And somehow we are at the end of May, so further down this Weekend Read we will be looking at some of the products we recommend to take us through the summer months, but before we do that I want to take a moment to talk about the editorial section of our site. Our editorial section isn’t just a collection of articles, it’s a dedicated space where we often explore the ‘why’ behind the products, offering the deeper insight required to navigate the nuances behind specific compounds, rather than rely on generic marketing claims which often obscure the truth.
Taking a ‘beyond the label’ approach, we prioritise bioavailability and clinical evidence to validate the products we endorse and recommend, often citing specific studies by way of validation which, in turn, validates efficacy. There can be no doubt that the cultural needle has shifted significantly in recent years, creating a societal shift where we, the consumers, control the narrative, an independent narrative where we own the outcome, distancing ourselves from socially engineered corporate agendas.
We remain as we ever were, an editorially led site anchored by this newsletter, the Weekend Read, which reflects our commitment to curating thoughtful, in-depth articles enabling each of us to make considered choices for our health and wellbeing. And with that said, I am listing below some of our most-read articles, some of which are obvious, others not so obvious, and I’ll begin with collagen tripeptides.
We launched Collagen Tripeptide Complex in February 2025 and it is perhaps unsurprising that the article accompanying that launch is one of our most-read articles, mostly because I have been referencing it consistently since that time. Being ahead of the curve continues to be important, most specifically when clinical evidence determines next-generation compounds, and collagen tripeptides are most definitely next-generation.
Because I talk about collagen tripeptides rather a lot, I am just going to leave the article below. There are always those compounds which are at the forefront of pioneering advancement and Collagen Tripeptide Complex is that supplement. We created DoSe in order to recognise and acknowledge pioneering advancement, the curation is tight, deliberately tight, so in recognition and acknowledgement of next-generation compounds, we celebrate Collagen Tripeptide Complex once again and this is where we offer you a forty-day supply of Collagen Tripeptide Complex, which has a value of £60, for the same price as a thirty-day supply, which is £45.
VH Editorial: Does Your Collagen Supplement Contain Collagen Tripeptides; DoSe Collagen Tripeptide Complex £45 for 120 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Monday 1 June)
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) does of course fall into the same genre as Collagen Tripeptide Complex because I write about it often, actually I have been writing about it for approximately twenty-five years because we still consider HA to be one of the most crucial molecules for healthy ageing. Most obviously, its therapeutic applications and delivery mechanisms have evolved significantly across the past twenty-five years and there have been several distinct generations of HA, so the formulation I am writing about today is very different from the formulation I was writing about twenty-five years ago.
Advancements in the field of research enable optimised efficacy of this crucial compound, so we considered it essential that we included BioPerine® into the formulation and vitamin C as Magnesium Ascorbate, a low-acid, bioavailable form of vitamin C, for enhanced absorption. BioPerine® is a patented extract containing piperine which supercharges the formulation thus increasing the bioavailability of HA, thus Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength receives a best-in-class status, basically because we believe it is and here when you buy Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength, we will automatically include the travel size (15 capsules) which is worth £17.50.
VH Editorial: Benefits Of Hyaluronic Acid Supplements; DoSe Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules + DoSe Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength (15 Capsules) Free (offer ends at midnight BST, Monday 1 June)
Before anything else, I just want to say that I share often, but I think it’s extraordinarily important to acknowledge the difference that cutting-edge, pioneering formulations make to each of us and, in and of your acknowledgement, the sharing. Sure, we could formulate a supplement such as HA with a mass market pricing structure, but we are never going to do that, essentially because we know it would make little, if any, difference to your overall health and wellbeing. And playing ‘pretend’ just doesn’t cut it, on any level.
So, let’s continue with some more most-read articles and although I am writing about these in no particular order, Shabir’s article on digestive problems after gall bladder removal is extensively read. It really is surprising how many people have their gall bladder removed, it is one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide and it is estimated that between 10% and 15% of adults develop gallstones.
