Bar None

I spent a lot of late nights in college with a mug of Yerba Mate, studying at my computer. My friends introduced me to it as an alternative for coffee.

Trying Sir Inkwell’s Orange and Mango Yerba Mate next. Like the Hibiscus, it’s made with ashwagandha, reishi, and, ginseng promoting steady focus and energy.

What’s inside:
•Organic ingredients
•Supports focus and clarity
•No crash

This is not medical advice, and I am not a medical professional. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking herbal supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or are taking medication.

I wanted to thank Skinergy for sending their promotional box to me. They are a women-owned business like many of the others I work with. And this case is different than my usual functional drink choices, as it includes collagen. I tried their green apple flavor, which is light without the syrupy sweetness. What caught my eye the most about this brand was how effortless, clean, and soft it feels, which certain women can associate with. I’m wishing Skinergy’s team continued success.



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SoBe (short for South Beach Beverage Company) is an American beverage brand famously known for its herbal-infused teas, elixirs, and iconic lizard mascot. Founded in 1995, the brand rode a massive wave of late-90s and early-2000s "New Age" nostalgia. PepsiCo still maintains the brand registration, but products mostly vanished from grocery and gas station shelves around 2017.

Ginseng, a Chinese and Korean traditional medicine, is an adaptogen believed to help the body handle stress, boost energy, and support overall immune function.
Ginseng was a premium ingredient in SoBe from the very beginning. Their first drink, SoBe Black Tea 3G, launched in 1995 with ginseng, guarana, and ginkgo.

I remember reaching into the gas station cooler for their Piña Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri flavors, then flipping the cap over to find phrases like “Can you smell what the lizards are cooking?”
SoBe was a lifestyle, not just a brand.

There weren't influencers back then, but I was a walking advertisement, telling stories with SoBe in my hand about energy, focus, and social rituals.

Whether on the early-2000s to current-day 2026, brain craze companies like Bar None, Alani, and Poppi are not solely brands, but part of the culture.

This is not medical advice, and I am not a medical professional. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking herbal supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or are taking medication.

Before today's obsession with electrolytes, probiotics, and protein drinks, there was Ginkgo biloba.

The late '90s and early 2000s were the "Brain Boost" craze. Research from Europe helped fuel a massive boom in the U.S., with consumers spending billions on Ginkgo capsules, teas, tinctures, and extracts marketed to support memory and a mental boost.

I still remember buying Ginkgo biloba at Meijer while I was in college. The blister packs held liquid capsules that were a standout Crayola green.

The First Source Bank building on Main Street in downtown Fort Wayne is still decorated with burgundy and gold Ginkgo leaf wallpaper in the inside common areas. This is a reminder of the late '90s and early 2000s "Brain Boost" craze.

Biohacking: Then & Now is the brainchild of Bar None, examining the evolution of wellness trends from the late 1990s and early 2000s to today’s biohacking movement.

This is not medical advice, and I am not a medical professional. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking herbal supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or are taking medication.