Scrolling through social media, it‘s hard to miss the colorful, playfully-packaged vitamins and supplements from Olly. This wellness brand has quickly become an influencer favorite, popping up in countless flat lays and morning routine posts. But strip away the cute branding and celebrity endorsements, and you have to wonder: are Olly vitamins actually worth taking?
As a registered dietitian and supplement researcher, I dug into the science behind Olly to find out. In this in-depth review, I‘ll share my objective take on Olly‘s products, ingredients, benefits, and safety. My goal is to equip you with the information you need to decide whether Olly deserves a spot in your wellness routine. Let‘s dive in!
What Is Olly?
First, a little background on the brand. Olly was founded in 2013 by Eric Ryan, who previously co-founded the cleaning products company Method. His mission with Olly was to make taking your vitamins a more fun, delightful experience.
The brand‘s product line includes gummy vitamins, softgels, and powders targeting different health needs like sleep, stress, immunity, beauty, and kids‘ wellness. Olly has a strong focus on clean, natural ingredients and transparency around sourcing and manufacturing.
One thing that sets Olly apart is its commitment to being a "double bottom line" company. They are a certified B-Corp, which means they meet high standards for social and environmental responsibility. With every purchase, Olly makes a donation to non-profit partners like the Gritty, which provides free tutoring to kids.
Olly Vitamins Ingredients
Before we get into specific products, let‘s take a closer look at some of the key ingredients Olly uses in its various vitamins and supplements:
Omega-3 DHA
Found in Olly‘s prenatal vitamin, omega-3 DHA is an essential fatty acid that supports fetal brain and eye development. It may also benefit the pregnant mother by reducing the risk of preterm birth and easing postpartum depression symptoms.
Folic Acid
Another important prenatal nutrient in Olly‘s blend, folic acid is critical for the proper development of the fetal neural tube (which becomes the brain and spinal cord). Adequate folic acid intake reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
Vitamin D
Known as the "sunshine vitamin," vitamin D plays a key role in bone health, immune function, and regulating mood. It‘s a common ingredient in Olly multivitamins. Some studies suggest vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of certain cancers, autoimmune diseases, and depression.
Melatonin, L-Theanine, and Botanicals
Olly‘s sleep supplements contain melatonin, a hormone that regulates circadian rhythm, and L-theanine, an amino acid that may promote relaxation. They also include botanical extracts like chamomile, lemon balm, and passionflower traditionally used for their calming properties.
Keratin and Biotin
These beauty-focused ingredients show up in Olly‘s hair, skin and nail formulas. Keratin is a protein that provides structure to hair and nails. Biotin is a B vitamin necessary for keratin production. Biotin deficiency can lead to hair loss and brittle nails.
Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen
Olly‘s skin-specific blends feature these two anti-aging powerhouses. Hyaluronic acid attracts moisture to the skin, helping to plump fine lines and restore volume. Collagen provides structure to skin and levels naturally decline with age. Some studies show collagen supplements can improve skin elasticity.
Of course, these are just highlights from Olly‘s extensive ingredient lineup. Later, I‘ll share more science-backed details on the benefits and supporting research for specific Olly products.
Olly Vitamins Benefits
So what exactly does Olly claim its vitamins can do? Here‘s a rundown of some of the brand‘s most popular supplements and their intended benefits:
Prenatal Multi
Supports healthy fetal development, with ingredients like omega-3 DHA, folate, and choline to nourish mom and baby. May reduce the risk of certain birth defects and support the baby‘s brain health.
Women‘s and Men‘s Multi
Provides essential daily nutrients for overall wellness, with blends tailored to the different needs of men and women. Ingredients support heart health, brain function, energy, bone strength, and immunity.
Restful Sleep
Promotes relaxation and more restful zzz‘s with a combination of melatonin, L-theanine, chamomile, and lemon balm. May help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling refreshed.
Goodbye Stress
Helps manage stress and boost mood with ingredients like GABA, L-theanine, and lemon balm. Also includes B vitamins to support a healthy nervous system.
Undeniable Beauty
Formulated to enhance skin, hair, and nail health with a blend of biotin, keratin, and vitamins C and E. Antioxidants provide protection from skin-damaging free radicals.
Immunity Sleep
Combines the sleep-supporting benefits of melatonin with immune-boosters like elderberry, vitamin C, and zinc. Designed to help you get the restorative rest your body needs to fight off illness.
These are just a handful of Olly‘s many targeted formulas. The brand also offers products for kids, energy, probiotic support, and more. But do these supplements deliver on their promises?
The Science Behind Olly Vitamins
Let‘s take a look at some of the research supporting the ingredients and claims for a few of Olly‘s most popular supplements. Keep in mind, most supplement studies look at individual ingredients rather than multi-ingredient blends like Olly‘s. It‘s an important distinction, as nutrients can interact with each other in ways that change how they function in the body.
For Olly‘s prenatal vitamin, the omega-3 DHA content is a big selling point. Multiple large reviews have found that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy can help to:
- Reduce the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight
- Support healthy brain and eye development in the baby
- Reduce the risk of maternal depression and allergies in the child
However, more research is needed to determine the optimal dose and ratio of omega-3s. The amount of DHA used can vary widely between prenatal supplements.
Moving on to Olly‘s sleep supplements, let‘s zero in on melatonin. This much-buzzed-about sleep ingredient has a fair amount of research behind it, but there are some caveats. A large meta-analysis from 2013 found that melatonin supplementation helped people fall asleep an average of 7 minutes faster. It also slightly improved total sleep time and sleep quality.
