Well, here we are, another Saturday morning and having written last weekend that I am governed by your feedback, let’s now take a look at governance and what it means to us.  There are several principles that lie at the heart of good corporate governance and they can be translated into each of our lives, which often support the decisions we make.  Accountability, transparency, fairness, responsibility and ethics are five such pillars and by determination we are governed by governance.  We are also governed by the truth.  In all things.  In other words, we are seekers of the truth.

I am driven by the truth, I always have been, and in any other life I would be a CIA agent, or something similar, because I detest injustice.  The most amusing part of all of this, if you can call it amusing, is that somehow I landed in the middle of the health and beauty industry and I’ll just leave that statement hanging for now, other than to say that evidenced facts are often stranger than fiction.  And from my perspective, that’s a given.  Stories.

What is also a given is that almost without exception something dramatic happens every weekend.  It goes with the territory and having written last weekend that I didn’t want my head to thump because we only had a limited volume of Aurelia’s Aromatic Repair & Brighten Hand Cream, it thumped anyway because I forgot to link the product on the newsletter.  We immediately corrected it on our site, but it was too late to change the newsletter, so my apologies, but at least one thing worked out well as we received our delivery of Superior Joints before the newsletter was released, which was something.  A big something actually.

We constantly evolve, our products constantly evolve and that is exactly how it should be.  There can be no greater reward than knowing that a product makes a positive difference to so many and Superior Joints is one of those products because for the vast majority, its efficacy is unquestionable, which is reflected in your emails and your reviews.  To be virtually pain free is no small thing, so all I want to say here is that clinicals continue to support us and in so doing we are able to support and enable each other.  To the very best of our ability. 
Superior Joints £30 for 60 Capsules

So, if we are talking about products that reward, Ionicell is another one of those products.  I vividly remember the day we discovered it; Shabir and I were in America at an exhibition and at these exhibitions all the big brands have huge promotional stands which cost an absolute fortune, which no doubt is reflected in the pricing of their products.  Actually, there is no doubt, I absolutely know that to be true, but leaving that on one side, we found Ionicell on a small trestle table right on the edge of the exhibition and a story began.  A story founded upon extensive research and clinicals. 

Containing Ioniplex, a Fulvic ionic mineral that contains up to 65 essential, macro and trace minerals, Ionicell was specifically formulated, and clinically proven, to help our bodies generate collagen, whilst also strengthening our hair and nails.  It does it in a really powerful way and although I’m not going to do the science here, the White Paper is linked on the product page for further explanation and reading. 

The other thing to say here is that many of us have taken Ionicell for quite a few years, well since the beginning of its creation, and like so many other supplements, including HA, you can really the notice the difference if you stop taking it.  And because of that I am going to drop the price of Ionicell from £22 to £19 across the weekend.
Ionicell £19 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 23 July)

And because I just mentioned HA, I want to add something here.  After writing last weekend about how important HA is for the health of our eyes, it remains of importance for so many differing health issues which is why I always say it is a core supplement and let’s not leave skin health out of the equation.  I believe, and have always believed, that supplementing with HA is crucial for helping to plump and hydrate skin cells and the primary cause of degeneration of the collagen network of the skin is the decreased levels of hydrated HA, which supports the collagen network.

But that’s not all because HA also restores moisture in all the cells of the body and as such it has the ability to help remove waste matter from cells, including those where there is little blood circulation. There is another factor here, the removal of waste matter also helps prevent skin from looking dull, which is quite something bearing in mind that our levels of HA decline with age.  And with that added, let’s move on.
VH Editorial: Benefits Of Hyaluronic Acid Supplements; Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules

Facts are facts and there is no getting away from the fact that our levels of digestive enzymes also decrease with age.  I suppose it would be slightly depressing if there weren’t solutions to these issues, but there are so let’s take a look at how to address those diminishing enzymes.  Enzymes are necessary for all functions carried out in our bodies and they basically act as catalysts to quicken processes within our bodies.  Every organ, tissue and cell has their own specific enzymes designed to carry out appropriate processes, and an optimal digestive system depends upon the production of digestive enzymes.

