Hello, and following my words last weekend about vitamin C being an essential co-factor for collagen synthesis, we are going straight in today with some further words about vitamin C, the reasons why we need to supplement with vitamin C and the importance of taking the correct form of vitamin C.  Often referred to as the ultimate biological antioxidant, vitamin C is needed for nearly every single process in the body, so let’s take a look.

Vitamin C is required for each of the eight major enzyme systems within our bodies, enzymes being protein molecules which allow our bodies to function correctly.  Essentially, we depend upon these enzyme systems to survive and, studied extensively, low levels of vitamin C are known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.  Interestingly, many studies have indicated that supplementing with vitamin C offers more benefits than dietary intake, demonstrating that supplementing 700 mg of vitamin C per day displayed significant improvements in blood flow and blood pressure.

Widely used to protect the body against colds and flu, the exact mechanism by which vitamin C works to support the immune system is not entirely known, but studies do indicate that vitamin C can reduce the incidences and duration of colds.  Studies have also shown that vitamin C may be of benefit in the fight against cell mutation and given that vitamin C is a biological antioxidant, evidence has indicated that those with higher levels of vitamin C, or high antioxidant levels in the bloodstream, have been found to have decreased incidences of concerns associated with cell mutation.

Referencing vitamin C as an essential co-factor for collagen synthesis, collagen is a connective tissue protein that is present throughout the body.  It is involved with the function of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments and bones, as well as contributing to skin health and a lack of collagen often results in ageing skin, but on from that a lack of collagen would actually cause our blood vessels to leak.  Vitamin C contains a specific group of molecules that change the structure of collagen, making it stronger and that is important because our bones require collagen proteins to maintain their strength, which is beneficial to menopausal and post-menopausal women with bone loss.

Vitamin C is also required for the manufacture of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with depression, anxiety and fatigue, so whilst we understand that vitamin C is an essential vitamin, we also need to understand that maintaining optimal levels of vitamin C is almost impossible because it is water soluble and excreted from our bodies in a very short space of time.  There are many forms of vitamin C available, but we recommend Liposomal Vitamin C because it ensures delivery through the bloodstream directly to our cells, ensuring optimal levels.

Liposomal Vitamin C provides two forms of vitamin C, ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate, to maximum the benefits vitamin C offers.  The water soluble form of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is utilised immediately to act on damaging free radicals and other processes, which are readily excreted away, and the second form of vitamin C, sodium ascorbate, is a buffered form of vitamin C which the body converts into ascorbic acid, providing sufficient vitamin C to protect our bodies throughout the day.

Liposomal Vitamin C has been formulated with the world’s first branded vitamin C, Quali™-C, which has high absorption and is quality checked against five parameters, including particle size, pH, the presence of stable liposomes and confirmation of the concentration of vitamin C.  So, rather a lot of words about vitamin C, but it remains important to understand why vitamin C is so important for our optimal health and wellbeing, but it also remains important to ensure we take the correct form of vitamin C and upholding the proven efficacy of Liposomal Vitamin C, it drops in price from £35 to £30, across the weekend.
VH Editorial: The Best Vitamin C Supplements; DoSe Liposomal Vitamin C £30 for 240 ml (48 days’ supply) (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 22 February)

On the premise that vitamin C is an essential co-factor for collagen synthesis and writing about Collagen Tripeptide Complex last weekend, I followed through with some words about Triple Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid, and this weekend I am following through with some more words about another topical vitamin C product, Vitamin C Eye Cream.  Actually, I don’t need many words to say that it is one of our bestselling products, it is powered by Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a stable, oil-soluble vitamin C ester, and it is joined by six other active ingredients including Ergothioneine, HA and Purified Peptides.

