Women's health needs evolve across life stages, and every stage of life brings new challenges. For example, during puberty, rapid hormonal changes can influence skin, sleep and mood. Meanwhile, the menopausal transition brings its own shifts in hormones that may similarly affect skin, sleep, mood, and overall wellbeing. At the Unilever Wellbeing Collective, we research multi-ingredient formulas that are practical for daily life - so support can meet women where they are and translate into meaningful benefits.
Our research explores novel formulations that are built to support healthy menopausal women in real-world situations. In one study designed to reflect real-world use, participants started supplementation at symptom onset before switching to a daily regimen, with outcomes assessed across vasomotor, mood, sleep, tension, and sexual function domains. This hybrid approach mirrors how women often take supplements when symptoms arise rather than adhere to a fixed dosing regimen.
We also research how daily nutritional status, metabolic shifts and whole-body stressors influence hair health across life stages - particularly in periods like perimenopause and menopause when thinning is most common. We study multi-ingredient, botanical-based formulations built for everyday use, with outcomes captured through clinical measures of hair growth, density, breakage, and shedding.
This work helps translate inner wellbeing into meaningful support that women can feel in their everyday lives. We study women’s health across multiple ages, life stages and ethnicities to ensure we accurately represent women’s health needs. By focusing on a multi-ingredient approach - designed to fit real life - brands such as OLLY, SmartyPants and Nutrafol can support women’s health needs and improve overall wellbeing.
To explore the science behind our women’s health portfolio, visit the Science & Research section. Highlights include:
Our approach to product formulation draws on peer-reviewed research, clinical trials, and ingredient-level science:
OLLY is committed to developing science-backed products, such as the recent randomized, placebo-controlled research on GABA and EstroG100 for menopause relief.
· Nutrafol offers clinically studied hair growth nutraceuticals to support women on their hair health journey across various life stages, such as postpartum and menopause.
· SmartyPants products are backed by research on premium ingredients, stability and functional health benefits.
Clinical data on combinations like GABA and EstroG-100, in OLLY’s Mellow Menopause product, show reductions in the frequency and intensity of hot flashes as early as day 1-2, with improvements in mood and sleep by week 5.
Both SmartyPants and OLLY continue to provide essential nutrient support for women in midlife and beyond.
A Nutrafol clinical study demonstrated the efficacy of Nutrafol Women’s Balance on hair growth and quality in perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal women with hair thinning.
OLLY, SmartyPants and Nutrafol formulations are designed as supplements intended for daily use.
As everyone is different and, therefore, may have different responses to supplements, we always advise people to use our products as directed and intended after consulting with their physician, especially if they are on prescription medications, are taking other supplements, have underlying medical conditions or have any general concerns.
While current research - including a recent study of nutraceuticals in hair-growth settings suggests that certain supplement formulations may be used alongside prescription therapies without interfering with their action, please consider all potential interactions.
This information is provided as a medical and scientific educational resource for the use of dieticians and other licensed healthcare professionals. This information is intended for Practitioners to use as the basis for determining whether to recommend these products to their clients. All recommendations regarding protocols, dosing, prescribing and/or use instructions should be tailored to the individual needs of the client considering their medical history and concomitant therapies. This Information is not intended for use by consumers.