I’ve been pretty busy the last couple of years. Between graduating college, moving across the country, having a baby, and starting a new job — taking my vitamins every morning was not exactly top of mind. I only wish I had come across the personalized vitamin brand Care/of sooner.

My struggle with remembering to take my vitamins was not uncommon. The Harvard School of Public Health has reported that only half of adults in the United States take a multivitamin. However, according to the school’s research, multivitamins can play an important role when nutritional requirements are not met through diet alone. Vitamins provide an array of beneficial minerals and nutrients that could fill those unique nutritional gaps.

Besides the prenatal vitamins I took through pregnancy, I have never given much thought to the type of vitamins I might benefit from based on my diet and daily activity. Admittedly, I dreaded the amount of research it would likely require to find out exactly what gaps I needed filled (ie. taking an iron supplement for my iron deficiency or Vitamin D to survive the prolonged East Coast winters.)

Of course, buying an individual vitamin for all your needs seems like a simple solution. But, the fact is, shopping for standalone vitamins can be expensive, not to mention overwhelming — which ones are necessary, which ones are not, and which vitamins could have a bad interaction with each other or with your allergies? All this is to say that my vitamin routine was nowhere near streamlined until, I found out about Care/of.

Care/of is not your typical vitamin brand. The brand offers a five-minute test to curate recommendations for personalized vitamins. This is a service that very few vitamin brands offer. Taking a quick quiz seemed simple enough, even for someone as busy (and easily overwhelmed) as me. I went ahead and tested the brand myself, so I could provide an in-depth analysis of their offerings.

To provide a well-rounded review of Care/of, I spent some time on the brand’s website — reading through different product descriptions, research studies, sustainability efforts, and customer reviews, as well as messaging from the founders on the story of building the brand. I was also able to test Care/of’s subscription firsthand, taking their five-minute questionnaire and purchasing the recommended vitamin subscription for myself.

Care/of is no ordinary vitamin brand. While they do offer a range of vitamins, herbs, energy boosts, and protein powders for you to shop a-la-carte, the brand’s unique subscription service is really their selling point.

Through their subscription service, customers receive curated vitamin suggestions based on a brief questionnaire. The quick quiz asks customers about their lifestyle, diet, health goals, and even some broader questions‚ like their interest in Eastern medicine and whether they are curious or skeptical about taking vitamins and supplements.

After analyzing the results, Care/of provides a few recommendations for your “Vitamin Bundle.” This bundle includes all sorts of vitamins aimed to fill your unique gaps. Both multivitamins and single vitamins are included. They may even toss in some other recommended products like maca powder, whey protein, or collagen powder based on your health goals.

After confirming your selections based on those results, Care/of ships your unique vitamin bundle straight to your doorstep once a month. Each bundle arrives in simple daily packs made “just for you”. Another perk — the packaging is entirely compostable.

Pricing is dependent on what type of “Vitamin Bundle” you select:

There is a $1 dispenser fee for the subscription service. Shipping is $8, or free for all purchases over $50.

Before heading to the quiz section, I spent some time doing my homework — learning about Care/of’s brand identity, values, and research.

Care/of hires in-house naturopathic doctors, formulation experts, and nutritionists to help research ingredients and design their products. These experts are also picky — only 5% of all ingredients tested make the cut in Care/of’s products. Over 1200 studies have been referenced in their research, and thousands of hours go into ensuring safety and efficacy.

All of Care/of’s products go through third-party testing by world-leading laboratories in the United States. Each product is tested three times throughout the supply chain: first when Care/of receives ingredients, again during manufacturing, and with further third-party testing on finished products.

Another great Care/of feature — the brand has also gone digital. I checked out the Care/of mobile app which is designed to help you stick to your wellness routine. You can set reminders, earn points for consistency, and redeem those points for prizes and merchandise. It’s a great tool for those of us who need some additional motivation.

After vetting the site and app, I headed to the “Personalize” section, which brought me directly to their questionnaire. The test is broken up into three sections — basics, goals, and values. I half-expected to be met with some irritating fill-in-the-blanks about my calorie intake and the hours I spend working out. But, Care/of’s test is nothing like that.

