Happy Saturday, and a happy moment this weekend because it is one year since we launched Vitamin C Eye Cream so we are going to celebrate, essentially because cutting-edge formulations should always be celebrated. With seven advanced active ingredients, Vitamin C Eye Cream has been formulated with Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD), and although there are many different forms of vitamin C, THD is used here because studies have indicated that it penetrates the skin faster and deeper than any other form of vitamin C and it is well tolerated by those of us with sensitive skin.

I am not going to run through all the key actives as they are listed on the product page, but I am going to mention Ergothioneine because I stand by every word I have ever written about Ergothioneine, and I have written quite a lot. As a powerful antioxidant, numerous studies have indicated that Ergothioneine currently has one of the widest range of benefits of any single skincare ingredient and it is included in Vitamin C Eye Cream to help protect against oxidative stress and pollution, but it’s also included because studies have shown that it inhibits the collagen destructing enzyme MMP-1, helping to preserve collagen structural fibres.

At this point, I’m not sure whether we should be celebrating the formulation or the delivery system, a precise cooling tip, which is rather fabulous, but either way the icing on the cake, as it were, was when Nigella declared her love for Vitamin C Eye Cream on the pages of The Sunday Times a few weeks ago. Well, one page actually because Nigella returned to beauty duty after a year and she wrote how happy she was to be invited back onto the pages of The Sunday Times saying that she would be failing in her duty if she didn’t tell the readers about Vitamin C Eye Cream, describing it as silky and calming. A moment.

In writing about Vitamin C Eye Cream, Nigella also wrote that she actually looks forward to using it, stating that it seemed to make her foundation sit so much better under her eyes, therefore needing less of it, which she felt was crucial because the sad truth is that the more foundation you pile on, the more it can seem to age you. I fully concur, and in another moment, and in celebration of these words, when you buy Vitamin C Eye Cream, we will automatically send you another Vitamin C Eye Cream as a gift from us. This is worth £29 and this offer will run until midnight GMT, Monday 1 December or whilst stock lasts. And, as ever, my love and thanks to Nigella.
DoSe Vitamin C Eye Cream £29 for 15 ml + DoSe Vitamin C Eye Cream 15 ml Free (offer ends at midnight GMT, Monday 1 December or whilst stock lasts)

Following through from last weekend, I want to continue talking about menopause, but most specifically I want to talk about post-menopausal bone loss. It is recommended that women have a bone density scan when they reach perimenopause, which is usually from the age of 45, although it can differ, because a decrease in bone density, or low bone mass, may result in osteopenia which affects millions of women. If left unchecked, osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis, a far more serious condition where the deterioration of bone density can increase the risk of breaking or fracturing bones.

It is natural to lose bone density as we age, but post-menopausal bone loss is attributable to declining oestrogen levels with several studies indicating that women can lose up to 20% of their bone density in the five to seven years during and after menopause. Calcium and vitamin D have always been the mainstay for the natural treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis and they are often prescribed alongside bisphosphonates, a group of drugs used to treat and prevent bone-related conditions by inhibiting osteoclast activity, which slows bone breakdown, but they are not without side effects, commonly related to the gastrointestinal tract.

While it is acknowledged that calcium is the most critical mineral for bone loss, it is not the only one and silica is a mineral which imparts strength to the bones, alongside vitamin K2 which enhances the production of osteocalcin by the bone-building cells. Vitamin D3 facilitates calcium absorption in the intestines, but it must be D3 and not D2 which is often added to dairy products.

Each of these compounds can be found in Bone Restore together with magnesium which plays a role in regulating calcium transport within the body and manganese and zinc, two supporting nutrients that have been shown to support bone health when combined with calcium. So, with Shabir’s article on osteopenia linked below, I am dropping the price of Bone Restore from £25 to £21.25 across the weekend, with a cautionary note to say that if you are taking anti-coagulants, you should not take this supplement. Let’s stay safe.
VH Editorial: Osteopenia Treatment; Bone Restore With Vitamin K2 by Life Extension £21.25 for 120 Capsules (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 9 November)

I have news, and it is quite interesting news because The British Dietetic Association has published the first evidence-based dietary guidelines for chronic constipation, recommending certain foods and supplementation in a bid to replace outdated guidance. Quite why it has taken so long to acknowledge what we have always known is beyond me, but nevertheless this systemic review is a step in the right direction and with one in ten people suffering chronic constipation, magnesium oxide, probiotics and psyllium were found to have the strongest scientific backing, together with rye bread and high-content mineral water.

