Another Weekend Read and another celebration because this weekend we are celebrating Collagen Tripeptide Complex which we launched this time last year. So, one year of Collagen Tripeptide Complex and one year of writing about the clinical evidence which supports the efficacy of collagen tripeptides, which remains so incredibly important because collagen tripeptides supersede collagen peptides, the industry norm, so as such we are staying ahead of the curve, creating our own curve.

If I take a step back, I can honestly say that our role has always been one of education in that we are consistently educated by scientists and researchers, enabling us to share that educational clinical transparency. It is not, and has never been, my role to undermine specific brands or products, although I am sorely tempted at times, but it is my role, and responsibility, to uphold the scientifically based evidence which determines the products we endorse and recommend.

In many ways, it would have been the easiest thing in the world to formulate a collagen supplement several years ago, but there would not have been a valid point of difference and the other thing is that I rather like standing outside the crowd, rather than becoming part of it. And so we waited, we waited over two decades before we launched Collagen Tripeptide Complex, and once a significant point of difference was determined, we took that determined clinical evidence onto our platform and danced with it.

We have been dancing with Collagen Tripeptide Complex for a year, and I have written hundreds, if not thousands of words, about the pioneering advancement of collagen tripeptides, so with Shabir’s comprehensive article about collagen tripeptides linked below, we are going to celebrate that advancement together. Across the weekend, we are offering you a forty-day supply of Collagen Tripeptide Complex, which has a value of £60, for the same price as a thirty-day supply, which is £45, except in a twist, I am further reducing that to £40, with an invitation to dance that twist with me.
VH Editorial: Does Your Collagen Supplement Contain Collagen Tripeptides; DoSe Collagen Tripeptide Complex £40 for 120 Capsules; Let’s Twist Again by Chubby Checker (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 15 February or whilst stock lasts)

I want to stay on the subject of collagen for a moment and I want to talk about topical collagen, basically because I have always thought that the marketing of topical collagen products is confusing, if not misleading. Collagen molecules are too large to pass through the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, to reach and penetrate the dermis where collagen production takes place. Collagen skincare products tend to sit on the skin’s surface and whilst they may offer temporary hydration, they cannot support the structure of collagen.

Most obviously, there has been extensive research to identify the compounds which can boost collagen production, and whilst this research is ongoing, there is enough robust clinical evidence to determine that retinoids, peptides and vitamin C do stimulate our skin’s collagen production, making them effective choices for the long-term health of our skin. Having written rather a lot of words about Multi-Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum in recent weeks, which most definitely supports collagen production, I am now going to throw the focus on vitamin C.
DoSe Multi-Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum £26 for 30 ml

Vitamin C is an essential co-factor for collagen synthesis, and when we formulated Triple Vitamin C 23% + Ferulic Acid, it was important to include three forms of vitamin C to support all three core benefits of vitamin C, providing antioxidant protection, slowing down melanin production and promoting collagen production. The three forms of vitamin C are Ascorbic Acid, for boosting collagen and reducing pigmentation, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, which helps brighten dull skin and targets hyperpigmentation, together with Ascorbyl Glucoside, a stable form of vitamin C which also supports collagen production.

There are seven key ingredients in this formulation and the three forms of vitamin C are joined by Ferulic Acid which is also a potent antioxidant. Ferulic Acid plays a role in protecting vitamin C from oxidation, neutralising free radicals which, in turn, help to protect the skin against ageing, and the other key ingredients are Glutathione, Hyaluronic Acid and Ergothioneine.

Launching Triple Vitamin C last May, I wrote at the time that Shabir had been working on this formulation for several years and it was a dream, and mission, fulfilled because he wanted to bring three forms of vitamin C together in one formulation. I also wrote that market conditioning is extraordinarily difficult to overturn, most specifically because we are conditioned to believe that ‘high-end’ expensive formulations offer greater efficacy, which is so very far from the truth. In demonstration, and standing in that truth, I am dropping the price of Triple Vitamin C 23% + Ferulic Acid from £20 to £17. And the £17 arrives without a zero on the end.
DoSe Triple Vitamin C 23% + Ferulic Acid £17 for 30 ml (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 15 February)

Let’s do some health concerns and poor circulation is a health concern that affects many of us, resulting in various conditions such as varicose veins, spider veins and haemorrhoids. It is thought that almost a third of the adult population in the UK have some kind of circulatory disorder and although varicose veins and haemorrhoids are the two most common circulatory concerns, the underlying effects of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) can be very uncomfortable, as can chilblains which, incidentally, are far more common in women than men.

