As I welcome you to another Weekend Read, I think I need to go straight in without any preamble because I have quite a lot to talk about, which includes new product launches and your quite considerable feedback, for which I am so very grateful. Let’s do it.

And we begin with two more new products from Non Gender Specific (NGS), the skincare brand for all humans.  I have written chapter and verse about this brand, founded by the inimitable Andrew Glass, and having launched three products from the range last year, I am so excited to tell you about the next two products which we are now able to release.  I am such a huge fan of NGS and most of you will know that I declared Everything Cleanser as my favourite cleanser of the year in the VH Awards, published in December.  I couldn’t love this cleanser any more if I tried, but I have to say that the two new NGS products are also truly exceptional.  And remarkable.

The first product I need to tell you about is Everything Cream.  What I also need to tell you is that I have been using Everything Cream for almost a year.  I like to be thorough in my testing, but actually in reality it has been going through the laborious process of registration and so I have had to hold back from sharing this amazing new product with you.  And it truly is amazing because it is loaded with 23 powerful botanicals that work to deliver phytonutrients and hydration deep into the skin. 

Additionally the formulation works to nourish the skin with natural oils that absorb quickly and are never greasy.  I promise you that if any product made my skin look greasy, it would go straight into the bin, so although it has an incredibly rich texture, it remains lightweight and provides a semi-matte glow, which is perfect for all skin types.  I am so tempted to write about the high volume of products that have gone into the bin, but I think I had better keep my mouth firmly shut, other than to say that I wouldn’t give them house-room, let alone list them.  So without any more diversification, just three words from me to Everything Cream.  I love you.
Everything Cream by NGS £42 for 50 grams; Everything Cleanser by NGS £25 for 237 ml

The next product was launched last year in America and by all accounts it went completely wild and there were long wait lists.  Having used the product, I absolutely know why, but I am gulping slightly because it is expensive and I am very conscious of that.  It is a high-end skincare product, so notwithstanding my comments, I do understand the pricing structure because it features 23 powerful botanicals and more than 72 transformative nutrients, each of the highest and most active quality, and there is a difference.  So please allow me to introduce you to Phytonutrient Concentrate.  A luxurious face oil.  And botanical shield.

Obviously I can’t write about the specific function of each ingredient, but in order for optimal efficacy different levels of absorption are required via a proprietary delivery process, Antidotal Phytonutrient Infusion, that features custom encapsulations which, in turn, controls the order in which the nutrients are penetrated.  These include ingredients such as Sonyi Mushroom, Nettle, Carrot Seed, Lemon, Sea Buckthorn, Tamanu, Poppy, Edelweiss and Dandelion.  Is this face oil ahead of the game, whatever the game is, yes I certainly think so.  But then it was obsessively researched and developed over a five year period.  And when it comes to application, less is more.  Thankfully.
Phytonutrient Concentrate by NGS £136 for 50 ml

Continuing new product releases, many of you are very familiar with the Florassist range of supplements from Life Extension.  Probably the most recognised supplement in this range would be Florassist Mood Improve, which is a mood boosting probiotic blend with Saffron.  Whilst Magnolia Rhodiola Complex is of course our bestselling supplement for stress and anxiety, it cannot be taken with prescribed anti-depressants because it will contra-indicate, but you can take Florassist Mood Improve with prescribed medication.  And with that said, please allow me to introduce you to the newest supplement in the Florassist family, Florassist Heart Health.

I have written thousands of words about the benefits of probiotics, so Florassist Heart Health is an interesting supplement because new scientific research has uncovered heart health benefits for a specific probiotic organism, Lactobacillus reuteri 30242.  In clinical trials this strain has been shown to maintain already-healthy cholesterol levels, including the important LDL cholesterol. 

Florassist Heart Health is also specifically formulated to maintain lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a powerful predictor of overall cardiovascular health and it is also an important contributor to blood clotting with fibrinogen levels often used as an indicator of cardiovascular wellness.  So as I introduce you to this new cardiovascular supplement, I am dropping the launch price of Florassist Heart Health from £23 to £20 and staying neat, I might as well drop the price of Florassist Mood Improve from £25 to £22.  Whilst stock lasts.  The caveat.  Always. 
Florassist Heart Health by Life Extension £20 for 60 Capsules; Florassist Mood Improve by Life Extension £22 for 30 Capsules (Offers end at midnight GMT, Sunday 16 January or whilst stock lasts)

