Let's be real for a second. Spending nearly twenty bucks on a single drink feels a little bit like a fever dream. If you’ve stepped foot in an Erewhon Market in Los Angeles lately, you’ve seen the literal lines of people waiting for a plastic cup filled with pink swirls and "skin-supporting" ingredients. It's the Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie. It’s a mouthful. It's also everywhere.
Since its debut, the internet has basically been obsessed with learning how to make hailey bieber smoothie at home because, frankly, most of us don't live in Malibu and even if we did, our wallets have limits. But is it just a glorified strawberry milkshake? Not quite. There is a specific science—or at least a very intentional curation of supplements—that makes this thing taste like a cloud while promising to make your face glow like a lightbulb.
The Anatomy of the Strawberry Glaze
The magic isn't just in the fruit. It’s in the layering. If you just toss everything into a Vitamix and hit "pulse," you’re going to end up with a beige-pink sludge that tastes fine but looks nothing like the aesthetic masterpiece you see on TikTok.
First, you have to talk about the collagen. Hailey partnered with Vital Proteins for the official version, specifically using their vanilla collagen peptides. This provides the protein base but also that hit of Madagascar vanilla that masks the "earthy" taste of the other additions. Then comes the hyaluronic acid. Specifically, the recipe uses NeoCell Hyaluronic Acid Berry Liquid. Most people think hyaluronic acid is just for serums you rub on your cheeks, but ingestible versions are meant to support cellular hydration from the inside out.
The base of the drink relies on almond milk—Malk is the brand usually cited if you want the "authentic" Erewhon experience—and a blend of frozen strawberries, avocado (for healthy fats and creaminess), and dates for sweetness. You won’t find refined white sugar here. The sweetness is heavy but natural.
Why the Sea Moss Matters
Don't skip the sea moss gel. It sounds gross. It kind of looks like translucent jelly. But sea moss is a massive part of why this smoothie costs so much at the store. It’s a nutrient-dense seaweed that contains 92 of the 102 minerals the human body needs. It acts as a natural thickener. Without it, the smoothie is thin. With it, the texture becomes almost like a soft-serve ice cream.
Getting your hands on high-quality sea moss can be tricky. You want the gold or purple varieties, and it needs to be cleaned thoroughly to avoid a salty, "ocean" aftertaste. If you're making this at home, you can find jars of prepared sea moss gel at health food stores, or you can soak raw Irish moss and blend it with water yourself. Honestly? Just buy the pre-made gel. It saves an hour of scrubbing sand out of seaweed.
How to Make Hailey Bieber Smoothie Without the LA Price Tag
Ready to actually build it? You need to prep your glass first. This is the step everyone misses. You don't just pour. You decorate.
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- Grab a tall glass and smear a generous spoonful of strawberry glaze (or a high-quality strawberry preserve with no added sugar) around the bottom and sides. You want those streaks.
- Add a dollop of coconut cream—specifically the thick part from the top of a chilled can—to the bottom of the glass.
- In your blender, combine 1 cup of frozen strawberries, 1/4 of a ripe avocado, 2 pitted Medjool dates, a splash of maple syrup (optional if the dates are sweet enough), a scoop of vanilla collagen, a tablespoon of sea moss gel, and about a cup of unsweetened almond milk.
- Blend until it is ridiculously smooth. If it's too thick, add more milk. If it's too thin, add more frozen berries.
- Pour the pink mixture over the coconut cream and strawberry streaks.
The result is a marbled effect that looks like a sunset. It's beautiful. It's also incredibly filling because of the fats from the avocado and coconut. You aren't going to be hungry twenty minutes after drinking this.
Does It Actually Help Your Skin?
This is where things get a bit nuanced. Nutritionists like Kelly LeVeque have long championed the "Fab Four" (protein, fat, fiber, and greens) to stabilize blood sugar. Hailey’s smoothie hits the protein and fat marks perfectly. By keeping your blood sugar stable, you reduce insulin spikes, which are a major trigger for acne and inflammation.
The collagen and hyaluronic acid are great, but don't expect a facelift in a jar. Research on oral collagen is promising but often requires consistent intake over months to see a change in skin elasticity. It's a supplement, not a miracle. However, replacing a high-sugar breakfast or a processed snack with a whole-food smoothie like this is undeniably better for your complexion over the long haul.
One thing people get wrong: they use flavored strawberry yogurt. Don't do that. The original recipe relies on the fats from the coconut cream and avocado to provide the richness. Adding dairy or sweetened yogurt changes the glycemic index and honestly ruins the "glaze" vibe.
The Cost Breakdown
If you buy all these ingredients at once, you’re going to spend about $80 to $100. It's a sticker shock. But here’s the math. That $100 investment makes about 15 to 20 smoothies. That brings your per-drink cost down to about $5. Compare that to the $19 plus tax and tip at the store.
- Vital Proteins Collagen: $27
- Sea Moss Gel: $20
- Hyaluronic Acid Liquid: $15
- Organic Strawberries & Produce: $20
- Coconut Cream & Almond Milk: $10
It's an investment in your pantry. If you're serious about the routine, the "home-made" route is the only way to make it sustainable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most people fail because they use room-temperature ingredients. Warm avocado is a texture nightmare. Make sure your strawberries are rock-hard frozen and your almond milk is ice cold.
Another tip? The dates. If your dates are dry and wrinkly, they won't blend. They’ll leave little brown chunks in your teeth. Soak them in hot water for five minutes before tossing them in the blender. It makes a world of difference.
And for the love of all things holy, use a high-powered blender. A cheap dorm-room blender will struggle with the frozen fruit and the thick sea moss, leaving you with a chunky mess rather than a silky glaze.
Taking the Next Step for Your Glow
If you want to maximize the "Hailey Bieber" effect, consistency is everything. You can't drink one smoothie and expect your skin to look like it’s been filtered by a professional photographer. Try integrating this into your morning routine three times a week.
Start by sourcing a clean sea moss gel and a reputable collagen powder. Once you have the "expensive" staples in your cabinet, the rest is just a quick trip to the produce aisle. Keep your coconut cream in the fridge so it stays thick, and always blend on high for at least 60 seconds to ensure the avocado fully emulsifies into the milk. Your skin—and your bank account—will thank you for making the switch to the DIY version.