Our Flo Vitamins Review

Our Ratings Breakdown

TL;DR
1. Flo is the world’s first PMS relief gummy. We tried it and we felt less cramps, less bloating and less acne breakouts! 🥰🥰🥰
2. Four active ingredients including dong quai, chaste berry, lemon balm, and vitamin B6, which help to relieve PMS symptoms
3. Raving reviews from 5,259 customers, 4.2 out of 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4. Featured in Bloomberg, Forbes, Huffington Post, Brit + Co and more!
5. Donates 5% of profits to The Brigid Alliance and Bloody Good Period, to support women’s access to abortion and fight period poverty 😍

Gettin the Flo’ on the road 

Anyone who takes on PMS the way Flo does honestly deserves a medal, so who exactly are the heroes (or heroines) behind this grand endeavor and what led them here?

The journey started relatively recently, with Flo having been founded in December 2018. But the relatively brief history of the brand has in no way dampened its ambitious goals to create a positive impact on the lives of millions of women, and its products have already created a huge wave in the dietary supplement market. 🚀 🚀 🚀

It almost seems fitting that such a wholesome brand was founded by a brother-sister duo: Brianna and Bobby Britton. Brianna drew from her own struggles with PMS and devised a clever solution to a problem that ails 90% of people who menstruate¹Grandi G, Ferrari S, Xholli A, Cannoletta M, Palma F, Romani C, Volpe A, Cagnacci A. Prevalence of menstrual pain in young women: what is dysmenorrhea? J Pain Res. 2012, while Bobby was inspired by the powerful women in his life to give life to his sister’s visions.

And this vision is made distinctly clear on Flo website. In defining “Who We Are”, the brand identifies itself as follows: “We make PMS gummy vitamins so everyone can feel their best, no matter what the time of the month”. Can we get a hallelujah? 🙌

The brand also outlines the 3 pillars of its philosophy as follows:

1. To empower women
2. To take a proactive, instead of reactive, approach to health
3. To use research-backed, real-deal ingredients (instead of what they call “pseudo-science”)

It’s plain as day that Flo has put tons of thought into creating a product and a brand that its consumers can trust, and the results speak for themselves. Since its launch in end-2018, Flo has garnered an impressive collection of 5-star customer testimonials on its websites, with happy customers reporting a significant decrease in PMS symptoms like menstrual cramps, hormonal acne, ovulation pains, bloating and mood swings. Crazy, I know. 🤯 🤯 🤯

If Flo set out to positively impact the cycles of throngs of women, we’d say they’ve done just that. 👏

Why you should trust us

Our team has spent over 15 hours extensively testing and researching the best wellness products, including Flo vitamins. Our goal is to find the best brands who care about your well-being and help people live better lives. We evaluate supplements based on their adherence to quality, and their latest medical evidence.

We often ask ourselves a simple question: would we buy the product for ourselves and recommend it to our family and friends? This Flo vitamins review is medically reviewed and thoroughly vetted by Amy Bells, our in-house dietian nutritionist, wellness expert and product tester herself!

How we tested Flo vitamins

Period cramps are some of the most common side effects to menstruation, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less annoying when they start up each month. 😖

I get particularly bad PMS symptoms, especially after having my baby in July. Bloating, migraines, mood swings, menstrual cramps – you name it, I get it. And I know countless other wonderful women who are in the same boat as me. 😓

So, when I heard about a potential fix for all of this pain, I was eager to test it out. 

When I first got my pack of 60 Flo PMS gummy vitamins, I was about 10 days into my cycle. That meant that I had about 18 days to build up a defense through these gummies before my period symptoms started to creep in and take over my life for the next three days. 💪

Taking my first gummy, the taste was overpowering in my mouth. It tasted like a sugary donut 🍩, and instantly made me crave more. The flavor wasn’t too sweet, though, which was appreciated. Considering I was going to be taking the gummies in the morning, I didn’t want anything too sickly sweet. 

I actually found that these Flo gummies work well in curbing sugar cravings throughout the day, which was a nice plus. 

Once the dreaded PMS cycle was drawing to a close, I already dreaded the symptoms. Somehow the gummies wouldn’t have worked at all, or even made them worse… 

But I was pleasantly surprised – I felt more at peace, less bloated with fewer bouts of severe menstrual cramps. My hormonal acne didn’t come on as much as it usually does, and I wasn’t biting everyone’s head off as I normally would. 🥳🥳

Considering the gummies are only supposed to come into effect after two full cycles, I couldn’t believe the improvement! 🤩

Now I am three months into my Flo gummies journey and I am feeling physically lighter. I am not worried about the PMS symptoms rearing their ugly heads now, and I feel confident to tackle any mild symptoms head on. 

