%, Glutathione being the body’s master antioxidant. In all of this, we wanted to deliver a profound philosophical shift in the longevity movement by formulating a supplement that doesn’t force the body to change, but rather reminds the body how to heal itself. Offering an efficacious path to healthy ageing, NAD+ Generator drops in price from £32 to £28 across the weekend.
VH Editorial: NAD+ Supplements: Benefits & Side Effects; DoSe NAD+ Generator £28 for 30 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 14 June)

On from this, cellular communication is the absolute foundation of human healing because every stage of wound recovery, tissue repair and immune response relies on cells sending, receiving and processing precise chemical signals, which leads me to talk about peptides. Peptides are short-chains of amino acids, the building blocks of protein, that act as biological messengers. By binding to specific cell receptors, they deliver precise instructions, such as signalling the skin to produce more collagen.

The concept of cellular communication is the fundamental mechanism behind how peptides work in both biology and modern dermatology. In demonstration, collagen tripeptides represent a monumental leap in cellular communication, effectively rendering traditional hydrolysed collagen formulations obsolete because the fragments are generally too large to cross into cellular membranes, thus falling short of their ability to target cellular signalling.

Collagen tripeptides serve as a powerful example of targeted cellular communication in action. Collagen Tripeptides are exceptionally small chains of just three amino acids, most notably glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, but beyond acting as signallers, they exhibit notable antioxidant properties. This is important because it can inhibit the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and decrease the enzymes that degrade collagen, thereby actively delaying cellular ageing.

I write about NAD+ Generator and Collagen Tripeptide Complex rather a lot, basically because we believe they are both crucial for healthy ageing. This is where cellular power meets structural building blocks, cellular power because NAD+ Generator works from the inside out, optimising cellular energy, and structural building blocks because Collagen Tripeptide Complex works from the outside in, providing the highly bioavailable compounds needed to support skin, joints, hair and nails. And so, in a synergistic approach, Collagen Tripeptide Complex drops in price from £45 to £39.
VH Editorial: Does Your Collagen Supplement Contain Collagen Tripeptides; DoSe Collagen Tripeptide Complex £39 for 90 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 14 June)

Identifying gold-standard compounds remains our raison d'être, it allows us to adopt early, enabling us to anchor our health and wellbeing protocols with clinically evaluated formulations. Having just written about peptides in biology, I am following through with some words about Multi-Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum, a highly targeted blend of advanced peptide technologies, cellular antioxidants and a nutrient-dense botanical which embraces the concept of modern dermatology, where healthy ageing is viewed not as a single process, but as a network of cellular changes.

Multi-Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum addresses these cellular changes simultaneously, combining three distinct scientific pillars, advanced peptide chains, cellular antioxidants and a nutrient-dense botanical. Serving as cellular messengers to structurally rebuild and smooth the skin matrix, the key peptides in this formulation include Matrixyl 3000®, which mimics broken collagen fragments, tricking the skin into producing fresh collagen, Argireline® Amplified Peptide which is renowned as a topical alternative to muscle-relaxing injectables and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, which actively accelerates collagen synthesis.

For cellular protection, Ergothioneine and Grape Seed extract are included, Ergothioneine being a highly stable, powerful antioxidant which helps protect cellular DNA from premature ageing caused by pollution and UV light. Each of these compounds are blended with a hydration base of Sodium Hyaluronate, a low-molecular weight form of HA and Glycerine, which helps prevent transepidermal water loss. The formulation is further enhanced by Watercress Extract, which is clinically proven to reduce the tension of the facial muscles, blurring the lines of mature skin, and it drops in price from £26 to £23, also across the weekend.
DoSe Multi-Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum £23 for 30 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 14 June)

With that covered, I want to throw the focus on eye health, a subject I also write about rather a lot, but it’s important to do so because almost all of us will experience vision changes or eye strain at some point of our lives. Most specifically Dry Eye Syndrome is an extraordinarily common health concern, often referred to as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, symptoms can include dryness, redness, light sensitivity, burning sensation and foreign body sensation. Incidences of Dry Eye Syndrome increase with age, although age aside, prolonged computer or screen use is a widely documented contributor to this condition.

Shabir takes an in-depth look at Dry Eye Syndrome in his article linked below, recommending Tear Support with MaquiBright® as a natural remedy to enhance tear production, helping to alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes. Maqui berries contain powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins and Japanese scientists isolated the chemicals within the berries, discovering unique compounds called delphinidins. Delphinidins were shown to inhibit damage to the delicate eye tissues as well as protect the eye tissues against free radical damage.

Tear Support with MaquiBright® works by boosting tear fluid secretion, enhancing the actual function of the tear film and as I drop the price of Tear Support with MaquiBright® from £20 to £17 for the interim, it is also relevant to talk about topical solutions to support supplementation. There are many over-the-counter solutions to help alleviate dry eye syndrome, but mostly they provide relief for a couple of hours, which means that they need to be used several times a day, so we recommend two solutions, Advanced Triple Action Eye Drops for morning use and Overnight Relief Eye Drops in the evening.

Advanced Triple Action Eye Drops are preservative-free and work in three ways, using HA to hydrate and comfort, a lipid-base of Sacha Inchi Oil to prevent tears from evaporating and a non-blurring technology. Overnight Relief Eye Drops also feature HA, at a strength of 0.4%, enriched with Alpha Lipoic Acid and vitamin E-TPGS, this powerful duo of antioxidants help to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, two major contributors to dry eye syndrome, locking in moisture while you sleep. This is important because dryness, burning and irritation often worsen at night due to decreased tear production.
VH Editorial: Symptoms Of Dry Eyes; Tear Support With MaquiBright® by Life Extension £17 for 30 Capsules; Advanced Triple Action Eye Drops by The Eye Doctor £15 for 10 ml; Overnight Relief Eye Drops by The Eye Doctor £13 for 10 ml

There is one more thing to mention here because Dry Eye Syndrome is often present in those who have rheumatoid arthritis, acne rosacea and Sjogren’s Syndrome. Sjogren’s Syndrome is classified as an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks its own cells, believing them to be invaders like bacteria and viruses. The lymphocytes, which are specific types of immune cells, selectively target the moisture producing glands of the body, including the salivary glands and the lachrymal (tear producing) glands, resulting in dry eyes and dry mouth.