Although magnesium oxide was recommended for treating constipation, we believe that magnesium citrate is a better option. Magnesium oxide is harder to digest and is normally recommended for short-term use as a laxative, but magnesium citrate is the better option for those suffering from recurrencies of poor bowel movement and for cleansing the colon. It draws water into the colon, softening stools and promoting regularity and is ideal for those with sluggish digestion, those who travel frequently with disrupted digestion or for people suffering regularly from constipation where a lack of fibre is not the cause.
Magnesium Citrate Powder by Viridian Nutrition £16 for 150 grams (drops in price from £19.10 for the interim)

I often write about neurological concerns, so today we are going to take a look at Neuro-Logical which contains a fascinating nutraceutical ingredient known as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA, OptiPEA^®) which is often described as a safe alternative to cannabidiol (CBD). PEA is a fatty acid naturally produced in our bodies in instances where cells or tissues are damaged and with over fifty years of dedicated research, the efficacy of PEA has been demonstrated in multiple clinical trials to support our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) which regulates and controls many of our critical body functions, such as memory, learning, pain control and inflammation.

In his article, linked below, Shabir takes a look at the science of the Endocannabinoid System, most specifically a group of receptors in the brain called the cannabinoid receptors or CBI receptors which control the level and activity of most of the neurotransmitters in the brain. Neuro-Logical is a safe and powerful way to help support the ECS and PEA targets chronic pain, working at the site of pain to turn off pain signals. As a non-addictive option to pain killers, Neuro-Logical combines PEA with vitamins B1, B6 and B12 to help support neurological and psychological functions without side effects and together with each of the Lamberts products, it drops in price by 20%.
VH Editorial: Supporting Our Endocannabinoid System; Neuro-Logical by Lamberts Healthcare; Lamberts Healthcare Products (offers end at midnight GMT, Monday 10 November)

At some point, most people will experience, or have experienced, a dry mouth and whilst dry mouth symptoms normally disappear without causing any major problems, for some dry mouth becomes a chronic condition medically termed as xerostomia, derived from the Greek words that literally mean dry mouth. Taking a look, ideally our mouths and teeth should be bathed in saliva which is a primary line of defence against tooth decay, gum disease and infection.

Interestingly, there are many medications which are responsible for causing a dry mouth including antihistamines, antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs and analgesics together with an electrolyte imbalance, a known cause for dry mouth, so two solutions here. The first being Hylamints which contain hyaluronic acid blended with xylitol, pectin and slippery elm which, upon contact with the smallest amount of saliva, helps keep the mouth moist.
Hylamints by Hyalogic £16 for 60 Lozenges

Referencing an electrolyte imbalance, electrolytes are minerals which regulate hydration levels in the whole body. Most specifically, saliva is a mixture of water and electrolytes and a lack of these minerals can be attributable to the sensation of dry mouth. In recommending Electrolyte Fix Liquid to help restore hydration of all the tissues, electrolytes benefit the whole body by ensuring crucial functions, such as regulating fluid balance, nerve function, muscle function, they also ensure the maintenance of the pH levels in the body and with that said, Electrolyte Fix Liquid drops in price from £14.25 to £12 across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Dry Mouth Symptoms; Electrolyte Fix Liquid by Viridian Nutrition £12 for 100 ml (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 9 November)

Following through, reduced saliva can often result in the proliferation of bacterial infection and there is a strong link between poor oral hygiene which can lead to gum disease. So, a mention here for Peri-Gum Mouthwash Concentrate which combines seven herbal extracts to help improve gum disorders such as bleeding gums, swollen and infected gums, as well as helping to prevent mouth ulcers. Clinically evaluated, Peri-Gum’s antibacterial properties help to kill pathogenic species of bacteria and given that it resides in my own bathroom, I fully endorse its efficacy, most specifically in treating bleeding gums. 
Peri-Gum Mouthwash Concentrate £22 for 29 ml

Onwards and chilblains, a painful reaction to cold weather which can often occur in the toes, although they can also affect the rest of the foot, fingers, the nose and ears. Known as perniosis, they are unusual reactions of the small blood vessels, called capillaries, within the skin and more common in women, they look like small red bumps on the toes and fingers.

