Modere is a popular wellness brand that sells both cosmetic and supplement products. The brand describes their product line as "clean lifestyle products" and "a new approach to modern health."
But are Modere formulations powerful enough to justify their high prices? Does the brand use any unhealthy ingredients? Why did the FTC send Modere a warning letter? And is Modere better or worse than other popular cosmetic and supplement brands like Monat?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in two of Modere's most popular products (Modere Trim and Modere Collagen) to give our take on whether or not these products are likely to be effective, and whether or not they're healthy.
We'll also explain why the company received an FTC warning letter, and compare Modere to other popular cosmetic and health brands to pick our winners (and losers).
Notice: Modere has officially shut down at the time of updating this article. To see the products we recommend as replacements, scroll down to our top picks at the bottom of each Modere product review.
Key takeaways:
- Modere Trim is likely effective for weight loss
- We consider Modere Liquid Collagen ineffectively formulated
- We do not currently recommend any Modere products
Modere Trim Review
The active ingredients in Modere Trim (a weight loss supplement) are shown below:
All of the active ingredients are included in a proprietary ("prop") blend with a total dose of 5 grams (g).
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been studied for weight loss.
A medical review published in the Nutrition & Metabolism journal analyzed data from 18 clinical trials on CLA and weight loss.
The researchers concluded that CLA is effective for weight loss, but the ingredient was also found to increase oxidative stress and insulin resistance at the dosage required to cause weight loss.
Liquid BioCell is a complex containing collagen peptides, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid.
We cannot locate any clinical studies suggesting that these ingredients are effective for weight loss.
Even on the Modere Trim product page, there is no reference of weight loss in regard to these ingredients.
The brand describes Liquid BioCell to "Support joint mobility and lubrication, and skin hydration." We're unsure why this is included in a weight loss supplement.
The inactive ingredients in the Peach flavor of Modere Trim are shown below:
There are three inactive ingredients we recommend avoiding.
Citric acid is clinically shown to cause whole-body inflammation in some individuals, as we referenced in our Nu Biome reviews article.
Natural flavors is a broad categorical term that can include synthetic preservatives.
Potassium sorbate is a synthetic preservative.
Overall we consider Modere Trim to be potentially effective for weight loss due to the inclusion of CLA.
We do not currently recommend Modere Trim due to the inactive ingredients highlighted above.
MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ is our top weight loss pick because it's certified organic, provides 7 g of fiber per serving and costs under $1.85 per serving at the time of updating this article.
Dietary fiber was shown in a medical review published in The Journal of Nutrition to cause 16 pounds of weight loss in 6 months when combined with moderate caloric restriction (750 calories per day below baseline).
FTC Warning Letter to Modere
In April of 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent a warning letter to Modere regarding health and earnings claims made by some of their representatives.
Some of the claims documented in the letter suggested that Modere supplements could help treat or prevent COVID-19.
This type of risk is why we generally recommend that consumers avoid multi-level-marketing (MLM) companies, because we consider it illogical for individuals with no health credentials or scientific background to be selling health and wellness products online while making specific health claims.
We consider MLM companies to be ethically responsible for creating an monetary structure that incentivizes this type of behavior, which we believe is bad for the average consumer.
Modere Liquid Collagen Review
The ingredients in Modere "Pure" liquid collagen are shown below:
BioCell has been studied in a clinical trial published in the Clinical Interventions in Aging journal.
The trial concluded that BioCell collagen improved skin appearance, but it was a very poorly-designed study in our opinion.
Facial lines and wrinkles were increased at week 6 but decreased at week 12 relative to the starting point.
Crow’s feet actually increased after 12 weeks of supplementation, going from a 2.88 score to a 3.02 score.
The clinical trial also used a dose of 1 g, or twice the dose in Modere's supplement.
We cannot locate any medical studies proving BioCell to be effective at the dose in Modere's liquid collagen supplement.
This supplement also contains two inactive ingredients (potassium sorbate and natural flavor) that we recommend avoiding.
Overall, we do not consider Modere Liquid Collagen likely to be effective, and we do not currently recommend this supplement.
MindBodyGreen Best Skin+ is our top anti-aging skin supplement.
It contains orange extract which is clinically shown to increase skin moisturization, skin elasticity and skin radiance.
This supplement also contains astaxanthin which is clinically shown to cause "wrinkle formation reduction."
Modere vs. Popular Skin & Health Brands
Here's how Modere compares to other popular brands that sell overall health and skin products, in terms of formulation quality, in our opinion:
Isagenix
Worse formulations than Modere.
Company was sued over allegedly over-fortifying some products with vitamins, causing toxicity in some consumers, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Winner: Modere
Monat
Every Monat product we analyzed contained multiple ingredients we consider unhealthy.
The brand was also sued over allegations of their products causing hair loss, as we documented in our Monat hair reviews article.
Winner: Modere
Plexus
All products we reviewed contained unhealthy ingredients, and the company settled with the Department of Justice over alleged false marketing claims.
Winner: Modere
Modere Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Modere Trim should support weight loss
- Healthier products than popular competitors
Cons:
- Company has shut down
- Both products analyzed contain unhealthy additives
- Modere received FTC warning letter
- Very expensive
- Modere Liquid Collagen contains an ingredient shown to increase crow's feet
- We do not consider Liquid Collagen likely to be effective
