Last weekend I wrote about how so many of us feel totally worn out.  I often write about the importance of being real, but we are tested in so many different ways, our realities can change in any given moment leaving us bewildered and often unprepared to cope.  And that’s the challenge really, but we are living in a world which seems, in large, devoid of compassion and understanding.  The darkness of humanity affects those of us who are incredibly sensitive to such energies, because it alienates the very core of our being, which is why it is so important to know that we are not alone in such circumstances.

The battle for truth and integrity is exhausting, there is no denying that, but we have to do whatever it takes to uphold the trust that light prevails over dark, in the end.  We have to shine a light on the truth, in each and every aspect of our lives, as we continue to acknowledge that our health and wellbeing, most especially our emotional wellbeing, is of paramount importance.  I fully recognise that we are just one voice and we are, for the most part, drowned out by those who can shout louder, but I am very aware of the reasons why.  And I am also very aware that we have to offer the wisdom of our combined experiences, in order to support each other.

I am, at the moment, largely writing about healing ourselves, because there is a real need to address the issues that so often cause us to become unwell on many different levels.  So, once again, I want to mention Magnolia Rhodiola Complex because being our bestselling supplement for stress and anxiety, this is the fundamental product we always recommend to help support our emotional wellbeing and quite honestly, I don’t really care if I write about this subject every single week, the fragility of life dictates the need.  And as such I am dropping the price of Magnolia Rhodiola Complex from £28 to £23 in full recognition of its role in times of need, and its ability to help reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
VH Editorial: How To Combat Stress Effectively; Magnolia Rhodiola Complex £23 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 17 July)

To caveat the above, if you are on prescribed anti-depressants, you cannot take Magnolia Rhodiola Complex as it will contra-indicate, but you can take Florassist Mood Improve.  This supplement addresses stress and anxiety from a different angle in that it is a mood-boosting probiotic blend, formulated with Saffron.  There is much ongoing research which illustrates the connection between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system.  These specific probiotics have been shown to positively influence biochemical signalling, which Shabir explains in his article, linked below.  And not to feel left out, Florassist Mood Improve drops in price from £25 to £22, across the weekend.
VH Editorial: A Probiotic Supplement To Relieve Anxiety; Florassist Mood Improve by Life Extension £22 for 30 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 17 July)

Because we are where we are in the stress and anxiety stakes, we cannot overlook the significance of further supplementing with Ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic herb which is renowned for helping to address stress and anxiety.  There are many schools of thought that believe Ashwagandha may help improve the quality of sleep, and certain studies and clinicals have also indicated that it can improve sexual function in women. 

Of course, not all Ashwagandha supplements are created equally.  It took twelve years of research to determine that KSM-66 is the very best form of Ashwagandha, which is sourced in the geographical region of Rajasthan in India.  And given that there is absolutely no point, in our opinion, of taking a lesser form, we recommend Wild Nutrition’s KSM-66 Ashwagandha Plus, which provides 500 mg of Ashwagandha Root with Food-Grown Magnesium.  Being described as a rejuvenating tonic for the mind, Shabir often recommends taking Ashwagandha as an adjunct to either of the above two products, but it can also be taken as a powerful stand-alone.  If you so wish.
KSM-66 Ashwagandha Plus by Wild Nutrition £18 for 60 Capsules (drops from £20.50; offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 17 July)

Let’s talk about antioxidants and the bottom line here is that antioxidants are compounds that protect the skin and the glands of body.  They also protect every single cell in our body from unstable molecules, known as free radicals.  Astaxanthin, also known as Vitamin X, is a member of the carotenoid family of powerful antioxidants and is often referred to as ‘The King of Carotenoids’.  However, Astaxanthin is foreign to the body, unlike compounds such as Hyaluronic Acid, and it is difficult to obtain from our diets, thus the need to supplement.

I will leave Shabir to do the complete lowdown on the importance of Astaxanthin, but one of the most frequently reported benefits of Astaxanthin is that it improves the quality of our skin.  This is supported by clinical trials that have shown that this antioxidant also helps prevent sun damage, and it is often referred to as nature’s natural sunscreen.  It has the ability to quench single oxygen molecules from damaging sunlight and in this respect it is 6000 times greater in activity than Vitamin C and 500 times greater in activity than Vitamin E.   Another superstar supplement in a whole long line of them, let’s drop the price of Astaxanthin With Phospholipids from £14 to £12.
VH Editorial: Astaxanthin: The Powerful Age-Defying Antioxidant; Astaxanthin With Phospholipids by Life Extension £12 for 30 Softgels (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 17 July)

Staying on the subject of antioxidants, we believe that L-Ergothioneine, an amino acid, is as important as taking Hyaluronic Acid and as such Shabir recommends taking it alongside HA and Astaxanthin to optimise protection to the blood, bone marrow, the brain, liver and skin.  It is also important for eye health and although most tissues in the body contain Ergothioneine, the highest concentration of this amino acid is found in cells which are prone to oxidative damage and inflammation, the root cause of ageing.

