Goop, the wellness brand founded by Gwenyth Paltrow, sent summit attendees with bags of freebies worth more than $2,000, but experts claim the products aren't worth the high price tag and could be “useless.”
Last month, the brand hosted its annual In Goop Health wellness summit at the company's headquarters in Santa Monica, California — an event that cost $1,200 for single-day admission and up to $4,000 for a “weekend pass.”
At the end of the summit, which included an “Ask Me Anything” session with the founder herself, Goop sent the 130 attendees home with goody bags filled with supplements, pubic oil, an anti-aging serum worth hundreds of dollars and a biodegradable dog. Bags.
All in all, the value of the swag bag is estimated at more than $2,200.
Despite their high price tag, experts told DailyMail.com that most products aren't worth it.
As part of the takeaway meal, a vitamin spray promises up to three times the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, a blend of essential oils claims to 'soften and condition' pubic hair, and a plant-based lubricant costs twice as much. as alternatives.
But dietitians and doctors called the products 'useless' and warned of unwanted side effects.
During her wellness retreat earlier last month, actress and influencer Gwenyth Paltrow gave away gift bags worth more than $2,200
A two-ounce vitamin C and zinc spray, Zinc Up spray, made by online supplement store nbpure, claims it provides “daily immune support that packs a punch” with its 50 milligrams of vitamin C and 5 milligrams of zinc in every five sprays. portion.
The label on the bottle, which costs $17, indicates that people can take five sprays three to five times a day, which amounts to a maximum of 250 milligrams of vitamin C and 25 milligrams of zinc.
This is more than three times the recommended serving of 75 milligrams of vitamin C and more than twice the recommended amount of zinc, namely eight milligrams for women and 11 milligrams for men.
However, supplements and products like the vitamin spray are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so there is no way to determine how much – or what – is in the product.
Vitamin C is a crucial nutrient that the body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen. It also helps protect cells from disease and supports immune system health.
Although rare, consuming too much of it can lead to digestive complaints such as diarrhea and nausea.
The adult daily limit for zinc — which supports immune health and metabolism — is 40 milligrams, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Ingesting too much can lead to nausea, dizziness, headache, stomach upset, vomiting and loss of appetite.
Dr. Carolyn Williams, a registered dietitian in Alabama and co-host of the Happy Eating podcast, told DailyMail.com that vitamin C is crucial for supporting immune health, but most Americans get enough of it through their diet.
“Even if you're not eating the best diet, vitamin C is quite easy to obtain,” she said. “It's always best if you can get it from food.”
Zinc Up Vitamin C and Zinc Spray claims to provide 50 milligrams of vitamin C and five milligrams of zinc per serving and can be taken up to five times a day. This means consumers are exceeding the recommended daily limit by up to five times for both nutrients
Gynecologists have warned women not to place fragrances near their vaginas as it can lead to irritation and yeast infections
According to the NIH, one medium orange contains 78 percent of the daily value of vitamin C. A half cup of sweet red pepper contains 106 percent and a half cup of broccoli contains 57 percent.
An orange or head of broccoli typically costs about $1, while the spray costs $17.
Because the body cannot retain excessive amounts of vitamin C, the extra amount is filtered out through the urine, which Dr. Williams could make a supplement like Zinc Up 'useless'.
She said: 'Any excess literally goes down the toilet. This is not something you need long term.”
Zinc is found in foods such as meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds and nuts. For example, a serving of six oysters provides 33 milligrams of zinc, three times the recommended value for men and four times the value for women.
Dr. Williams said excessive zinc can have a counterproductive effect and reduce immunity because it reduces how much the body absorbs magnesium. It has also been shown to increase LDL (bad cholesterol) cholesterol levels and make you more susceptible to infections.
She added: 'Zinc is not something you want to take for long periods of time.'
The dietitian recommended limiting the intake of zinc supplements to a maximum of four to six weeks.
About the same size as the spray, but at three times the price, Fur Oil is marketed as an “essential oil blend for pubic hair” that is “brilliant for those who shave or wax.”
The 2.5-ounce blend, which retails for $52 on Goop's website, is made from essential oils such as grapeseed oil, lemon peel oil, peppermint oil, lavender sage oil and jojoba oil – made from a seed of the Simmondsia chinensis plant.
The product promises to 'soften and condition' pubic hair with vitamins A and E and 'softens pores and ingrown hairs with tea tree oil.
However, gynecologists continually warn against placing scented products near the vagina, as they can cause irritation.
In a viral TikTok, Florida-based gynecologist Dr. Staci Tanouye that women should avoid essential oils in the pubic area.
She explained that essential oils were “just like any other scent: a constant irritant.”
'So it can be irritating to the skin, especially sensitive vulvar skin. Don't do it,” she said.
Dr. Christina DiFernando, a nurse and skin care expert in Seattle, told DailyMail.com, “I wouldn't recommend putting essential oils on or near your vaginal area.”
Dr. DiFernando said these oils can disrupt the vagina's pH balance, acid balance and neutrality. If this balance is disturbed, it can lead to yeast infections, a burning sensation during urination or sex, a strong odor and vaginal discharge.
Goop's goody bag also focuses on sexual wellness, a market that has exploded for men and women in recent years.
Inside the bag was Personal Fav's Whet Plant-Based Sex Serum, a water-based lubricant for men and women with “natural” ingredients such as aloe vera juice and extracts of chamomile, ginseng, horny goat weed and hemp seed.
It costs $24 for one fluid ounce, more than double that of other water-based and herbal blends of personal lubricants.
Horny Goat Weed, also known as Epimedium, is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine and also known as 'herbal Viagra'. Some research suggests it can treat erectile dysfunction, which affects 30 million American men. In Chinese medicine it is usually mixed with other herbs to form a tonic.
Research suggests that the chemical icariin, found in horny goat weed, inhibits the protein phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which has been linked to erectile dysfunction.
PDE5 inhibitors increase the blood flow to the penis necessary for an erection. However, there is limited human data to confirm this.
Goop claims that the lube is made from only plant-based ingredients. However, most lubes are usually vegan. Some brands may contain animal products such as beeswax extract and glycerin, but there is also vegetable glycerin.
However, other vegan lubricants cost half the cost of Whet.
Goop held its first wellness summit in 2017 and has since faced criticism from medical experts for its questionable products and inaccurate claims. In a 2020 complaint from advertising maker Watchdog Truth in Advertising, Inc. it was alleged that the company had made more than 50 false and misleading claims
In 2018, Goop agreed to pay $145,000 to settle a false advertising lawsuit after California health officials sued the brand over baseless health claims that its essential oils cured depression and jade and quartz eggs promoted sexual health.
The company admitted no wrongdoing.