Well, here we are, in the midst of Black Friday madness and as most of you will have seen, we have begun to share some of our offers over the past few days.  I will recap on those offers later in this newsletter in case you missed them, but a few words about Black Friday before that.  The first thing to say is that I think the entire concept of Black Friday is out of control and the only way I can deal with it is to switch my brain into mind over matter mode.  So with that said, I declare this entire period of time as a celebration, a celebration which we share with each of you for your loyalty and support throughout the year.

I will not play games here. I have not put our prices up in order to take them down for this period of time, I will not send out emails stating that there is a 40% reduction on a cross section of products either.  On that latter point this is a favourite and common form of clickbait marketing, except the issue here is that once you have clicked, you will probably find that it is only one or two products which have that reduction, and they are normally the products you wouldn’t want anyway. 

The other thing I really have to say is that my thoughts are always with our niche brands who are unable to compete.  Many of these brands are fighting for their very survival and they just cannot take the risk of losing the margin they have because they may just lose their business in so doing.  It is all very easy to get lost in the whole Black Friday shebang, but every single niche brand I have spoken to say that they detest and dread this time of year.  The repercussions of not being able to compete are considerable for SMEs, so please let us not judge these brands based upon their decisions at this time.  They need our support more than ever.

With all of that said, our entire ethos is based on sharing wherever we can and there is no other place for me to start than with our own supplements.  We have grown, and will continue to grow, our own range of products for many different reasons, but primarily we have to ensure that our formulations follow the guidance of the extensive research available and, wherever it is relevant, to adhere to the studies and clinicals that determine the efficacy of pioneering and cutting-edge supplementation.

The other thing to say here, and I’ve said it often, is that I really can’t live with mediocrity or complacency, and I’m certainly not going to wait for brands to get their act together and incorporate these crucial elements into their formulations, we could be waiting forever.  Additionally, I am not prepared to recommend products that are not fulfilling the potential to be cutting-edge, when far-reaching evidence determines otherwise.  And if they fail to conform, we move on.  We absolutely have to move on.

And we have certainly moved on with Hyaluronic Acid because after the addition of BioPerine™, which supercharged the entire formulation, and the most recent addition of Vitamin C as Magnesium Ascorbate, there is no doubt in my mind that this supplement is best-in-class.  I know I wrote more or less the same words two weeks ago, but I’m writing them again as I tell you that when you buy Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength, we will automatically include the Travel Size HA (15 capsules), which has a value of £17.50, whilst stock lasts.  Here we go.  This will be fun.
Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules + Hyaluronic Acid High Strength Travel Size (15 Capsules) Free (whilst stock lasts)

At the end of this section I have a few more words to say about HA, but for now please let me tell you that l am discounting the rest of the VH supplements by 15%.  Each of you will know exactly why I am doing this, so I am not going to have an emotional podium moment, but I am going to take a moment in order to recognise and acknowledge the reviews, the emails and the stories which have supported each of these products, with a special mention for each of the five supplements we launched this year.

Those five supplements are Magnesium Complex, Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex, Daily Multivitamins One-A-Day, Sleep Tight Plus and of course NAD+ Generator, our most recent launch because it was so important to formulate a next-generation longevity supplement which, in our opinion, conquers all else.  I cannot end this section without saying that your ongoing feedback on Superior Joints really takes my breath away, as does the feedback on Magnolia Rhodiola Complex as it continues to help lower the stress and anxiety levels we are mostly experiencing.  For all of this, and more, I thank you.
VH Supplements

Reverting to HA, I honestly don’t know how long the HA offer will last.  I would like to think that we will be able to honour all orders placed during this period of time, but I am not sure if we will be able to achieve this.  With all of our Black Friday offers ending at midnight GMT on Sunday 26 November, I just want to offer some clarity around HA specifically.  If we are unable to fulfil the HA BF offer, as outlined above, we will end that offer and simultaneously discount HA by 15%, in line with all of the VH supplements.  I am being cautious here, but I feel I need to manage expectations.  Most especially because HA is our bestselling supplement.

Let’s continue and we will do so with some brand offers.  I will be jumping all around the place with these, but the overall caveat is that each of these BF offers will be available whilst stock lasts, and if they don’t last, they will disappear off the face of the earth, and our site.  I will start this section with DIRTEA, a brand which throws the focus on the power of functional mushrooms.  Their organic mushroom extract powders are extremely potent and are rich in energising bioactive ingredients to help support our health and wellbeing.

