Isagenix is a health and wellness brand that sells a variety of weight loss and nutritional supplements. It’s a multi-level-marketing (MLM) company, and the brand describes its product line as "science-backed products" that are "Clean.Authentic.Pure."
But are Isagenix products really worth their high prices? Does the brand use research-backed ingredients? What about potentially unhealthy additive ingredients? And why was Isagenix sued?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in three of the most popular Isagenix supplements (Collagen Elixir, IsaLean Shake and Cleanse for Life) to give our take on whether or not they're likely to be effective, and whether or not they're healthy.
We'll also feature real Isagenix customer reviews, and explain why the company was recently sued (and whether or not consumers should be worried).
Isagenix Collagen Elixir Review
The active ingredients in Isagenix Collagen Elixir, which is arguably the brand's most popular product, are shown above.
Collagen is an effective anti-aging ingredient.
It's the core structural protein in skin, and when taken supplementally it can help reverse the effects of decreasing collagen levels with age.
A medical review published in the Dermatology Practical & Conceptual journal concluded the following after analyzing data from clinical trials on collagen for skin:
"Current research reveals that collagen use could result in a reduction of wrinkles, rejuvenation of skin, and reversal of skin aging."
The 5 gram (g) collagen dose in Isagenix Collagen Elixir is an effective dose, as medical research documents the effective dose range to be between 2.5 g and 10 g per day.
Goji extract powder is one of the remaining active ingredients in a proprietary (prop) blend totalling only 160 milligrams (mg), which equals an average dose of 40 mg per ingredient.
We can't find any clinical evidence that any of these ingredients improve skin quality at this dose.
Collagen Elixir also contains two inactive ingredients that we consider questionable from a health perspective.
Citric acid is a flavoring and preservative ingredient shown in a 2018 medical review to contribute to whole-body inflammation in some individuals.
Natural flavors are healthier than artificial flavors, but as we documented in our review of Beauty Focus Collagen Plus, at least one medical review reported that some natural flavoring ingredients and their metabolites are potentially toxic.
Overall, we consider Isagenix Collagen Elixir likely to be effective for improving skin quality due to the effective dose of collagen, but we do not currently recommend this product due to the additive ingredients and the price.
A 30-count of Isagenix Collagen Elixir currently costs $189 for guests (plus $13 shipping), which equates to a cost of $6.73 per 5 g collagen serving.
Isagenix's Legal Troubles
Isagenix has faced several legal challenges since its inception, as have many MLM companies that we've reviewed on Illuminate Health.
In early 2022, Isagenix was sued due to allegedly over-fortifying their formulations with vitamins according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
The vitamin additives were causing toxicity in some customers according to the above-linked report.
This underlines why we recommend that patients speak with a doctor prior to using fortified foods or supplements. It may be harmful to take supplemental vitamins (especially those which are fat-soluble) without a deficiency in that vitamin.
Isagenix faces another ongoing lawsuit but we cannot ascertain what is being alleged from the limited information available.
A YouTube creator named "iilluminaughtii" overviews some of the other controversies faced by Isagenix in an entertaining video with over 240,000 views:
Do Isagenix Shakes Cause Weight Loss?
The first part of the ingredients in Isagenix's Strawberry Cream IsaLean shake are shown above.
The brand describes this shake line as a meal replacement shake that can help users "achieve your long term weight-loss goals."
Myo-IsaLean Complex is a blend of animal proteins.
This shake provides 24 g of protein per serving, and a medical review published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition documents that high-protein diets can be effective for weight loss because they tend to blunt appetite and cravings.
Medium-chain triglyceride oil powder is the only active ingredient in this formulation that we can find clinical backing for.
A 2015 meta-review found that MCT oil supplementation caused slightly over one pound of weight loss in 10 weeks.
However, the dose of each active ingredient is not published in IsaLean, so we're unable to determine if any individual ingredient is likely to be effective or not.
Fructose is a refined, caloric sweetener, and a medical review published in the Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases journal states the following: “fructose…leads to inflammation in all cells that metabolize it rapidly.”
This shake contains a large blend of vitamins and minerals, as documented in the second part of the ingredient list, shown below:
We haven't come across any clinical evidence that supplemental vitamins and minerals support weight loss.
Overall, we consider Isagenix IsaLean shakes to be potentially effective for weight loss given the high protein dose and MCT oil inclusion.
We don't currently recommend this shake due to the use of fructose and a large blend of synthetic vitamins and minerals.
MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ is our top weight loss supplement pick.
Dietary fiber supplementation was shown in a medical review published in The Journal of Nutrition to cause over 16 pounds of weight loss in six months when combined with moderate caloric restriction (750 calories below maintenance per day).