Vitamin C Eye Cream features a precise cooling tip which helps to constrict blood vessels, minimising swelling and it also helps tired eyes feel refreshed.  Deviating slightly, when Nigella declared her love for Vitamin C Eye Cream in The Sunday Times, she wrote that it seemed to make foundation sit so much better under her eyes, crucially adding that while you might need more cover-up as you get older, the sad truth is that the more your pile on, the more it can seem to age you.  I fully concur.  So, with that said, Vitamin C Eye Cream drops in price from £29 to £25 across the weekend.
DoSe Vitamin C Eye Cream £25 for 15 ml (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 22 February) 

We are now going to talk about Limitless Plus, a natural nootropic which supports memory, brain function, focus and mental alertness. Brain fog is an extraordinarily common concern during perimenopause and menopause, but more than that, nootropics support our ability to recall information often by boosting neurotransmitters in the brain by increasing the brain’s supply of glucose, the brain’s primary fuel, and oxygen, required for cellular respiration.

It is thought that our brains use approximately 20% of the body’s total energy and helping to protect brain tissue from neurotoxicity, Limitless Plus is a safe non-pharmaceutical solution for supporting brain health and membrane integrity containing two extensively researched herbal extracts, Neumentix™ and concentrated Tomato Fruit Extract.

Tomato fruits are loaded with a broad range of antioxidants, including vitamins C and A, as well as the potent antioxidant Lycopene, which has been extensively studied. In studies, concentrated tomato fruit extracts have been found to promote the function of synapses, complex junctions between nerve cells used to transmit signals of information to process, store and recall information.

Neumentix™ is a unique extract from non-GMO spearmint which contains over fifty different types if polyphenols, including Rosmarinic acid, which protects nerve cells, and it also contains Benfotiamine, a bioavailable form of vitamin B1 and Zinc.  Benfotiamine has been the subject of numerous studies for brain health, demonstrating very positive results, and Zinc is included in this formulation for its cell protective properties.  Limitless Plus provides short and long-term cognitive benefits for the brain, it fits the definition of a true nootropic, and it drops in price from £32 to £27, for the interim.
VH Editorial: Nootropics For Sharper Brain Function; DoSe Limitless Plus £27 for 60 Capsules

Moving on, when any given compound starts to go mainstream, it is worth taking a look at the reasons why and there can be no doubt that Creatine has gone mainstream, primarily because it is now being studied for benefits in healthy ageing and women’s health.  Creatine has long been established to help improve performance in athletics, but it also helps reduce muscle damage and inflammation, and as such we have long recommended Creatine for health concerns such as Sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass, muscle strength and the loss of the co-ordination of muscle movements which are vital for daily activities, particularly in the elderly, yet from the age of thirty we lose our muscle mass by approximately 3-8% per decade and this accelerates from the age of fifty.  Creatine is a naturally occurring compound made up of three amino acids, glycine, methionine and arginine and the most studied, and effective, form of Creatine is Creatine Monohydrate.

There is emerging evidence that Creatine enhances brain energy metabolism, and playing a role in mood stability, a recent study indicated that this would be helpful for those with treatment-resistant depression because of Creatine’s ability to boost adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is often called the ‘universal energy currency’.  Used to manage energy at the cellular level, ATP is thought to help regulate the same neurotransmitter systems targeted by antidepressants, without the side effects commonly linked with prescribed medication.

On subject, a notable study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that women with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who took 5 grams Creatine daily alongside their antidepressant showed significantly faster and greater improvements than those taking the antidepressant alone.  Of course, research is ongoing, but these evidence-based studies have elevated Creatine onto a mainstream platform and although there are many forms of Creatine available, we recommend High Flyer Creatine Monohydrate Powder, which provides 5 grams of clinically tested Creavitalis® Creatine Monohydrate and drops in price from £34.95 to £30, also for the interim.
VH Editorial: What Is Sarcopenia; High Flyer Creatine Monohydrate Powder by Bare Biology £30 for 300 grams (Two months’ supply)

Before anything else, a moment to share an article from Sarah, and it’s an important article because Sarah discusses whether NHS patients have the right to ask for a second opinion.  People usually want a second opinion because they have doubts about a diagnosis or treatment, so Sarah explains our rights and also talks about how Martha’s Rule became the biggest change for patients’ families in hospitals.  Informed choices remain critical for our health and wellbeing.
Your Right To A Second Opinion by Sarah Stacey

I want to stay on the subject of hospitals for a moment, because a close friend of mine has recently been discharged from hospital after a long, problematic stay.  Unable to walk, and unable to have a shower once home, I gave him Nilaqua’s Waterless Skin Cleansing Foam, a revolutionary way to wash effectively and easily without water.  Dispensed as a foam for ease of use whilst bed bound, it is a deep cleansing solution using Towel Off® Technology, but it can also be used with warm water for heavy soiling, cleaning dirt, grease and odours, including soiling after incontinence episodes. 