And the BF offer goes like this.  We are applying a 20% discount on all of the DIRTEA tins and Superblends and this discount is applied to the full retail price.  For transparency, we currently give between 9% and 12% discount off of the full retail price of these products, but we will bring that discount up to 20%.  The single ingredient powder pouches currently carry a 25% discount and they will remain as they are. 
DIRTEA Products

I have often written that I have a big soft spot for the brands we have launched in the UK, and although some of these brands were launched many years ago, they remain a part of us no matter what.  So, the next three offers are from the brands we launched and let me start with Color Wow.  I will never, ever forget launching Root Cover Up, it was ahead of its time, it was most definitely a first, and although it has been duped thousands of times over, it set the agenda for an entirely new category in haircare, for which it received global acclaim.

But of course it was not all about Root Cover Up, because we went on to launch Dream Coat, an innovative texture spray which helps to prevent the frizz.  Once again, it was launched to huge acclaim and it remains one of the bestselling products in the range. That range has grown rather a lot since inception, so as I invite you to explore each of the Color Wow products, the BF offer here is that we are discounting the entire brand by 20%. 
Color Wow Products

Two skincare brands next, the first of which is Non Gender Specific, which we launched approximately two years ago.  My sadness here is that Flooid is no longer with us.  I totally loved Flooid, I called it my signature fragrance and I mourn its loss.  Notwithstanding that, I have a thing about cleansers and Everything Cleanser is one of my favourite cleansers.  We are of course all different, but my advice here is to leave it on your skin for two or three minutes as a second cleanse to further nourish your skin.  And the BF offer, well it’s a 30% discount across the range, whilst stock lasts.
Non Gender Specific Products

So many stories to tell about LixirSkin, most of which have nothing whatsoever to do with the products.  Together with Dr Colette Haydon, I have lived and breathed LixirSkin since we launched it together.  There are those brands which I believe belong to me, even though they don’t, and LixirSkin is one such brand.  I think I once wrote about this, but when we launched LixirSkin, a certain person in the beauty industry told me that I was off my head to launch LixirSkin because it would never last and I would get egg on my face.  There is no egg on my face.

My deep friendship with Colette is no secret and every now and then we step outside of the product range to create Limited Edition products, which reflect our innermost thoughts and feelings at any given time.  We will of course be creating more of these Limited Edition experiences in the future, but for now let’s throw the focus on the existing range, which includes the heroic Vitamin C Paste and The Good Skin System, the seasonal offering from LixirSkin.  And as we do that, we are offering 30% discount across all products, which comes with so much love from me and Colette in recognition of the loyalty and support you have given us through the years.
LixirSkin Products

I cannot claim that we launched the Margaret Dabbs range of products, but what I can say is that Margaret is amazing and I have known her for a very long time.  She is dedicated to her work and she has achieved so very much in her field. She continues to launch some profound products, most specifically her Pure Nail Strengthening Treatment, which launched this year, once again to huge acclaim.  There is something really special about Margaret’s products and if you want to discover how special these products are, I invite you to do so as we offer 20% discount across the brand.
Margaret Dabbs London Products

Right, the recap.  We have already sent out ten BF offers, so I am literally going to blast my way through these, otherwise we will be here forever, so hold tight as I do this.  We’ll begin with Fulvic because there are four different Fulvic offers to talk about and the first is Fulvic Acid Elixir.  This is simple, buy one Fulvic Acid Elixir and get another free, this gift is worth £30.  The same for Fulvic Face Cream, buy one Fulvic Face Cream (60 ml) and get another one free, this gift is also worth £30.
Fulvic Acid Elixir £30 for 480 ml (buy one, get one free); Fulvic Face Cream £30 for 60 ml (buy one, get one free)

Fulvic Shampoo comes next, which, as so many of you know is the only shampoo I will use and I’ve used it for about twenty years.  Anyway, the same here, buy one Fulvic Shampoo and get another one free, this gift is worth £25.  And the final Fulvic offer is Fulvic Body Lotion, so when you buy Fulvic Body Lotion, you will automatically receive the travel size Fulvic Face Cream (30 ml), which has a product value of £15.  Fulvic rules.  It always has.
Fulvic Shampoo £25 for 240 ml (buy one, get one free); Fulvic Body Lotion £20 for 200 ml + Fulvic Face Cream (30 ml) Free

