Do you have flaky, weak nails? Get them strong and long in one application with 5-star Boots buy
QUICK FIX Do you have flaky, weak nails? Get them strong and long in one application with 5-star Boots buy
RESTORE your nail health with Boots' five star buy that will leave them feeling stronger and longer in just one application.
Beauty fans have been racing to Boots to get their hands on this nourishing nail and cuticle care pen.
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2
The No 7 product that restores nails, leaving them longer and stronger
Credit: Boots
The Boots product that will heal your nails
If you are looking to restore your nail health this summer, Boots may have the perfect solution.
The No 7 star product has become the latest craze amongst beauty enthusiasts.
The Nourishing Nail and Cuticle Care Pen has been billed as the ultimate solution to flaky, weak nails, and it won't break the bank either.
Retailing for just £6.95 the treatment provides continuous moisture which nourishes the skin and promotes nail growth.
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The product description recommends users massage the product into nails and cuticles once a day to see the best results.
This nail saviour has gone a storm with Boots shoppers, with the product receiving 100 five star reviews.
Glowing reveals for star nail product
One glowing review reads: "Absolutely the best cuticle cream I have used - very easy to use and super results.
"Having used more expensive brands I now realise that No 7 is the one I will always use in the future."
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Another delighted shopper added: "One one application and I have noticed a difference.
"My nails were flaky and split all the time. They are now actually growing without breaking."
Beauty fans can get their nails done professionally for just £5 in Superdrug - here's how
One happy customer also praised its affordable price point, writing: "Very cheap bur very good product!!!"
The hypo-allergenic product comes in a 10ml container.
Advertisement
How to keep your nails in pristine condition
Nail techs often recommend that avid acrylic and gel users take breaks in between every few sets, to give them a bit of a break.
If you're looking to start the natural journey or are looking to just enhance nail condition, nail strengtheners and cuticle oils are a great place to start.
Other nail strengtheners and oil that The Sun recommends include OPI's Nail Envy, Sally Hansen's Miracle Cure, and Jessica's Bend Don't Break.
If you are in the market for another more affordable option, Barry M's Mani Hero is less than £5 and promises to be a great quality, budget-friendly alternative.
Advertisement
Earlier this month, nail pro Sarah Green, also told The Sun the four things people should avoid doing to keep them in good condition.
Among her pro tips were avoiding using hot water, using UV protection and applying cuticle oil.
Following this advice may help ensure your at-home manicure stays in pristine condition and chip-free for much longer.
NAILS NO-NO
A NAIL expert has revealed the two words that prospective clients say that can gets them ghosted.
There's plenty of bad habits such as being glued to your phone and creating awkward conversations that can lead to a frosty atmosphere in the salon.
But some beauty fans could ruin their chances of an appointment before they're even through the door.
Nickie runs her own salon in Musselburgh, East Lothian, and also trains up other prospective nail technicians.
In a recent TikTok video, she revealed her "unpopular opinion" about message enquiries.
She said: "I'm not replying to you if you just write to me 'how much'.
"Sorry? How much for what? How much for nails? How much for training? Eyebrows? Hair? A lift to your mum's house?
"Like what even happened to 'hey how are you?'. Not even a 'how are you?' Just like a 'hi'.
"'Hi. How much is nails?' Or 'how much is training?'
"[Just] 'How much?' Like? I'm sorry but I can't even reply because I feel like it's like a waste of my time because then I know you're not going to reply back to me again."
