Focus Factor Review

Focus Factor sounds like a good option if you’re looking for a supplement to help you feel switched on and attentive. But is it as effective as it sounds? We study its ingredients and put it to the test in this Focus Factor review.

Focus Factor is a US-based brand that focuses on nootropics, and has been creating brain boosting supplements for over two decades.

Focus Factor’s main offering is their pill-based ‘Original’ nootropic supplement – specifically designed to improve concentration, focus and memory. They also have an ‘Extra Strength’ version and now a new ‘Max Strength’ version. (Edit: Currently, June 2024, the official site does not offer the Max Strength option.)

Nootropics can be pretty incredible at refining our focus and attention, and even the health and longevity of our brains. We’ve been fortunate enough to trial some of the best nootropics on the market – but where does Focus Factor position amongst the elite?

Here, we put it through its paces with a hard look at the ingredient profile of their Original version, as well as first-hand experience to trial just how effective it really is.

The Focus Factor Range

Focus Factor have a streamlined product range, focusing (pardon the pun) solely on cognition.

They offer their Original Factor Focus, which is in the spotlight in this review; a more enhanced, ‘Max Strength’ version, which has some higher dosages here and there, plus a couple more additions; a ‘Brain and Vision’ version that supports eye health, and their ‘Focus Factor Gummies’.

This is actually pretty unusual for a nootropic supplement brand to do.

Most focus on perfecting one product and giving a broad range of benefits, whereas Focus Factor seem to attempt to target particular use cases with each of their different supplements.

They used to have a range aimed at gamers and one aimed at gym goers, and even a children’s range – though it seems since we first wrote this article in 2022, they’ve followed suit and slimmed it down. I think this was a good move.

After all, us customers hate feeling like we’re being sold to, and it seemed their range was trying to market to too many different audiences. The crux of it is, it’s either a decent nootropic or it isn’t, no matter your lifestyle.

So a good move there from Focus Factor.

Focus Factor Benefits

OK, let’s take a look at the OG of their product line. Focus Factor, as the name suggests, is very much aimed at improving focus and concentration. They also claim it helps improve memory.

This is all well and good, but even if it is successful in this, it makes no effort to alleviate anxiety, low mood, or stress. We’re used to seeing nootropics work towards all these things, so it’s disappointing to see Focus Factor hasn’t matched them.

Now it is important to note that like most nootropics, the claims made by Focus Factor are not evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). They don’t need to be.

However, it does mean that we need to know our stuff when it comes to ingredients, and hope that it’s been studied further than the company itself.. That being said, Focus Factor have conducted a very promising double-blind, placebo-controlled study…

This study was completed in 2011 by the Cognitive Research Corporation (and was funded by Focus Factor). It concluded that Focus Factor did indeed improve memory, concentration and focus, and that it was well tolerated by users – in other words, there were very few (if any) side effects.

This was a pretty limited data set though, with just 96 participants in total, 49 taking the placebo and 47 taking Focus Factor. Some of the participant data was removed due to lack of follow-up and non-compliance with the study.

The results look promising, it’s just a shame that this couldn’t be rolled out to a greater number of participants to further solidify the claims.

Focus Factor Ingredients

Let’s take a look at the ingredients found in each serving of Focus Factor Original. The first thing to note is that each serving is four capsules a day, so a single bottle will last around 6 weeks.

Four capsules in one serving is quite a lot. We’ve seen up to six in other nootropics, but most are lower.

They also suggest you can go up as high as eight per day, so the doses shown below could be doubled if you feel you need to take more. (Edit: This has since been removed by the site, which now advises not to exceed the recommended dose of four capsules a day.) For our testing, we stuck to four capsules per day.

Focus Factor actually has a very comprehensive list of natural ingredients – and if nothing else, it makes for a pretty impressive multivitamin supplement.

You get a pretty well-rounded vitamin B complex, which you would expect in a good nootropic – we’re talking B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12 – as well as vitamins A, C, D and E.

It also has a good mineral compound with Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese and Chromium all included.

So far so good, but nothing incredible from a nootropic standpoint other than the energy giving vitamin B complex. We’ll continue digging…

First off, we see DMAE bitartrate. This is a very welcome addition as it is well-known to support memory functions.

There are some questionable inclusions such as L-Glutamine and grape seed, but there are also some fantastic little treasures in here. Because the list is extensive, I’ll save you the in-depth science and simply run through what they bring to the table.

Let’s start with Panax Ginseng, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects which work well at improving brain function and reducing fatigue, which is perfect for our focus. It has other benefits too, including regulating our blood sugar levels.

Next we’re looking at Ginkgo Biloba, which is also rich in antioxidants and good at reducing inflammation. It’s been used extensively to help with memory, and also widens our blood vessels, which improves circulation.

(This is why it’s always important to speak with your healthcare provider if you have any medical conditions, as although the effects of Gingko Biloba, for example, would be helpful for many, for some these effects could cause implications.)

L-Tyrosine shows real promise in a decent nootropic, which is why we see it often. It’s understood to help with memory, focus and how alert we are, as well as prevent cognitive decline caused by physical stressors. Because it increases the neurotransmitters in our brains, it’s also believed to help with low mood.

L-Choline is a big one here. Choline is actually an essential for neurodevelopment. It has much to do with an important neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which plays a key role in how we store things in our brain, and our muscle control.

Alpha-GPC works similarly to L-Choline. In fact, this is a heavy hitter in NooCube, too.

It’s fantastic for that acetylcholine neurotransmitter that helps optimize our memory, and also does a good job of clearing that productivity-destroying brain fog, leaving you to enjoy better concentration.