Onto the Garden of Wisdom for VH serums, and two offers here.  We’ll begin with the bestselling serum in the range, and that is of course Vitamin C Serum 23% + Ferulic Acid and the offer goes like this. Buy one Vitamin C Serum 23% + Ferulic Acid and get another one free, this gift is worth £12.  The next two serums are the serums that Shabir formulated for himself, so I’ve put them together.  The first serum is the Anti-Aging MultiPeptide Serum, which has a huge following, and it sits alongside Eye Contour Serum, which serves as a gift when you buy the MultiPeptide Serum.  This gift is worth £20.
Vitamin C Serum 23% + Ferulic Acid by Garden of Wisdom for VH £12 for 30 ml (buy one, get one free); Anti-Aging MultiPeptide Serum by Garden of Wisdom for VH £22 for 30 ml + Eye Contour Serum 30 ml Free

Another claim to fame here, if you can call it that, but if I am doing a roll-call of all the brands we have launched, then Ameliorate joins that list.  Ameliorate put Keratosis Pilaris (chicken skin) on the map and although the brand was sold a few years ago, our support and commitment remains as each of the products continue to make a difference to so many. Transforming Body Lotion is the hero product here, which won't surprise anybody really, so let's do a 40% discount across all Ameliorate products, with such fond memories of the launch campaign.
Ameliorate Products

If you are going to lead, then do it in style and Ross J. Barr has style.  I am not going to write many more words about him because his ego may well explode, but just to say that our relationship is based on humour and we understand each other.  Our relationship is also based on intent, an intent to bring innovative and ground-breaking products to the fore.  Our work is ongoing and in the next couple of weeks I will be launching another new product from Ross, but paying tribute to all that has gone before, and with a special mention for the recently launched Period Patches, we are offering a 20% discount across the brand. 
Ross J. Barr Products

Paragraph 23 and two more offers to share.  The first is from Ingenious and most of you know this brand and its bestselling product, which is Ingenious Beauty, so a 30% discount across the brand, which I think will make a lot of people happy.  This leaves just one more offer to share. 
Ingenious Products 

A few months ago I wrote about Drowsy, the rather exquisite silk sleep mask which blocks out 100% of light.  It is a heavenly sleep mask and I honestly think it is in a league of its own.  So, as we come to the end, let me just say that when you buy any of the Drowsy products, we will automatically include their Sleep S.O.S Pillow Spray (50 ml), which has a value of £25.  Whilst stock lasts.
Drowsy Products

Before we wrap, a few logistical notes.  As I have written above, all of our Black Friday offers will end at midnight GMT, Sunday 26 November, unless they have sold through ahead of that time.  We will not be sending any form of communication out on Black Friday itself, which is Friday 24 November and neither will we be sending out anything on Cyber Monday, which is Monday 27 November.  Standing outside of the crowd, we do our own thing, but of course the Weekend Read will be published next Saturday 25 November and What’s The Solution will return on Tuesday 28 November.

Finally, two pieces of news.  The first is that I have got my tickets for the Bruce Springsteen concert at Wembley Stadium next July.  I honestly didn’t think he would do another concert, but it seems he will be rocking forever, which is excellent news, we’ll rock with him.  The second thing is that I am having a minor procedure this morning.  I promise it is nothing serious, I am just having a para-thyroid removed because my calcium levels appear to be dancing.  Under any other circumstance, I wouldn’t be writing about this, but it is Saturday morning and I will not be able to respond to your emails, as I always do.

So, as I abdicate all and everything to Shabir and Lara, I will be totally unaware of anything because I will be knocked out by anaesthetic.  I’m rather looking forward to the long sleep and I sincerely hope that I don’t wake up and find Lara sitting by the side of my bed with her laptop.  That’s the kind of thing she would do, but notwithstanding any of that, this week’s song just has to be a Bruce Springsteen song, and although I have shared this song before, it seems quite fitting for today.  Staying close.  As I sleep.
I’ll See You In My Dreams by Bruce Springsteen; The VH Playlist

With love

Gill x

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