How we review supplements
We don't repeat what the seller says. We check it, and we show you where we looked.
What we do not do: we do not currently buy and test products ourselves, and we are not doctors. Our reviews are based on the label, published research, and the seller's own terms and record. We say this on every review.
1. Read the label
We list every ingredient and its dose, taken from the product label or the seller's website. If the label hides doses inside a “proprietary blend”, we say so, because then nobody can tell whether the doses are useful.
2. Look up the studies
For each ingredient, we look for research in humans, mainly on PubMed and in official sources such as the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. We note:
- what the ingredient was tested for,
- the dose used in the studies, compared with the dose in the product,
- how strong the evidence is: several good human trials, a few small trials, or only lab and animal studies.
We link to every study we use. When we cannot find good evidence for a claim, we say that plainly.
3. Check the company
We read the price, the refund policy, and the terms of sale, and we write down the date we checked them. We look for complaints on sites such as Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau, and for warning letters or actions from the FDA or the FTC.
4. Give a verdict and a rating
Each review starts with a short verdict you can read on its own, followed by the details. The rating is out of 5 and looks at four things:
| What we look at | Question we ask |
|---|---|
| Evidence | Do the main ingredients have good human research, at the doses in the product? |
| Label | Are all ingredients and doses shown clearly? |
| Price | What does it cost per day, compared with similar products? |
| Company | Is the refund policy clear and fair? Are there serious complaints or official warnings? |
The rating is our opinion based on these points. Ratings from customers are not mixed in.
Gadgets and other products
For products that are not supplements, such as pet gear or home gadgets, there are no ingredients to look up. We use the same four-part rating with different questions:
| What we look at | Question we ask |
|---|---|
| Claims | Are the seller's promises specific and believable, and can any be checked? |
| Specs | Are materials, size, battery and other details shown clearly? |
| Price | What does it really cost, including shipping and running costs? |
| Seller | Is the return policy fair? What do public complaint sites say about the company? |
Seller claims
Sellers often make big promises. We never repeat a claim as if it were true. If we mention a claim, we say who made it and whether we found evidence for it.
Money and independence
We earn commissions from some links on this site. That never changes a rating or a ranking. See our affiliate disclosure for details.
Updates and corrections
Every review shows the date it was last checked. We update reviews when prices, ingredients, or research change. If you find a mistake, please contact us and we will correct it.