Hello, Lara here, and as I welcome you to the Weekend Read, I am so thrilled to have been given the opportunity to share some of the things that are important to me.  As many of you know, VH is very much a family affair, led by Gill and Shabir we are all about community, care and connection and for those who are unaware, Gill is my mother, and I’m saying this now to avoid any confusion with some of the words I am going to write further down this newsletter.

Last weekend, Gill announced that she has officially hung up her tiara for this year’s VH Awards, but I’ve decided I’m not quite ready to hang mine up, so I am dedicating this week’s Weekend Read to write my own awards, except they aren’t really my awards, they are your awards.  Using your reviews as guidance, these are your words and your thoughts about some of the products which really do make a difference to so many of us.

I am going to begin with seasonal gifts, and the first thing to say here is that it is quite difficult to capture reviews for seasonal gifts as many of the items are new, but notwithstanding that, I am going to share an excerpt from a review about TEMPLESPA’s Truffle Treat.  Truffle Treat contains Trufflesque (15 ml) and a luxury mask brush, it was our bestselling seasonal gift two years ago, it didn’t make an appearance last year, but it is back this year and it’s fabulous.  So with the review left below, we continue to offer a 10% discount on all TEMPLESPA seasonal gifts, whilst stock lasts:

‘For me, this is the mother of all Truffles. It is simply a face lift in a tube, and if I could use it daily, I would. It delivers an immediate tautening [is that a real word?] of the skin, and along with the Truffle trademark radiance, what more could one ask for, especially at this time of the year? Fab to use before a special night out, or in for that matter. Or any occasion where one wants to glow......’
Truffle Treat by TEMPLESPA; TEMPLESPA Seasonal Gifts

On subject, a reminder that all seasonal gifts, aside from TEMPLESPA, carry a 15% discount, so with twelve days to go before Christmas, a link below to each of the seasonal gifts that are still available, with a note to say that if they disappear from our site across the weekend, that will mean that they have sold through and are no longer available.  I have a feeling that this might happen with Truffle Treat, so my apologies if it disappears halfway through the weekend.  Or earlier.
Seasonal Gifts

Following through from Black Friday and Gill’s words last weekend, I can’t write this Weekend Read without mentioning Hyaluronic Acid. Retaining its position as being our bestselling supplement, it is also our most reviewed supplement, and although it is difficult to share just one review, I think that those of us who take HA, can relate because we really do notice a difference if we stop taking HA:     

‘I take VH's Hyaluronic Acid every day, it’s the highest, most potent tablet of its kind I can find and I take a lot of care in my research on vitamins and supplements. Keeps my joints and skin looking that bit extra. I definitely notice when I don’t take it.’

Rather like my mother, I cannot write about HA without sharing the love and although Gill has shared her own love of HA with you throughout the recent weeks, I want to continue that sharing.  So, when you buy Hyaluronic Acid capsules, we will automatically send you 45 capsules for £35, instead of 30 capsules for £35.  This means that you will receive 15 capsules, which is worth £17.50 and that offer stands across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Benefits Of Hyaluronic Acid Supplements; DoSe Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 45 Capsules (15 Capsules Free) (worth £17.50) (Offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 14 December)

Taking a further look at our reviews, I want to take a moment to thank you for your support because each review really does help and really does make a difference.  It is well documented that Gill wouldn’t allow reviews on our site for many years, basically because she found the entire ‘review system’ disingenuous and although I understood that, it was left to me to deliver an authentic and transparent review system.  And I won the battle with the implementation of that system.

Today, I know that both Gill and Shabir are as grateful as I am that so many of you take the time to leave reviews, but I must also acknowledge those of you who send emails about personal experiences with products, so a moment here where I share my own experience with our AHA/BHA Toner.  This is a relatively new product for us and it is my favourite DoSe skincare product, not my mother’s obviously, as she doesn’t use acids on her skin, but for me it has been nothing short of transformative.

I will be honest, I was sceptical about using it at first, but my skin feels fresher and smoother and my foundation no longer flakes, which was not a good look, and the dry patches of skin have now disappeared.  We are all different, and my skin is definitely different to my mother’s, which is rather unfortunate for me because her skin is amazing.  She will say it’s because she has taken HA and several other supplements for over thirty years and I don’t think I can argue with that, except to say if I keep taking the supplements, I might catch up.