I took progress pictures of my hormonal acne and bloating throughout the three months during my period, and I saw an amazing change. 😎 My skin looks less angry and red, and during the time between periods it is less textured! 

I’m happy to say my Flo vitamins review also has less bloating and less mood swings. I finally feel like I don’t have to shut myself away for a week every month, and I can wear what makes me feel good again.

The vitamins in Flo 

But what exactly goes into these bite-sized wonders that have made all the difference? After all, if what they’re selling is nutrition, then the nutritional content of these supplements ought to take centre-stage in the determination of whether they’re a good purchase.

Lucky for us, Flo vitamins is packed full of highly effective ingredients which have been formulated specifically to ease PMS symptoms.

Active ingredients

Dong Quai

Also known as the “Female Ginseng” or the Angelica Sinensis, this herb is native to China, Japan and Korea, and has been famous for relieving some of the abdominal-located symptoms²Page, R. and Lawrence, J., 2012. Potentiation of Warfarin by Dong Quai. Pharmacotherapy, 19(7), pp.870-876. of PMS. Think bloating, and of course the horrific menstrual cramps. #yikes 😣😣😣

The herb contains high levels of ferulic acid, which is an anti-inflammatory agent (which also contains antispasmodic properties!) Simply put, this helps to relax the uterine walls and soothe internal inflammation which is often the cause of bloating. It also helps prevent muscle spasms, which results in cramps and other discomfort. Peace, at last 😍

Chaste Berry

This tropical flowering plant was added into the formulation specifically as a hormone-balancing ingredient, which targets some of the hormonal-driven symptoms which can truly slow one down. I’m talking about hormonal acne, breast tenderness and migraines. 

Thankfully, research has shown that the chaste berry³Roemheld-Hamm, B. Chasteberry, Am Fam Physician. 2005;72(5):821-824 can help reduce the amount of prolactin produced by the body, in turn regulating estrogen and progesterone levels so as to bring hormonal imbalances back under control. Given its powerful effect, it’s no wonder that this was added into the ingredient list.

Lemon Balm

This herb has been used in a medicinal capacity for generations, but given the recent advances in scientific research, the full potential of lemon balm for improving wellness has only recently been uncovered.

In particular, lemon balm has proven effective at reducing the intensity of menstrual cramps⁴Mirabi P, Alamolhoda SH, Yazdkhasti M, Mojab F. The Effects of Lemon balm on Menstrual Bleeding and the Systemic Manifestation of Dysmenorrhea. Iran J Pharm Res. 2018, as well as other digestive symptoms related to the monthly cycle. It’s pretty safe to say that diarrhea or constipation can set one back for hours (or even days) on end, so any solution is welcome.

To make things even better, lemon balm has also shown to have had an encouraging impact on improving mood and mental function. We love how Flo has ventured into improving not just our physical state, but also our mental stimulation, during the monthly cycle! 💛 💛 💛

Vitamin B6

Although Vitamin B6 is no stranger to daily nutrition, it comes to the fore as an essential vitamin during menstruation. In fact, Vitamin B6 may very well be the most important ingredient⁵Wyatt KM, Dimmock PW, Jones PW, Shaughn O’Brien PM. Efficacy of vitamin B-6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: systematic review. BMJ. 1999 in Flo, what with producing a noticeable improvement across a whole host of different PMS symptoms.

One particularly encouraging study gave 50% of its participants a Vitamin B6 supplement, while giving the other 50% a placebo. The Vitamin B6 group actually reported improvements across a spectrum of PMS symptoms, ranging from reduced mood swings to minimized food cravings, as well as reductions in bloating and breast tenderness.

If you’re looking for a component that produces results, Vitamin B6 is here for you. 💯

Inactive ingredients

Aside from the 4 key active ingredients, Flo contain a range of other ingredients. However, a close examination of inactive ingredients in any supplement is a key evaluation, as supplements may sometimes contain harmful (or less than ideal) fillers.

We also love how the inactive ingredients incorporated into Flo aren’t artificially manufactured, but are instead naturally sourced. These include the following:

• Water
• Organic tapioca syrup
• Raw cane sugar
• Citric Acid
• Vegetable Juice
• Sodium Citrate

(and more – full list available here!)

