You really took my breath away last Saturday, and it all started at 4.15 am when we sent out the Weekend Read.  There is much to say regarding my opening comments last weekend, but one thing is abundantly clear, we are as one, with a few notable exceptions who had better not come anywhere near me, or any of us, again.  I made a stand some time ago when I said that I would not respond to abusive emails, but on from that it needs to be said that assumption is a very dangerous game to play. It is played far too often in this messed up world we are living in.  And it damages innocent people.

Over and above all of this, I really do need to thank so many of you for your incredibly supportive emails last weekend.  It is pretty daunting to be faced with hundreds of emails, but it speaks volumes about our closeness and our friendship, which has always been so important to me.  I think, and hope, that I have personally answered each and every one of you and if anybody was ever in any doubt, the VH army is a force to be reckoned with and I am so incredibly grateful that we are able to go beyond the products we recommend to a space of truth, compassion and respect.  In other words, a safe space.  Far from the madding crowd.

So, in our own space, let’s do what we have to do.  And the first thing I want to do is to talk about Ionicell. Actually, it’s incredibly easy to talk about Ionicell, because this powerful next-generation hair, skin and nail formulation remains one of our bestselling supplements, alongside Hyaluronic Acid and L-Ergothioneine.  Ionicell contains Ioniplex, a Fulvic ionic mineral that contains up to 65 essential macro and trace minerals and is clinically proven to help our bodies generate collagen and re-hydrate cells, as per the White Paper which you can find on the product page.  I honestly don’t feel the need to write much more about Ionicell because its efficacy is well-proven and that’s the most important thing here, and always will be. 

So, let’s go straight in as I tell you that I am dropping the price of Ionicell from £20 to £17, across the weekend.  But I’m not quite finished yet because I have more.  And that ‘more’ is that I am fully aware that I wrote about Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength (HA) last weekend, but my sharing gene needs to tell you that because I take all three supplements mentioned, Ionicell, HA and L-Ergothioneine, I am inviting you to do the same and as such I will, once again, take the price of HA down from £35 to £30 and drop the price of Essential Youth L-Ergothioneine from £20 to £18.  If you put all three supplements together the price drops from £75 for all three supplements, to £65, which is of course a saving of £10.  And I do so in celebration of your love, support and fabulousness.  Let's walk the talk.
Ionicell For Women £17 for 60 Capsules; Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £30 for 30 Capsules; Essential Youth L-Ergothioneine by Life Extension £18 for 30 Capsules (offers end at midnight BST, Sunday 7 August)

If I am walking the talk, which I am, then I have to continue on with the celebration.  The thing is that I will always celebrate Fulvic for all that it is and all that it does, so in continuation of the products that I take and use, Fulvic Acid Shampoo is right up there. Actually, its been ‘up there’ for the longest time and I fully attribute the health of my hair and my scalp to Fulvic.  Sure, this is another one of those health and beauty crossovers where I take the inside-out approach, but over the fifteen or so years I have been on my Fulvic mission, my hair is almost unrecognisable from then to now.  It was thin and straggly, and now it isn’t.  Fulvic Acid Shampoo drops from £25 to £20.
Fulvic Acid Shampoo £20 for 240 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Friday 12 August)

Health concerns now, and although Tinnitus is not a disease, it is a symptom resulting from a range of possible underlying causes which include ear infections, fluid retention in the middle and inner ear canal and wax in the ear.  Tinnitus is a Latin word meaning ‘ringing’ and is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of external sound. The most common noise heard is a shrill, high-pitched tone, but Tinnitus may be hard to detect because the symptoms can come and go, and can affect one or both ears.

As Shabir writes in his article, there is no single remedy that will help alleviate Tinnitus, but there are several which can help reduce the severity and impact of Tinnitus. Plantago Tincture is one such remedy and it is composed of numerous compounds including mucilage, tannins, zinc and silicic acid and as such has been found to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, astringent and demulcent properties.  It is frequently used to help alleviate catarrh, sinusitis and several concerns affecting the nose and throat. Another one of those tried and tested tinctures, Plantago Tincture drops in price from £10.85 to £9. 
VH Editorial: What Is Tinnitus; Plantago Tincture by A. Vogel £9 for 50 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Friday 12 August)