Ongoing research indicates that triggers can include rapid weight loss because losing weight rapidly can cause the liver to secrete extra cholesterol into bile, but a high intake of refined sugars and saturated fats may also promote stone formation. As an aside, it is perhaps of interest to state here that Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro has recently become the world’s top selling drug, surpassing Merck & Co’s cancer therapy, Keytruda.
Digestive problems after gall bladder removal are extremely common occurrences in the adult population. With thousands of people having to undertake gall bladder removal due to pain and digestive discomfort, most would expect this discomfort to end post-surgery, however in the vast majority of cases it is common to experience ongoing digestive problems after the gall bladder is removed. Linking the article below, Shabir walks us through these complications, recommending Milk Thistle Complex to support digestive health and it drops in price from £20 to £17.
VH Editorial: Digestive Problems After Gall Bladder Removal; DoSe Milk Thistle Complex £17 for 30 Capsules (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 31 May)
Siberian Ginseng. The biggest single use of Siberian Ginseng is its ability to increase energy and bearing in mind that a lack of energy is such a common health concern, rather a lot of us are seeking a solution to increase our energy levels. Siberian Ginseng is an adaptogen, an adaptogen refers to a substance which promotes adaptation by the body to all kinds of stressors, whether physical, emotive or environmental and Siberian Ginseng contains ginsenosides, referred to as eleutherosides, which enable Ginseng to balance and counter-balance the effects of stress.
Normalising the way in which the body responds to stress, Siberian Ginseng acts to help regulate the manufacture and secretions of the adrenal hormones. It strengthens the adrenal glands, which is especially important for those suffering from chronic stress, but it also supports the central nervous system, which is also important. Sibergin offers 500 mg of Siberian Ginseng extract derived from 2500 mg of standardised Ginseng herb and contains the full spectrum of ginsenosides found in the herb and it drops in price from £17.99 to £16 also across the weekend.
VH Editorial: The Benefits Of Siberian Ginseng; Sibergin by HealthAid £16 for 30 Capsules
So why do women have cold feet? Margaret Dabbs has the answer and I am going to veer sideways here because she has just launched a new product, so please let me introduce you to Refining Glow Leg Mist, a revitalising tonic designed to refresh and enhance the appearance of your legs. Formulated to help improve the look and feel of skin, it delivers an immediate sensation of lightness. The V-Tonic Complex in this formulation helps promote circulation and leaves an uplifting scent, and your legs refreshed with a natural, healthy glow. Refining Glow Leg Mist drops from £30 to £26 for launch, and back to where I started, the article about cold feet is linked below.
So Why Do Women Have Cold Feet by Margaret Dabbs; Refining Glow Leg Mist by Margaret Dabbs London £26 for 100 ml
I think I have only written about Nattokinase once over the past couple of years, yet our statistics show that this article is amongst some of the most-read articles on our site, which is interesting. Nattokinase is a potent enzyme derived from Natto, a traditional Japanese fermented soy bean dish rich in vitamins and minerals, most especially vitamin K2 which is known for its heart protective benefits.
In the form of supplementation, it is commonly used to support cardiovascular health by improving circulation, helping to reduce blood pressure and lowering cholesterol, with one randomised controlled trial finding that taking 2000 FU of Nattokinase daily for eight weeks would help support healthy blood pressure, but it is most recognised for its anti-clotting capacities. Shabir does the lowdown on Nattokinase in his article linked below and I drop the price of Nattokinase from £26.95 to £24 for the interim.
VH Editorial: Nattokinase Supplements: Benefits & Side Effects; Nattokinase by Good Health Naturally £24 for 90 Capsules (Caution: do not take if you have a soy allergy)
One more article and it’s about Salicylic Acid and blackheads. There are several reasons why we get blackheads, but the most common causes are an imbalance of hormones, excessive sweating, harsh skincare products and an excessive use of make-up, which can often lead to the clogging of pores. Salicylic Acid is an effective beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and because of its large molecular size, it stays on the surface of the skin longer, enabling it work efficiently. And as we come to the end of this section of the Weekend Read, Salicylic Acid 2% Serum drops in price from £15 to £12, across the weekend.