Many of these inactive ingredients are pretty harmless, and may actually serve secondary functions (eg: citric acid has been demonstrated to kill harmful bacteria⁶Burel C, Kala A, Purevdorj-Gage L. Impact of pH on citric acid antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2021 and reduce acid content in urine). However, we’d recommend nevertheless running this ingredients list past your primary care practitioner especially if you face high blood pressure or digestive issues, as the consumption of citric acid and sodium citrate has on occasion proven to be discouraged for those suffering with such illnesses.

In addition, the active ingredient titanium dioxide⁷Baranowska-Wójcik, E., Szwajgier, D., Oleszczuk, P. et al. Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Exposure on Human Health—a Review. Biol Trace Elem Res 193, 118–129 (2020)., which only presents itself in very small amounts in this supplement, is something of a controversial ingredient, so it may be useful to do some personal research before investing in the product. 🙂

As with any dietary supplement, we highly recommend speaking with your primary care practitioner before starting consumption, just to make sure the supplement works for you. 👌👌👌

It’s also worth mentioning that all the active and inactive ingredients are vegan-friendly, which also gives rise to the Flo’s 100% vegan status. 🥳

The capsule option

For those that aren’t hard-up on having the supplement in gummy form, the brand also offers a capsule version that has an even cleaner combination of ingredients. The capsule version doesn’t contain any sugar or flavorings that may present themselves in the gummy version.

For those looking to eliminate sugar from their diet, this may be a perfect alternative. 😉

Getting into the Flo’ of things

As with most supplement products, you get the best value (and health benefits) by continued consumption. The brand offers its gummies at $24.99/month through a subscription model with free shipping!

It’s also worth noting that the brand offers a relatively fuss-free experience, allowing customers to cancel a subscription easily on their website if the product turns out to not meet their needs.

Even better, they also offer a happiness guarantee, allowing customers to try the supplements “risk-free” for 2 months. So if you’re sitting on the fence, this little guarantee may just give you the courage to take a chance on Flo!

Flo’s other offerings

We also thought to highlight that in addition to Flo’s flagship product, they now offer a few new supplements, each bringing their own unique health benefits:

Flo Biotics – probiotic soft chews

The brand has come up with Flo Biotics, probiotic soft chews (which they lovingly describe as “summer berry chews”), packed with 5 billion CFUs of probiotic and 2g of fiber. These help with:

• Supporting digestive health
• Promoting healthy gut flora
• Relieving abdominal pain
• Relieving occasional constipation

These are to be consumed once a day, and feature a clean list of ingredients. The Flo Biotics are vegan-friendly, gluten free, non-GMO and cruelty free.

GOGO – prebiotic fiber gummy

The brand has also introduced GOGO, a prebiotic fiber gummy aimed at helping you to “feel lighter”. Derived from chicory root⁸Nishimura M, Ohkawara T, Kanayama T, Kitagawa K, Nishimura H, Nishihira J. Effects of the extract from roasted chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) root containing inulin-type fructans on blood glucose, lipid metabolism, and fecal properties. J Tradit Complement Med. 2015 (a source of prebiotic fiber), this gummy is aimed at:

• Weight management
• Healthy digestion
• Good gut bacteria
• Bowel regularity

We love their witty tagline: “Your #1 support for going #2”. 😅

More importantly, the orange sorbet flavored gummies are formulated with premium, plant-based ingredients to help keep you regular and support digestive health. Each daily dose is packed with more fiber than 2 bags of spinach, so if you’re not a fan of greens, this may well be a welcomed alternative. 😂

RETRO – glowing skin gummy vitamin

In addition to the gut health supplements above, the brand has also introduced RETRO, a glowing skin gummy vitamin for that ever-radiant sun kissed glow. 🌞 🌞 🌞

This supplement is described to be a daily skin gummy with clinically-studied antioxidants and a juicy peach taste. Sounds yummy already. 😝

More importantly, the gummies are packed with clinically-proven ingredients that support the production of collagen, which in turn have been shown to help reduce signs of aging and improve skin texture. 

GTFO – immunity gummy vitamin

Finally, the brand offers GTFO, an immunity gummmy vitamin featuring a delicious, essential daily supplement with an all-natural berry lemonade taste. Delicious. 😋

If you’re wondering what its delightful name was inspired by, just know it was a response to “gross fizzy immunity drinks”, which I’m sure we’re all too familiar with. 🤢

This berry citrus gummy is formulated with elderberry, zinc and vitamin C, all aimed at promoting immunity, strengthening the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response and supporting the body’s defenses.

Comparison: Flo vs. Hum Moody Bird

Hum is another brand that offers PMS gummies called Moody Bird. These vitamins have two ingredients that dull period symptoms – chaste berry and dong quai. Flo also includes these ingredients as well as two others to further help the symptoms.