Approved by hospitals as a deep cleansing solution, it was rather unfortunate that this was not used during my friend’s hospital stay, but notwithstanding that he wanted to write a review because he said it was the first time he had felt really clean since being admitted to hospital.  It really is a brilliant product, and actually he can’t write a review because I gifted it to him, but I promised I would write about it, and I just have. 
Waterless Skin Cleansing Foam £4.25 for 200 ml; Waterless Skin Cleansing Foam £6.99 for 500 ml; Biodegradable Large Dry Wipes £4.99 for 100 Wipes

Right, Salicylic Acid.  After writing about back acne last weekend, I want to follow through by writing about Salicylic Acid because it is a very effective ingredient for acne and the treatment of blackheads.  It is a beta hydroxyl acid (BHA) and because of its large molecular size, it stays on the surface of the skin longer, enhancing its pore cleaning abilities. 

Referencing blackheads, the most common causes are an imbalance or a surge in hormones which can result in the excess production of oil from the sebaceous glands, which this excess oil filling up within the pore with dead skin cells, resulting in a build-up.  Other factors include excessive sweating, which can lead to the obstruction of pores and the excessive use or layering of make-up which can block pores.  Shabir does the in-depth on Salicylic Acid in his article linked below, and I drop the price of Salicylic Acid 2% Serum from £15 to £12, across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Using Salicylic Acid For Blackheads; DoSe Salicylic Acid 2% Serum £12 for 30 ml (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 22 February)

One or two things before we head into the Saturday only treat, and having written some words about mood stability above, I have always loved Beat The Blues Room Spray, a beautifully scented, calming room fragrance that helps uplift your mood.  It joins the long list of products we have launched and loved and although some of those products are residing in product heaven, we still have Beat The Blues. So, a celebration of Beat The Blues and when you buy any of the products in the Beat The Blues range, we will automatically send you Beat The Blues Shower & Bath Oil (25 ml), whilst stock lasts, but we will also offer a 15% discount across the range.
Beat The Blues Room Spray; Beat The Blues Body Oil; Beat The Blues Shower & Bath Oil; Beat The Blues Pulse Point (offer ends at midnight GMT, Monday 23 February)

Finally, a few words about the DoSe skincare collections.  There are five collections in the range, each containing three dedicated products for specific skincare concerns and the Dry & Dehydrated Skin Collection includes Ergothioneine Serum, Hyaluronic Acid Serum and 100% Squalane Face Oil.  Together they work to restore moisture, strengthen the skin’s natural barrier and protect against environmental damage.  It also happens to be our bestselling collection, which is relatively unsurprising, given that Ergothioneine and HA are included, but Squalane is also amazing, and I have all three products in my bathroom.  Amongst others. 

The DoSe Dry & Dehydrated Skin Collection has a value of £56, but as a collection it is priced at £49.50, except that drops to £44 across the weekend and I’m not quite finished, because when you buy the Dry & Dehydrated Skin Collection, we will automatically send you Fulvic Face Cream (30 ml), which has a value of £15.  For dosing.
DoSe Dry & Dehydrated Skin Collection £44 + Fulvic Face Cream (30 ml) Free (Worth £15) (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 22 February, or whilst stock lasts)

Into the Saturday only treat, and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically send you Fulvic Body Lotion (60 ml)*, aligning with solutions for dry and dehydrated skin.  Full product details below.
Fulvic Body Lotion

As we come to the end of another Weekend Read, and having written about depression, we must always acknowledge that sharing can become an integral part of the healing process, breaking the shame which is often associated with trauma, grief or mental health struggles. Acknowledged.
Rise Up by Andra Day; The VH Playlist

Wishing each of you a restful weekend.

With love

Gill x