Sublingual Strips vs Capsules: A Direct Comparison
The short answer: a strip is a thin film that dissolves on your tongue in about 30 seconds, with nothing to swallow and no water. A capsule has to be swallowed, usually with a glass of water. If pills make you gag, or you have quietly stopped taking yours, a strip takes that problem away. If capsules don't bother you and you need large amounts per serving, capsules are still the better tool.
What a strip is
A XYNE strip is a thin film made from pullulan, a plant-based film former, carrying the actives for one formula. Place it on or under your tongue and it dissolves in about 30 seconds. There is nothing to chew, nothing to swallow, and no water needed.
"Sublingual" describes where you place it. It is not a claim about what the strip does once it has dissolved, and we make none. The one format claim we make is the one you can check: about 30 seconds to dissolve.
What a capsule asks of you
One thing, really: you have to swallow it. That sounds trivial until it isn't. Large capsules make a lot of adults gag. Some people split them, some open them, some stop taking them.
You also need water, so you need to be somewhere with water. None of this makes capsules bad. They are inexpensive, they hold large amounts, and they can be made to release slowly. They just ask more of you each day, and that is what wears a habit down.
What a strip asks of you
One strip on your tongue, about 30 seconds. That's it.
- Nothing to swallow: no capsule, no tablet
- No water needed: in the car, on a plane, at a desk
- No powder taste: no shaker bottle, no chalky aftertaste
- No sugar: every formula is sweetened with stevia
- Pocket-sized: a flat tin of 30 instead of a bottle
Strips vs capsules at a glance
| Factor | Capsules | XYNE strips |
|---|---|---|
| Something to swallow | Yes | No |
| Water needed | Usually | No |
| Time to take | A few seconds, plus a glass of water | Dissolves in about 30 seconds |
| Amount per serving | Can be large, hundreds of milligrams or more | Milligrams; a film holds far less |
| Slow-release versions | Available | No |
| Carrying it | A bottle | A flat tin |
| Best for | Large amounts, and anyone who is fine with pills | People who can't or won't swallow pills |
When a strip is the better choice
- You gag on capsules, or you have been cutting pills in half to get them down
- You have dropped a supplement routine because it felt like a chore
- You dislike the taste or texture of powders and shakes
- You want no sugar
- You want to take it away from home, without water
- The amount you want fits on a film: milligrams, not grams
When a capsule is still the right choice
- Large amounts: minerals like magnesium, or anything dosed in grams, such as protein, creatine or fiber, will not fit on a film
- Slow release: a capsule can be coated to open later; a strip dissolves in your mouth
- You have no trouble with pills: then a strip is solving a problem you don't have
What to look for in any strip
- A plant-based pullulan film
- Every active printed with its amount, and no proprietary blends
- Made at a cGMP-certified facility
- No sugar
- A tin that keeps out humidity
The XYNE range
Eleven formulas, 30 strips per tin. Designed in the USA, manufactured at a cGMP-certified facility.
- Energy: caffeine 50 mg, L-theanine 30 mg, vitamin B12 1000 mcg. Cranberry.
- Sleep: melatonin 1 mg, valerian root 50 mg, lavender 20 mg, chamomile 10 mg, hibiscus 10 mg. Raspberry.
- Hangover: seven botanical extracts, 15 to 20 mg each. Mango-orange.
- Cognitive Relax: L-theanine 50 mg, GABA 25 mg, vitamin B6 6 mg. Strawberry-peppermint.
- Mushroom Focus: lion's mane 30 mg, maitake 25 mg, cordyceps 25 mg, shiitake 20 mg. Chocolate.
- Probiotic + Metabolism: Bifidobacterium lactis 10 billion CFU, polydextrose 50 mg. Mixed berry.
- Appetite Balance: saffron 10 mg, chromium 75 mcg, molybdenum 10 mcg. Mixed berry.
- Bone Support: vitamin D3 2000 IU, vitamin K2 120 mcg. Raspberry. Not vegan: the D3 comes from lanolin.
- Iron: iron 19 mg, folate 400 mcg DFE. Raspberry. Keep out of reach of children.
- Beauty + Collagen: collagen peptide 100 mg, vitamin E 6 mg. Mango. Not vegan.
- Intimate Vitality: Cordyceps militaris 50 mg, shilajit 50 mg, oyster peptide 20 mg. Chocolate. Contains shellfish.
Questions
Should I switch from capsules to strips?
Only if capsules are the problem. If you struggle with pills or powders, a strip is easier to take. We make no performance claim for a strip against a capsule, and for large amounts a capsule wins.
How long does a strip take to dissolve?
About 30 seconds.
Do I swallow the strip?
No. Place it on your tongue and let it dissolve.
Do the strips contain sugar?
No. Every formula is sweetened with stevia, and six also use monk fruit.
Are the strips suitable for every diet?
Not all of them. Bone Support, Beauty + Collagen and Intimate Vitality are not vegan, and Intimate Vitality contains shellfish. Each product page lists its own diet and allergen notes.
Can I take a strip if I take medication?
Check with your doctor or pharmacist first, and also if you are pregnant or nursing.
How do I store them?
In the tin, somewhere cool and dry.
Price, shipping and returns
- A tin of 30 strips is $30.00, about $1 a day.
- Subscribe & Save: your first order is $20.00, then $27.00/month. Skip or cancel anytime from your account.
- Free US shipping on every order.
- Unopened tins can be returned within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.