About Ritual 

Ritual is an online retailer of multivitamins for men and women of all ages. The Essential for Women Multivitamin bottle costs $30 per month and contains 60 capsules. (The Essential Prenatal costs $35.) Each capsule consists of nine, easy-to-pronounce ingredients. They’re also gluten-free and non-GMO.

Ritual recommends taking two capsules per day, either in the morning or the evening. 

In addition to multivitamins, Ritual also sells plant-based daily protein shakes. Essential Protein is available by the bag, and features a vanilla flavor. Each bag is $40. To save money, I’d recommend getting the multivitamin and protein shake bundle. (If you want to try both products, that is.) 

Ritual didn’t just choose its ingredients willy nilly. In fact, to show just how serious she was about incorporating “essential” ingredients in her products, Ritual founder Katerina Schneider enlisted a team of scientists to help her come up with the perfect formula. 

“I founded Ritual with the belief that better health begins with better ingredients,” writes Schneider. “With us, you’ll know where ingredients come from and why it’s there. Some call it obsessiveness, we call it traceability.”

Ritual pros 

The following list of pros reflects my personal experience with Ritual. 

• Ritual’s Essential for Women Multivitamin tastes great and smells good too. 
• The capsules are easy to swallow. 
• The capsule bottles are 100% recyclable. 
• There are only nine ingredients in each capsule, all of which are vegan-friendly. 
• The bottles are super chic. 
• Ritual’s Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+ tastes amazing! 
• The shake is easy to make, just pour a scoop of the powder into 8-12 ounces of water or your favorite liquid and shake. (I used a blender.) 
• The shake is filling. 
• Ritual encourages consumers to (as the name suggests) create a morning or a nighttime Ritual. 
• Ritual is backed by scientists. 

Ritual Cons 

The following list of cons reflects my personal experience with Ritual. 

• Ritual is a bit pricey. 
• No personalization is available on the site (i.e. quizzes).
• Ritual is only available in the US. 

Ritual Products and Pricing 

Ritual offers the following products on its website: 

• Essential for Women Multivitamin 18+, $30
• Essential for Women Multivitamin 50+, $35
• Essential for Women Prenatal Multivitamin, $35 
• Essential for Women Postnatal Multivitamin, $35 
• Essential for Men Multivitamin 18+, $30
• Essential for Men Multivitamin 50+, $35
• Essential for Teens Multivitamin for Him, $30 
• Essential for Teens Multivitamin for Her, $30
• Essential for Kids Multivitamin Kids 4+, $30
• Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+, $40
• Essential Protein Daily Shake 50+, $40
• Essential Protein Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum, $40

See this page for bundle pricing. 

Ingredients in Ritual Essential for Women Multivitamin 18+ 

Ritual’s Essential for Women Multivitamin 18+ is made of nine, easy-to-pronounce ingredients: 

• Folate 
• Vitamin B12 
• Iron 
• Boron 
• Magnesium 
• Omega-3 DHA
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin K2
• Vitamin E

Ingredients in Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+

Ritual’s Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+ is plant-based, sugar-free, and is made with simple ingredients: 

• Organic pea protein 
• Natural vanilla bean extract 
• Fermented sugarcane (combined with organic monk fruit) 
• L-Methionine 
• Choline 
• Organic coconut medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil
• Xanthan gum 
• Salt
• Sunflower lecithin**
• Mixed tocopherols

Are Ritual vitamins FDA approved?

No. This is because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve dietary supplements. Ritual does, however, ensure that its products are manufactured in accordance with the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs). 

Can Ritual vitamins be taken with prescription medication? 

Ritual vitamins contain Vitamin K. If you use a blood-thinning medication, such as Heparin or Warfarin, contact your doctor to see if Ritual vitamins will safely fit into your wellness routine. 

How should I take the vitamins? 

The Ritual website recommends taking two multivitamins together. There’s no time limit either. You can take them in the morning or the evening, it’s up to you! What’s more? Because they’re delayed-release capsules, you can take them on an empty stomach! (I can confirm that this is true!)

How do I use Essential Protein? 

Instead of stirring, Ritual recommends using a shaker bottle or blender. (I used a blender!) 

How often should I take Essential Protein? 

The Ritual website recommends drinking Essential Protein as a part of a balanced diet. Essential Protein is not a weight-loss supplement and shouldn’t be used as such. 

Can I take Essential Protein and my daily multivitamins together? 

Yes, Ritual recommends taking both your multivitamin and Essential Protein together. You can save $10 by purchasing a bundle. 

How long does it take for Ritual vitamins to work?

Each person is different, so if you don’t notice anything right away, that’s OK. According to the Ritual website, some people may feel a difference (happier mood and/or maintained energy) within one to two weeks, while others may not notice a positive change for months. Even so, the water-soluble nutrients (i.e. Fe mg, folate, B12, and boron) are supposed to start working almost immediately to support your heart, nerves, bone cells, and more. 

How and where should I store my vitamins? 

The Ritual website recommends storing your vitamins in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. The bathroom counter or kitchen pantry will do!

How big are the capsules? 