Supplements certainly play a role in multiple ways to help slow down the ageing processes and different antioxidant nutrients will broadly help to protect the body.  Ergothioneine cannot be manufactured by the body, which is why after a long period of dedicated research into longevity nutrients, we believe that Essential Youth L-Ergothioneine plays a significant role in this genre.  Conforming to the findings of studies, cited in the article below, each capsule of Essential Youth L-Ergothioneine contains 5 mg of this powerful antioxidant.  And with nothing to add to that, other than referring you to Shabir’s article, I am dropping the price of Essential Youth L-Ergothioneine from £20 to £18.  Across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Is Ergothioneine The Next Longevity Nutrient; Essential Youth L-Ergthioneine £18 for 30 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 17 July); Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules

Right, sunscreens. Before I write anything, it needs to be said that sunscreens must be used responsibly and you should always adhere to the instructions on the packaging to further ensure you are properly protected.  Also, sunscreen should be applied at least fifteen minutes before going out in the sun and we would also recommend using a broad spectrum sun cream to help block out both UVA rays, which are responsible for premature ageing and UVB rays, which cause the skin to burn.      

So with that said, I will refer you to two broad spectrum sunscreens. The first is Sun Squad Sensitive Skin SPF 30, which we launched for Spots & Stripes last weekend, and the second is Coola’s Mineral Face Matte Untinted Moisturiser SPF 30, which is amazing.  Actually we think they are both pretty amazing, and just so you know, when we were in LA earlier this year, Shabir was seen with several different Coola products on his sunbed.  No further comment.
Sun Squad Sensitive Skin SPF 30 by Spots & Stripes £25 for 50 ml; Mineral Face Matte Untinted Moisturiser SPF 30 – Cucumber by Coola £36 for 50 ml; Coola Products

Because one thing leads to another, I now want to talk about body lotions, actually I specifically want to talk about Fulvic Body Lotion. I know I am incredibly biased, but I seriously believe that Fulvic Body Lotion, with its two breakthrough skincare technologies, is one of those best-in-class products.  It delivers intense hydration to dry and ageing skin, I’m thinking ‘crocodile legs’ here, and there is no doubt in my mind that Fulvic Body Lotion also helps prevent loss of tone, elasticity and firmness.  I know this because I tested this product for almost a year before we launched it. 

And so, Fulvic Body Lotion drops in price from £20 to £17, but additionally we will include a bottle of Fulvic Acid Elixir (240 ml), which is worth £15 as a free gift.  It is no secret that I take Fulvic Acid Elixir, and I have done for several years, but every so often I go wild and pour an entire bottle of the Elixir into my bath.  It actually has immense wound healing qualities, which may be particularly relevant if you burn yourself in the sun.  For clarity and in transparency, if we run out of Fulvic Acid Elixir, this gift will not appear in your basket, but we will still uphold the discount applicable to Fulvic Body Lotion.  Only one gift per customer on this.  To be equitable.
Fulvic Body Lotion £17 for 200 ml + Free Fulvic Acid Elixir 240 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 17 July)

Back to health concerns we go, and we are now going to talk about Leaky Gut Syndrome.  Although this is a really common health concern, Leaky Gut Syndrome is poorly understood and quite often sufferers are unaware that they have this condition.  Leaky Gut Syndrome is an intestinal problem in which the lining of the gut becomes permeable, resulting in numerous problems.  Essentially, the lining of the gut acts as the front line of defence to help protect the body, but when this barrier is breached, bacteria and toxins are able to enter the bloodstream causing an entire host of problems.