Real People Try Isagenix
A YouTube creator named "Mother Maui TV" reviewed Isagenix Collagen Elixir in an unsponsored video:
A TikTok creator named "SarahDoyle2.0" claims that Isagenix shakes helped her lose weight in a video that includes before-and-after images:
@sarahdoyle2.0 #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #greenscreen #watchme #isalife #isagenix #GetFit #weightloss #weightlossprogress #100poundsdown #weightlosscheck #4u ♬ Ben 10 Trap Remix by Modagoatt - Mo🐐
Isagenix Cleanse Review
Isagenix sells a powder supplement to "support natural detoxification" called Cleanse for Life.
The ingredients in the Peach Mango flavor are shown above.
This formulation does contain some research-backed ingredients, although we question the purpose of "detoxification" supplements generally, since we haven't come across any convincing clinical evidence that healthy adults benefit from supplemental detoxification.
Alfalfa stem and leaf extract was shown in a 2021 clinical trial to have an antioxidant effect in animals, and to help detoxify from heavy metal poisoning.
However, the animals received a minimum dose of 250 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight, or 450x the equivalent dose in Cleanse for Life for a person weighing 200 pounds.
Bilberry extract is clinically shown to cause changes to genes that enhance detoxification pathways.
Fennel seed is a laxative, as we documented in our review of detox supplement Inno Cleanse, and it seems illogical to take laxative ingredients without a medical need.
The inactive ingredients in Cleanse for Life are shown below:
Fructose and citric acid are included in this supplement, and we explained why we recommend avoiding these ingredients in the previous Ingredient Analysis sections.
Erythritol is a sweetener that's clinically shown to be associated with greater risk of stroke, according to a 2023 medical review, which also documented that this sweetener increases blood clotting.
Overall, we consider this to be the worst formulation of the three reviewed, and we do not recommend this product due to the inactive ingredients discussed above.
Where to Get the Best Price
Isagenix is sold both at the brand's website and at Amazon.
Here's a price breakdown for a one-time purchase of the three products reviewed in this article, at the time of updating this article:
Collagen Elixir (10-count)
Brand website: $65 (plus shipping, link)
Amazon: $65 (free shipping, link to Amazon listing)
IsaLean Shake
Brand website: $73 (plus shipping, link)
Amazon: $73 (free shipping, link to Amazon listing)
Cleanse for Life
Brand website: $52 (plus shipping, link)
Amazon: $39.99 (free shipping, link to Amazon listing)
Isagenix supplements are significantly cheaper at Amazon than at the brand's website when factoring in shipping fees.
However, the Amazon listings are from a third-party seller (albeit a large one), so it may be safer to purchase directly from the manufacturer.
Are MLM Businesses Unethical?
We have concerns about the business model of MLM companies.
MLMs may profit by taking advantage of people without a business education who are interested in entrepreneurship.
The phrase “Isagenix ruined my life” gets 590 monthly Google searches at the time of updating this article, according to search software tool SEMRush.
The CBC report referenced earlier in this article found that the median income for the top 10% of Isagenix salespeople was $7,421 before expenses.
A bigger concern we have in regard to MLM health brands is that the business model relies on members (who often have no scientific credentials or education) to market the brand's products on social media.
This can incentivize members of the MLM to make false and uneducated claims about the products.
We urge consumers to exercise caution when purchasing from MLM companies, and ethically-minded consumers may wish to avoid such companies entirely.
Customers Rate Isagenix
We consider Amazon to be a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand's website.
IsaLean is the most-reviewed Isagenix product on Amazon, with over 5,000 reviews and an average review rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
A top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named "stephrachelle1" who gave the product a 5/5 rating:
"Although it’s quite expensive for a 14 day meal replacement, it does taste good and has worked for me. There are less expensive alternatives but one difference I’ve noticed is that Isagenix has a lot more Vitamin D than other products I’ve compared it to. Not sure if this is why I feel better after 14 days?"
A top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named "diane g." who gave the product a 1/5 rating:
"I have to say I am extremely disappointed. It was not cheap but I thought that it would at least taste somewhat good...It tasted so bland that I could barely take a full drink. Please if there is a way to fix this problem please tell me...I spent too much money on a product that is not even consumable."
Isagenix currently has an average review rating of 3 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website.
Isagenix also has 8 complaints closed in the past 3 years on BBB, and the brand appears to respond to every customer complaint in an attempt to resolve the situation, which is a sign of a high-quality brand.
Isagenix Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Isagenix in our opinion:
Pros:
- All formulations contain some research-backed ingredients
- Beautiful branding
- Collagen Elixir should improve skin quality
- IsaLean shake may support weight loss
- IsaLean has positive reviews on Amazon
- Brand responds to BBB customer complaints
Cons:
- Very expensive
- MLM business
- Some formulations contain natural flavoring agents
- Some formulations contain citric acid
- Some formulations contain erythritol
- Some formulations contain fructose
- Sued over added vitamins allegedly causing toxicity
- Brand's website charges for shipping
