Liquid I.V. is an incredibly popular US company that has been taking over the wellness beverage industry in recent years, particularly with its Hydration powder sachets.
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Powder is an electrolyte, vitamin, and mineral powder that is mixed with water and consumed.
The brand claims that the powder can provide the consumer with more than 2 times the hydration that water can, and people seem to be going crazy for it.
The brand went from $0 to $100 million in revenue in the first five years of business, and with over 40,000+ customer reviews of this specific product on Amazon, it’s safe to say it’s incredibly popular and this popularity seems to only be growing exponentially.
If you’re thinking of purchasing this product or you’re keen to see my take on the powder, check out my full Liquid I.V. Hydration review below.
What is Liquid I.V. Hydration?
As soon as you click on the Liquid I.V. website, it’s clear just how professional, successful, and well-branded this company really is.
Everything looks perfect – engaging visuals, user-generated content, informative copy, and a small range of sleek supplements.
Looking at the Liquid I.V. Hydration packets, I’m intrigued, and dubious. Although I understand the appeal of these hydration packets, I’m simply a big fan of drinking water!
In my opinion, it looks like Liquid I.V. has chosen to make hydration sachets (that you can buy at chemists for a very low cost) look fancy to sell them at expensive prices.
However, saying that, it looks good at first glance. So, I look forward to taking a closer look at the formula to see if it really is revolutionary or a hydration sachet remake!
Background on Liquid I.V.
Liquid I.V. was founded in 2012 by Brandin Cohen in California.
Since then, celebrities such as Kevin Hart, Kygo, Justin Bieber, and Kendall Jenner have invested in the company, making it one of the most successful beverage wellbeing brands on the US market.
However, at the end of 2020, Unilever saw the success of the company and decided to acquire the brand. So, who knows what’s coming next from this brand name!
Liquid I.V. Hydration Benefits
Liquid I.V. Hydration is supposed to provide hydration to your body faster than water does.
The brand claims that a single stick of the formula mixed into 16 ounces of water can provide the same amount of hydration as drinking 2-3 bottles of water.
In addition, the brand claims that the added vitamins and minerals in the powder support overall health and provide a range of specific health benefits such as supported cell health, increased energy, and improved muscle health.
Liquid I.V. Hydration Ingredients
The Liquid I.V. Hydration formula contains 15 ingredients, and although some of the nutritional information is shown, the actual amount of the majority of the ingredients.
However, I’ll take a look at the efficacy of the formula a little later in this review. First, let’s take a look at the ingredients label.
- Ingredients – Pure Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Salt, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide, Rebaudioside A (Stevia Leaf Extract), Natural Flavors, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Vitamin B5 (D-Calcium Pantothenate), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin).
Here is the supplement facts label:
How does Liquid I.V. Hydration Taste?
The Liquid I.V. Hydration formula is available in a variety of flavors, including Lemon and Lime, Guava, Passion Fruit, Strawberry, Watermelon, Apple Pie, and Acai Berry.
The reviews about the taste of the formula really differ, with some saying that they love it and others claiming that it’s way too salty to enjoy.
Side Effects
The brand warns that people that are sensitive to salt should consult a doctor before consuming this formula, and also warns that the powder could cause stomach ache, nausea, and diarrhea due to the high salt content.
I would recommend you to consult a doctor before consuming this formula if you’re under 18, pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a medical condition.
Does Liquid I.V. Hydration Work?
Although the nutritional label of the Liquid I.V. Hydration formula does show the amounts of some vitamins and minerals within the product, the rest of the micronutrients and other ingredients within the formula have no dose information associated with them.
However, that’s not actually my main concern.
My main concern is that the sodium and sugar content in this powder is incredibly high. For example, out of the 16g of powder, 11g is sugar and 500mg is sodium.
This sugar content is nearly half of the 24g recommended dose, and there’s no nutritional benefit from consuming sugar, so it’s very unclear why so much sugar exists in this powder!
For a formula that is supposed to hydrate you, this is an incredibly high dose of two ingredients that typically make you dehydrated and worsen overall health.
Therefore, although the formula may supply some vitamins and minerals and make you feel hydrated immediately, it’s not going to be healthy for you or benefit your body in the long run!
So, I have to say no, I don’t think this powder will actually work and supply consumers with the benefits that they think they will derive from consuming it.
Related: Best electrolyte replacements with zero sugar
Liquid I.V. Hydration Reviews
Liquid I.V. Hydration is an incredibly popular product – it has over 40,000 customer reviews on Amazon!
Overall, the formula scores 4.6 stars out of 5, which is an impressive overall score, especially for a product that’s reviewed by so many people.
Let’s take a look at a selection of these reviews below.
This product is just wonderful! It gives me energy and does help me focus more as it claims. I just feel better when taking it and it is the only thing that seems to combat the dark circles under my eyes! This hydrates your skin to the point of your dark circles fading! Better than any concealer LOL This goes to show how important hydration is for your skin. I take 1 every day and sometimes 2 on days I workout longer at the gym. GREAT Product! 5-star reviewer
I truly wanted to like this product, but I just can't get past the taste. I can't blame the company for my personal taste, but for those who just don't enjoy a hyper-intense lemon/lime flavor – this product is not for you. 3-star reviewer
This product shouldn't be labeled as an electrolyte product. When I got the package, I read the ingredients. 500mg of sodium (21% of your daily allowance) and 11g of sugar, bringing the carbohydrate count to 12g, 50 calories per serving – FOR WATER. The flavor is lemon-lime, however, does not completely dissolve in water and just tastes like sugar crystals. 1-star reviewer
Money-Back Guarantee / Returns Policy
The brand does state that it stands fully behind its products and that if someone isn’t 10% happy with a product they can get in contact for a refund.
