Weekend Read 15 August 2026
Hello, rolling through August, I just want to take a moment to say thank you, once again, for your ongoing love and support, most especially for your wonderful emails about Icon Skincare. For me, the beauty of Icon is that it is utterly unbothered by modern trends, it simply is what it is, and somehow, that is exactly what makes it feel so relevant. The richness and decadence of The Icon Cream Heritage, which I adore, demonstrates that some things, like 1950s Hollywood glamour, simply never age.
The Icon Cream Heritage by Icon Skincare £61 for 40 grams
So, a moment to talk about launching brands and products, most specifically because each launch is different and each launch has its own innate signature. Through all of this, it is never really the launch itself which determines whether something matters, it is whether a brand, or a product, has genuinely earned a place in our lives. I think that matters rather a lot and there are always those products which immediately earn a place in our lives. With more than a wave to Camera Ready.
More than a wave, because rather a lot of you are waiting for Camera Ready to earn a place in your lives because it flipped onto a wait list last weekend, for which I apologise. As most of you know, we release the Weekend Read at 7.45 am each Saturday morning and by 7.55 am I knew that at some point across the weekend a wait list was on the horizon. Actually, the horizon, as it were, arrived at approximately 12.45 pm on Saturday, give or take a minute or so, and I held back from phoning Bryan and Alec, mostly because it was 4.45 am in LA, so I let them sleep through, but sent a ‘capital letter’ email instead.
We have been here before with ‘holy grail’ products, notably Sheald Recovery Balm, the launch of which we will never forget, mostly because it took approximately eight weeks to fulfil the wait list, so we had to manage expectation. Thankfully, this wait will only be a matter of days, not weeks, because Camera Ready will be back in stock at the beginning of next week and, with a sigh of relief, I sent a note to the boys asking them to increase production. I would like a drama-free life. At least for a week.
Camera Ready by Icon Skincare £47 for 20 grams
All of which brings me to the Ipsum SPA Hammam products which we launched towards the end of May. I realise that it is some time since we launched, but I have held back from following through because our stock levels were totally depleted and I see little point in writing about products when we are unable to fulfil orders. To further explain, Ipsum is a small, niche brand and the products are hand-made in Australia in small batches, so if we have to wait, we have to wait and that wait is certainly worthwhile because the SPA Hammam products are exceptional, most notably the SPA Hammam Soap.
To refresh, there are four products in the range, the SPA Hammam Soap, the SPA Hammam Mitt, the SPA Hammam Mask Neck and Décolleté and the SPA Hammam Body Oil, with the SPA Hammam Soap being the bestselling product. The SPA Hammam Soap became a wait-list product, which really didn’t surprise me because it is the first step of the Hammam ritual and when used with the SPA Hammam Mitt, the Hammam experience is memorable.
For ease, I am linking the words I wrote about the Ipsum SPA Hammam products here and as you will read, we were offering the Ipsum Lip Oil Balm, worth £19, when you bought either the SPA Hammam Soap, the SPA Hammam Mask or the SPA Hammam Body Oil. That offer still stands, whilst stock lasts, and the second offer also still stands, also whilst stock lasts. So, if you purchase the full SPA Hammam Collection, the SPA Hammam Soap, Mask and Body Oil, we will send you two gifts, the Lip Oil Balm together with an Ipsum puffa beauty bag. If either of these gifts fail to go into your basket, that will mean the offer is over, and at this point it is a limited offer.
Ipsum SPA Hammam Products
On subject, and through the years, there have been many key supplements which have earned a place in our lives, some of which are specifically targeted and others which are beneficial for each of us. Supplements are of course a considered choice, but there can be no doubt that preventative healthcare remains one of the most powerful tools we have, and probiotics most definitely fall into that genre.
Approximately 70% to 80% of the body’s immune cells live directly within the gastrointestinal tract within a specialised network known as the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Long before we ever experience a single symptom of bloating, acid reflux or irregular digestion, this massive immune hub is constantly working in the background to distinguish between harmless nutrients and dangerous pathogens.