According to the Ritual website, the daily dosage of nutrients in Essential for Women and Men 18+ are packed in two, size 0 delayed-release vegan capsules. Whereas the daily dosage of nutrients in Essential for Women and Men 50+ and Essential Prenatal/Postnatal are packed in two, size 00 delayed-release vegan capsules. (The capsules are super-easy to swallow, IMHO!) 

Are Ritual vitamins vegan? 

Yes! The Ritual founder (Katerina Schneider) is vegan; in hopes of helping others who share her dietary needs, she created a vegan-friendly vitamin. 

Is Essential Protein organic? 

Essential Protein is not technically organic because it contains ingredients like L-Methionine. 

Is Essential Protein allergen-free?

Essential Protein is soy- and gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and formulated with non-GMO ingredients. Essential Protein does not contain sugar, stevia, sugar alcohols, artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. 

Do Ritual vitamins cause weight gain? 

Ritual does not promote its multivitamins as a weight-loss supplement. However, some of the ingredients in the capsules have been linked to weight loss (like vitamin B12, for example). 

Where can I buy Ritual vitamins?

Ritual multivitamins can be purchased directly through the Ritual website. They’re also available on Amazon. 

What is the packaging made from? 

Ritual’s recurring mailers are made from recovered newsprint and plant fibers and the bottles (and caps!) are made from 100% recycled plastic.  

What is the return policy? 

If you’re unhappy with your multivitamins or shake, Ritual will refund your first order no questions asked! 

Is Ritual easy to cancel?

Yes! If you decide that you’d like to delay an order or cancel your subscription, you can do so via the Ritual website. 

Where does Ritual ship to?

Ritual offers free shipping with the domestic US. They do not ship internationally.

Signing Up for Ritual

Signing up for Ritual is easy. Just head to ritual.com and click “Menu.” 

From there, you’ll see four options: Multivitamin, Protein, Pregnancy, Bundles. (You can hover your mouse over each option if you need more info.) 

Choose the product you’d like to subscribe to by clicking on it. Then, click on “Add to Cart.” 

You may be presented with a special offer that reads something like this: 

Adding this product to your cart is totally up to you. If you don’t want to add it, click “Continue to Cart.” 

You’ll then be asked to review your order. Review it to make sure it’s right. Once you’ve looked everything over, click “Proceed to Checkout.” 

The site requires new customers to create an account. To do this, simply fill out the name, email, and password info boxes and click “Save.” Opening an account will allow you to manage your subscription online. 

The last step is payment. Enter your preferred payment method, and you’re good to go! 

My Ritual Review 

As a person living with chronic illness, I’m always on the hunt for anything that’ll make my life just a little bit easier. I also love writing about health and wellness whenever I get the chance. So, when I was asked if I wanted to try out a buzzy new multivitamin and shake bundle, I jumped at the opportunity. And, the fact that Ritual’s products are vegan-friendly was an added bonus! 

Ritual sent me the following products: 

• Essential for Women 18+ Multivitamin 
• Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+ 

Essential for Women 18+ Multivitamin

4.5/5 stars

I’ve never been one to take multivitamins. When I was younger, my mom forced the Flintstones vitamins on me (I thought they tasted like chalk). As I got older she switched me to gummy vitamins. But once I was 17 and living on my own, I ditched the vitamins completely. I thought, why take a supplement when I can just fill up on fruits and veggies? 

After taking the Ritual Essential for Women Multivitamin 18+ for 30 days, I have to admit that I’m still not 100% convinced that I need a daily vitamin. I do think, however, that this multivitamin is ideal for anyone who is 100% vegan all of the time, as it contains vital nutrients that vegans simply can’t get from non-dairy and non-meat products, like vitamin B12. 

The Ritual multivitamin did make me feel more energized, but other than that, I didn’t really notice a difference in my mood or anything. They also smelled really good (like, minty fresh). They were also easy to swallow, and I could take them on an empty stomach without a problem. The bottles are pretty too (not that that really matters, but it's worth pointing out). 

I really enjoyed the “experience” of taking the vitamins, as opposed to taking some OTC chalky, large, and hard-to-swallow pills.  

Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+

5/5 stars

I’m not usually a protein shake person, but this protein shake blew me away. The taste was unlike any other protein shake I’ve ever had (and I’ve had quite a few). 

It’s not chalky or bitter, and it smells like sweet vanilla. Yes, the powder does get everywhere, but if you put it together over the sink, it’s fine! Also, the first time I tried it, I decided to stir instead of shake or blend. This was a tiny mistake, as it ended up thick and lumpy in consistency. To fix it, I bought a $20 shake blender from Walgreens, and now I’m hooked. I blended my shakes with almond milk, but water will do just fine, too!

My Verdict 

Overall, Ritual is a good choice for someone who can stick to a daily routine (read: remember to take their vitamins) and doesn’t mind paying a little bit more for a prettier, 100% recycled bottle. 

The vitamins themselves taste and smell good, which is rare for a multivitamin. They’re also easy to swallow, can be taken on an empty stomach, and are chic-looking (which shouldn’t matter, but we all know that it does). And, if you’re worried about the ingredients, Ritual’s website breaks it down in a way that’s very easy to understand. 

The protein shake is a definite “yes” in my book (and I don’t even work out!). It tastes so good, is easy to prepare, and it’s filling. It’s a win-win-win!  

Have you tried Ritual recently? What did you think?