VH Editorial: Using Salicylic Acid For Blackheads; DoSe Salicylic Acid 2% Serum £12 for 30 ml (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 31 May)
And now some of the products we recommend for the summer months and I’ll begin with Thyme Out, which comes into its own during the summer months, although strictly speaking it is not a seasonal product because it is formulated to help treat several inflammatory skin concerns.
Thyme has been the subject of several studies and it has been shown to be extraordinarily powerful at helping to eradicate irritated skin. Treating concerns such as prickly heat, and used as a natural treatment for acne, it also helps heal cuts and grazes and it can also be used on pet rashes and nappy rash. We consider Thyme Out to be a summer essential and with that said, I am throwing a 15% discount across the range across the weekend.
Thyme Out Products (offer ends at midnight BST, Sunday 31 May)
Let’s talk about Coola and in full transparency most of you know that I will only ever use iS Clinical’s Extreme Protect on my face, but I have used the Coola products on my body for more years than I care to remember, with a caveat here to say that I have used other SPF brands, notably Darling which I loved until they changed the formulations. That’s another story, but the story here is that we are offering a 15% discount across the Coola products and if you spend £20 or more, we will automatically send you a Coola baseball cap, to help keep your head cool in the sun, whilst stock lasts.
Coola Products; Extreme Protect SPF 40 by iS Clinical £72.25 for 100 grams (drops from £85) (offers end at midnight BST, Sunday 31 May)
This from This Works. A travel-size trio of body brightening favourites for firmer-looking, radiant skin featuring three mini Perfect essentials in a reusable pink gingham pouch. Those three essentials are Perfect Cleavage & Neck Serum formulated with tightening Larch extract, Perfect Body Vitamin C Glow to brighten and hydrate and Perfect Legs Skin Miracle which is enriched with vitamins C & E to help repair skin boosted with natural Caramel for an immediate sun-kissed glow. This is a limited edition offer.
Glow On-The-Go by This Works £22
And finally this. We are now stocking Avène. We used to stock Avène and then something happened and I honestly can’t remember what it was, but never mind, it is back. And it is back with a selection of their bestselling products and over the coming weeks we will build more products into the selection, but if you are unaware, Avène is a French dermo-cosmetic skincare brand specialising in sensitive, reactive and allergy-prone skin. It is formulated with mineral-rich Avène Thermal Spring Water and is recognised worldwide for offering gentle, dermatologically developed, high-tolerance formulas that help reduce sensitivity and calm irritation.
Avène
Into the Saturday only treat and with every order placed for £35 or above, excluding p&p, we will automatically include a packet of 4711 Eau De Cologne Tissue Wipes*. Containing ten refreshing tissues, the 4711 fragrance is reminiscent of warm summer days driving along the Boulevard de la Croisette. In my head. Full product details below.
4711 Eau De Cologne Tissue Wipes
Monday 1 June, marks the 100th birthday celebration of Marilyn Monroe, and as we come to the end of another Weekend Read, this song, in tribute.
I Wanna Be Loved By You by Marilyn Monroe; The VH Playlist
Wishing each of you a restful weekend.
With love
Gill x
|
|
Hello, it’s Bank Holiday weekend and I have news. Every now and again a brand comes along which stands out in the crowd, it doesn’t happen often, but when it does my heart skips about ten beats. I have always believed that niche innovative brands and products carry their own innate energy and its almost always about the story, the soul and the intent. So, please allow me to introduce you to Ipsum, but most specifically the Ipsum SPA Hammam products.
Rooted in ancient Roman and Byzantine bathing traditions, the Hammam evolved under the Ottoman Empire and has been an integral part of Turkish and Moroccan cultures for centuries, serving not only as places for physical cleansing, but as a space for relaxation, community bonding and spiritual purification. Capturing the essence and tradition of the deep cleansing, exfoliating and skin conditioning Hammam treatments, the Ipsum SPA Hammam products are uniquely formulated in Byron Bay, Australia, and offer an authentic representation of the ritualistic practice of Hammam therapy.
