Honestly, this whole skincare experiment started off unintentionally. I hadn’t specifically gone out to buy Goopglow (at $60 for a 30-day supply, I needed proof you’d get Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow‘s skin before committing my cash), but when a 5-day pack of the skin-boosting powder came free with a subscription to Goop magazine, I couldn’t resist trying it out. Goopglow is designed to “provide nutritional support for healthy skin and its antioxidant protective systems,” according to its packaging. But let’s be real: ‘Glow’ is in the name, so really, I was hoping for skin as luminescent as an opal by Day 5. Unrealistic? Maybe. But I went for it anyway, starry-eyed and all.

Goopglow’s a lot like making Kool-Aid, only it’s separated into single servings for each day. Open a silver packet, stir into water until dissolved (which takes a lot of mashing with a spoon to break up clumps of powder, FYI), and sip. Room temp is optimal, the box reads, but ice is okay. So I iced it up.

For something with ‘goop’ in the name — and endorsed by someone known for serious clean eating — I expected to down it reluctantly, like cough medicine. One quick chug, chased with more water, and I’d power through. Only it tastes delicious — like nectarine-infused water. It’s not too sugary, but it’s just sweet enough to make you savor it. Only you shouldn’t take too long, or the powder will start to separate on the bottom of the glass. And it’s a pain to scrub off the cups.

My Reaction to a Week of Goopglow-ing:

Five days later, I felt…like I really enjoyed the drink. My skin felt a little dewier and less dry on its own (miraculous, considering this frigid winter we’re having), but the REAL benefit was its immune system boost. My husband came home with a seriously sore throat and was sick for days. Out of the two of us, I tend to get 4x as many colds as he does, so I braced myself. Each night, I’d get a scratch in my throat as I slept; in the morning, I drank Goopglow, and the sore throat would start to subside. Somehow, I avoided the cold completely. For once.

In the name of science, here’s a before and after, with absolutely no makeup on, so you can take in every dark circle, blemish, and mole (you’re welcome). As you can see, I kind of look…the same? Maybe it’s the lighting, but my skin actually looks a little drier afterward, though it didn’t feel that way.

The immunity boost makes sense: The drink’s loaded with 833% of your daily value of vitamin C. It’s also packed with vitamin E (167%) and contains grape seed extract, CoQ10, and Luetin. These ingredients are supposed to help neutralize free radicals, boost your antioxidant protective systems, and the creation of collagen in your body…though the package also notes these statements weren’t vetted by the FDA. Obviously, I don’t definitively know that the drink prevented me from getting sick, but it sure seemed like it helped.

The Verdict:

I’m not a doctor, so I can really only speak to how I felt after taking the drink. Better skin, yes; Jennifer Lopez glowy? Nah. But then again, I only took it for five days. Maybe one month in, I’d be radiant, like the GPs and J.Los of the world. For now, I’ll stick to taking a good multivitamin, wearing sunscreen, and drinking lots of water.