Total Shape is a reader-supported site. Purchases made through links may earn a commission. Learn more.

9 Best Multivitamins For Women (2023) That Actually Work 

Supplements Considered 26
Supplements
Considered
Hours of Research 78
Hours
of Research
Reviews Examined 75
Reviews
Examined
Experts Interviewed 15
Experts
Interviewed
Tracy Thompson
Published by Tracy Thompson | Senior Coach
Last updated: September 18, 2023
We personally test every product featured in our reviews and guides. By ordering products anonymously and getting a group of independent testers, we are able to get first-hand experience and provide data-driven recommendations. Learn more.

What Is the Best Time to Take Gluten-Free Multivitamins?Do You Need to Take a Multivitamin Every Day for It to Be Effective?

It always surprises me how many people just reach for the cheapest multivitamins in a supermarket, sometimes not even looking at the label. The main concerns I have with that is those products are usually full of artificial ingredients and sweeteners.

And more importantly, they are not designed for the different needs of women and men.

The dietary guidelines for each are quite different when it comes to essential nutrients, so why wouldn’t you want to take a product that is specifically designed for your needs?

Over the years, I’ve worked a lot with dieticians on all sorts of women's multivitamins and health supplements and lucky for you, I’m happy to share all that research.

On the list below, you will find out the best multivitamins for women, based on my research and the feedback from dieticians.

Editor's Choice
Ritual Multivitamin supplement product
Ritual
Ingredients
5.0
Effectiveness
5.0
Price
5.0
Overall Score 5.0
5.0
Click For Best Price
#2nd Best Choice
Performance Lab NutriGenesis® Multi supplement product
Performance Lab
Ingredients
5.0
Effectiveness
4.9
Price
4.9
Overall Score 4.9
4.9
Click For Best Price
#3rd Best Choice
Garden Of Life Vitamin Code women’s multivitamin supplement product
Garden Of Life
Ingredients
4.8
Effectiveness
4.9
Price
4.8
Overall Score 4.8
4.8
Check Current Price

Our Top Multivitamins For Women's Health (September 2023)

1 - Ritual Multivitamin 18+ for Women (Editor's Choice)

Ritual Multivitamin supplement product
Ingredients
5.0
Effectiveness
5.0
Price
5.0
Overall Score 5.0
5.0

I've tried many other multivitamins for women, but I always keep repurchasing this one from Ritual.

This supplement contains critical vitamins and minerals that women need to improve overall health, including vitamin D, magnesium, and Omega-3 DHA.

It has benefits for brain and bone health and aids in blood-building. It also has vitamin E, which provides immune-boosting antioxidant support to fight free radicals and keep you looking and feeling young.

This vegan-friendly product comes in delayed-release capsules, so it's gentle on the stomach even when taken without food.

Pros
  • Supports brain, bone, and blood health due to vitamin D
  • Fights free radicals to combat signs of aging and boost immunity
  • Good for the hair, skin, and nails
  • Transparent label
Cons
  • Some reviewers said the pills have artificial flavors, similar to fish

2 - Performance Lab NutriGenesis® Multi

Performance Lab NutriGenesis® Multi supplement product
Ingredients
5.0
Effectiveness
4.9
Price
4.9
Overall Score 4.9
4.9

During all my research, I kept going back to Performance Lab.

First of all, I’ll admit that it’s my personal favorite for men, and I’ve been taking the multivitamin for women for quite a while. But it’s also the one product my dietician immediately recommended, without hesitation.

Beyond just the critical vitamins and minerals, it also boasts a long list of nutrients, including magnesium, calcium, and manganese.

All of these are vital for your heart and immune health, nervous system, bone density, as well as your skin and hair.

Pros
  • Vital vitamins and minerals for the heart, brain, and immune health, such as vitamin C and vitamin D
  • Claims to promote better hormonal balances and less stress
  • Made from whole food sources with no synthetic crap
  • Boosts digestive health
Cons
  • You need to take 4 capsules daily

Overall, I think this is quite likely one of the best multivitamins for women you can get right now. A daily dose of 4 capsules might sound like a lot, but it really helps to spread out the benefits throughout the day.

You can also lower the dose a little, as 4 will actually take you over the RDA. I think 2-3 capsules would be more than enough.

3 - Garden Of Life Vitamin Code Women’s Multivitamin

Garden Of Life Vitamin Code women’s multivitamin supplement product
Ingredients
4.8
Effectiveness
4.9
Price
4.8
Overall Score 4.8
4.8

I found this one as a recommendation in a Facebook group where I contribute with advice for female-specific exercises. A few women in the group said they specifically took this one because of the optimum blend of vitamins and minerals.

With the added calcium, magnesium, zinc, and folic acid, it is said to help with the reproductive system, i.e., it could help you get pregnant or prepare for pregnancy.

I also saw a lot of comments that it was the best multivitamin for active females because it seems to help with boosting energy levels.