The AHA/BHA Toner combines Glycolic and Lactic Acids (AHAs) with Salicylic Acid (BHA) to gently exfoliate, while Niacinamide and Ergothioneine nourish, brighten and protect and I would give it one hundred stars if I could, but sadly I can’t, but instead I am dropping the price from £20 to £17 across the weekend. I truly thank Shabir for formulating this.  Shabir, this is my public declaration of thanks, from me and my skin.  And one further thing, if you use this toner in the morning, it is essential that you follow through with an SPF and that is certainly true about Triple Vitamin C too, which is incredibly active.
DoSe AHA/BHA Daily Toner £17 for 100 ml; DoSe Triple Vitamin C 23% Serum + Ferulic Acid £17 for 30 ml (drops from £20) (offers end at midnight GMT, Sunday 14 December)

Whilst there are some obvious similarities between us, my mother and I are actually very different.  To reference ‘Ab Fab’, she is ‘Edwina’ and I am ‘Saffy’ and I think she quite enjoys that.  She is wild, crazy, outspoken and I spend my life apologising for her, and my brother actually, who would quite like to rule the world.  They push boundaries, I stay firmly in the safe lane and I grew up wishing that she could just be a normal mother, but no.  I remember her dancing to Guns N’ Roses in the kitchen wearing plastic trousers patterned with planets, I don’t think I will ever forget those trousers.  I was horrified.

Despite our differences, we both love our nails, our nails are our thing, we both use Fulvic Acid Nail Cream and we both love Fulvic Nail Cream, so this review, which says everything there is to say about Fulvic Acid Nail Cream:

‘After a promising start, I remained sceptical as to how good the Fulvic Acid nail cream could be but I am still using it sparingly every day (as recommended) and after approximately three months the results are amazing. My nails were previously exceptionally dry and brittle and now they are strong and maintain a good length. My skin is now soft and smooth and I am able to wear rings again and proudly show them off as I no longer feel like I have to hide my hands. I don't think I have ever felt this pleased with a skincare product.’

In celebration of Fulvic Acid Nail Cream, I am dropping the price of Fulvic Acid Nail Cream from £14 to £12, but that's not all, we will also automatically send you the Super Shiner Buffer by Margaret Dabbs, which is worth £9. 
Fulvic Acid Nail Cream £12 + Free Margaret Dabbs Super Shiner Buffer (worth £9) (only one gift per customer and offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 14 December)

We know that many of our reviews come from our VH Addicts, for which we thank you, so this is a short review from an Addict, together with an invitation to become a VH Addict linked underneath:

‘100% no brainer, it just makes sense.’

For just £30 a year, our VH Addicts enjoy a 10% discount on most products, priority order processing, and unlimited personal consultations with our in-house pharmacist, Shabir. With access to over 100 brands and more than 3,000 carefully curated products spanning beauty, health, and wellbeing, it’s a membership that pays for itself time and time again. Whether you’re discovering new favourites, restocking trusted essentials, or exploring our exclusive gifts, the value adds up quickly — and it’s yours for a full year of benefits. Please read our product page for more information and full T&Cs.
VH Addict Membership £30

Many of us will be home for the holidays, but plenty will be travelling in the coming weeks, so it feels like the perfect time to remind you of our Travel Category, linked below, which is a carefully curated collection of essentials from SPF and skincare to travel tummy support and more.  Everything is there to keep you comfortable, protected and prepared while you are on the move and just so you know, Gill never travels without Mrs White’s Unstung Hero, iS Clinical’s Extreme Protect SPF40 Translucent, the Fulvic Travel Hair Trio and of course HA, they are non-negotiable. 

Shabir’s are Mega Probio, Thyme Out and he also uses Extreme Protect, an instruction from my mother. My non-negotiables are Moskinto Patches, deCrease Travel Iron Free, and Sheald Recovery Balm and with one final fling, we are offering a 15% discount across all products featured in our Travel Category, and it’s quite an extensive curation.
Travel & Sun (offer ends at midnight GMT, Sunday 14 December)

And if your festive plans involve cosying up at home rather than heading away, there’s still a little travel-inspired treat just for you. Spend £20 or more on NEOM and we will automatically include a complimentary Christmas Wish Travel Candle, worth £21 — perfect whether it’s tucked into your suitcase or simply brought from room to room at home. Blended with mandarin, cinnamon and tonka bean, this comforting mix of pure essential oils helps you relax, unwind, and fill your space with the soothing, traditional scent of Christmas. 
NEOM Wellbeing Products (only one gift per customer, whilst stock lasts)

Let’s do the Saturday only treat and continuing our love of TEMPLESPA, when you spend £35 or over, excluding p&p, we will send you one of several gifts we have to share from TEMPLESPA*.  My mother often writes about the importance of relationships, and I recognise that importance too and although her relationship with TEMPLESPA spans the decades, when I joined VH, they couldn’t have been kinder or more supportive.  It’s something I will never forget.  And as Gill would say, we are as one.
TEMPLESPA Products

As I sign off, a huge thank you to all our customers who take the time to leave reviews, we really do appreciate your support.  Reviews help us improve, they allow an understanding of your needs and as we end, there is only one song to share this weekend.  Hi mum.  Waving.
Pet Shop Boys - Absolutely Fabulous; The VH Playlist

With love 

Lara x