You’ve got big shoes to fill when you promise the world you’re the “best brain supplement on the market… EVER.”
Focus Formula makes this vow… but doesn’t really keep it.
Created by Windmill Health Products, the formula is OK, but it looks crude compared to the truly great nootropic stacks that are on the market today.
But Focus Formula does have some redeeming qualities… so let’s check ’em out.
Table of Contents
About Focus Formula
In a supplement world featuring some awesomely cutting-edge nootropic stacks, Focus Formula is more a middle-of-the-road product. “Energize your brain” is the overarching tagline, so it appears to be designed as a performance-oriented nootropic stack. Formula notes:
- Targeted brain support. Advertised for concentration, mental focus, attention and brain energy.
- Sensible stacking. The nootropics chosen seem to work well together, and for the most part are consistent with the intended formula benefits.
- CAFFEINE. A fat 200 mg dose, which makes it hard to assess how well the true nootropics are working. You might just feel wired.
Focus Formula Supplement Facts |
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Serving Size: 2 Tablets Servings Per Container: 60 |
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Ingredients | Amount Per Serving |
Vitamin D (as Cholecalciferol) | 1000 IU (250% DV) |
Bacopa monnieri extract (whole plant) | 100 mg |
Soy Lecithin (25% total phosphatidylcholine and alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC)) | 200 mg |
DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol Bitartrate) | 125 mg |
Panax ginseng root extract (4% ginsenosides) | 400 mg |
Caffeine | 200 mg |
GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) | 100 mg |
Gingko biloba extract (lead)(std. to 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones) | 60 mg |
alpha-Lipoic Acid | 50 mg |
Other Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose Sodium, coating (hypromellose, polyethylene glycol, hydroxypropyl cellulose), Crospovidone, magnesium stearate and silica | |
Directions: Take 2 tablets daily with a meal, as a dietary supplement or as directed by a healthcare professional. |
Focus Formula is cohesive, but some dosages are lackluster.
Most of the ingredients support Focus Formula’s mission of boosting concentration and sharpening focus; but the dosages of some of them make us pause and mutter “Fairydusting.”
Let’s take a deeper look to see what’s really going on with this brain-booster.
- Soy Lecithin. An outstanding nutrient for brain structure support, but 200 mg = too low. Cheap standalone soy lecithin contains at least 1200 mg! Also, not everybody is on-board with soy-based nutrients.
- Caffeine. A big 200 mg dose; relies on the power of caffeine for mental alertness. Oh yeah, caffeine will energize focus… but it’s not really a nootropic.
- Vitamin D. Good for the bones & immunity, and they are using the preferred D3 form, but Vitamin D is NOT a nootropic. We’d rather get it via a multivitamin or a standalone supplement.
- GABA. It’s a type of neurotransmitter that modulates “fight-or-flight” signals. It may help with mood balance, anxiety and stress, which in turn may indirectly boost mental performance.
Bacopa Monnieri, 100 mg
We love Bacopa monnieri. In fact, it’s ranked #3 on our Best 5 Nootropics list. Bacopa has the potential to do a lot for overall brainpower, showing benefits for learning, memory, mood balance and stress regulation. But Bacopa’s full potential can’t be reached at 100 mg. It’s not a terrible dose, but a bit low, especially considering it’s not standardized for the bacoside compounds that bring its brain benefits.
DMAE, 125 mg
A great pick for focus, attention & concentration; DMAE is another one of our top-ranked nootropics. The 125 mg dosage is about half what you might find in an El Cheapo standalone DMAE supplement, but it’s not a bad level considering Focus Formula is a complex. Plus, the mind-sharpening nootropic nature of DMAE fits in very well with the “Focus” angle of this supplement.
Panax Ginseng Root, 400 mg
The highest dosage in the list; Ginseng sits strong at 400 mg. Ginseng is a flat-out performance booster, but it is usually seen in the context of physical performance enhancement. Its anti-stress and energizing benefits do translate well to a nootropic stack; it may aid with mental energy and mental agility.
Gingko Biloba Extract, 60 mg
Another ingredient too low for the formula; but at least it’s standardized to 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones. That’s a strong guarantee that the herb’s active nootropic compounds are present in decent levels. Despite the quality standardization, we think 60 mg is simply too low to deliver Ginkgo biloba‘s legendary brain-circulation and memory benefits.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid, 50 mg
ALA is best known for its “Univeral Antioxidant” properties for brain protection. It’s not a brain booster, but it seems to help to preserve cognitive function. Unfortunately, these benefits are only backed in geriatric populations who are facing dementia and age-related decline — and the 50 mg in this complex seems way to low to unlock that benefit.
Formula Analysis
Focus Formula is an interesting combination of nootropics, including many on-point choices.
But we couldn’t help but notice some of the dosages are incredibly low. Primarily Soy Lecithin (200 mg) & ALA (50 mg) were off-putting.
Considering you can pick up a cheap soy lecithin supplement from the store that is over 4x stronger than what Formula Focus gives, we’re not exactly sure what they were thinking here.
But hey, at least they standardized their Gingko for quality… but forgot about standardizing their Bacopa.
Further, we must point out that Focus Formula relies on caffeine for an illusory “mental boost.” Sure, it’ll help with alertness, but may be accompanied by a crash and those damn jitters. Smart nootropic formulators will pair caffeine with L-Theanine, which helps take the edge off.
Despite their big hiccups, Focus Formula looks good to help with mental energy & brain fatigue with a side dish of focus & attention. But ingredients seem to be added just for appearances’ sake, or to strengthen their claim of “clinically studied.”
Though it works to some extend, at the end of the day, Focus Formula’s self-proclaimed “most powerful and complete support formula ever developed” status is just way overblown.
Focus Formula Benefits
Focus Formula’s ingredients are pretty well-suited to support better focus & concentration. The juicy 200 mg of caffeine will bring predictable benefits to mental energy and alertness. We think there may be some support for improved attention as well, thanks to the DMAE.
Who Takes It?
Mass-market shoppers. Focus Formula seems like an impulse-buy product. You go into a vitamin store chain looking for protein powder, and you walk out with a brain-booster that has cool packaging. Informed bio-hackers would seek out far better nootropic stacks, and wouldn’t be taken in by Focus Formula’s razzle dazzle.
Any Side Effects?
Probably jitters, due to the big dose of caffeine. Focus Formula also warns against using it if your blood pressure is on the high-side. Aside from that, the ingredients don’t warrant much in the way of side effects; should be well-tolerated.
Focus Formula Summary
Pros
- Focus potential. Seems to support focus & concentration as promised.
- Some good nootropic choices. Those that work are combined well here.
- Money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it within 30 days, get your cash back.
- Standardization. Ginseng & ginkgo are standardized for quality.
Cons
- Some low dosages. At least 4 out of the 9 ingredients are questionable.
- Fairy dust. Some ingredients are “fairy dusted” on for the sake of appearance.
- Empty promise. It is not the most powerful brain supplement on the market.
- Caffeine. Relies too much on it for (jittery) mental alertness.
- Some off-base ingredients. Vitamin D is great… but why is it here?
Pricing & Buying Info
- 1 bottle: $26.99
- Available online and in retail stores
Final Word on Focus Formula
Focus Formula is just OK. There’s some pretty good thought behind the formula’s nootropic choices, but they are undone by some low dosing and a reliance on caffeine. Still Focus Formula will probably bring some mental performance enhancements… just nothing as grandiose as the “the most powerful and most complete EVER” nootropic benefits they claim.
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