2
The No 7 product has been a huge hit amongst beauty lovers
Credit: Getty
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The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
We're left scrapping for benefits in UK's ‘PIP city' while jobless kids claims £100s thanks to TikTok ‘sickfluencers'
During The Sun's visit, fed-up residents say what was meant to be a safety net for those too ill or disabled to work has become a cushion for the lazy PIPPED TO IT We're left scrapping for benefits in UK's 'PIP city' while jobless kids claims £100s thanks to TikTok 'sickfluencers' BATTLING heart issues and a crumbling spine that has left her reliant on a mobility scooter, Beryl Davis faces a daily fight to survive on her meagre disability benefits. But, she says, life in the town dubbed 'PIP city' comes with an extra gut-punch - as hard-up pensioners like her watch young, jobless chancers game the UK's broken welfare system, inspired by so-called TikTok 'sickfluencers'. 8 Beryl Davis faces a daily fight to survive on her meagre disability benefits Credit: Ben Lack 8 Hartlepool now has one of the highest rates of disability benefit claimants in the entire country Credit: Ben Lack The troubling scenes in Hartlepool - where in some areas nearly one in four adults claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP) - have created a bitter divide between hard-grifting older folk with genuine illnesses and what they see as work-shy younger generations shamelessly exploiting legal loopholes. It is a schism that shines a light on a wider debate gripping Britain, where - despite there being many young people legitimately claiming benefits - vulnerable pensioners living on minimal support fear they are being left in the lurch in favour of unscrupulous claimants. Beryl, 71, reveals: 'One person I know claimed it for acne, another for OCD. It's far too easy to get hold of these days. 'I have a genuine disability. I don't understand how some people are getting it so easily when people like me have to fight for it. 'I know someone in his twenties, diabetic, and yes, he has some health issues, but he's just been awarded the full whack and he's pulling in about £1,600 a month. "He could work. He chooses not to." Famous for its shipyards and steelmaking that were once at the centre of Britain's industrial revolution, Hartlepool has a proud history built off the back of its tireless work force. But during The Sun's visit, fed-up residents say what was meant to be a safety net for those too ill or disabled to work has become a cushion for the lazy, especially among the under-40s. The northern town, in Co Durham, now has one of the highest rates of disability benefit claimants in the entire country, with 22.3 per cent of working age adults receiving PIP across six of its central wards. A Sun analysis of official data reveals 6,737 of 30,154 working-age adults here are now receiving the benefit, with more than 2,000 people aged between 16 and 64 claiming PIP for anxiety and depression. Stop handing out new cars for FOOD INTOLERANCE says Kemi Badenoch as she demands Labour cut ballooning benefits bill Among them is a 24-year-old who told us, on condition of anonymity, how he used TikTok guides to secure a successful mental health claim. It comes after we revealed how brazen "sickfluencers" are gaining thousands of followers on social media by explaining how to game PIP application forms and ramp up the scoring criteria. Shocking recent figures revealed how claims across the UK are at a record high, with 16 to 19-year-olds now making up 16.5 per cent of all PIP cases - up from 14.6 per cent in 2019. The unemployed lad told us how he used tips posted by one influencer to explain how his ability to carry out tasks was affected by social anxiety - despite not having a formal medical diagnosis. Stop handouts for minor conditions, says Badenoch By Ryan Sabey and Noa Hoffman FACE-TO-FACE welfare claim assessments are needed to stop taxpayers' money being used to fund cars for people with minor conditions like food intolerances, Kemi Badenoch says. The Tory leader called for a crackdown — with the health and disability benefits outlay set to spiral to £100billion by the end of the decade. She wants to stop flagrant abuse of the taxpayer-subsidised Motability scheme, which was designed to provide cars for the disabled — and also to target online 'sickinfluencers' who tell claimants what to say in interviews to play the system. Ms Badenoch said in a speech the number of in-person checks has slipped because of the pandemic, being replaced with cheaper phone interviews. She said: 'Approval rates have soared, and we now have online 'sickfluencers' selling people scripts to maximise their scores on an assessment. "We need to build in proper medical evidence to the system. And go back to face-to-face assessments which never recovered after Covid. "Food intolerances are a medical fact, but they're not something we should be handing out new cars for. "That is not a joke. This actually happens.' Stats show around £600million went on Motability last year from the Department for Work and Pensions, and 589,000 claimants had cars as of April. Ms Badenoch said it needed to go as it was a 'perfect example' of a welfare system out of control. She said: 'People are qualifying with conditions like drug misuse, ADHD and obesity. 