The multiple-choice format is extremely user-friendly, and the questions were surprisingly interesting, like “Do you live in a city or an industrial area?”, “How do you feel at the end of a stressful day?” and “Do you find that your lips get chapped year-round?” It’s fair to say these points left me thinking about what sort of vitamins I could be missing out on.

In addition to these direct questions, the test also inquired about some of my goals. I was able to select a few of my priorities, like improving my sleep, energy, and metabolism. I also shared a bit about my physical health — such as ranking how brittle my hair is and sharing some of the typical symptoms I experience during my menstrual cycle.

If you’re curious about the reasoning behind any of these questions, you can click the “Why we ask” button at the bottom of the screen. Transparency is a pillar of Care/of’s brand, and as someone who is providing them with personal health information, I can definitely appreciate that openness.

In addition to my own review — I was curious what the experts thought about Care/Of. So, I consulted holistic wellness coach and social media influencer Steph Robinson for some input on the brand.

“Having pursued holistic nutrition coaching in addition to three years of individualized client work, including formal employment at a wellness clinic in Toronto, my primary areas of focus revolve around gut health, inflammation, and acne,” shared Robinson.

The expert had lots of good things to say about Care/of, with her primary focus being on the quality of the vitamins. “I truly appreciate that Care/of offers single-form supplements made up of one ingredient,” explained Robinson. “This presents a clearer pathway to address specific deficiencies compared to multivitamins with multiple ingredients.”

She also emphasized that the questionnaire is an incredible tool for customers who may not be aware of their nutritional gaps. “The quiz is also beneficial as it helps analyze what your symptoms might indicate about any deficiencies you may have,” she added.

Of course, Care/of’s recommendations do not replace the instructions provided by a medical expert. Robinson shared that Care/of is not a cure-all for your deeper health issues: “Utilizing a symptom-based online quiz is not always accurate. Symptoms can often indicate various issues, and may not address the root cause of what you are experiencing.”

After my questionnaire was complete, the website directed me to my monthly subscription recommendations. I was thoroughly impressed with all of the suggestions — such as a multivitamin with iron for people who menstruate, a probiotic blend to support digestion, and Rhodiola, an adaptogenic herb for stress. I was even able to select some add-ons to try out — like maca powder for increased energy and mood.

The results seemed to align perfectly with my health needs and interests. Unsurprisingly, other Care/of customers have seemed to agree. Over 98% of customers say Care/of vitamins and supplements work, 95% take these vitamins more consistently than other brands and 97% say they built healthier habits by using the Care/of app. With so many people in agreement, I hit order.

The order arrived at my doorstep within a week. The packaging was superb. The daily packs are organized in a small box with a dispenser at the front for easy access. I love that there are no lids: it truly eases my mind that there is nothing that can be left unopened or spilled, especially with a baby and dog in the house. Another sweet touch — each daily vitamin pack has a different quote on it — something small to leave you with a smile and make the vitamin-taking experience a bit more enjoyable.

I’ve been taking my Care/of vitamins now for the last few weeks and have had no negative side effects. With previous multivitamins, I’ve experienced some slight stomach cramping or nausea. With my Care/of combination, I feel like my best self. They’re easy on the stomach and I’ve already noticed my nails getting a bit stronger, and less hair coming out in the shower. I’m excited to stick with this routine and see my progress, especially with regards to the maca powder for increased energy (I’ve been attempting to swap my coffee for maca smoothies, per the brand’s recommendations.)

The bottom line: Care/of has provided me with a lot of relief. Gone are the days of searching the drugstore aisle for a bottle of vitamins that I might forget to take altogether. Care/of’s monthly subscription provides just the right dose and it’s delivered right to your door (optimal for those with a busy lifestyle.) Plus, if you’re unsatisfied for any reason you can easily cancel your subscription or just buy one-off products. I highly recommend Care/of to anyone who has struggled with their vitamin intake; the quiz is simple, the subscription is convenient, and the vitamins are formulated from high-quality ingredients. That checks all the boxes for me.

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