Artofficial

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astragalus

Sparkling drinks in pretty cans will “conjure cosmic energy” and “welcome inner peace,” reads the company’s website.

Purported benefits include a balanced gut, a relaxed mind and brighter skin — similar to the promises supplements and topical skin-care products have always made. The caveat: these drinks are not regulated by the F.D.A. and none of the effects have been backed up by regulatory or trade commissions.

“These drinks are literally labeling ‘beauty’ as a function.”

Superfrau contains lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid found in moisturizers and serums. Ruby is infused with polyphenols, the naturally occurring compounds in berries and plants with antioxidant properties that are often used in skin care.

Dr. Emeran Mayer, a gastroenterologist, neuroscientist and the founding director of the UCLA Brain Gut Microbiome Program, believes there’s little to no “hard-core science” to support the many claims of functional beverages, but he does think there’s “something there” beyond mere marketing.

Marisa Plescia, a cosmetic chemist at Bell International Laboratories and a research scientist at NakedPoppy, an online beauty store, said that although apple cider vinegar may have benefits when applied topically to the skin — it contains acetic acid and exfoliates and helps balance skin pH levels — “there is little to no information on these benefits if drunk.”

For Dr. Ranella Hirsch, a dermatologist in Cambridge, Mass., the issue with ingesting skin-care ingredients comes down to an inability to target specific concerns.

“The issue they have, which is not a wrong point, is you can’t drink collagen and say, ‘OK, please go to the skin of my jawline,’” Dr. Hirsch pointed out.

The gut, brain and skin are intimately connected, and what impacts one almost always impacts the other.

Even if your adaptogenic seltzer doesn’t plump or hydrate the way a pricey moisturizer (or injectable) does, a balanced gut could make your skin appear clearer and brighter.