I've Tried a Lot of Supplements for "Glowing Skin"—This Is the One That Worked

Despite my beat as a beauty editor, I've always been just as fascinated with the world of wellness. And in the past few years especially, the two industries have really converged. As our culture becomes more in tune with the idea of a holistic, all-encompassing approach to health and happiness, there's been a dramatic increase in product launches targeting everything but the kitchen sink in terms of internal and external perks alike. Not only will a berry-flavored vitamin gummy deliver your daily dose of vitamin D or every probiotic strain under the sun, but it will also give you Rapunzel-length hair and make your skin glow (supposedly).

There's also been a sharp uptick in nontoxic beauty formulations, which not only impart a dewy flash of highlight but are also touted to transform us into healthier consumers thanks to their lack of unnatural ingredients. Don't get me wrong—I'm incredibly happy the wellness and beauty industries have united in an effort to help us feel more beautiful inside and out, but let's be honest. It's also the perfect opportunity for brands to prey on our insecurities and worries as humans. What's more, it can be difficult to weed out which brands are truly legit and which brands are simply trying to ride the bandwagon of whatever the latest popular beauty or wellness trend is. I don't have to tell you this. You're a smart consumer, and I'm sure you've noticed this yourself. 

The Claims & Ingredients

As Sakara explains on its website, there's a lot to love about the Super Powder ($45), but as someone who drinks a protein powder–laced smoothie daily, I've been around the block in terms of product trials and have tested pretty much every plant-based protein powder formula on the market. Spoiler: Most of the time, I'm disappointed. They either taste like a shot of wheatgrass or are overly sweetened with sugar alternatives like stevia or monk fruit and far too saccharine for my taste.

According to the brand, the Super Powder is an all-in-one nutrition supplement featuring 12 grams of plant protein from organic, whole-food sources only. (No dairy or soy here, folks!) Additionally, there's only one gram of sugar per serving (which comes from coconut sugar), and the brand's experts say the strategic blend of plant protein (from whole pea, hemp, sesame, and pumpkin seeds), daily greens (from alkalizing grasses and algae), its trademarked Ceramosides Phytoceramides, digestive enzymes, B12, and L-theanine can help increase energy and skin glow while decreasing common conundrums like bloating. 

"Most collagen powders on the market are made from ground animal bones with unknown origins," the brand shares on its website. "We wanted to make a plant-based alternative we could trust. This powder contains phytoceramides—100% plant-based, gluten-free skin enhancers derived from wheat that improve skin by boosting collagen production, restoring the body’s natural lipids, maintaining the skin barrier, maximizing cellular hydration."

How I Used It

Now, I'll be honest and say that initially, I didn't think I was a fan. For one, the taste was a bit greener and earthier than I was expecting (again, there's only one gram of sugar!), and whereas my normal smoothie would keep me full until lunchtime, I found I was hungry within a couple of hours after slurping down my Super Powder. This was probably due to the fact that Sakara's formula has 12 grams of plant protein compared to the 20 or even 30 grams that my other powders supplied.

However, I was not deterred! Aside from being a bit hungrier than I was used to, I felt great and definitely less bloated, so I simply began tweaking my recipe. I added some healthy fats in the form of almond butter or avocado to help with satiety, increased to a scoop and a half of the Super Powder for a little more protein, and also played around with adding more cinnamon, some vanilla extract, or manuka honey for a touch more sweetness to offset the fresh, grassier flavor. 

Lo and behold, after a few days, I noticed my morning smoothies kept me full until 1 or even 2 p.m., and I barely noticed the fresh, grassy taste. Heck, I even began to prefer the earthier flavor over the super-sweet powders I'd been using before. 

The Benefits I Noticed

First, I have to begin by making the obvious disclaimer that just because I had success with this product or noticed certain benefits doesn't necessarily mean you'll have the same experience. We all have different dietary needs and bodies, which can impact the results we see or how much we like a product. That said, I truly believe in the high quality of everything Sakara produces, and I feel confident recommending the Super Powder to anyone who is looking for a multifunctioning wellness product to add to their arsenal. For me, the biggest changes I noticed were in my skin, my appetite and cravings, and the way that my jeans fit.

Even though I don't think I lost any weight (that wasn't my goal to start with), I definitely felt like my stomach was much flatter and slower to irritate while drinking the Super Powder each morning. I'm sure this is due to the digestive enzyme blend, which isn't surprising to me since digestive enzymes (from another brand) were one of the few products that also managed to make it through that wellness-product exodus I mentioned earlier. I loved that I could reap the same benefits in my morning smoothie concoction without having to pop my other digestive enzyme capsules throughout the day. (I'm all for killing multiple wellness birds with one stone!)

Also, I noticed a significant decrease in my craving for sweets—a perk I also noticed while regularly sipping on the brand's Metabolism Super Powder. Usually, I start to ache for something sugary around 2 or 3 p.m., right around the same time my brain starts to crash after a day of writing, but I barely thought about the dark chocolate bars or peanut butter cups I have stashed in my desk drawers for sugar emergencies. In fact, I felt like my appetite had lessened. I didn't feel like I needed lunch until later in the afternoon, and then lunch held me over well until dinner or, at the very least, until I could grab a snack that wasn't super sugary. Honestly, it was a relief to have that panicky sense of hunger or sugar cravings put to rest. So, thank you for that, Sakara!

Last but not least, I felt like my skin definitely started to look brighter and clearer. Of course, it's hard to say whether this was just random, an effect of my skincare routine, or truly a result of Sakara's Super Powder, but I don't think it was a coincidence. As I mentioned, the Super Powder is made of only organic, whole-food sources without potential allergens or acne-aggravators like dairy or soy. Also, it barely has any sugar or sugar alternatives, and sometimes I wonder if the saccharine sweetness from stevia or monk fruit in other powders I've used has contributed to my acne-prone skin. Of course, I was also grabbing fewer craving-induced snacks, which might have contributed to fewer breakouts as well. Regardless, I was super happy with my results and experience testing Sakara's Super Powder, and I plan on adding it to my always-growing collection of Sakara favorites. 

Keep reading for the other Sakara products I always have on hand.