Unless you veer away from the 7-11
If you're 20 years old and male (or want to be), you're probably reading this while clutching an ice cold can of some brightly-colored sweetened beverage loaded with things like caffeine, taurine, sugar and guarana. In other words, an "energy" drink.
In the last few years, the market for energy drinks has exploded - buoyed in part by the success of Red Bull - and enthusiastically adopted by male teenagers and twenty-somethings, who also enthusiastically use energy drinks as mixers with vodka and other libations.
Did you know Red Bull (which currently represents about 60% of the US energy drink market) actually originated in Thailand in the early 1960's? In the 80's, the Thai formulation was tweaked by an Austrian entrepreneur who formed a new company with the original Thai inventor and launched Red Bull in the West. Now Red Bull competes with more than 1,000 niche-market wannabees and some very huge wannabees from companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.
But of course it's not the mainstream drinks we're interested in. It's the cutting-edge beverages you won't find on just any 7-11 shelf. Sure you can drink your energy, but how about your skin care?
Borba Skin Balance Waters
Borba Skin Balance Waters are purportedly the first worldwide skin care nutraceutical beverages. Think of them as "skin-gestibles" or drinkable skin care with vitamins, minerals and botanical ingredients - and no calories. The Clarifying Skin Balance Water is designed to combat oily skin, clogged pores and impurities with pomegranate extract. Age Defying Water is designed to combat the appearance of aging skin, fine lines and wrinkles with antioxidant flavonoids from the acai berry. Replenishing Water is designed to diminish skin dryness, sensitivity and roughness thanks to nutrients from lychee fruit, and Firming Water promotes smoothness, elasticity and nourishment with nutrients from the guanabana fruit. All Borba waters also contain Vitamins E and C, and...well...water. Borba Gummi Boosters "Skin Balance Confections" contain acai and green tea extract, and Vitamins A, C and E. Of course the first two ingredients are cane sugar and corn syrup. Borba recommends you eat at least 6 gummis per day - but not the whole bag!
Price Tag: An 8 ounce bottle will set you back $2.50. More expensive are the Borba Gummi Boosters "Skin Balance Confections" at $25 for a 13 oz bag.
Aperio Forte
In Japan (of course - Japan leads the world in "functional foods" ), Shiseido has come out with a "beauty beverage" called Aperio Forte. With vitamins B, C and E, plus calcium, dietary fiber, collagen, royal jelly, hyaluronic acid and ologosacchrides, Shiseido claims Aperio is a complete beauty drink with 12 essential ingredients to keep skin beautiful all day.
Beauty Milkshake Anyone?
I guess it's technically not a drink unless you throw it in the blender, but I love the idea of "beauty ice cream!" Also available only in Japan, Maiji Bi Charge Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid ice cream. (now THAT sounds appetizing) contains 1500 mg of collagen, 15 mg of hyaluronic acid and 5 g of dietary fiber. It's available in cocoa, green tea and vanilla flavors. I suppose whatever you don't eat, you could smear on your face.
Price Tag: Unfortunately it's only available in Japan for now, so you'll have to make do with Chunky Monkey.