So, let’s walk our way through the Hammam ritual, starting with deep cleansing. I am more than a little bit in love with the first product in the range, the Hammam Soap, which is the first step of the ritual that prepares your skin for transformation. This amber-coloured, gel-like formulation has its roots in traditional Moroccan black soap, which is used for cleansing everything from the neck down. It is unlike anything I have used before, it’s gooey, it’s stretchy, it’s bouncy, yet somehow it isn’t sticky.
The Hammam Soap should be used on warm, damp skin, so ideally you should stand under the shower or plunge into the bath and then step out of the water and apply a thin layer evenly all over your body, massaging it well into the skin to stimulate the natural exfoliation action. This ensures that the ingredients, which include vitamin E and Squalane, are absorbed into the skin, at which point you step back into the shower or bath to rinse away, ideally using the SPA Hammam Mitt to remove the soap. And that’s the second product.
The SPA Hammam Mitt is made from natural jute and offers additional exfoliation benefits when used in the first step of the cleansing ritual, with the SPA Hammam Soap. To use, massage the body in small circular movements, starting at the feet and moving upwards in the direction of the heart, as you rinse the Hammam Soap away with warm water. The Hammam Mitt can also be used dry, pre-bathing or showering, as a gentle alternative to dry body brushing, lifting away dead skin cells and boosting circulation, but of course it comes into its own when used with the Hammam Soap, aligning with the traditional ritualistic experience of Hammam therapy.
SPA Hammam Soap by Ipsum £40 for 175 grams; SPA Hammam Mitt by Ipsum £9
Following through, the SPA Hammam Mask is the next step of the Hammam ritual, and a rather wonderful step it is too because this luxurious treatment mask has been created with pure and organic botanical extracts and earth clays, such as mineral-rich Moroccan Lava Clay and Australian Kaolin. The neck and décolletage rarely get this level of care and attention, despite desperately needing it, and after leaving the mask on for about fifteen minutes, my neck and chest skin definitely looked smoother. A touch of transformational magic, the Hammam mask is truly amazing and it can also be used as a conditioning and brightening face mask.
SPA Hammam Mask Neck & Décolleté by Ipsum £65 for 2 x 45 grams
The Hammam ritual is completed by massaging the SPA Body Oil into the skin with long, smooth strokes, breathing in the calming and heart-warming aroma. Blended with nineteen pure and organic botanical oils, it is supercharged with Australian native plums and Sandalwood to condition, enrich, brighten and restore healthy radiance in skin. The potent trio of Australian Kakadu, Illawarra and Burdekin plums are included because they are tremendously rich in vitamin C, helping to boost collagen production and cell regeneration, while improving skin elasticity and enlivening skin texture and tone.
I have long believed that exceptional products deserve respect, respect for the formulation and respect for the unwavering integrity of any given product. There really is such a vast difference between a product that simply occupies space on a shelf and one that earns its place in each of our lives and SPA Body Oil is that product. But that’s not all, SPA Body Oil isn’t just a moisturiser, it’s a sensory ritual and it bridges the gap between functional integrity and emotional joy. Fragranced with Jasmine, Bergamot and Sandalwood, SPA Body Oil is a joyous, soul-soothing, lingering experience of intent.
SPA Body Oil by Ipsum £68 for 100 ml
In celebration of launching the Ipsum SPA Hammam ritual, when you buy the SPA Hammam Soap, the SPA Hammam Mask or the SPA Body Oil, we will automatically gift you the Ipsum Lip Oil Balm, which is worth £19. In full transparency, Ipsum sent me the Lip Oil Balm as a gift and I fell in love with it and have used it ever since. It is a blend of pure and organic plant oils and waxes, including Tomato Fruit extract and it really does leave lips feeling soft, comforted and flake-free.
I’m leaving a link to the Lip Oil Balm below, so you can read all about it, but also some of you may wish to buy it as a stand-alone product, which I understand. I also understand that some of you may wish to buy the Hammam Mitt as a stand-alone, basically because I think every bathroom should have one, but on from that, and in order to be equitable, there is only one gift per customer. Finally, if you purchase the full SPA Hammam collection, the SPA Hamman Soap, Mask and Body Oil, we will send you two gifts, the Lip Oil Balm together with an Ipsum puffa beauty bag, whilst stock lasts.
