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What to Look For in a Hydration Supplement: Sugar-Free & 87+ Trace Minerals

Plain water hydrates you, but it doesn't replenish what your body actually loses through sweat, illness, or a long day without enough fluid. The body sometimes depletes minerals and nutrients faster than water alone can restore.

That's the gap a hydration supplement is meant to close. Hydration supplements can add sodium, potassium, magnesium, and other minerals back to your diet.

Buoy Hydration Drops are a sugar-free, unflavored hydration supplement built to fit into drinks you already have on hand. With a quick squeeze, you can instantly boost the nutritional value of your beverages.
Zero Sugar, Sweeteners, or Artificial Flavors
87+ Ocean-Sourced Trace Minerals
Dissolves Instantly Into Any Drink
No Measuring, No Mixing, No Guesswork
Hydrates 64% Better*View Clinical Study
Hydrates 64% Better* View Clinical Study

What a Hydration Supplement Actually Does

A hydration supplement delivers a concentrated dose of the minerals your body loses through sweat, illness, or heat exposure, especially sodium and potassium. Plain water doesn't naturally provide minerals in that same amount.

The difference matters most in specific moments:
  • A long workout
  • A stomach bug
  • A hot afternoon outside.
Learn when to actually use electrolytes, including which situations call for supplementation and which don't.
When Your Body Is Asking for More Than Water
A few patterns tend to point toward needing more than water alone:
  • Fatigue, dry skin, or brain fog that doesn't resolve with more water
  • Frequent headaches, especially later in the day
  • An active lifestyle, physically demanding job, or regular time in hot climates
  • Feeling thirsty even after drinking what seems like enough water
  • Managing a chronic condition that affects fluid or sodium balance
Thirst isn't always the clearest signal. Afternoon fatigue or a lingering low-energy feeling can show up well before you actually feel thirsty, and both are common indicators that water alone isn't covering what your body needs.

Knowing how to increase electrolytes the right way can help close that gap more effectively.
How to Select the Right Hydration Supplement
Sugar content, mineral sourcing, and format all affect how well a hydration supplement actually works for you.

FactorWhy It Matters
Sugar and sweetener contentNot required for absorption in everyday use; adds unnecessary calories
Mineral sourcingNaturally sourced minerals tend to have higher bioavailability than lab-made isolates
FormatLiquid, powder, and tablet all fit different routines differently
Third-party testingConfirms the label matches what's actually in the product
Serving flexibilityA fixed single dose works differently than a low-dose, multiple-times-daily format
0 Sugar, 0 Sweeteners

Buoy's Hydration Supplements: What's in Each Formula

Buoy offers a few different formulas depending on how much sodium and hydration support you actually need.

Product Best For Price
Buoy Hydration Drops Everyday, frequent-use hydration from $30.03
Buoy Rescue Drops Intense sweat loss, heavier sodium needs from $34.65
Liquid Electrolyte Variety Kit Trying all six formulas together (Hydration, Rescue, Immunity, Energy, Brain Health, and Digestion) from $67.76


If you'd rather choose your own combination, build your own care kit to bundle multiple products together.
Real sea salt electrolytes, ocean-sourced rather than lab-made
87+ ionic trace minerals
B vitamin complex to support electrolyte function
Zero sugar, sweeteners, flavors, or artificial colors
Non-GMO and vegan
View Clinical Study
Hydration Drops
Hydration Drops
The original liquid electrolyte
from  $30.03
Save Up To $8.97
Learn More
Add to Cart
4.8 out of 5
4.8/5 from 5,517 Reviews
Hydration Drops
The original liquid electrolyte
Rescue Drops
Rescue Drops
6x stronger, high sodium electrolyte
from  $34.65
Save Up To $10.35
Learn More
Add to Cart
4.8 out of 5
4.8/5 from 810 Reviews
Rescue Drops
6x stronger, high sodium electrolyte
Liquid Electrolyte Variety Kit
Liquid Electrolyte Variety Kit
All six of our liquid electrolytes
from  $67.76
Save Up To $20.24
Add to Cart
4.7 out of 5
4.7/5 from 9,504 Reviews
Liquid Electrolyte Variety Kit
All six of our liquid electrolytes
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4.7 out of 5
4.7/5 out of 12,169 reviews

We didn't just go viral, we found our community

"I’ve been taking the hydration drops for a number of months now. I will never be without them. They make a help me drink more during the day, my nighttime leg cramps are completely gone, and I feel well hydrated all day. I recommend them to all my friends as they are convenient, tasteless, and highly effective."
"Bouy has been an essential part of my daily routine to help me stay hydrated. While results will be different for everyone, I can say that for me it has made a significant difference in helping to keep my lupus symptoms and medication side effects in check more so than when I am not using it."
"I’ve been chronically dehydrated for months to the point of my fingers being wrinkly from not pulling enough nutrients into my cells. Buoy has really made a difference already! I can tell when I’m drinking enough water because my fingers plump up!!"

Why Choose Buoy?

Buoy's Clinical Study

Liquid Format vs. Powder: Why It Matters

Most hydration supplements on the market are flavored powders that need their own glass of water. Buoy took a different approach by designing an unflavored liquid you can add directly to whatever you're already drinking (coffee, tea, a smoothie, water, etc.)