'The assessment system surely can't have been designed with that intention. And we can't allow it to continue for a moment longer.' He said: "The TikTok videos basically told me which questions to answer and what to say to have the best chance of being approved. "I had a phone call from an assessor which basically lasted for 30 minutes and they agreed that I couldn't work. "I'm now getting £74 a week." Asked if he was genuinely anxious to the point of being unable to work, the youngster said: "I used to work in a supermarket but I found it too much to interact with people. Maybe if there was a job I could do from home, it would be okay." He denied gaming the system, despite shopping among crowds in the town centre, "because there's no jobs around here, anyway". PIP hotspot Across six central wards in Hartlepool, a staggering one in five working-age adults is now on PIP. For many, the ire is pointed at drug users and street drinkers we saw congregating by a community centre. One, seen leaving a corner shop, with a carrier bag filled with beer, said he had "mental health" and "was stressed". 8 Paula Spence, 70, was forced to retire aged 55 and has been reliant on PIP since Credit: Ben Lack 8 Across six central wards in Hartlepool, a staggering one in five working-age adults is now on PIP Credit: Ben Lack At a sandwich shop in the town centre, Claire Jarvis, 43, revealed how her husband had not been able to secure PIP despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergoing gruelling radiation therapy. She said: 'I understand that some people genuinely need benefits - I'm not against that. But I think the wrong people are getting the help while people who really need it are being left with nothing. 'My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. "He went through radiotherapy, he still suffers now - he's got burns all over his back, his bowels are damaged, and he's had to go to work because he's scared he'll lose his job. "And yet when we applied for PIP, he scored zero on the assessment. 8 Claire Jarvis, 43, revealed how her husband had not been able to secure PIP despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer Credit: Ben Lack 8 A Taxpayers Alliance analysis suggested there were 187 PIP claimants for every 1,000 Hartlepool residents Credit: Ben Lack "Meanwhile, there are people who are playing the system, claiming for mental health or back pain without any proper diagnosis, and they're getting everything. "People say there are no jobs but that's nonsense. If you wanted a job, you could go out and get a job. "It's galling to work hard while other people are in the beer garden spending their benefits." Mrs Jarvis' co-worker Charlie Williamson, 26, missed out on support for her five-year-old daughter who has epilepsy. She told how she comes to work despite suffering from anxiety and the stresses of caring for her young child. The wrong people are getting the help while people who really need it are being left with nothing. Claire Jarvis, 43 Ms Williamson said: "I was just in this dark place where I just had no motivation to do anything. I was just getting myself in a dark place. "I was scared to work because of the anxiety, but then at the same time, I wanted to work. "I'm glad that I do work. I absolutely see the importance of it and I look forward to it now." A Taxpayers Alliance analysis suggested there were 187 PIP claimants for every 1,000 Hartlepool residents, the second highest rate in England behind the Merseyside constituency of Knowsley. They are among 12 local authorities in England and Wales where the proportion on PIP exceeds one in six. Anyone with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that affects their day-to-day life can get PIP, including adults in full-time employment. 8 Mrs Jarvis' co-worker Charlie Williamson, 26, missed out on support for her five-year-old daughter who has epilepsy Credit: Ben Lack PIP is split into two parts and claimants can be eligible for both. The daily living part goes to adults needing help with everyday tasks, whereas the mobility part is doled out to those who require assistance getting around. Applicants are assessed on a points-based system, scoring between zero and 12 depending on how much difficulty they have with basic day-to-day activities - such as preparing and eating food. At present, anyone who scores between eight and 11 points qualifies for the standard rate of the daily living component, currently worth £73.90 a week. Those awarded 12 points or more receive the enhanced rate, paying £110.40 a week. Under existing rules, applicants must reach at least eight points - across any combination of tasks - to receive the lowest level of support. 'Genuinely needy overlooked' Paula Spence, 70, was forced to retire aged 55 and has been reliant on PIP since. She said: 'I've worked since I was 16 - I was a hairdresser, then later a lollipop lady, which I loved. "But the cold weather and standing for hours ruined my joints. I was laid off at 55 on medical advice, and I've never worked since. I'm on PIP now because I genuinely need it. 'I'll be honest - there are some people around here who just don't want to work. Some are lazy. They're on the dole, they claim PIP for things that don't stop them working, and it's wrong. I'm not saying that's everyone, but it does happen. "Meanwhile, there are genuine cases where people are really struggling, and they're the ones being made to jump through hoops.' 