Methodology
How we review products
Our reviews are built on transparent research, not hype or pay-to-play. This page explains exactly what we look at, what we don’t do, and how to read our conclusions.
What we evaluate
For every product we review, we research the same core criteria so our write-ups stay consistent and comparable:
1Third-party lab testing & transparency
Does the brand publish current third-party Certificates of Analysis (COAs)? Are they easy to find and matched to the product and batch?
2Ingredients & sourcing
What’s actually in the product, where the key ingredients come from, and how clearly the brand documents them.
3Dosage & clarity
Whether the amounts per serving are clearly stated and easy for a reader to understand and follow.
4Price & value
The real cost — including cost per serving or per unit of active ingredient — relative to comparable products.
5Brand transparency & track record
How openly the company communicates about its products, manufacturing, returns, and customer support.
6Customer experience signals
Patterns in publicly available customer feedback — what buyers consistently praise or complain about.
How we research
- We review the brand’s own product pages, ingredient lists, and published lab reports.
- We compare claims against reputable third-party and scientific sources.
- We look at the broader pattern of publicly available customer feedback rather than any single review.
What we don’t do
- We don’t publish numeric scores (such as “9.4/10”) unless they are backed by a defined, disclosed testing process. We would rather explain a product clearly than reduce it to a number we can’t stand behind.
- We don’t accept payment for placement or ratings. No brand can buy a better review.
- We don’t make medical claims. We do not state that any product treats, cures, or prevents a health condition.
- We don’t present lab testing we didn’t do. If we describe testing, we did it; otherwise we cite the brand’s third-party results.
Independence and affiliate links
Some reviews include affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them — at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we cover or what we conclude. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Keeping reviews current
Products, prices, and lab reports change. We date each review and revisit our most important ones regularly so the information stays accurate.
Last updated: June 2026 · Questions about our methodology? Contact editorial@balanzgm.com.