The cold weather causes the capillaries to constrict and when the area warms up again, the capillaries are not able to open quickly resulting in the stagnation of blood, together with waste products. It is these waste products that accumulate in skin and set off an inflammatory reaction and although poor circulation increases the chances of getting chilblains, this is not the only causal factor, but nevertheless Diosmin Plus, a synergistic blend of botanicals, is recommended for all circulatory issues including varicose veins, spider veins, haemorrhoids and chilblains. So, a 15% discount on Diosmin Plus not only across the weekend, but until midnight GMT, 1 December.
DoSe Diosmin Plus (offer ends at midnight GMT, Monday 1 December)

Topically, Capsicum and Ginger Warming Cream can be used to help prevent chilblains. Capsicum, also known as red pepper or chilli pepper has a long history of usage as a medicinal plant and scientifically studied, it has been found to alleviate the pain of arthritis, shingles, neuropathy and fibromyalgia. Capsicum and Ginger Warming Cream drops in price here from £26.99 to £24. 
VH Editorial: Chilblains Treatment; Capsicum and Ginger Warming Cream by Napiers £24 for 100 ml

Finally in this section, an update and having recently written about cardiovascular health and natural solutions to lower cholesterol levels, I referenced CardiOat High Strength Oat Beta Glucan Powder stating that there are more than 100 scientific studies proving the positive benefits of oat beta glucans for high cholesterol levels. And then it went out of stock, actually it went out of stock before the end of the weekend, so just to say that it is back in stock and I’m holding the price at £19, from £21.49, for the interim.
VH Editorial: How To Lower Cholesterol Naturally; CardiOat High Strength Beta Glucan Powder £19 for 28 x 4.5g Servings

Seasonal Gifts

Spacemasks are brilliant because they gently warm your eye area, helping to remove tension, allowing you to unwind and prepare for a restful night’s sleep. Each Spacemask heats up and lasts for around fifteen minutes and following through from last weekend when I wrote about therapeutic bathing, you can either relax in a long, deep bath wearing a Spacemask, or you can put one on when you go to bed, or both, and of course they make a perfect and thoughtful gift.

Each year I write the same thing, and I honestly can’t remember how many years I have been writing this, but each box of Spacemasks contains five individual masks and my suggestion here is that you open the box, split the pack and gift an individual Spacemask. If I had a hotel, which obviously I don’t, I would put a Spacemask on every pillow in that hotel, and in the spirit of that thought, I will include an individual Spacemask (original) with every box of Spacemasks purchased, but more than that, I am dropping the price of Spacemasks by 15% across the weekend.
Spacemasks (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 9 November)

A few words here to say that many of the seasonal gifts I have been writing about are limited editions and as such, several of them have sold out and will not be returning. When they have sold through, they disappear from our site and by way of an update, the Temple Spa Advent Calendar barely made it into the first week of October and I was thinking of creating a waitlist for next year but thought better of it. So, all I am going to do here is split the seasonal gifts into categories, link them below and move onto, and into, the Saturday only treat.
Stocking Fillers; Gift Sets; Luxury Gifts; Gifts Under £50; E-Gift Card

And so, the Saturday only treat, and with every order placed for £35 and above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include one of several gifts* we have to share with you. Because we have several gifts to share, I can’t be specific, but I hope you enjoy using the gift you receive.

Going Back

Seasonal gifts, seasonal songs and ‘A Winter’s Tale’ was composed by Freddie Mercury after recording the album Innuendo, just two weeks before his death in November 1991. The lyrics were inspired by the view through a window in Montreux and knowing that he didn’t have long to live, he wrote the song and recorded his vocals in one take. The remaining members of Queen subsequently completed the song, releasing it as a single four years later on 11 December 1995. The song is thought to be one of Freddie Mercury’s last compositions.
A Winter’s Tale by Queen

Written by Paul Simon, ‘A Hazy Shade Of Winter’ was first released in 1966 and was later included on the 1968 album Bookends. Using seasons as a metaphor for the cycle of life, it uses seasonal imagery, contrasting the passage of time from autumn into winter, with the lyrics also offering a message of hope, being that after winter, spring can return.
A Hazy Shade of Winter by Simon & Garfunkel

And finally, celebrating the inherent beauty of winter, ‘Winter’ by The Rolling Stones was released in 1973 from the album Goats Head Soup. Recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, the song was primarily composed by Mick Jagger and guitarist Mick Taylor, although the official credit was given to Jagger and Keith Richards. The track received a remix by Giles Martin in 2020, which was featured on the deluxe edition of the Goats Head Soup album re-issue and is linked below.
The VH Playlist; Winter by The Rolling Stones

As we come to the end of another Weekend Read, all that is left is for me to wish you a restful weekend.

Stay safe, stay warm.

With love

Gill x