8 Hartlepool is among 12 local authorities in England and Wales where the proportion on PIP exceeds one in six Credit: Ben Lack Figures show nearly a third of working-age adults in some parts of England are now claiming PIP, with more than 3.6 million people receiving it as of January - up from just over two million three years ago. Critics say the spiralling £143billion welfare bill should serve as a wake-up call to ministers after the Government was forced into a U-turn on proposed welfare reforms following pressure from over 120 MPs. The original plans, designed to save five billion by tightening eligibility for PIP, were shelved. A spokesperson for the Taxpayers Alliance said: "Many PIP assessments are now done remotely, with as little as two to four per cent of disability assessments happening in person. 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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Do you have flaky, weak nails? Get them strong and long in one application with 5-star Boots buy
Restore your nail health for less than £10 QUICK FIX Do you have flaky, weak nails? Get them strong and long in one application with 5-star Boots buy RESTORE your nail health with Boots' five star buy that will leave them feeling stronger and longer in just one application. Beauty fans have been racing to Boots to get their hands on this nourishing nail and cuticle care pen. Advertisement 2 The No 7 product that restores nails, leaving them longer and stronger Credit: Boots The Boots product that will heal your nails If you are looking to restore your nail health this summer, Boots may have the perfect solution. The No 7 star product has become the latest craze amongst beauty enthusiasts. The Nourishing Nail and Cuticle Care Pen has been billed as the ultimate solution to flaky, weak nails, and it won't break the bank either. Retailing for just £6.95 the treatment provides continuous moisture which nourishes the skin and promotes nail growth. Advertisement The product description recommends users massage the product into nails and cuticles once a day to see the best results. This nail saviour has gone a storm with Boots shoppers, with the product receiving 100 five star reviews. Glowing reveals for star nail product One glowing review reads: "Absolutely the best cuticle cream I have used - very easy to use and super results. "Having used more expensive brands I now realise that No 7 is the one I will always use in the future." Advertisement Another delighted shopper added: "One one application and I have noticed a difference. "My nails were flaky and split all the time. They are now actually growing without breaking." Beauty fans can get their nails done professionally for just £5 in Superdrug - here's how One happy customer also praised its affordable price point, writing: "Very cheap bur very good product!!!" The hypo-allergenic product comes in a 10ml container. Advertisement How to keep your nails in pristine condition Nail techs often recommend that avid acrylic and gel users take breaks in between every few sets, to give them a bit of a break. If you're looking to start the natural journey or are looking to just enhance nail condition, nail strengtheners and cuticle oils are a great place to start. Other nail strengtheners and oil that The Sun recommends include OPI's Nail Envy, Sally Hansen's Miracle Cure, and Jessica's Bend Don't Break. If you are in the market for another more affordable option, Barry M's Mani Hero is less than £5 and promises to be a great quality, budget-friendly alternative. Advertisement Earlier this month, nail pro Sarah Green, also told The Sun the four things people should avoid doing to keep them in good condition. Among her pro tips were avoiding using hot water, using UV protection and applying cuticle oil. Following this advice may help ensure your at-home manicure stays in pristine condition and chip-free for much longer. NAILS NO-NO A NAIL expert has revealed the two words that prospective clients say that can gets them ghosted. There's plenty of bad habits such as being glued to your phone and creating awkward conversations that can lead to a frosty atmosphere in the salon. But some beauty fans could ruin their chances of an appointment before they're even through the door. Nickie runs her own salon in Musselburgh, East Lothian, and also trains up other prospective nail technicians. In a recent TikTok video, she revealed her "unpopular opinion" about message enquiries. She said: "I'm not replying to you if you just write to me 'how much'. "Sorry? How much for what? How much for nails? How much for training? Eyebrows? Hair? A lift to your mum's house? "Like what even happened to 'hey how are you?'. Not even a 'how are you?' Just like a 'hi'. "'Hi. How much is nails?' Or 'how much is training?' "[Just] 'How much?' Like? I'm sorry but I can't even reply because I feel like it's like a waste of my time because then I know you're not going to reply back to me again." 2 The No 7 product has been a huge hit amongst beauty lovers Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Rise of ‘faux-zempic' fake weight loss drugs being imported into UK black market & sold on social media…how to spot dupe
