Care/of Vitamins Review: Pro, Cons, and How It Works

How Care/of Works

If you currently take vitamins, you may be wondering if they’re the best choice for your individual health needs.

Care/of is a monthly subscription service that creates a personalized vitamin plan based on your answers to a health quiz.

They offer three different product categories — vitamins, quick sticks, and powders. You can also customize your subscription with additional ingredients called “boosts.”

I went through the process of taking the online health quiz myself, where it asked me specific questions to determine my subscription. It took less than 5 minutes to complete.

Here are some of the questions they asked:

• Current level of knowledge regarding supplements (informed, curious, or skeptical)
• Current list of supplements, if any
• Type of diet you follow
• Details on digestion, energy, mood, and sleep habits

Based on my answers, Care/of suggested taking three different supplements – B-vitamins, a probiotic, and collagen.

Once the recommendations are made, you can choose which products to purchase. You are then enrolled into a monthly subscription that auto-renews.

However, you do have the flexibility to cancel or pause your subscription at any time.

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Care/of Vitamins

Care/of is provides you with personalized vitamins based on your goals. It offers more personalization than buying individual supplements on your own.

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The supplements are then delivered straight to your door in individual daily packs for 30 days.

There is also a mobile Care/of app you can use as an added tool to track your supplement pack orders.

Overview of the Product Line

As mentioned previously, Care/of offers three different product categories: vitamin capsules, powders, and quick sticks. You can also customize your subscription with additional ingredients called “boosts.”

For each product description, the company provides details on the suggested use, ingredients, benefits and shares relevant research studies.

I appreciate the level of transparency that Care/of supplies, as this is important to help the consumer make an informed decision.

Vitamin Capsules

Care/of vitamin capsules include a variety of different vitamins and minerals intended to supplement the diet.

Depending on your needs, Care/of offers several options:

• Letter Vitamins: These are single nutrient vitamin capsules such as B-complex, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin D. These may be recommended if a deficiency in these particular vitamins is suspected based on your diet.
• Multivitamins: These capsules contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other natural ingredients to supplement daily needs. There are a few options, such as a general multivitamin, a multivitamin plus iron, or a prenatal multivitamin.
• Minerals: These capsules contain minerals that our bodies need to function at their best. Care/of offers several single nutrient minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc, and may be recommended if a deficiency is suspected.
• Herbs: These capsules are made from herbal plants thought to have medicinal properties. Examples include ginseng, ashwagandha, elderberry, and turmeric.
• Probiotics: These are capsules made from the strains of the “good” bacteria thought to help aid digestion. Care/of offers a probiotic “blend” called The Harmonious Gut, claimed to support gut health.
• Specialty: These are specialty capsules with various purported health benefits — adaptogenic mushrooms, astaxanthin, keratin, and fish oil. An adaptogen is an ingredient that may lower the stress response.

Powders

Care/of also makes powdered protein supplements intended to provide various health benefits. There are two specific powders they offer — collagen and protein.

The instructions for use are to mix two scoops in 8–10 ounces of hot or cold liquid daily.

Collagen Powder:

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is responsible for our skin’s elasticity and structure. It also may support joint health.

Care/of collagen comes in a hydrolyzed powder form, which is easier for the body to digest and absorb.

They offer an unflavored version and lemon passion fruit, matcha, and vanilla oat creamer flavors that you can mix with your favorite beverage.

Protein Powder:

Protein is an essential nutrient for a healthy diet that many people don’t always get enough of.

Care/of has several complete protein powder options, including dairy-based whey and plant-based protein varieties.

Their protein powder comes in vanilla and chocolate flavors.

Quick Sticks

Care/of also makes “quick stick” powders, or what they call “extras.” These are more targeted nutrients intended to support specific health concerns, such as stress, fatigue, or poor sleep.

They are considered something extra to complement other core vitamin and mineral supplements you may be taking.

The instructions for use are to empty the contents of the quick stick directly into your mouth and let it dissolve for a few seconds. Therefore, you do not need to mix it in with any liquid.

There are four options for quick sticks.

• Dream Team: These quick sticks are claimed to provide on-the-go sleep support. Its main ingredient is melatonin, which may help support a healthy slumber. (1)
• Extra Batteries: This quick stick is intended to supply on-the-go energy support. It contains a mix of vitamin B12, citicoline, and caffeine claimed to provide energy, focus, and improved attention span. It is orange flavored. (2)
• Gut Check: This quick stick contains specific probiotics which may aid in digestion. It has a probiotic blend of 2 bacterial strains – Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis B1C1 B). It is blueberry flavored.
• Pocket Protector: This quick stick contains probiotics intended to improve immunity. It has a probiotic blend of 2 strains — Lactobacillus rhamnosus SP1 and Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04. It is red berry flavored.

Boosts

The Care/of product line also has “boosts” as add-ons intended to provide additional health benefits.

They are in powder form and can be mixed in with 8–10 ounces of a cold beverage on its own, mixed with protein, collagen, or smoothies.

Care/of makes four different boost options, all with exciting nicknames.

Superberry:

Otherwise known as “The Antioxidant Ace,” this boost product is made from 11 superfruits such as acerola cherry, acai, and goji berry.

It claims that it can help stimulate collagen production and healthy immune function.

Its recommended use is to mix two teaspoons in 8–10 ounces of cold water, protein water, or smoothies.

Creatine:

Also called “The Muscle Maker,” this product contains creatine solely. Creatine is an amino acid said to help you build energy and enhance physical performance.

It comes in single-serving packets, which can be mixed with 8–10 ounces of protein in water, or in water alone.