There are other symptoms and these include vaginal dryness, joint swelling and pain, dry skin all over the body and face, prolonged fatigue and dryness within the respiratory tract together with persistent coughs and bronchitis. It remains unclear why people develop Sjogren’s Syndrome, although genetics seem to play a role, but it is also theorised that it could be triggered by bacterial or viral attacks which disturb the function of the immune system causing inflammation within the body.

Sjogren’s Syndrome is not life threatening, but it needs to be addressed and although there are conventional treatments to help alleviate the symptoms of Sjogren’s Syndrome, these are not without side effects, so we recommend Omega 7 as a natural solution. Omega 7 fatty acids are a type of monounsaturated fat and numerous studies indicate that supplementing with Omega 7 helps to alleviate many dry skin concerns, including dry eyes, dry skin, joint and muscle pain and vaginal dryness.

Of equal importance is their ability to help reduce inflammation in the body and the anti-inflammatory effect of Omega 7 fats greatly improves the symptoms of fibromyalgia, as well as rheumatic and joint pain. Sibu’s Omega-7 Sea Buckthorn Oil capsules are especially rich in the monosaturated Omega 7 fatty acid containing over 150 nutrients with the full spectrum of essential fatty acids including Omegas 3, 6 and 9 essential fats. This is a high potency formulation and it drops in price from £22.95 to £20 across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Managing Sjogren’s Syndrome; Omega-7 Sea Buckthorn Oil by Sibu £20 for 60 Softgels 

Right, to the end with some new product launches and feedback and I’ll begin with Hope’s Relief who have just launched three new products, Dry Flaky Scalp Conditioner, Derma Lotion For Dry Skin & Eczema and their Soap-Free Cleansing Bar. The Dry Flaky Scalp Conditioner is carefully formulated for itchy scalps which are prone to dandruff, eczema, dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and other dry skin conditions. It partners with the existing Dry Flaky Scalp Shampoo in protecting the pH of the scalp, without stripping natural oils and, aligning with Dry Flaky Scalp Shampoo, Dry Flaky Scalp Conditioner is unscented and hypoallergenic.
Dry Flaky Scalp Shampoo by Hope’s Relief; Dry Flaky Scalp Conditioner by Hope’s Relief

Derma Lotion has been formulated with colloidal oatmeal together with nine natural skin moisturisers and anti-itch ingredients including Sea Buckthorn Coconut Oil, Marshmallow root and Kakadu Plum. These natural actives work together to provide a soothing and calming action, which is deeply moisturising and encourages natural skin healing to provide relief from itching due to dry or compromised skin concerns. Finally, the Soap-Free Cleansing Bar is a gentle soap-free alternative formulated to cleanse and moisturise without irritating sensitive skin and is mild enough to be used every day. Each of these products drop in price by 15% for the interim.
Derma Lotion by Hope’s Relief; Soap-Free Cleansing Bar by Hope’s Relief

Aromatherapy Associates have been releasing some rather fabulous products recently, notably Support Breathe Shower Mist, and they have just launched a rich and grounding new blend, Desert Therapy. Crafted from rare and exotic essential oils, including Frankincense, Oud, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Orange and Rose this blend encourages sacred reflection, deep introspection and clarity. There are three products in the range, Desert Therapy Pure Essential Oil Blend, Desert Blend Bath & Shower Oil and Desert Blend Body Oil, each of which are discounted by 15% to celebrate the launch.
Desert Blend by Aromatherapy Associates (offer ends at midnight BST, Monday 15 June)

Finally, the feedback and I can’t tell you how relieved I was that Unstung Hero finally arrived last weekend. I literally changed the Weekend Read at the very last moment to accommodate its arrival, so thank you for your response, it is truly an amazing product as so many of you know. On subject, well sort of on subject, if you do get bitten, the Moskinto Itch-Relief Patches are also amazing as they instantly soothe insect bites in both adults and children. Free of medicines and chemicals, they relieve the itch and swelling of mosquitoes and other insect bites, providing a perfect solution with a patent-pending grid-shaped patch design.
Mrs White’s Unstung Hero Mosquito Repellent £20 for 250 ml (glass bottle); Mrs White’s Unstung Hero Mosquito Repellent £15 for 100 ml (aluminium bottle); Moskinto Itch-Relief Patch £6.99 for 24 Plasters

Into the Saturday only treat, and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically send you a Spacemask (original). I have honestly lost count of the number of times I have written about Spacemasks across the years and I gift them often, mostly because of their brilliance in gently warming the eye area, helping to remove tension, enabling us to unwind before sleep. Product details below.
Spacemasks

Whenever I write about Spacemasks, I start singing ‘Ground Control To Major Tom’ and the song, Space Oddity, stays in my head for hours. Space Oddity was first released as a single on 11 July 1969 and it will probably stay in my head the entire weekend, but never mind that, I could declare it a David Bowie weekend and play Aladdin Sane, one of my favourite Bowie albums, over and over and over again. Actually, it’s not quite over, because we may as well celebrate David Bowie and Spacemasks with a 15% discount across the brand, across the weekend, with the offer ending at midnight BST, Sunday 14 June.
Space Oddity by David Bowie; The VH Playlist

Wishing you a restful weekend.

With love

Gill x