Not all vitamin C supplements are created equal. Some are more readily absorbed by the body than others. Here’s why liposomal vitamin C is more bioavailable, and how to find the right option among the different brands.

Why vitamin C is essential for everyone

You probably know vitamin C prevents scurvy, and it’s thought to shorten the lifespan of colds.

But did you know that it’s essential to take vitamin C in some form (either from food or a supplement) every day?

That’s because our bodies can’t produce it, so we need a consistent, high-quality supply on a daily basis.

Research shows that vitamin C

• bolsters the immune system
• assists in the production of collagen
• strengthens muscles and bones
• can decrease the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer
• helps the body detox
• can help prevent cataracts
• helps protect the brain from Alzheimer's and other diseases associated with aging
• protects the cells from oxidative damage

That’s quite a list!

You can boil it down to this:

To maintain the health of the mind, body and skin, vitamin C is essential.

What’s so great about liposomal vitamin C?

Basically, liposomal vitamin C is one of the most bioavailable delivery methods for vitamin C.

The most efficient delivery method? That would be intravenous vitamin C. But this requires you to receive numerous injections, or to sit hooked up to a drip IV for hours at a time. Add to that, both methods cost a fortune...not feasible for most of us.

What about just regular oral vitamin C?

Those will deliver a certain amount of vitamin C, but they’re not efficiently absorbed by the body.

That’s partly because some of the nutrient will be destroyed in the digestive system.

On top of this, the intestinal absorption of vitamin C is limited. So when vitamin C is taken at higher doses, beyond 30–180 mg/day, actual absorption falls to less than 50%.

The rest ends up in the toilet when it's expelled from the body through urine.

You just can’t count on non-liposomal vitamin C to deliver.

Then what makes liposomal vitamin C different?

Unlike regular oral vitamin C, liposomal vitamin C is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

There’s no traipsing through the destructive forces of the digestive system. There’s no dealing with the limitation of what the intestines are able to absorb in one go.

The term ‘liposomal’ refers to the protective lipid layer that surrounds the vitamin C core. It’s this fatty outer shell that protects the vitamin within and delivers it directly to the cells.

It’s easy for the body to recognise liposomes because the membranes of the body’s cells and the outer shell of liposomes are both made of phospholipids.

So the liposome is absorbed by the cell, the vitamin C is transmitted, then the liposome breaks down into phospholipids which are used to build new cells.

A liposomal vitamin C ensures more of the nutrient is absorbed and the body can put it to good use.

Interested in trying liposomal vitamin C? Here’s an overview of the brands we carry…

Altrient C

• 1000mg liposomal vitamin C per sachet
• 1-2 sachets per day
• 30 sachets per box
• Free from: GMO ingredients, sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast, dairy, meat products, hexane, artificial colours and flavours
• Squeeze gel into a small amount of water or stir into yoghurt. Does not blend.

Altrient C is one of the best known brands of liposomal vitamin C, and the one we’ve carried the longest.

You’ll often see Altrient C show up on the ‘wish lists’ of beauty editors. That’s probably because of the way it performed in an independent study conducted by Princeton Consumer Research Centre.

This study showed a 61.4% increase in skin firmness and elasticity and a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on both the face and body.

Just one sachet per day delivers 1000mg of vitamin C. At that rate, a box of Altrient C will last about a month.

Altrient C is a gel-like substance that doesn’t emulsify. So you won’t be able to blend it into drinks.

We suggest you squeeze this liposomal vitamin C into a small glass of water or juice (if you squeeze gel in first, it sticks to the bottom of the glass), then swallow in one or two gulps.

Shop Altrient C

Biomax C

• 730mg liposomal vitamin C per capsule
• 1-2 capsules per day
• 30 capsules per container
• Free from: GMOs, sugar, soya, gluten, preservatives and artificial additives
• Suitable for: diabetic, Paleo, Zone and vegan diets

If you don’t like the idea of taking a liquid or gel, Biomax gives you an easy-to-take capsule option.

The formula is non-acidic and gentle on the stomach.

The vitamin itself is Qauli-C, a high-quality non-GMO vitamin C manufactured in Scotland.

Biomax comes in recyclable packaging, making it a better choice if you’d rather not dispose of individual packets on a daily basis.

Each capsule delivers 730mg, so you could take one capsule each day to ingest a sufficient amount of liposomal vitamin C. At that rate, each container would last about a month.

Shop Biomax Vitamin C

SunflowerLiposomes Liposomal C

• 1000mg liposomal vitamin C per 1 tsp (5ml) serving
• 500ml bottle with 100 servings
• No added sugar, salt, sweetener, soya, dairy, yeast, artificial flavour, preservatives, gel, thickener, stabiliser, colour
• Liquid can be mixed with cold water or juice.

SunflowerLiposomes Liposomal C is an Irish product, made in Bray, County Wicklow by the Porebski family.

In 2007, Ryszard Porebski had a paragliding accident, after which he was told he’d never again walk without crutches, and he was in danger of losing a leg.

Instead of settling for this fate, he worked with his mother, a doctor, to devise a vitamin-based regimen that would strengthen his immune system and counteract the negative effects the antibiotics were having on his gut.

Along the way, he discovered Liposomal Encapsulation Technology, and created a product for his own use.

The liposomal product helped Ryszard restore his immune system and fight off the bone infection threatening amputation.

So he and his family started manufacturing liposomal vitamins for the Irish market.

The range includes different formulations that combine vitamin C with various nutrients, including curcumin, vitamin D3, and CoQ10.

Each bottle provides great value, containing 100 1tsp servings.

It’s recommended the contents be consumed within 30 days after opening, so this option is particularly suitable if more than one person in your family will be taking the supplement.

Shop SunflowerLiposomes Liposomal C

YourZooki Liposomal C

• 1000mg liposomal vitamin C per sachet
• 1-2 sachets per day
• 30 sachets per box
• Free from: GMOs, sugar, gluten, dairy, ethanol and soy. Vegan friendly
• Mix into water, smoothies, shakes, yoghurt, porridge, or granola.

YourZooki Liposomal C is designed to taste great and to be easy to take straight from the sachet (allowing you to have it on-the-go) or mixed into water or cold breakfast foods.

It’s made with 100% natural ingredients, and, uniquely for a liquid liposomal product, contains no ethanol.

The makers of YourZooki Liposomal C highlight its ability to promote energy and vitality while reducing fatigue. They recommend taking a sachet in the morning then another in the afternoon if you start to feel tired.

We like that the natural flavours of citrus oil and vanilla make this liposomal vitamin C palatable enough to take on its own.

At one sachet per day, each box will last about a month.

Shop YourZooki Liposomal C

The best liposomal vitamin C

If you’re still uncertain about which product to go for, we suggest you don’t sweat it too much. They’re all great products. They all deliver high amounts of liposomal vitamin C.

It partly depends on whether you prefer the convenience of daily sachets (Altrient C and YourZooki) or a daily capsule (Biomax). Or if you would like an Irish-made excellent value option that allows you to take more than 1000 mg of vitamin C per day within a 30 day period without having to order a second supply (SunflowerLiposomes).

If you try any of these products, let us know what you think of them by leaving a review on the product pages in the online shop. Your opinion helps us curate the shop, and helps others know if these products are right for them. Thanks!