Right, let’s do two beauty treats and I might as well begin with Fulvic Body Lotion.  All I want to say here is that we would never bring a product to market if it was anything less than fabulous.  And because it is fabulous and because our dry winter skin needs all the nourishment it can get, I am taking the price of Fulvic Body Lotion, which was formulated for us by Shabir, down from £20 to £10.  I don’t need to say anything else, other than I really don’t know how long this offer will last.  And neither does Shabir.  Which amuses me.  Somewhat.
Fulvic Body Lotion £10 for 200 ml

In mode, with our own products, as we have put together three products from Garden of Wisdom.  Actually Shabir put them together, so you can thank him as Daily Cleanser (120 ml), Daily Hydrator (60 ml) and 100% Pure Squalane Oil (30 ml) sit alongside each other in The Winter Saviour Kit.  For further information on each of the products, please refer to the individual product pages.

I will just say here that Squalane Oil is an exceptional hydrator and is highly effective in relieving cracked or chapped skin, with a particular emphasis on compromised skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.  It is also non-irritating, so it can be used on all skin types.  If you were to buy each of the products individually, the cost would be £32, but this offer has nothing to do with me because this is Shabir’s territory.  And as such he has decided that the price for The Winter Saviour Kit should be £19, which is a saving of £13 across the three products.  I think it best we just smile and move on.
The Winter Saviour Kit by Garden of Wisdom for VH £19 (This is a limited edition offer and includes Daily Cleanser, Daily Hydrator and 100% Pure Squalane Oil)

Back to health we go, and we go back with the news that I am taking the price of Cysticlean PAC + D-Mannose down by 25% until the end of January.  So as £34.99 becomes £25.99, this is the product we recommend to help prevent and treat recurrent and frequent urinary tracts infections.  I have often written about Cysticlean as a stand-alone product, and Shabir has written much on this subject too, but the addition of D-Mannose takes this to another interesting level. 

D-Mannose is a carbohydrate that helps soothe inflammation in the urinary tract and attaches itself to various types of bacteria that may be the cause of infections.  This product is also beneficial for prostatitis, inflammation associated with bacteria in the prostate gland.  So with the price dropped, all I will do now is refer you to Shabir’s article once again, where he takes an in-depth on Cysticlean PAC, which forms the basis of this supplement.
VH Editorial: Is Drinking Cranberry Juice A Myth; Cysticlean PAC + D-Mannose £25.99 For Thirty Sachets

And now three new products from Better You with each of them being a variation of the original Magnesium Bath Flakes.  So we have Magnesium Revive Bath Flakes with an energising blend of Magnesium Chloride, Grapefruit and Eucalyptus to help soothe tired and aching muscles; Magnesium Relax Bath Flakes which are blended with Rose Geranium and Bergamot to help ease tension and clear the mind to aid relaxation, and finally Magnesium Mind Bath Flakes which promotes a restorative blend of Sweet Orange and Basil to help focus the mind and calm our emotions.  Nothing to add except we will launch these at £6.25, dropping from £7.95.
Magnesium Revive Bath Flakes by Better You £6.25 for 750 grams; Magnesium Relax Bath Flakes by Better You £6.25 for 750 grams; Magnesium Mind Bath Flakes by Better You £6.25 for 750 grams

Let’s do the feedback from last weekend and of course I have to start by telling you that I had a moment last Saturday when I thought we were heading into a famine, an HA famine, but then I discovered that we had received another consignment, which I didn’t know about.  Just as well really because I wouldn’t want to put any of you through the pain I had gone through by testing its efficacy via abstinence.   Anyway, we are fully stocked for the moment, but I just want to add here that if you are new to HA, please allow at least 28 days for it to kick in, although of course we are all different.  If you missed my story, please refer to the last Weekend Read.  Not cute.
Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules

I would like to blame my confused jet-lagged mind because I hugely under-estimated the demand for a new product we launched last weekend, Intimate Wash.  Except I have to put my hand up and say that I ordered this before I ran away over Christmas and New Year, so I have no excuses other than to say that I am thrilled that so many of you chose to try this product.  I said that I believed it was best-in-class in its category, so staying with that I apologise for those who were on the wait list, we are now back in stock and I have admonished myself.  I wish I could blame Shabir.  But I can’t.  Tragic.  I’ll find something else.  Trust me.
Intimate Wash by WeTwo Prescriptives £18 for 200 ml