Both of these vitamins have been proven to work after a few months of continued usage, according to their customer reviews. 🤩

Flo and Hum also offer a subscription service for you to take advantage of, which will allow you to forget about reordering the gummies and have them conveniently turn up when you need them again.

Hum’s PMS solution is in the form of a capsule, while Flo offers both a gummy and capsule!

Both of these vitamins are similar, but perhaps the deciding factor between them is the fact that Flo PMS gummy vitamins are only $25 a bottle while Hum’s capsules are $40. 😳

Overall, we consider Flo vitamins to be the best option considering the two additional ingredients in each serving and the impressive price drop.

What other customers are saying

In general, the reception for Flo has been overwhelmingly positive – and no surprise there, since it’s meeting a deep need in the community!

The brand’s website is inundated with 5-star customer ratings, and features an average of 4.3 stars across 3,485 ratings. Many customers have praised the product for helping to effect real improvements in physical and mental health, with one customer commenting on how the supplements have “smoothed out” their moods and “her hormonal acne has gone away”. Another customer even remarked that her key PMS symptoms, bloating has since resolved, and she now experiences “no bloating whatsoever.” 🙌

That said, there are the minority of customers who are also less convinced that the supplement has produced noticeable improvements, with some going as far as to report that the gummies “did nothing” to alleviate symptoms. It’s important to remember that our bodies all respond differently to supplements, so the best way to know if it works for you is to give it a shot. After all, with the brand’s happiness guarantee, there’s not much to lose. 🤷‍♀️🤷🤷‍♂️

Our final verdict

In our Flo vitamins review, we love what the brand’s set out to do (and achieved) in such a short period of time. They’ve essentially tackled some of the most dreaded ailments and taboo topics with a light-hearted and yummy intervention, and isn’t that the positivity we need in our lives? 😎

If you suffer from any PMS symptoms during your cycle (or simply need a boost to your immunity, skin health or gut health), look no further than Flo’s offering! You can rest assured that you’re investing in scientifically-backed, affordable and fuss free products, all made with natural and healthy ingredients. Just make sure you run it past your doctor and you’re good to go 👍

Flo vitamins discounts

Flo is currently offering 20% off your first bottle when you use the discount code TRYFLO on checkout.

Frequently asked questions

The brand has helpfully featured some of their FAQs on their website, many of which we found to be pretty good questions worth reproducing:

What is the recommended dosage for Flo?

The recommended dosage is twice a day. If you miss a dose, don’t panic – just resume your next dose as soon as possible. Customers are advised against exceeding the recommended daily dosage.

Are there any side effects from taking Flo?

In short, it depends – while the majority of consumers will have absolutely no issues consuming Flo, there are potential risk factors for each consumer based on their personal health history.

The brand highly recommends that you consult your doctor before starting your first month on the supplement (and so do we!) A health practitioner would be best-placed to provide medical advice on whether you may be at risk for any side effects or medication interference from any of the ingredients in Flo PMS gummies.

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Sources

• 1
  Grandi G, Ferrari S, Xholli A, Cannoletta M, Palma F, Romani C, Volpe A, Cagnacci A. Prevalence of menstrual pain in young women: what is dysmenorrhea? J Pain Res. 2012
• 2
  Page, R. and Lawrence, J., 2012. Potentiation of Warfarin by Dong Quai. Pharmacotherapy, 19(7), pp.870-876.
• 3
  Roemheld-Hamm, B. Chasteberry, Am Fam Physician. 2005;72(5):821-824
• 4
  Mirabi P, Alamolhoda SH, Yazdkhasti M, Mojab F. The Effects of Lemon balm on Menstrual Bleeding and the Systemic Manifestation of Dysmenorrhea. Iran J Pharm Res. 2018
• 5
  Wyatt KM, Dimmock PW, Jones PW, Shaughn O’Brien PM. Efficacy of vitamin B-6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: systematic review. BMJ. 1999
• 6
  Burel C, Kala A, Purevdorj-Gage L. Impact of pH on citric acid antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2021
• 7
  Baranowska-Wójcik, E., Szwajgier, D., Oleszczuk, P. et al. Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Exposure on Human Health—a Review. Biol Trace Elem Res 193, 118–129 (2020).
• 8
  Nishimura M, Ohkawara T, Kanayama T, Kitagawa K, Nishimura H, Nishihira J. Effects of the extract from roasted chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) root containing inulin-type fructans on blood glucose, lipid metabolism, and fecal properties. J Tradit Complement Med. 2015