So, several circulatory health concerns and one supplement to support each of these concerns and that supplement is Diosmin Plus. Diosmin is a naturally occurring hesperidin bioflavonoid extracted from the rinds of sweet oranges and although there are a vast number of supplements available containing Diosmin for circulatory issues, the issue here is that Diosmin is poorly absorbed by the body, so as such there is a lack of efficacy and a lack of transparency in the marketing of those formulations.

With efficacy being key, Diosmin Plus has been formulated with Diosmin 95, a standardised, high-potency extract, which has been shown to reach the bloodstream and work within the veins to reduce the markers for poor circulation. Interestingly, leg ulcers have also been shown to have a marked improvement when Diosmin 95 has been used and Diosmin 95 also helps to reduce pain and swelling in legs and ankles.

Diosmin 95 is supported in this formulation with Horse Chestnut which helps improve circulation and Dandelion which has been shown to have diuretic properties to help ease the symptoms of heavy legs. They are joined by Gotu Kola, where numerous studies have shown its effectiveness in the treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency, together with Ginger which is an excellent warming and circulatory herb and Pine Bark Extract, a rich source of specific antioxidants that help protect the capillaries by binding to collagen.

As I drop the price of Diosmin Plus from £29 to £26 across the weekend, I am linking several articles below which explain in greater detail the symptoms and causes of each of these concerns. As you will read, we recommend two topical products, Organic Horse Chestnut Balm to help soothe and alleviate the discomfort of haemorrhoids and Capsicum and Ginger Warming Cream for the treatment and prevention of chilblains. In alignment, Organic Horse Chestnut Balm drops in price from £20.60 to £18 and Capsicum and Ginger Warming Cream drops in price from £26.99 to £24.
VH Editorials: A Natural Remedy For Varicose Veins, Spider Veins, Haemorrhoids And Poor Circulation; Preventing And Treating Haemorrhoids; Chilblains Treatment; DoSe Diosmin Plus £26 for 60 Capsules; Organic Horse Chestnut Balm by Viridian Nutrition £18 for 60 ml; Capsicum and Ginger Warming Cream by Napiers £24 for 100 ml (offers end at midnight GMT, Sunday 15 February)

Before we move on, I would just like to caveat two things, the first is that if you are on blood thinning medication such as Warfarin, we do not advise that you take Diosmin Plus, however it is perfectly safe to take with low doses of Aspirin. The second thing is that in the article about chilblains we recommend Silversocks, and I have been recommending Silversocks for several years because they are excellent, not only for chilblains, but for poor circulation. Silversocks have been out of stock for absolutely ages, I don’t know when they will come back into stock, but I will update you once we find out.

Onwards, and staying with common health concerns, back acne is tremendously common and it develops like other types of acne where dead skin cells, sweat, sebum (natural oil) and dirt clog pores causing red spots, pimples, whiteheads or blackheads to appear on the skin. There are several possible causes including genetics, hormonal changes, stress, clothing friction, skincare products that can clog pores together with soaps and shower gels that strip skin of its natural levels of oil resulting in a higher oil production.

Antibiotics are frequently used in the treatment of many forms of acne, but this can often lead to antibiotic resistance and taking a look at natural solutions, studies have indicated that Thyme displays the strongest and fastest antibacterial activity, most especially against Cutibacterium acnes, a bacterium species linked to acne. Thyme Out is a comprehensive range of topical products which we have endorsed and recommended for the longest time, and rather than using soap on compromised skin conditions, we recommend Thyme Out Face and Body Wash to gently cleanse and remove dirt, dead skin cells and excess oil.