One more piece of feedback and of course it is all to do with the launch of the Sleep Patches.  Together with Ross, I would like to thank you for your remarkable response, but then of course we are talking about a remarkable product.  And then the world turned upside down and inside out when Sarah Jossel took the Sleep Patches onto This Morning on Wednesday.  Of course our mission is to try and heal the VH world as best we can, but it would appear that the outside world have now joined in as the response was completely staggering.  And our site didn’t fall down.  Which is somewhat of a miracle.  I am so very grateful.  Thank you Sarah. 
Sleep Patches by Ross J. Barr £15 for Ten Patches

I will just add here that Sarah also mentioned the Calm Patches and the Healing Patches, so with the light shining on all three of the patches, that light also shone on all of the products formulated by Ross, and that included his newest supplement Stomach Support.  In Chinese medicine the stomach is considered the engine room of the body, powering all of our functions.  When it is working well, we have all the energy and enthusiasm we need.  The problem is that modern life is not always conducive to a healthy gut because a diet that is too acidic, an excess of sugar or alcohol, use of antibiotics and stress can all disturb the microflora that ensures the optimum running of our engine.

Stomach Support contains eleven beneficial ingredients, including Caprylic Acid, a valuable fatty acid that has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.  Other ingredients include Slippery Elm, Garlic, with its immunity boosting properties, the antioxidant Aloe Vera, Pau D’Arco and Grapefruit seed, a powerful antioxidant which can help with inflammation.  So a boost for the body and a remedy for the inevitable stresses that seem to rampage through our lives.  The cost of this supplement is £32, but in celebration and recognition of all things, I’m dropping it to £29 across the weekend.
Stomach Support by Ross J. Barr £29 for 60 Capsules (Offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 16 January); Healing Patches by Ross J. Barr £15 for Five Patches; Calm Patches by Ross J. Barr £15 for Ten Patches

Before we head into the Saturday only treat, in this week’s Health Notes Sarah writes about the Macmillan Talking Cancer podcasts.  When you, or a loved one, are going through cancer you need all the help you can get.  Macmillan Cancer Support offers information and resources, including Talking Cancer podcasts, the third series of which started last Wednesday.  Hosted by radio presenter, Angie Greaves, Sarah writes how comforting she finds the podcasts following her brother’s death last year.  Together with Sarah, I hope that these podcasts help those who need it the most.
Macmillan Talking Cancer Podcasts by Sarah Stacey

Into the Saturday only treat, with a few words from me first.  Everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong last Saturday.  This has never happened before, but by about 1 pm we had completely run out of the Saturday gift and so in a moment of ongoing madness, we switched the gift because we had no option.  I would rather do that than say to you that the gifts were only available whilst stock lasts because I know how many of you enjoy the gifts we send.  So onwards and the caveat from this day on is that if we run out of that particular gift, we will always send another.  I’m not into deprivation, so I hope you understand as we continue to share.

So as we share, I am playing safe this weekend by saying that I have put several gifts together, rather than a specific product.  This means that it is Lucky Dip Saturday and we will automatically include a gift with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p.  Thank you.

Just a few more things to say and the first is that you will have read on the last WR that Trinny and Shabir were doing another live last Wednesday.  The subject matter was mental health, but as things so often do, circumstances overtook them and it was cancelled at the last minute.  All things being equal, this live will now take place this coming Wednesday.  Sorry.

Finally, as I was reading and responding to many of your emails last weekend, a certain song came into my head and I started to sing it.  I absolutely know that life continues to be exceedingly difficult for so many of us, but somehow or other when we communicate with each other in truth and understanding every Saturday, the world seems to be a better place, even if it is momentarily.  I believe that together we are stronger than we would be otherwise and so I dedicate this Saturday song to you and to our shared moments of love and understanding.
Perfect Day by Lou Reed; The VH Playlist

Warmest love

Gill x   

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*Free gifts will only be granted if the items purchased are physical products and your total basket value exceeds the required amount noted.  Saturday only treats are subject to change should the specified gift run out prior to your purchase and are only included in orders placed between 7.45am (GMT) and Midnight (GMT) on the Saturday the Weekend Read is sent.  VH Addicts membership is a digital product and therefore will be excluded from the basket value.  Some gifts are blocked from international shipping due to local limitations imposed based on the country destination.  If this is the case, we will replace the gift with one that is able to be shipped to your destination.