Vitamin Patches for Women Over 40: Which One Is Right for You?
Your 40s and 50s bring a lot of change: perimenopause and menopause, busier-than-ever days, and a body that doesn’t always bounce back the way it used to. If you’d like to add some extra support but you’re tired of a cupboard full of pills, vitamin patches for women are a simple alternative.
This guide will help you choose the right patch for what you need most, with ideas for pairing them and tips for getting started.
What are vitamin and supplement patches?
A supplement patch is a small adhesive patch that holds its ingredients in a layer that sits against your skin while you wear it. You peel, stick and go. There’s nothing to swallow, no water needed and no timing around meals.
Women choose our patches because they’re:
- Pill-free. No big tablets, chalky chews or sugary gummies.
- Easy on your stomach. There’s nothing sitting in your stomach, which suits anyone who finds certain tablets hard on their digestion.
- Easy to remember. One patch a day (or every second day for Calcium Magnesium Vitamin D3), and you can see at a glance that you’ve done it.
- Clean. Vegan friendly; gluten, lactose, latex and sugar free; no GMO; made in the USA.
A quick, honest note: supplements, including patches, work best alongside good food, sleep and movement, not instead of them. And it’s always wise to check with your doctor before starting something new.
Quick guide: which patch for what?
If you’d like support with… |
Try… |
When to wear |
Relaxation, sleep and muscle recovery |
Magnesium Patches |
Daily, often in the evening |
Everyday joint comfort |
Turmeric Curcumin Patches |
Daily, any time |
Bone health |
Calcium, Magnesium & Vitamin D3 Patches |
Every second day |
Perimenopause and menopause |
Menopause Support Patch |
Daily |
Restful sleep |
Melatonin & GABA Sleep Patches |
Overnight, at bedtime |
Energy on busy days |
Red Energy Patch (B12 + caffeine) |
Morning to mid-afternoon |
Calm on stressful days |
Relax & Unwind Patches |
Day or evening |
Our patches, one by one
Magnesium Patches: for relaxation, sleep and muscles
Magnesium plays a role in muscle and nerve function, and it’s a favourite for winding down in the evening. Around half of Americans get less magnesium from food than recommended. Our patch uses magnesium chloride, the same form found in magnesium bath flakes and oils.
Best for: women who want to relax in the evening, active women, and anyone who finds magnesium tablets hard on their stomach.
Turmeric Curcumin Patches: for everyday joint comfort
Turmeric has been used in traditional wellness for centuries, and curcumin is its best-known active compound. It’s one of the most popular natural choices for women who want to stay active.
Best for: walkers, gardeners, grandmothers on the go, and anyone who’d rather not swallow large turmeric capsules.
Calcium, Magnesium & Vitamin D3 Patches: for bone health
Women lose bone density more quickly in the years after menopause, so bone health becomes more important from your 40s onwards. Calcium and vitamin D work together, with magnesium playing a supporting role, and this patch combines all three.
Best for: women in perimenopause, menopause and beyond who’d rather skip the big chalky calcium tablets. You only need one patch every second day.
Menopause Support Patch: for perimenopause and menopause
Hot nights, restless sleep and days when you don’t feel like yourself are all part of this life stage for many women. Our Menopause Support Patch combines black cohosh, a herb traditionally used by women during menopause, with ashwagandha, an adaptogenic herb traditionally used to support calm and balance.
Best for: women in their 40s and 50s going through perimenopause or menopause who’d like a natural, pill-free option.
Red Energy Patch: for busy days
Vitamin B12 and B complex support normal energy metabolism. Red Energy combines them with caffeine, taurine and green tea extract for a lift when you need it, with no sugar, calories or fizzy drinks.
Best for: busy mornings and long afternoons. As it contains caffeine, it’s not suitable in the evening, during pregnancy, or if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
Relax & Unwind Patches: for calm on busy days
Valerian, passionflower and hops are three herbs traditionally used to support relaxation. Wear this patch at work, while travelling or when winding down in the evening.
Best for: women juggling work, family and everything in between.
Popular pairings
Many customers combine two patches. Just place each one on a different spot.
- The Sleep Duo: Magnesium in the evening plus Melatonin & GABA at bedtime.
- The Midlife Pair: Menopause Support by day plus Melatonin & GABA at night.
- The Active Pair: Turmeric plus Magnesium, for women who love to keep moving.
- Busy Day, Calm Night: Red Energy in the morning plus Relax & Unwind in the evening.
- The Bone Builder: Calcium, Magnesium & D3 every second day, with plenty of walking and strength exercise.
How to use your patches
- Peel a patch from its backing.
- Press it onto clean, dry, oil-free skin, such as your shoulder, upper arm, hip or the top of your foot.
- Wear it for 12 hours. It’s fine to leave it on for up to 24 hours (Melatonin & GABA is worn overnight).
- Use a new spot each time, and wait 4 days before using the same spot again.
The patches are water resistant, so you can shower as normal.
Staying safe
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new supplement, especially if you take medication, have a health condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Some ingredients, such as turmeric, black cohosh, melatonin and caffeine, aren’t right for everyone.
- Supplements don’t replace a healthy diet. The US National Institutes of Health reminds us that supplements can’t take the place of the variety of foods that are important to a healthy eating routine.
- If a patch irritates your skin, remove it and choose a different spot next time. If irritation continues, stop using it.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I wear more than one patch at a time? Yes. Place each patch on a different spot. See our popular pairings above.
- Are patches the same as taking tablets? They’re different. Most research on supplements has used tablets or capsules, and patches haven’t been studied in the same way. Our patches are made for women who’d rather not swallow pills and want a simple daily habit.
- Are your patches suitable for men? Yes, most of our range suits adult men too. Magnesium, Turmeric, Red Energy, Melatonin & GABA, and Relax & Unwind are popular gifts for partners.
- How many patches are in a box? Every box is a one-month supply: 30 patches, or 18 for Calcium, Magnesium & Vitamin D3 (one every second day).
- What if a patch isn’t right for me? You’re covered by our 30-day happiness guarantee: a full refund if you’re not happy.
30-day happiness guarantee · Free US shipping over $50 · Made in the USA
Why Live to Shine?
Live to Shine is a small, family-owned business run by two sisters, and we make every product as if it were for our own family. All our patches are made in the USA to the highest quality standards, and so is every other part of our production: the patches, the boxes and the printing. We may be slightly more expensive than cheaper imports, but you can’t put a price on peace of mind.
About the author: Janie Bartlett is the co-founder of Live to Shine, a female-owned company making pill-free supplement patches for women in midlife and beyond. She is the author of Beautiful Aging: The Ultimate Anti-Aging Guide Using Natural Supplements and Therapies for Age-Defying Beauty.
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/WYNTK-Consumer/
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): Turmeric. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for general information and is not medical advice.