Celeb Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace tells Sun Club readers she 'thought she was going to die' and even lost her eyesight after unknowingly taking fake weight-loss jabs FAKE JAB HELL Rise of 'faux-zempic' fake weight loss drugs being imported into UK black market & sold on social media…how to spot dupe WEIGHT-LOSS drugs can be a silver bullet for some trying to shed the pounds after years of failure with fad diets and exercise routines. But dodgy vendors selling potentially deadly fake jabs laced with everything from rat poison to cement have appeared on the black market - with murky labs in foreign countries fuelling the supply, experts have told The Sun. 16 Bags of fake Ozempic pens seized in a UK crackdown Credit: MHRA 16 Michelle Sword fell into a coma after using fake fat jabs - which turned out to be insulin Credit: Supplied 16 Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace thought she'd bagged herself a bargain after buying fat jabs through a WhatsApp group - but says she 'nearly died' Credit: aisleyne1/Instagram 16 Wegovy and Mounjaro are the licensed weight loss jabs in the UK Credit: Getty Celeb endorsements and gushing influencers have encouraged many people who can't get fat jabs prescribed by the NHS to look for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro elsewhere. And some Brits have found out the hard way about the perils of gambling with fake drugs - which can contain a cocktail of poison, including cement and arsenic. One of those was Celeb Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, who told The Sun she "thought she was going to die" and even lost her eyesight after unknowingly taking fake weight-loss jabs. She was left bedridden for three days, constantly vomiting and was unable to even walk to her en-suite toilet after injecting what she dubbed a "syringe of horror". Her crystal clear message to anyone thinking about buying weight-loss jabs from an unofficial source is: "Don't." So-called "skinny jabs" require a prescription from a qualified medic - and must be obtained from registered pharmacies. Ozempic is only licensed as a type 2 diabetes treatment in the UK, unlike in America, meaning the NHS cannot prescribe it for weight loss. Private doctors may be willing to prescribe it "off-label" for weight loss - but that exposes people to a higher risk of being duped, experts say. Meanwhile, Wegovy and Mounjaro can be prescribed on the NHS for weight loss - and may also be bought privately. Crucially, private purchases also need a prescription from a qualified medic - and online platforms are required to conduct a face-to-face or video consultation before dispensing the drugs. Towie star Saffron Lempriere reveals how she lost 12 pounds in 4 weeks - without fat jabs But in reality, jabs can be bought without prescriptions - widely available from social media or unlicensed websites posing as pharmacies flogging the stuff for less than half price at around £80. 'Dicing with death' Health chiefs warned last year that deadly fakes had reached the UK market - and broken into the legitimate supply chain. So far, over 100 deaths have been linked to weight loss drugs in the UK, according to recent data, and it's unclear if any deaths have been linked to fake jabs. But a leading GP who spoke to the BBC warned that those buying weight loss drugs online are "dicing with death". Counterfeits are often linked to organised crime groups, according to Anne Devaud, the head of product security at Novo Nordisk - the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy. Anne told The Sun: "There are lots of sellers in Turkey using UK or French phone numbers to hide where the supply is really coming from. "The best way for these criminals to flog their wares is through social media - because that's where Brits naturally turn," she added. I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me Michelle Sword Groups in China are one of the primary sources for the fakes, Anne said, but the company has also identified counterfeit manufacturing in places like Turkey and Brazil. Anne said: "There are different sources of illicit manufacturing. "Some may order semaglutide from, for example, a Chinese supplier and then do their own stuff. "But another group might simply put starch or water inside - because the purpose is solely to make money." Real Ozempic and Wegovy jabs contain the active ingredient semaglutide, while Mounjaro uses a compound of the same chemical with another called tirzepatide. But fake pens can contain dangerously high doses of semaglutide, or different drugs entirely, like insulin, which can make people seriously sick if taken unnecessarily. Some online platforms also sell real products which have been shipped from overseas, where the same rigorous standards don't apply. Experts say that the rise of counterfeit drugs is a consequence of the supply struggling to keep up with demand - and imposter jabs present a range of perils. 