Boron – often referred to as ‘food for the brain’. Without it, we feel lethargic, and find it more difficult to learn and retain information, and generally feel mentally sluggish.

Supplementing with Boron means we enjoy better motor control (how we move, making it great for athletes), how we complete tasks, and our short-term memory and focus.

Inositol is an unusual inclusion – we don’t often see this in the nootropics we review. Focus Factor have added it with the understanding that it could help with the ‘glue’ (glial cells) of our nervous system, and the nervous system itself. It appears to help with anxiety, depression, and even compulsive disorders.

A brave addition, I’d say. My advice is if you’re experiencing such symptoms, I’d much rather you had a conversation with your healthcare provider to discuss how you’re feeling.

Algae Oil Powder is another funky addition, but I kind of like it. It’s believed to improve thinking abilities and our physical performance. However, we need much more clinical research to be conducted before we can confirm these benefits.

So those are the biggest inclusions from Focus Factor. They’ve also thrown in some relatively helpful additions that go by the names of Manganese, Selenium, Chromium, Molybdenum, and Iodine.

Due to the iron content, Focus Factor Original is not suitable for children. Some of the ingredients also include Fish and Soy, so it’s not vegan or vegetarian friendly.

Pitting it against other nootropics, Focus Factor has a decent ingredient profile with some solid ingredients known for their cognitive benefits. I do think the list looks more potent than it really is – I prefer a punchier, smarter ingredients profile like that of NooCube, which focuses on quality over quantity.

Of course, if you do take Focus Factor and feel only slight improvement, then you could opt for the Extra Strength version. I’ve compared lists and, for quite a jump in price, you’ll get:

	Original Dose	Extra Strength Dose	Difference
Vitamin D	2.5 μg	5 μg	2.5 μg
Vitamin C	250 mg	280 mg	30 mg
Vitamin B2	1.7 mg	2.1 mg	0.4 mg
Vitamin B3	35 mg	32 mg	7 mg
Iron	5 mg	14 mg	9 g
Copper	400 μg	500 μg	100 μg
Caffeine	–	100 mg	100 mg
L-Theanine	–	50 mg	50 mg

I do not think this is worth the increase in price. Focus Factor would’ve been better off having their Original version with the max strengths (after all, if we’re going to spend our money on a nootropic, we want to get the most out of it), and then offer a caffeine-free option.

The positive spin to this is that they do offer their product with and without caffeine, which is helpful to those of us who are sensitive to it.

Taking Focus Factor

There were two of us testing Focus Factor Original. We both took the supplement for a period of 6 weeks, getting through two 180-capsule bottles each. (Edit: They no longer do 180-capsule bottles, only 60.)

Taking the supplement is pretty easy – you take all four capsules at once with food. Whilst four is a lot, at least we don’t need to take them throughout the day and plan for it.

There are no stimulants in the Original Focus Factor, which is great for those who are averse to caffeine. However, I must admit that I prefer nootropics that give an instant energy boost in addition to long-lasting energy sources – and Focus Factor does neither, unless you opt for Max Strength.

Both us testers write a fair amount each day, and found that our focus was better than usual in the afternoon and although this is completely anecdotal evidence, we both felt it for sure.

As for memory, this was harder to quantify and neither of us had any noticeable change in this regard.

One of the best things going for Focus Factor is the lack of side effects associated with it.

Neither of us experienced any negative side effects whatsoever, and the study data also backs this up. In this study, the placebo group actually reported the same or more side effects than the control group, with the exception of headaches, which was around double for those taking Focus Factor than those taking the placebo.

Does Focus Factor Work?

It’s hard to say for sure how effective Focus Factor is. Even the independent study that was carried out saw the placebo group improve in the cognitive tests they carried out. That being said, those taking Focus Factor did see an improvement.

Us testers also felt more focused when taking Focus Factor. The impact wasn’t immediate, but after a few days of taking it, we both felt positive effects – particularly during the afternoon, when I personally often experience a bit of a slump in productivity (frustratingly!).

However, I can get largely similar results by drinking coffee after lunch. The result may not be quite so long-lasting, and I’m of course mindful of not drinking caffeine too late in the day, but it is a much cheaper alternative.

I also prefer the feeling I get from other nootropics such as NooCube and VyvaMind.

What Focus Factor really has going for it though is its vitamin and mineral complex. This is almost second to none compared to other nootropics.

It’s not necessarily needed in a nootropic, but if you don’t want to worry about crossovers with other multivitamin supplements, and would prefer an all-in-one solution, then Focus Factor is ideal in this regard.

But… there are better nootropic supplements available.

Alternatives To Focus Factor

Thankfully, we now live in a world where nootropics research is being invested into at pace, and more readily available than ever before.

As a result, we now have more and more truly wonderful options in our reach.

Our number one preferred alternative to Focus Factor is NooCube. It is the most complete nootropic we have tested, and you can read all about it in our full review.

It is made from all-natural ingredients and is suitable for pretty much all cognitive improvement goals.

NooCube doesn’t need to contain caffeine either to give excellent results, and that’s why we love it so much.

Even without stimulants, it very successfully targets mood, stress and anxiety, and even improves energy levels.

Verdict

Focus Factor has a high-quality compound of vitamins and minerals. It also contains some truly helpful brain-enhancing ingredients. The trouble is that only half of the usual nootropic benefits are tackled.

We’d prefer to see more focus on the anxiety and mood boosting elements that we see in many other brands. However, if memory and concentration are your main aim, then Focus Factor should see you good.

Start off with the Original version and if you feel you need more then try the extra strength and max strength options. Or just go straight for something like NooCube and get that full nootropic benefit right from the off.