Lip Oil Balm Tube by Ipsum £19 for 10 grams
Well, that took up the first half of the Weekend Read, so now the rest and because it’s Bank Holiday weekend I am choosing not to write about specific health concerns, but what I am going to do is to throw the focus on DoSe, both the skincare and the supplements. First the skincare, but most specifically Daily Moisturiser because it recently won a skincare award in the YOU magazine Beauty Awards, which made me smile rather a lot, so we now have two award-winning products in the range, the second being Daily Cleanser which won the best skincare innovation (cleansers) in The Telegraph Beauty Awards.
DoSe Daily Moisturiser; DoSe Daily Cleanser
The smile will stay on my face for two reasons, the first is because we didn’t pay for either award, a subject I am tremendously vocal about because pay-to-play bothers me considerably, but the second reason is because sharing really does put a smile on my face. The reward is, and always has been in the sharing, so as we continue to share, I am throwing a 15% discount across DoSe skincare across this long weekend with the offer ending at midnight BST, Monday 25 May.
DoSe Skincare
As the focus shifts from skincare to supplementation, the integration of skin products and supplementation has always been so incredibly important for the health of our skin. Recent clinical data has shown that this integration can provide far better results than by just taking a supplement or by just using a topical product. We have known this for the longest time and in many ways the DoSe branding reflects a uniformity of concept, serving a dedicated purpose.
I am going to use Hyaluronic Acid as an example here, notably because it remains our bestselling supplement and notably because it remains one of the most crucial anti-ageing compounds. Topically, the DoSe Hyaluronic Acid Serum is amazing, and perhaps I am biased, but I have tried many HA serums, most of which are sticky and horrible to use, so it was important to formulate a serum which lived up to promise, and it does. And because it does, and in the demonstration of uniformity of concept, when you buy Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength, we will automatically include Hyaluronic Serum, which is worth £15.
VH Editorial: Benefits Of Hyaluronic Acid Supplements; DoSe Hyaluronic Acid Capsules High Strength £35 for 30 Capsules + DoSe Hyaluronic Serum (30 ml) Free (offer ends at midnight BST, Monday 25 May or whilst stock lasts)
Most obviously, I am now going to throw that 15% discount across each of the DoSe supplements, with the exception of Hyaluronic Acid. I really don’t need to write many words here, other than to say that our curation remains exceptionally tight, deliberately so because we consider each product in the DoSe range to be pioneering in concept, delivering cutting-edge formulations which really do make a difference. An evolutionary difference of specific, evidence-based, purpose-driven formulations, far away from the deafening noise of mass market mediocrity. And I’m sorry, but that bothers me too.
DoSe Supplements (offer ends at midnight BST, Monday 25 May)
To the end with Poppy, Poppy Delbridge whose second book, ‘Unlock Your Power’ has just been released. Many of you know Poppy, I often write about her and many of you joined Poppy when she led us through dedicated Rapid Tapping sessions. I know the difference those sessions made to so many of you and I also know how many experienced life-changing shifts, magical life-changing shifts.
There can be no doubt that we are living in an extraordinarily difficult and fractious world, we can’t control external events, but we can control our emotional response and we can uncover the patterns shaping our choices. I believe in magic, I have always believed in magic and we can create magic in our lives if we start to notice the magic. Poppy also believes in magic, we feed each other with magic, it is the language that binds us, it is the concept that empowers us and with this being the second invitation on today's Weekend Read, an invitation to purchase ‘Unlock Your Power’ to help create your own magic.
Unlock Your Power by Poppy Delbridge
One song. One life.
One by U2; The VH Playlist
With love
Gill x
|
|
To submit a personal health, wellbeing or skincare concern or for a personalised regimen please email [email protected], click here for Whatsapp or call us on +44 208 951 4144.
|
|
|
|
|