Our bodies obtain nutrients from foods that are broken down by digestive enzymes as soon as we eat.  The effects of improper digestion are widespread and symptoms can include lethargy, bloating, a feeling of discomfort, gas, wind and a bulging stomach, most of which can be attributable to a lack of digestive enzymes.  I promise you that I don’t take every supplement that I write about, but I do take digestive enzymes and I take Digest Complete because it works for me and also because it is quite gentle without losing efficacy.  So as Shabir does the lowdown on digestive enzymes, I will take the price of Digest Complete down from £28.88 to £26.
VH Editorial: Digestive Enzymes For Bloating, Gas Or Indigestion; Digest Complete by Enzymedica £26 for 90 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 23 July)

One more thing to say here because in a different way specific digestive enzymes can be taken by children from the age of four upwards.  In many instances the digestive system of a child is not fully formed until they are five years old, but research has also shown that a lack of digestive enzymes can be linked to nutrient deficiencies, that may be implicated to health concerns.  Enzymedica Kids Digest will help enhance nutrient availability and it will also help to increase energy levels, if they are lacking.  Providing gentle digestive support, these chewable, fruit punch-flavoured tablets also drop in price.  This time from £16.99 to £14.99.
Kids Digest by Enzymedica £14.99 for 60 Chewable Tablets (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 23 July)

A new product from Waterfall D-Mannose, except it’s not exactly new as of this moment, but it’s new in the sense that I haven’t written about it yet, so let’s do it now.  Waterfall D-Mannose was formulated to help prevent cystitis and to treat cystitis and urinary tract infections (UTI’s).  Containing Birch mannose, D-Mannose is recognised by the NHS and medical professionals as an alternative treatment for recurrent UTI’s and for easing the symptoms of cystitis, UTI’s, prostatitis and other bladder conditions.  We have listed the original Waterfall D-Mannose for several years, but it is now joined by two new products, both flavoured with natural lemon.

Those two products are Waterfall D-Mannose Lemon Powder and Waterfall D-Mannose Lemon Tablets, which melt in the mouth.  As ever, the choice is yours but I am dropping the price of the Lemon Powder from £22.99 to £20 and the Lemon Tablets also drop from £22.99 to £20.  Staying neat, you may be interested to know that you can also buy Urine Test Strips which can be used to monitor progress when using any of the D-Mannose products.  Having five key UTI indicators they are really straightforward to use and provide accurate results within two minutes.  It’s good to know these things.
Waterfall D-Mannose Lemon Powder by SC Nutra £20 for 50 grams; Waterfall D-Mannose Lemon Tablets by SC Nutra £20 for 50 Tablets; Urine Test Strips by SC Nutra £14.99 for 50 Strips

At this point, I need to redeem myself because I have rather a long list of new products which I haven’t written about yet and so let’s start with Chapter Six Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies.  These come from Chapter One, a brand which specialises in children’s gummies, but these have been formulated for adults and they are rather good.  The reason why they are rather good is because they have been formulated with Ginger Root Extract, which is good for the digestion, and Beet Root, both of which sit alongside Apple Cider Vinegar, with the Mother.  An introduction and a launch price of £15, down from the recommended retail price of £18.  For the interim.
Chapter Six Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies £15 for 60 Gummies; Chapter One Products

Staying with it, Green People have launched three shampoo bars, so please let me tell you about them.  The first is the Eucalyptus & Mint Shampoo Bar which has been formulated to soothe and comfort itchy, flake-prone scalps.  It supports healthy microflora and prevents an itchy scalp with a blend of Celery Seed extract, Avocado and Macadamia Seed oils.  It is suitable for both oily and dry scalps.  The second is the Citrus & Ginger Shampoo Bar, which uses gentle plant-based surfactants with colour retention and detangling benefits.

And the third is the Scent Free Shampoo Bar and has been formulated for those prone to sensitivities such as eczema, psoriasis or irritation.  It helps combat frizzy hair, but it is suitable for all hair types as it uses the deeply conditioning properties of Babassu, Pracaxi and Bisabolol.  I’m launching them here at £14 each, dropping from a recommended retail price of £16.  And that’s that.
Eucalyptus & Mint Shampoo Bar by Green People £14 for 50 grams; Citrus & Ginger Shampoo Bar by Green People £14 for 50 grams; Scent Free Shampoo Bar by Green People £14 for 50 grams

Next on the list, another bar and it is Incognito’s Citronella Soap bar which is made from Java Citronella and pure Coconut oil.  Unlike many soaps this does not attract insects and in fact it significantly reduces your attractiveness to insects, which can only be a good thing at this time of year.  It has a citrus fragrance which can also help with stress relief and relaxation.  I have a thing about soaps, I always have, so let’s celebrate another fabulous soap and we will do so by taking the launch price down from £5.99 to £4.80, which more or less equates to a 20% discount.  Whilst stock lasts. 
Incognito Luxury Citronella Soap £4.80 for 100 grams

Another new product from Incognito and this is a clever little tool.  Clinically proven by the London School of Hygiene & Medicine to be effective on 96% of people tested, Zap-Ease Instant Bite Relief is an effective way to relieve the itching caused by mosquito bites, jellyfish and nettle stings.  By repeatedly clicking the Zap-Ease in the area of the bite, the poison is localised and the production of histamine, which causes the itching and urge to scratch, is reduced.  The toxicity of the mosquito bite becomes neutralised, with no harmful effect on the surrounding skin, thus helping to prevent inflammation and swelling.