This isn't just a convenience preference. A liquid format that dissolves instantly means no separate mixing step, no dilution ratio to get right, and no changed taste in your existing drink. 

See How Buoy Stacks Up

Take a look at the key differences between Buoy and other hydration supplement options.

CategoryBuoyTypical Hydration Supplements
No Sugar, SweetenersYesOften no
87 Trace MineralsYesUsually limited to 2–6 core minerals
Harvested Salt SourceYesOften lab-manufactured isolates
BioavailabilityHighOften lower
Clinical StudyYesNot always disclosed
Add to Any DrinkYesUsually requires its own glass
Cost Per Serving$0.25$1.53+


Clinically proven to hydrate 64% better than water alone and 49% better than a leading competitor*

Building a Daily Hydration Habit

Buoy recommends 4 to 7 servings a day, spread throughout your existing drinks rather than taken all at once.
  • Morning: Kickstart hydration alongside your coffee or first glass of water.
  • Midday: Use a serving to avoid the afternoon energy dip.
  • Around exercise: Add a serving before or after a workout to support recovery.
  • Evening: A final serving before bed supports overnight muscle recovery.
  • Adjust as needed: Increase frequency during exercise, heat exposure, or illness.
Because it's hard to overdo a low-dose, unflavored liquid format, this approach fits into an existing routine rather than requiring you to build a new one around it.

How Buoy's Sugar-Free Electrolytes Stack Up

Compare Buoy with leading competitors:
No Sugar, Sweeteners
87 Trace Minerals
Harvested Salt Source
Bioavailable
Clinical Study
Add To Any Drink
Cost Per Serving
Highly
$0.25
Low
$1.53+

A Hydration Supplement for Chronic Illness Management

Electrolyte replenishment is already part of daily symptom management for many people living with POTS, dysautonomia, ME/CFS, IBS, autoimmune disorders, or Long COVID. Consistent, long-term hydration support matters more for this group than it does for occasional or workout-only use.

35% off for life
Approval in about 2 minutes
Covers POTS, dysautonomia, ME/CFS, Long COVID, IBS, autoimmune disorders, and 20+ other chronic conditions
Free shipping on every order
30-day guarantee
Visit Our Chronic Illness Support Page

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing the Right Hydration Supplement

What is the best hydration supplement?

The best option depends on what you're trying to solve. A low-sugar, low-dose formula fits everyday, frequent use, while a high-sodium, single-serving formula fits intense exercise or heavy sweat loss. Checking sugar content, mineral sourcing, and third-party testing matters more than chasing a single "best" label.

Do I need a hydration supplement every day?

Not necessarily, but a sugar-free, low-dose formula used daily isn't harmful for most healthy adults. It's worth being more selective with high-sodium, single-dose products meant for intense exercise or illness recovery.

If fatigue is part of what you're trying to solve alongside hydration, Buoy’s clean energy boost supplement is worth a look as a complementary option.

Can I add a hydration supplement to any drink?

It depends on the format. A liquid drop like Buoy is unflavored and designed specifically to blend into any beverage, hot or cold, without changing the taste. A flavored powder generally needs its own glass of water to dissolve properly.

Are hydration supplements safe?

Most are safe for healthy adults when used as directed, though it's worth checking:
  • Sugar and sweetener content, especially for anyone managing blood sugar
  • Sodium levels, especially for anyone with high blood pressure, kidney disease, or a heart condition
  • Any medication that affects sodium or potassium levels
If you have a specific health condition or take medication, check with a doctor before starting a new supplement.

Why isn't plain water enough on its own?

Water hydrates you, but it doesn't contain enough sodium, potassium, or magnesium to replace what's lost through heavy sweating, illness, or extended heat exposure. A hydration supplement adds those minerals back in a more concentrated dose than water provides naturally.

Can a hydration supplement help with headaches or fatigue?

Dehydration is a common contributor to both headaches and fatigue, and restoring lost minerals can help resolve dehydration-related symptoms. If these persist despite adequate hydration, they may be caused by something other than fluid loss, and it's worth checking with a doctor.

How many servings of a hydration supplement should I use per day?

Most everyday formulas are designed for multiple servings spread across the day rather than one large dose. A common range is:
  • 4 to 7 servings for a low-dose, frequent-use formula
  • 1 to 2 servings for a concentrated, high-sodium formula
Increasing frequency during exercise, heat exposure, or illness is common.

How is Buoy different from a typical sports drink?

Traditional sports drinks are often built around added sugar and carbohydrates to fuel longer workouts. Buoy skips sugar entirely and focuses on mineral density instead, including 87+ trace minerals in an unflavored liquid.

Disclaimer: Pricing is subject to change. Please view specific products for more detailed information about cost and availability.
“Electrolyte boost without any sweetness whatsoever.”
“Electrolyte boost you can add to coffee, tea, and even alcohol.”
“Drops supply calming energy and immune support.”
“Purposefully unflavored which means sugar-free, stevia, and sweetener-free.”
“Many of the 87 trace minerals in Buoy aren’t found in the conventional diet.”
“Anti-bloat liquid electrolyte drops."
“Buoy help broaden understanding of chronic illness.”
The world's first unflavored functional beverage additive.
“Buoy is also third-party tested, which isn’t common for electrolytes.”
Real People, Real Health Journeys