Shopping for wellness products online has never been easier. With a few clicks, you can compare brands, read reviews, and have products delivered straight to your door. But convenience can also create confusion.
Over time, certain assumptions have taken hold — and not all of them are accurate.
Below, we break down some of the most common wellness shopping myths and explain what actually matters when you’re deciding what to buy.
Myth #1: “If It’s Online, It Must Be Legal”
It’s easy to assume that if a product is listed on a website, it has already passed every legal check. In reality, that’s not always the case.
Online marketplaces don’t approve products the same way regulators do. Some sellers launch products before fully understanding local, state, or federal rules. Others may rely on outdated guidance or ignore restrictions altogether.
What to look for instead:
- Clear age-gating where required
- Transparent shipping limitations by state or region
- Plain, factual product descriptions without exaggerated promises
A legitimate online presence is a good sign — but legality depends on how closely a seller follows current regulations, not just whether the product appears in a cart.
Myth #2: “A Pretty Label Means It’s High Quality”
Eye-catching packaging can make a strong first impression. Clean fonts, minimalist design, and premium colors often signal trust — but design alone doesn’t tell the full story.
A well-designed label doesn’t guarantee accurate information, proper testing, or compliant sourcing. Some products look polished while offering very little transparency about what’s actually inside.
What to look for instead:
- Clear ingredient lists that match the product description
- Batch or lot numbers tied to testing documentation
- Labels that focus on facts, not hype
Good branding can reflect care, but quality is shown through clarity and consistency, not aesthetics alone.
Myth #3: “All COAs Are the Same”
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is often treated as a checkbox: either a brand has one, or it doesn’t. But COAs vary widely in usefulness.
Some reports are outdated. Others don’t match the product you’re buying. And some come from labs that don’t clearly explain their testing methods.
What to look for instead:
- A COA that matches the exact product or batch
- Recent test dates
- Easy-to-read results that align with what’s listed on the label
A COA should help you understand what you’re purchasing — not leave you guessing or scrolling through unrelated data.
Myth #4: “More mg Means Better”
Seeing a higher number on a product can make it feel like you’re getting more value for your money. But more milligrams don’t automatically mean a better product.
Milligram amounts simply describe quantity, not quality, balance, or how the product is structured. Two products with different mg counts may be priced differently based on sourcing, testing, packaging, or formulation — not just the number on the front label.
What to look for instead:
- Cost per serving, not just total mg
- Clear serving size information
- Consistency between label claims and lab results
Understanding what you’re paying for helps you compare products realistically, without assuming bigger numbers equal better choices.
Smarter Shopping Starts With Better Questions
Wellness shopping doesn’t require expert-level knowledge — just a willingness to look beyond surface signals.
Legality isn’t guaranteed by being online. Design doesn’t replace transparency. COAs aren’t all equal. And numbers matter most when they’re clearly explained.
When brands take the time to educate, disclose, and stay consistent, it shows. And as a consumer, learning how to spot those signals helps you shop with more confidence — no myths required.
WAAVE helps ensure wellness products are sold within applicable federal, state, and local laws by holding sellers to clear compliance requirements. When shoppers see a WAAVE badge on a website, it signals that the seller meets these standards, offering added confidence in where they choose to buy.
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