This non-comedogenic gentle cleanser displays antimicrobial properties and we recommend following through with Thyme Out Spray, which has been formulated to treat almost every inflammatory skin concern. With five products in the Thyme Out range, I am throwing a 15% discount across each of those five products, but I am also dropping the price of Clear Skin Complex from £29.30 to £25, a brilliant supplement which combines twelve potent ingredients to support clear, balanced and healthy skin from within, working rather successfully with the Thyme Out topical products, given time.
VH Editorials: Back Acne; How To Get Clear Skin; Thyme Out Products; Clear Skin Complex by Viridian Nutrition £25 for 60 Capsules (offers end at 4 pm, Friday 20 February)

To end this section, Sheald Recovery Balm is a brilliant solution for scarring and hyperpigmentation and it also helps soothe and nourish post-procedure skin, helping to prevent scabbing and itching. It has been endorsed by surgeons all over the world, and of course it was the first formulation that could be used on open wounds, which was quite something at that time. And it still is because quite honestly nothing comes close to the efficacy of Sheald Recovery Balm. Actually, I doubt anything really will.
Sheald Recovery Balm by iS Clinical £79 for 60 grams; Sheald Recovery Balm by iS Clinical £30 for 15 grams

Right, two new products, the first of which has been specifically formulated to treat flaky, itchy eyebrows, a concern which is often overlooked, despite the fact that eyebrows can be prone to irritation, dehydration and visible flaking. Flaky brows are rarely caused by just one factor but are the result of cumulative stressors that can weaken the skin’s natural defences such as harsh skincare products that migrate into the brow area, environmental exposure, contact with fragranced cosmetics and periods of stress which can often affect the balance of skin.

Healthy brows have a resilient skin barrier, but when this barrier is compromised the skin can become more reactive to irritants, resulting in tightness, redness or persistent flaking along the brow line. So, the product is Hydrosil HydroBrow and it has been formulated with soothing plant extracts, prebiotic complexes to help support a balanced skin microbiome and gentle purifying botanicals. As brow care moves away from heavy waxes and multi-purpose balms, Hydrosil HydroBrow is a transparent, lightweight natural brow gel created to relieve itching, redness and the flaking of eyebrows without fragrance, residue or heaviness.
Hydrosil HydroBrow by Skin Shop £8.50 for 7 ml

It takes rather a lot for me to fall in love with a product, but I have fallen in love with Support Breathe Shower Mist from Aromatherapy Associates. A shower mist is an aromatic spray designed specifically for use in the shower and when sprayed into the air, steam helps disperse the scent, creating a sensory experience through inhalation. Shower mists are formulated to work with heat and humidity, and unlike room or pillow sprays which scent fabrics or spaces, a shower mist is designed to be inhaled as steam rises and all you need to do is mist two or three sprays of the mist into the air, directing towards the rising steam to activate the aroma.

Blended with Eucalyptus, Lavender and Peppermint, Support Breathe Shower Mist is a cool, fresh and gently balancing fragrance. Eucalyptus brings an airy, clarifying quality, Peppermint adds crisp freshness and Lavender softens the blend with a calming undertone. Support Breathe Shower Mist allows us to elevate a daily routine into a spa-inspired ritual and with an invitation to create that spa-inspired ritual, Support Breathe Shower Mist launches at £38, but I’m dropping that to £34 for the interim. And one more thing, I’ll drop a small, non-specific, Aromatherapy Associates gift in with every order for Support Breathe Shower Mist, whilst stock lasts.
Support Breathe Shower Mist by Aromatherapy Associates £34 for 100 ml (minimum gift value £12, one gift per customer, whilst stock lasts)

Into the Saturday only treat, and with every order placed for £35 or above, excluding p&p, we will automatically send you Curly Ellie’s Moisturising Detangling Spray (125 ml)* which hydrates, de-frizzes and glides through knots in hair. We love Curly Ellie’s products and although the range has been specifically formulated for curly hair, we can all use this detangling spray, details of which are linked below, together with a link to all of the Curly Ellie products. And to end, I am throwing a 15% discount across the Curly Ellie products. Tra-la.
Moisturising Detangling Spray; Curly Ellie Products (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 15 February)

Finally, at the top of this Weekend Read we did the twist for Collagen Tripeptide Complex, so for balance, we are closing with Breathe, dedicated to the launch of Support Breathe Shower Mist. Written by Anna Nalick, this song appeared on the VH Playlist several years ago when I was more than addicted to Grey’s Anatomy. At that time I used the video from Grey’s Anatomy, but this time I am using the original version because it’s amazing. Well, I think it’s amazing. Just breathe.
Breathe by Anna Nalick; The VH Playlist

Love always

Gill x