Staying on subject, we believe that vitamin B12 plays a vital role in the proper function of the nervous system. It is also believed that Tinnitus may trigger the nerves in the ear canal, which is often an age-related concern as the protein that carries vitamin B12 from the intestines to the bloodstream tends to get depleted with age.  If you recall, I wrote about B12 two weeks ago, so just to reiterate, we did an ‘all-change’ on B12 supplementation and we are now recommending B12 Elite, primarily because it contains two of the most active forms of B12, Melthylcobalamin and Adenosylcobalamin.  And it makes a difference.  A rather big difference in fact.
VH Editorial: Are You Getting Sufficient Vitamin B12; B12 Elite by Life Extension £12 for 60 Lozenges

Let’s talk about Fibromyalgia, the symptoms of which are widespread from chronic pain, multiple tender points in joints and muscles, sleep disturbances, extreme fatigue, stress and anxiety. Rather a long list and it is thought that 90% of sufferers are female, and yes, I do know that Lady Gaga suffers with Fibromyalgia and is quite vocal about it. Fibromyalgia can hit in at any age and there are schools of thought that believe it can be triggered by a stressful event, such as bereavement.

There is no cure for Fibromyalgia, so at best we have to try to manage the symptoms, with chronic joint and muscle pain being the most important symptom. For this we recommend Superior Joints, and whilst this supplement is traditionally aimed at arthritic symptoms, it is also of value for the alleviation of some of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.  Containing Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM), small studies have indicated that it has very powerful anti-inflammatory properties.  Shabir does the lowdown on Fibromyalgia, where he recommends three further products, but with Superior Joints being his first recommendation, I’m dropping the price from £30 to £25.
VH Editorial: Managing Fibromyalgia Symptoms Naturally; Superior Joints £25 for 60 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 7 August)

From aching bodies, we go to another one of those extraordinarily common health concerns, fungal infections.  Here we are throwing the focus on fungal toenails, a contagious infection, the symptoms of which vary, but often include the discolouration of the nail and/or discharge from the nail bed.  Notoriously difficult to treat, conventional treatment often involves the use of powerful anti-fungal drugs, which although effective, may have unpleasant side effects.

So what’s the alternative.  You may remember a few weeks ago that I wrote about Clove and Oregano Complex for intestinal parasites, and we also recommend this supplement for fungal toenail infection.  Clove buds contain volatile oils, which display powerful anti-fungal properties and Oregano leaf contains carvacrol and thymol, which display anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. We also recommend the use of a topical product, such as Hydrosol Silver Gel, a natural antiseptic, and in its colloidal form, it has been found to be far more effective than other silver anti-fungal creams.  It has many other attributes too, and for that I will refer you to the product page.
VH Editorial: Fungal Toenails Treatment; Clove and Oregano Complex by Viridian Nutrition £19 for 60 Capsules (drops from £21.85 for the interim); Hydrosol Silver Gel £14.95 for 44 ml

We’re on a roll with health concerns, but of course we all have different needs, so I now want to talk about heartburn, which can be described as a burning sensation in the chest area. Heartburn is caused by the weakening of the lower oesophageal sphincter, LES, a bundle of muscles that should keep the contents of the stomach out of the oesophagus, but when impaired, the acidic contents of the stomach go backwards into the oesophagus, resulting in a condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD’s.  Most experience heartburn infrequently, but for others this is an ongoing concern which needs to be addressed.

It remains important that we are aware of what causes specific health concerns, so in his article, linked below, Shabir looks at the causes of heartburn, together with the foods that affect heartburn, and I will tell you that chocolate and caffeine are on his list. Everything in moderation perhaps, but it is thought that half of the adult population produce low stomach acid and so the body needs to supplement low acid production in order to help prevent recurring heartburn and acid reflux.  Betaine HCI with Pepsin provides the body with hydrochloric acid to supplement low acid production, and as an added bonus, it will also help enhance energy levels.

One product, two health concerns, and Betaine HCI can also be used for the treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), which is an overgrowth of bacteria within the small intestine often due to a change in the microbiome, the environment of the bacteria that reside in the intestines.  In this instance, it is important to note that although antibiotics are the standard treatment for destroying bacteria in the small intestine, they also destroy the beneficial bacteria in the colon too, which isn’t great. So I’ll leave Shabir to do the lowdown on SIBO, the cause, the effect and the natural treatment.  A cautionary note: Betaine HCI is not suitable for those with peptic ulcers.
VH Editorial: Quenching Heartburn; VH Editorial: What is SIBO; Betaine HCI With Pepsin £14.95 for 180 Tablets

