The Dirt:
Nestle is joining the ranks of nutraceutical makers with a new drink that promises to beautify the outside through a supplement drink. The beauty beverage sector was pioneered a few years back by the Borba brand, which is now owned by Anheuser-Busch, the maker of 180-Energy, whose varieties include goji and acai options. So what is Nestle’s latest creation, Glowelle, about? The modern woman, of course.

Glowelle seems to have been created in the vein of GlaxoSmithKline’s diet pill, Alli, and Dove’s empowering campaign targeting real American women, with real bodies. Glowelle joins the ranks of products that aim to bank on female spending by encouraging empowerment and good health. Be strong, be beautiful and be balanced. This is the message we get and we applaud it.

The product was developed by former Kraft and Walt Disney brand management executive Kimberly Cooper, and Susan Beck Ph.D., a nutritional doctor with an oncology focus. The duo and their teams have created a product that aims to fight aging caused by free radicals via antioxidants. Once you get past the fabulous packaging and the catchy name, you’ll see a label with decent amounts of the supplements, including more than the daily recommended allowance of vitamins A, C and E and selenium, as well as pinches of green tea, grape seed, goji berry and pomegranate extracts. Nestle data says that the supplement has the same amount of lutein found in eight cups of romaine; same selenium as in two servings of salmon; and the amount of Quercetin found in 25 apples.

The powder form mixes with 16 ounces of water and has 50 calories. The brand’s products are not FDA approved and use a low-glycemic plant-derived sweetener called luo han guo that is in the same category as stevia and agave nector. The drinks and powders come in raspberry jasmine and pomegranate lychee. The drink is thicker than juice and water, but not as dense as a smoothie. The acquired taste almost has a powder-like feel, but it becomes natural the longer you drink it. While we doubt the abilities most supplements have on one’s mood, something about this drink seemed to calm us. Drinking Glowelle gets two of your eight daily glasses of water out of the way and ensures you don’t go without if you miss your daily vitamin. There’s no way to know what supplements can offer without reading studies all day long, but judging from the numbers and the company, we have a good feeling about this one, inside and out.

Where:
Glowelle’s 8oz pre-made bottle is $7 and the 30-day set of individual powder supplements retails for $112. Products are available at in the beauty departments of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.