Electrolytes:

Also called “The Comeback Kid,” this boost contains a mix of electrolytes, antioxidants like vitamin C, and minerals intended to support hydration and act as a hangover cure.

It comes in single-serving packets that are mixed with 8 ounces of water or a protein shake. On its own, it is said to taste like coconut water.

Maca:

Also known as “the energy root,” maca is an herb sourced from Peru known as an adaptogen. An adaptogen is an herb that may help you better deal with stressful situations.

It comes in single-serving packets that can be mixed with a protein drink, smoothie, water, or favorite hot beverage.

Quality of Ingredients

All Care/of products are produced in a GMP-certified facility (good manufacturing practices facility), ensuring high safety and quality standards.

However, they are not third-party tested, which ensures the ingredient label is accurate and reflects what is actually present in the product.

Without this designation, you cannot fully guarantee that the highest level of safety and quality standards are met.

Care/of is very transparent on their ingredients and their effectiveness. For example, they have an online library that includes information on every ingredient in their products, their possible benefits, and any relevant research.

They include all research, not just studies that back their claims.

They assign a grade to each product based on the extent of the available research – from “limited research” to “very strong research.”

As a health professional, I appreciate this transparency, as it can be challenging to find a supplement company that offers this.

Quality of Personalized Supplement Recommendations

Professional Involvement

Care/of does have a scientific advisory board that was involved in creating the health quiz questions.

However, it is not clear if these health professionals are involved in creating the products themselves.

The company states that its products are vetted by “vitamin industry experts.” I’m not entirely sure what that means, as that could just be someone that has experience selling vitamin supplements.

That doesn’t guarantee that they are a qualified health professional with the scientific background required to create a safe and effective product.

Care/of does not employ Registered Dietitians or health professionals to be available for questions or provide guidance on the use of their products.

While the quiz is a good start to get an idea of what you may need, I would suggest that your medical provider evaluate your Care/of recommendations before starting.

How Recommendations Are Made

Supplement recommendations are made solely on your answers to an online quiz. The quizzes are created using AI-powered technology and knowledge from scientists and nutrition experts on Care/of’s scientific advisory board.

To create a personalized recommendation, the quiz asks questions about your current supplement regimen, medical history, and health goals.

While there is some personalization in doing this, it is not giving the complete picture of your health.

And while the type of products recommended is somewhat individualized, the dosages are not. This could mean that you are getting more than you need or not enough.

In addition, blood work is not obtained. Getting an entire vitamin panel gives you the complete picture of your vitamin levels and what you need to supplement.

Without this information, you are really getting just a best guess estimate of what you need.

So even though Care/of does try to offer personalization, it is not enough to be a stand-alone recommendation.

Only a medical professional would be able to suggest a particular dose based on your current lifestyle, medications, current supplements, and bloodwork.

Cost

The cost for Care/of can vary significantly based on your personalized recommendations.

Monthly subscriptions can start as low as $5 for a 30-day supply or upwards of $100–$200 if you have a lot of supplements to take.

You do have the ability to add or remove recommended products, which can alter the cost.

Care/of offers a 50% discount on your first order, which is an excellent incentive. Shipping is free on orders over $20.

Care/of products ship to all 50 states as well as verified addresses in Canada.

They also recently partnered with Target to offer some of their product lines at Target locations.

Using a subscription-based service like Care/of likely may save you money compared to buying each product individually.

How Care/of Compares to Alternatives

There are several other personalized supplement companies on the market – the brands most similar to Care/of are Persona, HUM, and Nurish by Nature Made.

Like Care/of, these companies all sell various products such as vitamins, proteins, herbs, probiotics, and specialty supplements.

They all also offer online quizzes just like Care/of as part of their screening process.

Persona’s quiz is the most comprehensive of them, as it also includes a section on potential medication-nutrient interactions.

This is a definite plus as some prescription medications can render nutrition supplements less effective or vice versa.

Compared to these brands, Care/of is very transparent with sharing the available research on their products, even if it is not always positive.

The most cost-effective brand of the four is Nurish by Nature Made.

Both Persona and HUM have a Registered Dietitian on staff for support if questions arise, while Nurish and Care/of do not. In my professional opinion, offering this type of support is a crucial feature to offer more personalization.

The only brand out of the four that is third-party tested is Nurish by Nature Made, which is USP-certified. This seal of approval helps provide added peace of mind that the products are held to the utmost quality and safety standards.

I would choose a subscription service that is either third-party certified or has health experts available to consult with if needed. Unfortunately, Care/of does not have either of these features.

With that said, I would suggest Nurish by Nature Made or Persona over Care/of for someone looking for that added peace of mind.

I would especially recommend Persona for someone with a more complicated medical history or who takes medications, as their quiz takes more of that into account.

However, Care/of may be a good choice for someone new to taking supplements, as their quizzes are brief and they have fewer options to choose from.

Frequently Asked Questions About Care/of

The Bottom Line

Care/of may be helpful for someone who wants to improve their health but is feeling overwhelmed by all of the supplement brands out there.

A vitamin subscription service, like Care/of, can help you focus more on taking just the supplements your body actually needs.

Signing up for a monthly subscription that automatically renews can also help you be more consistent with taking your vitamins. The most significant benefits of taking any supplement come from taking them consistently.

Even though personalized vitamins such as Care/of have their benefits and are incredibly convenient, they still do not take the place of professional guidance.

Always work with a doctor or registered dietitian who can provide a comprehensive assessment of your health needs.

Shop Care/of

Care/of Vitamins

Care/of is provides you with personalized vitamins based on your goals. It offers more personalization than buying individual supplements on your own.

Free Shipping on Orders $20+

50% Off Your First Order

Shop Now