Pros
  • Includes folic acid and other key nutrients to help the reproductive system
  • The all-natural blend helps to boost energy levels
  • Contains probiotics to improve your digestion
  • Practically all essential vitamins and minerals more than covered for daily needs
Cons
  • You need to take 4 Garden of Life Vitamin Code capsules daily

The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you’ll need a reminder to take the 4 pills daily.

You may also want to check out our article on the men's multivitamins, where we featured Garden of Life for men.

4 - Women’s Ultra Mega 50 Plus

Women’s Ultra Mega 50 Plus supplement product
Ingredients
4.6
Effectiveness
4.7
Price
4.8
Overall Score 4.7
4.7

The difficulty with recommending supplements for women is a bit different to men. See, we have different needs depending on the stage of life they are at.

That’s why I listed this product, which has a healthy formula specifically for women over 50, with an increased focus on minerals to support skin and hair health, as well as bone density which naturally declines with age and life stage.

And who wouldn't want to stay beautiful while aging?

Pros
  • Good range of antioxidants to support a detox phase
  • Scientifically formulated to support the needs of women over 50
  • Can help to improve bones
  • Includes vitamins that can help with the appearance of skin and hair
Cons
  • The pills are quite large to swallow

A lot of users also say they take it during a detox phase, because of the good selection of antioxidants. The only downside is that the third party-tested pills are too large to swallow.

5 - MegaFood Women’s One Daily

MegaFood Women’s One Daily supplement product
Ingredients
4.6
Effectiveness
4.7
Price
4.6
Overall Score 4.6
4.6

If you hate swallowing pills or constantly forget to take them multiple times a day, then you should consider this option, which quite a lot of women online have called the best one-a-day third party-tested multivitamin for us.

It’s considered helpful especially during your menstrual cycle as the added iron will help your body recover from the blood loss and give you a bit of an energy kick as well.

I also saw a lot of people say that they take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with no bloating or cramping. You can watch this video review to learn more about this multivitamin.

Pros
  • Contains folic acid
  • 9 mg of iron will help during menstrual cycles
  • Only one third party-tested tablet daily
  • Doesn’t have to be taken with food to avoid stomach upset
Cons
  • Could cover a few more key nutrients

Because of the extra iron, I would suggest maybe washing it down with orange juice to make absorption easier. It's good for overall health too.

It also contains folic acid which is specifically helpful for pregnant women to prevent birth defects like neural tube defects.

6 - Rainbow Light One For Women

Rainbow Light One For Women
Ingredients
4.4
Effectiveness
4.5
Price
4.6
Overall Score 4.5
4.5

This is another third party-tested multivitamin that has received a good share of positive reviews. I saw quite a lot of women in Facebook highlighting that it can help to lift brain fog and provide some more focus. In busy family life, the gym, or the boardroom, that’s an important factor to consider.

Aside from that, the added probiotics can help to improve your gut health. This can make you feel less bloated after eating but will also help you with weight loss goals.

And if you struggle to remember multiple pills throughout the day, then this single pill supplement is also a good option.

Pros
  • Good source of vital vitamins and minerals
  • Includes probiotics to make digestion more effective
  • Many reports of positive health impact on mental energy
  • Easy to digest pill taken once daily
Cons
  • Contains some synthetic nutrients

It’s not top of the list of the best multivitamins for women because it contains a few synthetic ingredients, but it’s still worth trying out.

7 - VitaCraves One A Day Multivitamin Gummies

VitaCraves One A Day multivitamin gummies product
Ingredient Quailty
4.5
Effectiveness
4.4
Price
4.6
Overall Score 4.5
4.5

I’ve covered third party-tested multivitamins for women over 50, so I decided to add a product for young women and teens as well. The nutritional needs for a still-developing body are very different, and the doses needed are also generally lower.

For younger girls, it can be a struggle to get them to swallow pills, so the fact that you take 1 gummy, twice daily is going to be positive for many parents.

I saw in quite a few reviews that parents said they noticed a positive effect on energy levels, especially later in the afternoon.

Pros
  • Many parents report higher energy levels in their kids
  • Helps with bone health and development
  • A lower dose of minerals to avoid stomach upset
  • Chewable gummies instead of pills
Cons
  • Doesn’t contain iron

Unfortunately, it doesn’t contain any iron, so it won’t be as effective to help teens during their period.

Related Article: Top multivitamins for kids

8 - Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women Daily Multivitamin

Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women daily multivitamin supplement product
Ingredient Quailty
4.5
Effectiveness
4.4
Price
4.2
Overall Score 4.4
4.4

The final third party-tested product on my list of best women's multivitamins is this one from Optimum Nutrition. It’s got a very long list of ingredients, but keep in mind that some of those are synthetic, which not everyone can digest as easily.

Many female friends I was chatting with in Facebook groups said they saw a significant improvement in the appearance of their skin, and that their hair and nails were growing much faster.

And the extra energy can help at the gym to achieve weight loss goals faster.