The human gut functions as a powerful secondary immune system, but when this system becomes overwhelmed, symptoms manifest outside the digestive tract first and include unexplained fatigue, where poor nutrient absorption drains daily energy. It can also be the root cause of skin irritation, where systemic inflammation triggers acne, eczema or rashes, frequent infections where a weak gut barrier lets common viruses slip through or brain fog, where inflammation travels up the vagus nerve to the brain.
Following through, Shabir recommends Mega Probio, amongst other nutrients, if you are using GLP-1 medication, which a significant number of people are. We have touched on this subject before, but many people experience issues surrounding gut health when on GLP-1 medications, including lower abdominal pain and bloating. On from that, it has been well established that protein is crucial for maintaining muscle mass during weight loss and therein another issue. The extraordinarily high demand for protein supplementation has caused supply shortages and soaring prices globally.
The issue is very real and in an article published in The Guardian on 9 June, it referenced data from Vesper, a commodity intelligence platform for dairy, which showed the price of a tonne of whey protein, with a concentrate of 80%, has risen from £4,302 in June 2023 to £23,751 in June of this year. I have always believed it important to report on all circumstances surrounding our health and wellbeing and whilst we are able to hold our pricing structure at the moment on Whey Protein, we are walking into the unknown, most specifically noting supply and demand issues, which are impacting the health industry.
VH Editorial: Supplements To Take When On GLP-1 Medication; Organic Whey Protein Powder £26 for 400 grams
Slightly diversifying, if protein is having a moment, Creatine shares that moment, but not only because it is recommended for those taking GLP-1 medication. Creatine is fundamental for energy production essentially because every cell in the body is required to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is responsible for providing energy for movement, brain function and almost all functions carried out in the body. The production of ATP requires Creatine which helps cells regenerate ATP for energy as and when our bodies require it.
Given that Creatine has become somewhat of a ‘buzz’ supplement, it follows that there is rather a lot of conflicting ‘information’ to be found, most specifically that Creatine is an anabolic steroid. It is not. While many people associate Creatine with bigger biceps and supporting athletic activity, the reality is that Creatine is vital for the functions of the heart, brain and nervous system.
Creatine also displays antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Oxidative stress is the imbalance between damaging free radicals and the body’s antioxidant defences. When free radicals are greater than antioxidants, they steal electrons from healthy cells which cause damage to proteins, lipids and DNA and it is this cellular damage that can contribute to ageing and chronic diseases. Interestingly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Creatine Monohydrate has been the subject of extensive research, and in his article, linked below, Shabir cites nine of those benefits collated by the NIH based upon research participants, as well as scholars.
VH Editorial: Creatine’s Benefits Beyond Muscle Strength; Creatine Monohydrate Micronized Powder by Applied Nutrition £18.95 for 250 grams
Referencing the twenty-two articles on Mega Probio, I am pulling out one more article and the subject matter is Rosacea. I will begin by saying that there is no cure for Rosacea, so let’s look at the facts. Rosacea is a skin condition that causes a persistent redness on the face, particularly on the cheeks, nose and forehead. Small areas of blood vessels on the face become dilated, inflamed and visible through the skin as small red lines, tending to get larger in size over time.
These symptoms can often be accompanied by papules (red bumps) and pustules (pus-filled bumps) which resemble acne, which is why Rosacea is often referred to as Acne Rosacea, despite the fact that no whiteheads or blackheads are generally present. Although the cause of Rosacea is still not fully understood, there are many possible causal factors including genetics and intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which explains why antibiotics are often prescribed for Rosacea. Yet, what is understood is that there are various factors which can intensify the symptoms of Rosacea and they include alcohol, stress, sunlight and steroids.