16 Mum-of-two Michelle Sword managed to get hold of the fake jabs without any medical checks, and was told it could be delivered straight away Credit: David Hartley 16 Michelle said, 'I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me' Credit: Supplied 16 An original Ozempic pen, top, vs a counterfeit, bottom Credit: PA 16 Counterfeit semaglutide and Ozempic jabs seized in the US Credit: CNBC Toby Nicol, CEO at CheqUp, told The Sun: "The surge in popularity of weight loss injections has unfortunately created a lucrative opportunity for counterfeiters. "Fake weight loss drugs often originate from unregulated manufacturing operations, where oversight is minimal and quality control can be nonexistent - they are only interested in cash, not care. "These counterfeit products frequently enter the market through unauthorised online pharmacies or social media marketplaces that bypass regulation and rules. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is Toby Nicol "They come in one of two forms - either in pens which mimic those offered genuinely for Mounjaro and Wegovy or sold simply as some powder in a vial to which people add water. "This latter type is very common on TikTok where patients are encouraged to buy something, which could be chalk and inject it into themselves. "Anything which costs less than about £80 to £100 per month is probably fake." Toby warned: "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." Rat poison, cement and arsenic Kevin Joshua, a weight-loss clinician, explained how the fakes sometimes contain insulin instead of semaglutide - which can lead to "critically low blood sugar, coma, or death". People with diabetes take insulin to top up their natural levels, so that they are able to break down sugar properly. Taking too much insulin or injecting when you don't need it can lead to disorientation, seizures or even death. He added: "Chemical analysis of fake weight loss injections has also identified contaminants like rat poison, arsenic, cement, mercury, bacteria or viruses that may result in sepsis, infection, or organ failure." Dr Tim Mackay, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, who studies counterfeit medications, told us that some criminal enterprises get their hands on "research-grade" drugs, not meant for human consumption, and pass it off as the real thing. Other fakes will contain impure semaglutide, dangerously high doses or other drugs entirely, he said. These counterfeit products frequently enter the market through unauthorised online pharmacies or social media marketplaces that bypass regulation and rules Toby Nicol Jason Murphy, Head of Pharmacy and weight loss injection expert at Chemist4U, said: "It really depends on what's in them. "And that's part of the problem, you just don't know. Some might have no active ingredients at all so they just don't work. "Others might contain the wrong dose or harmful substances that can cause stomach issues, blood pressure problems or worse. "There's also a real risk when it comes to sterility. "If the product hasn't been made in clean conditions, there's a chance it could be contaminated, which can lead to infections or serious health complications. "Because these fake drugs haven't gone through proper safety checks, every dose is a gamble." 'I came so close to death' Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace says she almost died and lost her eyesight after taking fake Ozempic last year. She tells The Sun that last year was "really tough" after she lost two very important people and her way of dealing with the pain was to "eat her feelings" - meaning she piled on almost two stone. When a friend suggested she tried Ozempic, Aisleyne rushed into it without considering the dangers, because she was in "such a bad place". She says: "I got added to a WhatsApp group where girls talk about what they want to have done - lip fillers and things - and someone on there was offering Ozempic. 16 Aisleyne Horgan Wallace says she 'nearly died' after injecting fake fat jabs Credit: Olivia West 16 Texts between Aisleyne and the person who organised her supply, about another friend who fell sick after using the injections Credit: supplied 16 Aisleyne's drugs came in an unbranded syringe Credit: supplied How to spot a fake MOST fakes are not completely identical to the authentic products, and there are some signs you can look out. According to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, these are the giveaways... Dodgy packaging : Fake jabs will often come in boxes and packaging of inferior quality. The graphics are more likely to look cheap or misaligned. : Fake jabs will often come in boxes and packaging of inferior quality. The graphics are more likely to look cheap or misaligned. Spelling errors : Text on the counterfeits are much more likely to contain spelling mistakes. : Text on the counterfeits are much more likely to contain spelling mistakes. Dose selector: The manufacturer says that some fakes have dose selectors which can be pulled out when dialled to a select dose. The selectors on the genuine product are fixed in place. The manufacturer says that some fakes have dose selectors which can be pulled out when dialled to a select dose. The selectors on the genuine product are fixed in place. Unbranded: Some counterfeits are completely unbranded, like the plain syringe Aisleyne received. The genuine products will always be branded with the company name and logo. However, it's important remember that some counterfeits will not bear any of those signs. The only way to guarantee a genuine product is to "obtain appropriate medicine on prescription