Pros
  • A long list of 40 active ingredients
  • Helps with healthy skin, hair, and nails
  • Quite a few reports of increased energy levels
  • Claims to support bone density and cellular health
Cons
  • Needs to be taken with food due to the high amount of iron
  • Contains some synthetic ingredients

Because of the high iron content, you need to take this multivitamin with food to avoid stomach upset. My dietician also recommended that starting with 1 one capsule a day is a good idea.

Related Articles:

9 - NUZEST Good Green Stuff

NUZEST Good Green Stuff supplement product
Ingredient Quailty
4.1
Effectiveness
4.4
Price
4.2
Overall Score 4.2
4.2

This multivitamin is not one of your standard daily dietary supplementation.

Actually, it’s not even a pill or capsule because it's in a powdered form using entirely natural ingredients with nothing artificial added, making it one of the best water-soluble vitamins.

Formulated with vitamins, minerals, and probiotics, it claims to create a healthy you by impacting your mental health, immune function, digestion, even your skin, and hair.

Pros
  • Soy, gluten, and dairy-free
  • Certified vegan multivitamin with only natural plant-based ingredients
  • All you need daily to support your heart, digestion, immune system, and brain
  • Delivered in powdered form to easily mix with water or a smoothie
Cons
  • The artificial flavors leave a bit to wish for

Now, I have to say that if you drink it just with water, then you might need to pinch your nose. But mixing it in with a morning smoothie is a good option.

While many dietary recommendations are beneficial to both men and women, women’s bodies have different needs when it comes to vitamins.
- Debra Rose Wilson, Holistic Healthcare Practitioner

What Are The Most Important Vitamins For Women?

According to my dietitian, these are the most important vitamins for women's health after some third-party testing:

  • Vitamin B12: Essential for red blood cell production during your period. (1)
  • Vitamin D: Important for calcium absorption to increase bone density.
  • Vitamin B1: Needed for fat metabolism and energy increase.
  • Vitamin B5: Vital for balanced hormone production. (2)

FAQs

Are Gluten-Free Multivitamins Good for Pregnant Women?

Yes, gluten-free multivitamins are good for pregnant women, but you must be mindful of the specific key nutrients and ingredients in the multivitamin. It is recommended to choose a high-quality prenatal vitamin rather than a regular multivitamin for women.

Generally, prenatal vitamins or dietary supplements that contain higher than usual amounts of folic acid, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, and B vitamins are recommended for pregnant women. Folic acid is equally important for those who want to become pregnant in the future.

You also want to avoid dietary supplements that contain GMO, allergens, artificial sweeteners, and synthetic ingredients, especially when you have dietary restrictions.

Are Gluten-Free Gummy Multivitamins Less Effective?

No, gluten-free gummy multivitamins aren't less effective than those in pill or capsule forms. However, some gluten-free gummy multivitamins for women contain high amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Make sure to choose a gummy multivitamin that contains a fair amount of sugar. It's best for diabetics and health-conscious consumers to stay away from gummies and just take a regular pill or capsule multivitamin.

What Is the Best Time to Take Gluten-Free Multivitamins?

There is no best or ideal time to take gluten-free multivitamins, but it is generally recommended to take it with meals.

Fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K need to be consumed with fat in order for the body to absorb them. Taking gluten-free multivitamins with meals can also decrease the chances of any stomach upset.

But most importantly, it's easier to remember to take gluten-free multivitamins if it's done during meals. People often take gluten-free multivitamins in the morning, either with breakfast or brunch.

Do You Need to Take a Multivitamin Every Day for It to Be Effective?

You don't need to take a multivitamin every day for it to be effective, as long as you consume a healthy and well-balanced diet and you are not diagnosed with nutritional gaps or deficiencies.

It might be necessary for people with nutritional deficiencies to take a multivitamin every day to prevent any serious health conditions. It's best to consult with a doctor for the ideal schedule and type of multivitamin needed for your deficiency to ensure that it can help in building a healthy immune system.

What's The Best Multivitamin For Women?

After all my research and conversations with nutrition experts, I would personally recommend Ritual's Multivitamin for Women. It's made with clinically-backed ingredients and has everything you need for optimum health.

With just two pills daily, you'll get to strengthen your immune function and see an improvement in the texture and appearance of your hair, skin, and nails.

Ritual also takes transparency very seriously. This multivitamin has undergone a series of third-party testing to certify its safety and quality, so you're assured that what the label says is accurate.

Our #1 Multivitamin For Women

Ritual Multivitamin 18+ for Women

Ritual Multivitamin supplement product
Ingredients
5.0
Effectiveness
5.0
Price
5.0
Overall Score 5.0
5.0
Pros
  • Supports brain, bone, and blood health due to vitamin D
  • Fights free radicals to combat signs of aging and boost immunity
  • Good for the hair, skin, and nails
  • Transparent label
  • Get the BEST PRICE until the end of September
Cons
  • Some reviewers said the pills have artificial flavors, similar to fish
Was this article helpful?
YesNo

About The Author

You May Also Like

Write a Reply or Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

X

TOTAL SHAPE ELITE FITNESS APP
LAUNCHES ON… OCTOBER 2nd, 2023

0Days
0Hours
0Minutes
0Seconds

Learn More