Topically, Azelaic Acid is the gold standard treatment for Rosacea, as it helps to calm inflammation, gently resurfacing the skin and this can easily be incorporated into your skincare regimen, as can Niacinamide Serum which helps calm redness, strengthening the skincare barrier, protecting it from external and internal toxins and inflammatory compounds. A mention too for Altruist’s Anti-Redness and Pigmentation SPF50, which is an excellent product, so with all of that said, and with Shabir’s article linked below, the price of Azelaic Acid 10% Serum drops from £15 to £12 and Niacinamide Serum also drops from £15 to £12 for the interim.
VH Editorial: Rosacea Treatment For Face And Eyes; DoSe Azelaic Acid 10% Serum £12 for 30 ml; DoSe Niacinamide Serum £12 for 30 ml
As one thing leads to another, and outside of Ocular Rosacea, Dry Eye Syndrome is an extraordinarily common health concern and although the symptoms of dry eyes vary, most people experience dryness, redness, grittiness, blurred vision and a stinging sensation. This is often accompanied by excessive watering of the eyes and foreign body sensation, which can be extremely uncomfortable.
Dry Eye Syndrome is often referred to as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which is often caused by insufficient and/or poor quality of tears, and I am not going to write chapter and verse on Dry Eye Syndrome primarily because Shabir’s article deep dives into this health concern, which I’ve linked below, where you will also read about Tear Support with MaquiBright®. We have long recommended Tear Support, which drops in price from £20 to £17, because Maqui Berry extract helps boost tear fluid secretion, enhancing the actual function of the tear film and it can help soothe eyes from the inside out by stimulating tear production. And that makes a difference.
VH Editorial: Symptoms Of Dry Eyes; Tear Support with MaquiBright® by Life Extension £17 for 30 Capsules
On a somewhat lighter note, and having written about the products which genuinely earn a place in our lives, here are three from me. I’m not writing about supplements because most of you know that there are certain supplements I will not live without, and for the record, Mega Probio is one of those supplements, so the first of those products is the Rainbow Volume S Brush. Love, love, love it. It looks ridiculous, but I don’t care, it performs like a dream, launching in 2015 I wrote that it gave me ‘Dusty Springfield’ hair and it went viral. It was £12 then and it’s £12 now and I will not leave home without it.
Rainbow Volume S Brush £12
I am forever writing about Sheald Recovery Balm because this is another product I wouldn’t want to live without. Actually, Shabir recommends it in his article about Rosacea, but notwithstanding that, I consider Sheald Recovery Balm to be one of those rare ‘miracle’ products, and I don’t say that lightly. I will not travel without it and following through on the story of my little finger which I recently wrote about, once the doctors removed my Manuka Honey dressing, I dressed it myself with Sheald and it is healing rather magnificently. No scarring. Thankfully.
Sheald Recovery Balm by iS Clinical £79 for 60 grams; Sheald Recovery Balm by iS Clinical £30 for 15 grams
One more product, and once again it is from iS Clinical. Before I write one more word, I know that Extreme Protect SPF 40 is expensive, but given that I will only ever use it on my face and you really only need to use a small amount, it lasts rather a long time. As you would expect, the formulation is immaculate, and I think I will leave it there other than to say that, coincidentally or otherwise, it also makes an appearance in Shabir’s article on Rosacea because it will not irritate compromised skin conditions. That matters and as we are now complete, we head into the Saturday only treat.
Extreme Protect SPF 40 by iS Clinical £85 for 100 grams
So, the Saturday only treat and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include Lanolips Lip Water Watermelon (10 ml)*, a lightweight lip hydration fluid powered by liquid Lanolin, HA and Glycerin. Perfect for the summer months, actually pretty perfect all year round and the product details are linked below.
Lanolips Lip Water Watermelon
Finally, this song is dedicated to the products that play such a special role in our lives, but it is also dedicated to the warmth and trust of our collective sharing.
You’ve Got A Friend by Carole King; The VH Playlist
Wishing each of you a wonderful weekend.
Warmest
Gill x