So while melatonin isn‘t a magic bullet for sleep issues, it could offer some benefits – especially for people with disrupted circadian rhythms, like shift workers and those with jet lag. Olly‘s blend also includes L-theanine, an amino acid that has been shown to have relaxation-promoting and stress-reducing effects when paired with GABA.
Finally, let‘s look at some of the beauty-focused ingredients in Olly supplements, like biotin and keratin. Biotin is often touted for its ability to strengthen hair and nails, but here‘s the catch: you‘d only expect to see those benefits if you‘re deficient in biotin, which is rare. One review found that biotin supplements improved nail thickness and reduced splitting in people with brittle nail syndrome. But for the average person with a balanced diet, extra biotin likely won‘t do much.
As for keratin, it‘s a little more promising. A 2018 review found that oral collagen peptides can measurably improve skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkling. Another study on women with thinning hair found that a supplement with solubilized keratin improved hair strength and thickness. But again, dosage matters and not all keratin supplements are created equal.
The takeaway? There is some scientific support behind many of Olly‘s ingredients, but it‘s important to have realistic expectations. No supplement is going to work miracles, and individual results will vary based on factors like age, diet, health status, and consistency of use. Think of supplements like Olly as a "boost" for wellness, not a cure-all.
Olly Vitamins Side Effects and Safety
This wouldn‘t be a thorough Olly review without touching on safety and potential side effects. The good news: Olly vitamins are generally safe for healthy adults when used as directed. The brand does third-party testing for purity and potency, and their products are free from artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners.
That said, any supplement can have risks and downsides. The most common side effect with Olly‘s gummy vitamins is digestive discomfort, likely due to the sugar alcohols used to sweeten them. If you‘re sensitive to sugar alcohols, you may want to opt for a non-gummy formula.
Certain Olly ingredients may interact with medications or have contraindications. For example, biotin can interfere with lab tests and cause falsely high or low results. Melatonin isn‘t recommended for people with autoimmune diseases, seizure disorders or depression. And supplemental omega-3s can increase bleeding risk, especially if taken with blood thinners.
Moral of the story? Always check with your doctor before starting a new supplement regimen, especially if you have underlying health conditions or take medications. They can alert you to any potential red flags.
Olly Vitamins Reviews and Customer Feedback
But enough of my perspective – what are real Olly customers saying? Combing through reviews on Amazon and the Olly site, here are some of the consistent themes:
On the positive side, many people appreciate the taste and texture of Olly‘s gummies. Even "picky" eaters find them palatable, which is a big plus if you usually struggle with swallowing pills. Olly‘s fun packaging and branding also get lots of love. Customers describe it as "cheerful," "cute," and "gift-worthy."
In terms of specific products, Olly‘s sleep supplements are a clear favorite. Numerous reviewers rave about how they‘ve helped with falling and staying asleep. The Goodbye Stress blend also gets high marks for feeling like a "natural chill pill" and helping to take the edge off anxiety.
Of course, no product pleases everyone. Some customers complain about the sugar content of the gummy vitamins, wishing Olly offered more sugar-free options. Others experienced side effects like nausea, headache, and vivid dreams with certain formulas. Again, it‘s a reminder that individual mileage may vary.
A few reviewers also quibble over the price of Olly supplements, which are pricier than some drugstore brands. However, most feel the cost is justified by the quality, taste and effectiveness. "You get what you pay for," sums up one fan.
Are Olly Vitamins Right For You?
So where does this leave us – should you give Olly a try? Ultimately, only you and your doctor can decide if a supplement is right for your needs. But if you‘re looking for a high-quality, tasty supplement free of sketchy fillers, Olly is a solid choice.
A few specific scenarios where Olly could be a good fit:
- You struggle with pill fatigue and want a chewable vitamin option
- You‘re looking for targeted supplements for concerns like stress or subpar sleep
- You appreciate brands that prioritize natural ingredients and social impact
- You‘re willing to invest a little more for a supplement you‘ll actually enjoy taking
On the flip side, reasons you might want to pass on Olly:
- You need an allergen-free or vegan supplement (some Olly products contain animal ingredients like gelatin and beeswax)
- You prefer unsweetened supplements or are closely watching your sugar intake
- Your doctor has recommended a specific vitamin/mineral formulation that Olly doesn‘t offer
- You‘re on a tight budget and can‘t justify the higher price point
My take? If Olly has a blend that aligns with your health goals and checks all your boxes – go for it! The fun packaging and yummy flavors can be great motivation to actually take your vitamins consistently. Just remember to still prioritize a nourishing diet and healthy lifestyle. No supplement is a substitute for self-care.
The Bottom Line on Olly
I hope this deep dive into all things Olly vitamins has been enlightening! To recap:
- Olly offers a range of targeted supplements for needs like stress, sleep, beauty and prenatal health
- The brand emphasizes clean, natural ingredients and partners with non-profit organizations
- Key nutrients in Olly blends include omega-3 DHA, melatonin, L-theanine, biotin, keratin and botanicals
- Studies support potential benefits of these ingredients, but more research is needed on optimal dosage and combinations
- Olly vitamins are generally safe but may interact with certain conditions and medications
- Taste and texture are a big selling point for Olly fans, but sugar content and cost are potential downsides
Personally, I think Olly can be a great companion for your wellness journey when used thoughtfully. But remember – a supplement is just one piece of the larger health puzzle. No gummy vitamin can out-perform the fundamentals of nourishing food, joyful movement, restful sleep and stress management. With the right mindset and a little sparkle from Olly, you‘re well on your way to your most vibrant self.