The causal factors of Leaky Gut Syndrome are open for discussion, but it is generally thought that the leading cause of intestinal infections is when the intestinal lining is damaged by environmental pollutants and toxins.  Other causes may include the overuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and stress.  This is a complex concern, which is why I am now going to refer you to Shabir’s article where he explains Leaky Gut Syndrome in detail and the reasons why he recommends Biocare’s GI Complex to help heal the gut.  So whilst he does that, I will drop the price of GI Complex from £33.15 to £29.  Onwards.  We are now going to do skincare.
VH Editorial: What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome; GI Complex by Biocare £29 for 150 grams

I have always been fascinated with ancient wisdom, together with products sourced from that wisdom, which often tend to be simple and pretty straightforward.  So two new products which fall into that genre and they come from The Heritage Store, which was founded in the summer of ’69 in Virginia Beach.  Rosewater has been used for thousands of years and so please allow me to introduce you to The Heritage Store’s bestselling product from their classic Rosewater range, Rosewater & Glycerin Mist.

Using a signature scent of the Damask Rose, this hydrating and refreshing mist will help to soothe and soften skin, locking in moisture which will give a dewy glow to your skin; it will also help to set make-up.  The second product is Ancient Healing Clay, packed with Bentonite Clay to help enrich and purify skin.  Bentonite Clay has been used in beauty products for many centuries and it is much revered for its ability to draw out impurities from the skin.  Uncomplicated skincare.  With a simple launch pricing structure.  For the interim.
Rosewater with Glycerin Mist by The Heritage Store £8 for 237 ml (drops from £10.99); Ancient Healing Clay by The Heritage Store £9.50 for 454 grams (drops from £12.49)

Staying with skincare, Derma E’s Hydrating Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid is a deeply quenching moisturiser and has been a bestselling product in the range for many years.  Binding moisture to the skin, it effectively softens and smooths and is also loaded with Vitamins C and E, both antioxidants, and soothing Aloe Vera.  This is a treatment product formulated to deliver maximum moisture to your skin.  And because I know how many of you love this product, I am going to deliver a treat, so whilst stock lasts, I am reducing the price of this cream from £28 to £19.  Not sure how long this will last.  Actually.
Hydrating Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid by Derma E £19 for 56 grams

News.  I think I need to continue the Spacemask treat which I wrote about last weekend.  Your response was of course amazing, for which I thank you, but then Trinny jumped onto a plane clutching a Spacemask and it all went a bit mad, so I’ve decided to honour that treat for another week, which means that with every box of Spacemasks bought, we will automatically include one free Spacemask.  And just to reiterate, I would make Spacemasks a compulsory purchase if I could, but clearly I can’t.  Besides which, Harriet, founder of Spacemasks, would probably have a near nervous breakdown if that happened.  I actually think she has fled London anyway.  I don’t blame her. 
Spacemasks £16.50 For Five Spacemasks (+ one free Spacemask whilst stock lasts)      

Back to Trinny, because she also took Peep Club’s Instant Eye Relief Eye Spray onto the plane with her, which is, as the name suggests, an instant relief spray for dry eyes.  I honestly didn’t know she was going to do that and of course a famine descended upon us.  But I’m not really surprised because Instant Relief Eye Spray is clinically proven to instantly relieve dry eye symptoms such as redness, irritation, itchiness and is also suitable for heavy and tired eyes.  Anyway, as you read this the famine should be over, but if it isn’t then please accept my apologies for the slight delay.  With thanks to Trinny, for creating another wait list.  In a whole long line of them.
Instant Eye Relief Eye Spray by Peep Club £15 for 17 ml

A couple of other things.  If we are talking about travelling, then you may wish to pack deCrease crease remover spray with you.  It uses patented technology that helps remove wrinkles with a single spray without the use of an iron.  And if we are talking about laundry products, then do check out Eco-Strips, which are a rather brilliant alternative to your usual washing detergent.  And finally, totally unrelated to anything else, Hay Fever is still pretty rife, so I’m linking Shabir’s article on the subject below and at the same time I am dropping the price of Aller-DMG down from £22 to £18.  That’s it.  I’m done.
VH Editorial: Hay Fever Relief For The Family; Aller-DMG by Davinci Laboratories of Vermont £18 for 60 Tablets; deCrease Travel Iron Free £9.99 for 250 ml; Eco-strips Laundry Detergent £13.99 for 32 Loads

And into the Saturday only treat we go, where I have a whole stash of gifts to share with you.  I can’t tell you which gift you will receive because they are computer generated, but with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will include one of these gifts with your order.

Finally, I think we should sing another song together.  And I think that we should continue our Paul McCartney moment with just one more song, completing the trilogy.  ‘Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders’.  Hey Jude.
Hey Jude by The Beatles

With love

Gill x

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Prices and products advertised at times of sending and publishing are subject to change and availability. 

*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.