Moving on, I am in the mode of writing about nostalgic products, so let’s continue with the Papier Poudre story, a product created in 1903.  At the beginning of the 20th century, powder compacts were not generally available.  It was considered improper to apply make-up in public and face powder, generally applied at the dressing table, would need to last all day.  Papier Poudre provided the solution with small sheets of powdered paper that helped to soak up oil and helped to remove shine, giving make-up an instant matte finish.  Easily carried in handbags, these sheets were used discreetly without the use of a mirror.  Available in three different shades, they have stood the test of time.  Rather magnificently.
Papier Poudre Rachel by Lehcaresor Papier Poudre £2.30 for One Pack of 65 Sheets; Papier Poudre Rose by Lehcaresor Papier Poudre £2.30 for One Pack of 65 Sheets; Papier Poudre White by Lehcaresor Papier Poudre £2.30 for One Pack of 65 Sheets

A new product from iS Clinical.  Cleansing Complex Polish is a light, foamy gel which is loaded with powerful botanical extracts and Salicylic Acid to provide both physical and biochemical exfoliation. This formulation also contains eco-friendly microparticles of Cellulose and Jojoba, and as such iS Clinical are calling this a complete facial experience in a single product.  And I understand why, it will smooth, polish and soften the skin and can be used daily or as a treatment once or twice a week.  I have it residing in my cleanser wardrobe, because the needs of our skin vary from day to day.  Cleansing Complex Polish is suitable for all skin types and ages and it comes with love and kisses from me and my iS Clinical boyfriends, Bryan Johns and Alec Call.
Cleansing Complex Polish by iS Clinical £42 for 120 grams

Onwards, and because so many of you are Temple Spa fans, I want to write about four of their serums. These are Be Clear, Be Firm, Be Strong and Let’s Concentrate. But I’m not going to write about each of the individual products, you will find that information on the product pages.  Instead I will tell you that for the month of August, we are dropping the price of each of these products by 15%.  I won’t leave you to try and work out what 15% equates to, so the lower prices are shown below for ease.  And that’s a wrap.  For the moment.
Be Clear £35 for 30 ml; Be Firm £35 for 30 ml; Be Strong £35 for 30 ml; Let’s Concentrate Skin Brightening Serum £42 for 30 ml; All by Temple Spa

Very clearly we are now in the beauty treat section, so for those who love LixirSkin, which so many of you do, let me just say that with each order placed for any LixirSkin product, we will automatically include their hero product, Vitamin C Paste (30 ml).  I love simplistic offers and this is about as simplistic as they come. There is only one caveat, that being that there is only one gift per customer as this is a limited gift offer and I need to ensure that they are shared as equally as we can.  Thanks.
LixirSkin

Well, two brands down and one to go.  Aurelia’s Balancing Ultra-Light Moisturiser is an airy cream that hydrates your skin without weighing it down.  It helps to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, it helps calm inflammation to soothe irritation, it helps to reduce bacteria grown on skin and it controls excess oil production.  Its ingredients include Mulberry for brightening together with PROTIDA technology, which has been designed to help reduce cellular damage.  So with that said, I am dropping the price of Balancing Ultra-Light Moisturiser from £30 to £19, whilst stock lasts.  I don’t know how long that will be.  Perhaps I’ll buy myself a crystal ball.  I’ve always wanted one.
Balancing Ultra-Light Moisturiser by Aurelia London £19 for 50 ml (whilst stock lasts)

Into the Saturday only treat and following the theme from the last two Weekend Read’s, with every order placed for £30 and above, excluding p&p, we will send you a gift from Ameliorate. Once again, these gifts are computer generated, so it could be any one of three different products, and whichever product you receive, I hope you enjoy using it. 
Ameliorate

I really cannot end this Weekend Read without referring to my opening paragraphs.  Life can be extraordinarily difficult for so many of us, which is why I feel it is of the utmost importance to be able to tell it as it is.  Your overwhelming consensus was that we must continue to call out cruelty and abuse, so that’s what we will do.  I am certainly not paranoid with fear regarding the repercussions of doing so, but I understand those who are, which is why, together, we must support those who are too scared to use their voice.  And let me say one more thing, there is no loss in dignity when you stand in your own truth.  The undignified have their consciences to live with.

I’m not quite finished yet, because I need to share another song with you, which was sent to me in the midst of everything last weekend.  What a crazy time, but I stopped everything to listen to this song, and although some of your emails were quite traumatic in nature, my sense of humour peaked when I listened to it.  Each of you will find your own favourite lines, but my most favourite is ‘don’t read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly’.  And because I am quite vocal about the beauty industry, this made me shriek.  Thank you for sending it to me Margaret, if nothing else, we know what it is to laugh.  And I’m still laughing.
Class of 99: Wear Sunscreen; The VH Playlist

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.