However, there doesn’t seem to be a solid money-back guarantee or a time frame laid out.
Where to buy Liquid I.V. Hydration?
You can buy Liquid I.V. Hydration from the Liquid I.V. website, from Amazon.
Is It Worth The Price?
You can buy the Hydration drink powders in either 16, 32, 64, or 96 packet servings. You can also either purchase the powder packets on a one-time purchase or on a subscription, as long as you buy a 32 or above packet bundle.
So, let’s take a look at some of these prices.
If you buy a 32-packet bundle on a one-time purchase, the cost per serving works out at $1.41. If you buy the same bundle on a subscription, the cost per serving goes down to $1.25.
However, regardless of the size bundle that you buy (as long as it’s higher than 32 packets), the cost per serving on a subscription option stays the same.
Therefore, the lowest possible cost per serving of these packets is $1.25.
This is a fairly expensive cost per serving when you could pop to the pharmacy and pick up a box of electrolyte sachets (pretty much the same as this product) at a much lower cost.
Also, you’re paying a lot of money for something that contains such high doses of sugar and salt!
Liquid IV Verdict
I have to say, I feel really let down by this product, and I wouldn’t purchase it.
The powder is packed with such high levels of sugar and sodium that it’s simply not a healthy option. In addition, there’s very little research that supports the powder will actually provide 2-3 times the hydration that water does.
Therefore, it just doesn’t live up to good nutritional supplement standards.
This just proves that not everything that’s deemed revolutionary and popular is actually beneficial to us!
Dhiarrea galore, ruined my thanksgiving, stayed home of course. I also had acid reflux, not sure of the cause. All I ate today is a banana. I do suffer from leg cramps, I think I’ll go to magensium = less dhiarrea
Sorry to hear that, Barbara.
You have to be mindful with magnesium though, that they can give you an upset stomach too (I survived this a lot and am trying to work out the best product for me).
Adam
I think your take on sugar and sodium in of itself without context leads to a wrong conclusion, as well as perhaps a lack of knowledge in how the body absorbs and hydrates. You take the view of nutritional value (or non value) of sugar or bad aspect of sodium singularily; however, both sugar (glucose) and sodium are needed to help the body absorb electrolytes. If you compare Liquid IV to say a packet of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), and you will find that an ORS packet has 3.5g of sodium for Liter mixture vs Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier’s 1g (2packets) for liter mixture (it’s actually a littler over 1g). There is 20g glucose in ORS packet vs a little over 22g equivalent per liter in Liquid IV (2 packets). These are intended to increase hydration and quicker electrolyte absorption than simply drinking water. I’ll agree that most people will consume these beyond the recommended serving and when they don’t really need it like sitting at your desk all day versus high exertion activity, where you are using up things like sugars and salts and other electrolytes far quicker than sitting at your desk.
I pressed send a little early. Even if you are not engaged in high exertion activity, if you are dehydrated you are dehydrated, so Liquid IV, as among other products out there, are intended to fill the need for quicker hydration. I do take issue with Liquid IV’s marketing, though, since if you drink this or other products like gatorade and the like and you aren’t really exerting yourself, then you would be consuming more calories than necessary just to hydrate if you are drinking lots of it. That’s the problem with the marketing. In the FAQ section, Liquid IV does recommend only one serving (packet) per day, which to me contradicts all their marketing and which isn’t actually going to maintain the hydration you need, even for a semi-sedintary person, every day. Just like I wouldn’t be drinking packets of ORS throughout the day, Liquid IV isn’t intended for throughout the day hydration which gets lost in the company’s marketing. If you really need to hydrate or replenish electrolytes quickly, then a cheaper stand by solution (sorry for the pun) is ORS. Liquid IV like any other electrolyte replenishment product is basically flavored ORS with varying ratios of glucose, potassium, and sodium with other supplements. Liquid IV just registers their marketing catch phrase CTT to make the combination of glucose, potassium, sodium of ORS, which has been around for decades and decades, sound all fancy and catchy.
Thank you for the to the point review of Liquid IV. Salt and sugar, especially in high quantities, are the last thing I need. You saved me some money for sure and helped me give my body a break.
Thanks!
I’ve been using 1 tsp/day of LYTESHOW electrolytes for a few years. It’s liquid, no dissolving issues. No sugar & half the sodium as I.V. Resolved big issues with dizziness and leg cramps. 3 bottles cost $49.95 (Amazon). Would love to see your review of it. This is part of info off bottle:
Ingredients include balanced ions of magnesium, sodium, chloride, and potassium. Also zinc, citric acid. 4 oz. bottle: Serving size 3.0 mL (.6tsp) / Servings/container: 40. Magnesium: 40 mg (10% D.V.). Sodium: 125 mg (5% D.V.). Zinc: 2 mg (10% D.V.). Chloride: 390 mg (10% D.V.). Potassium: 130 mg (4% D.V.). Sulfate: 20 mg.
Dang, I should have looked here before I bought some. I need an inexpensive way to flavor tap water (or remove its natural taste) so my daughter can drink it and not turn to sodas for hydration. Sports drinks are better, but still an expense I’d like to avoid. She says tap water makes her nauseated. Any suggestions?
MIO. plenty of flavors and sugar free. our go to for water.
Crystal light! I am really bad about drinking water and love crystal light (or whatever off brand stores make).
To flavor tap water is not the intended use of Liquid IV or any other electrolyte replacement or Oral Rehydration Solution/Salts, so you would not want to buy this product or any other product like it for what you intend. Sports drinks are either sugar water or sugar free (artificial or strevia sweetened) products, and also have high sodium and the like, so you wouldn’t want to constantly drink those either. If you want to flavor water, then buy some mint leaves. You could add cucumbers, limes, lemons, oranges, etc.