This Multivitamin Helps Keep Me Blemish-Free (For The Most Part)*
The notion that blemishes are a problem isolated to your teen years is seriously misguided. Despite my efforts of protestation (aka trying many topical treatments), hormonal fluctuations have made keeping my skin clear a struggle that followed me into my 30s.
And even after I found a solid skin care routine, I came to expect some changes in my skin appearance around my period. Only one rather unsuspecting product has made a noticeably positive shift from my norm: mindbodygreen's ultimate multivitamin+.
What is ultimate multivitamin+?
I started this supplement primarily to round out my already (pretty balanced) diet. And with my busy schedule, I picked something that could check a lot of the boxes in one swoop.
I was impressed that ultimate multivitamin+ contained a total of 33 ingredients (vitamins, minerals, and botanical extracts) in just two capsules—putting my previous so-called multivitamin containing only nine nutrients to shame.
I also appreciated the complete B complex, as that's one area I thought my diet may be lacking in.
But I was still quite hopeful that this multi would also help with my skin. When I was placing my order for it, I saw the phrase "includes essential vitamins and minerals to promote beautiful hair, skin, and nails."* To further dissect what that means, I went directly to our science team.
How does a multivitamin help with skin?
They pointed me to a slew of studies linking diet quality1 and certain nutrients2 to improved skin aging, elasticity, hydration, and structure:
- Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene can help ward off oxidative damage, which derails skin health and may accelerate signs of aging3.*
- Vitamin C is required for the body's production of collagen4.*
- The mineral silica also plays a role in collagen production and skin strength and elasticity.*
- Higher vitamin D levels (measured via a blood test) are linked to clearer skin5.*
While I do eat a diverse, plant-forward diet, I suspected I likely wasn't getting enough of these nutrients to:
- Meet the daily recommended amount
- See a positive change in my skin
After a few months, here's what I noticed
After several months of taking ultimate multivitamin+, I do believe it helps keep my skin looking its best (especially around my period).*
I've also noticed changes in my energy levels. Getting enough of all the B vitamins supports cellular energy, and I feel more awake in the morning and even ready to tackle a workout at the end of the day.*
Most importantly, I feel assured that I'm doing something good for my body and my health when I prioritize this supplement.*
I take it about five days a week at lunch (seven would be ideal, but life can get in the way). And on weeks I'm less consistent with it, I definitely notice a difference.
The takeaway
Hormonal skin struggles are unfortunately a common occurrence for many women (myself included). ultimate multivitamin+ has been a great addition to my daily skin care regimen.
While no supplement is scientifically guaranteed to keep your skin clear, a multivitamin can help fill nutrient gaps and optimize your intake of certain nutrients that are linked to skin health.*