Zap-Ease lasts for up to 1000 bites, which equates to approximately five years, so it has longevity on its side and no batteries are required.  It is safe to use for most, but please do not use it on children under the age of two or if you have a pacemaker.  That’s the detail and I will also take the price down on the Zap-Ease for launch from £7.99 to £6.40 whilst stock lasts.  One for the travel bag.  And the medicine cabinet. 
Zap-Ease Instant Bite Relief £6.40

Let’s walk the talk.  Last weekend I wrote about keeping skincare simple and I also wrote about dosing Fulvic Face Cream with serums, which makes total sense to me.  As such, it allows us to have a wardrobe of serums, as it were, enabling us to dose in accordance with how our skin looks and feels.  Our skin changes daily, so we adjust that easily dependent on those changes.  Of course, we all have our favourite serums, mine is Neurophroline because it takes the stress out of my skin, but I dose many serums using this method, not all at once of course, but dosing with two serums is absolutely fine.  I do it all the time and often with PHA Plus Serum, which is wonderful.

The other thing I want to say here is that Hyaluronic Acid Serum is far better when it is dosed into a moisturiser as it can dehydrate skin if used as a stand-alone, many of you may have experienced this.  Being such an advocate for dosing, this is what we are going to do.  If you buy any of the Garden of Wisdom serums to the value of £30 or above on one order, we will automatically include the travel size Fulvic Face Cream (30 ml), which is worth £15, as we bring alchemy into our own bathrooms.  This is a limited edition offer, I don’t think we are going to run out of serums, but as we only have a limited volume of Fulvic Face Cream, there is only one gift per customer.  Keeping it fair.
Garden of Wisdom for VH – The Serums; Fulvic Face Cream 30 ml (if Fulvic Face Cream fails to go into your basket, the offer is over)

Right, let’s wrap everything up with two new products from Margaret Dabbs.  Following in the footsteps of her Pure Nail Strengthening Treatment, which we can barely keep in stock, are two ThermaSulis Bath Salts.  The first, ThermaSulis Relaxing Bath Salts are a blend of Magnesium, Epsom and Himalayan salts containing Sweet Almond and Lavender oils to help soothe tired and aching muscles.  And although they are called Bath Salts, you can also use them in a foot bath to bring relief to tired and aching feet.

The same is true of the ThermaSulis Restoring Lemongrass Bath Salts where the salts are blended with Sweet Almond and Lemongrass oils which help alleviate water retention and muscle cramps.  And in one final fling, let’s launch both of these Bath Salts at £17, dropping from the retail price of £20, whilst stocks last.  So, although I’m done, I still have products I need to tell you about, but we’ll leave those for next week, or the week after.  Rolling on.
ThermaSulis Relaxing Bath Salts by Margaret Dabbs London £17 for 250 grams; ThermaSulis Restoring Bath Salts by Margaret Dabbs London £17 for 250 grams; Pure Nail Strengthening Treatment by Margaret Dabbs London £16 for 9 ml

And into the Saturday only treat we go and because I feel bad about making that mistake on the Aurelia product last weekend, let’s try and balance that.  So, with every order placed for £30 or above, we will automatically send you Aurelia’s Brightening Anti-Pollution Mask (20 ml)*.  This is a rich, whipped cream face mask which is loaded with pink clay.  Full product details listed below, but just to say that this gift is worth £16 and it helps ease my conscience somewhat.  So, all is good and all is calm.  Now.
Brightening Anti-Pollution Mask by Aurelia London

As we come to the end of another Weekend Read, I would just like to talk about one of my favourite subjects in life, Bruce Springsteen, and at the same time thank so many of you who shared your thoughts about loss last weekend.  I’ll See You In My Dreams was a moment, but we have had many emotional moments where Springsteen has epitomised our mood over the past few years, notably Dancing In The Dark when we really were dancing in the dark, and to some extent we still are.

So, another Springsteen song and this one aligns with my opening words on truth and governance.  ‘We made a promise we swore we’d always remember.  No retreat, baby, no surrender’.
No Surrender by Bruce Springsteen; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x