through legitimate sources", Novo Nordisk advises. "With the first month's supply I felt fine, even energetic, and I could see that I was losing a bit of weight. "But then I took the second month's - and I came so close to death. I wish I never, ever took the first month's supply or even heard about this drug. "For three days I was in bed, literally comatose. I'd wake up, roll over and vomit into a bag. There were bags of vomit all around me. "I couldn't even walk the two steps to the en-suite toilet, I had to crawl and drag myself. "After a day I didn't need to go to the toilet because I wasn't eating or drinking - I couldn't even sip anything. "On day two, I opened my eyes and I couldn't see anything out of one of my eyes." The TV star to this day does not know what was in the jabs - but insists: "It was a syringe of horrors, that's all I know. The chemicals must have been wrong." 16 Wegovy is the UK version of Ozempic licensed for weight loss in the UK Credit: PA 16 Amy Schumer is one of the many high-profile celebs to admit she has used weight loss drugs 16 Gemma Collins also revealed she has been using fat jabs Credit: Many other women have got in touch with Aisleyne with similar accounts, proving the problem is widespread. Michelle Sword, 47, is another who nearly died after injecting herself with a fake Ozempic jab. She fell into a coma after administering the medicine, which turned out to be insulin. Michele said: "It was a lot harder to get hold of Ozempic, so I didn't go down the conventional way of doing it. "The beauty companies and the online aesthetic companies all seemed to have it." The mum-of-two managed to get hold of some without any medical checks, and was told it could be delivered straight away. But soon after injecting, she collapsed and began suffering seizures - and tests showed her blood sugar levels had plummeted and sent her into a diabetic coma. Michelle said: "I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me." Fat jab crisis In December 2024, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society warned that social media was fuelling such an appetite for weight-loss jabs that the supply simply couldn't keep up. It even likened the situation to the toilet paper shortages during the Covid pandemic. To keep up with demand, some NHS pharmacies could soon be given powers to prescribe the injections - cutting out the need for patients to see the GP. Addressing the unlicensed supply chain, it said: "These unregulated websites often specifically target those medicines that are in shortage. "These illegal sites come with the risk that patients may be accessing medicines that are outside of a rigorous, quality-controlled supply chain and may be unauthorised and/or falsified." Similarly, the National Pharmacy Association warned there could be a possible "explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online". NPA chairman Nick Kaye said last year: 'Pharmacists remain deeply concerned that the current medicine shortages crisis could lead to an explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online. 'Stocks of Ozempic are very depleted in community pharmacy in the UK and it is important that these remain prioritised for those in the most clinical need. 'Given the precarious state of supply of this and other vital medication, there is a much greater risk of people looking to order in supplies from disreputable online vendors." 16 Even if the product is branded as Ozempic it can be a fake - like this suspected counterfeit Credit: Reuters 16 The drugs can be injected into the skin of your stomach, thigh or arm Cracking down Novo Nordisk is the pharmaceutical company which manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy. Anne, head of product security, told The Sun that pharma companies are collaborating with each other and law enforcement agencies to counter the rise of counterfeit products. She said: "It's a long run, because we are fighting against organized crime. But I'm confident because now we have governance, we are sharing with other pharma companies and authorities. "The best ways to mitigate against the risks are two things: First is to litigate as much as possible and work with prosecutor in order to disrupt [the supply]. "The second is to continue to develop awareness - because everybody has a responsibility. "If patients are more vigilant, ordering less online, if we are collaborating with authorities, if also authorities are reinforcing regulation to avoid any illicit compounding to enter in the country, I'm quite confident that with this combined effort we may really make a difference, so there is no question mark for us. We are on it." Novo Nordisk urges anyone who believes they have hold of a fake pen to not use it. They are encouraged to report it to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency - the body tasked with protecting the UK's drug supply. The MHRA said it has been seizing counterfeit Ozempic pens since 2023. Andy Morling, its deputy director of criminal enforcement, told CNBC last year: "We saw that the demand increased and quite often as it happens in these situations, criminals try and fill a gap where the supply and demand aren't balanced for a particular product, and we started seeing real counterfeit versions of the Ozempic product on the market."
