By Britt Larson, IFBB Pro & Functional Health
How I feel about predatory marketing towards women!
When Pretty Colors Meet Pitiful Potency
I often get emails from companies about sponsorships, affiliations, or ambassadorships.
If I’m even remotely interested in the product, I’ll check the label. Not just the branding or marketing claims — I mean the actual ingredients and what’s on the inside. I look at:
- Are they transparent with their label?
- What’s the dose per serving?
- Are the ingredients actually effective?
- Is it QUALITY?
- What’s the price?
- And then… how are they marketing this?
Are they being truthful about what the product can actually do? Or are they just attaching themselves to ONE trendy word — like creatine, collagen, or beef organs — and building an entire aesthetic brand off of it, while under-dosing the product and upselling it 3, 4, 5x the normal price?
Recently, I was contacted by a supplement line being marketed to women with bright pink and green branding, flashy buzzwords, vague promises, and a sprinkle of “empowerment” language. It looked fun and cute — until I had to dig through a wall of word salad only to find myself pretty ticked off.
The beef organ capsules were part of a “proprietary blend,” and the entire serving was only 337 mg. For context: a therapeutic dose of beef organs is anywhere from 3,000–3,500 mg per day, depending on the blend (liver, kidney, heart, spleen, etc.). That’s nearly ten times more than what this product offered — yet it was more expensive than trusted brands who dose correctly.
On top of that, the company also sold creatine gummies — tiny sugar-filled gummies that delivered a standard 5g dose of creatine per serving, but were being sold for triple..no.. QUADRUPLE the cost of regular, high-quality creatine tubs that offer 100–200 servings. The marketing promised things like “get a peach,” “blast cellulite,” and “tone your curves.” It was less about science and more like a Pinterest board exploded on the label. One that caters to women who may not know how to read through the smoke.
And let’s not even talk about the reviews — a suspiciously large number of 5-star ratings all posted within a few days, most of them vague and overly enthusiastic. Almost like it was paid for.. Hmmm.. That’s a red flag. I DID manage to find some 1 star reviews buried under those overly happy reviews, which is exactly what I suspected. The truth.
But what really sent me over the edge? The absolute circus of buzzwords and fear-based marketing designed to prey on women who genuinely want to feel better in their bodies:
“Treat the Root Cause!” (This bothers me deeply, as it promotes an under-dosed pill that doesn’t address the ACTUAL “root cause”, but uses this term to hide behind a lie)
“Balance Hormones!” (Not true, but go off, I suppose)
“Finally Get a PEACH 🍑” (From a 5mg creatine gummy? HAHA)
“Get Lean!” “Lose the Cellulite!” “Tone Up!” (Again.. HAHA)
“Optimal Nutrition in 1 Capsule!” (LOL—of low-dosed, overpriced nonsense that doesn’t do sh*t)
“SUPERFOODS!” “Tasty & Convenient!” “Gluten-Free!”
“WILL SELL OUT!!” ← (Gotta love the panic-button FOMO 🙄 BETTER BUY IT NOW!!)
It’s gross. It’s manipulative. And it works — because the branding is polished, the messaging is “female-friendly,” and most people don’t know how to decode a label. And unfortunately, a lot of these supplement companies are preying on women with under-dosed, overpriced junk that looks cute but barely works.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, the final nail in the coffin is that this is promoted as a WOMAN-OWNED company, and if you’re a woman, you’d be inclined to TRUST another woman, right? Well, I hate to say it, and to be frank here – women can be bullshitters, too. And hey, you don’t even have to read or believe what I have to say, either. I WANT you to RESEARCH and not blindly follow!!
As a professional athlete myself, I can guarantee you these Olympians above are relying on much more than just an overpriced creatine CANDY for their success..
Let’s Compare: Pretty Labels vs Transparency
Let’s talk label honesty — because there’s a big difference between pretty branding and actual transparency. On one side, you’ve got a bottle wrapped in pastel colors, glittery fonts, and buzzwords… but flip it over, and all you get is a “proprietary blend” with no clue how much of anything you’re actually getting. It’s a guessing game. And considering the total amount of that entire blend is already pitifully low, you can bet the meaningful ingredients are just sprinkled in for label appeal. Now compare that to a brand that lays it all out: every ingredient, exact dosage, the total volume of the serving — no secrets, no games. What you see is what you get. That’s how it should be. You deserve to know what you’re putting in your body — not just hope the sparkle bottle got it right.
How to Spot This Kind of Scam (Because That’s What It Is)
This isn’t just clever branding — it’s manipulative and misleading. Here’s how you can spot it before you waste your money:
1. The Serving Size Is TINY
Give it a quick Google. If the entire serving size is tiny, and the product is making big claims — like balancing hormones, boosting metabolism, supporting detox, or building strength — it’s worth asking if the doses actually match the promises. While not every ingredient needs a therapeutic dose to have an effect, when all the “actives” are lumped into a proprietary blend totaling a few hundred milligrams, there’s just not enough room for each one to be doing much. Real results come from thoughtful dosing — not fairy dust amounts and flashy claims.
2. “Proprietary Blend” Is Used to Hide Weak Formulas
If you can’t see how much of each ingredient is in the product, it’s hard to trust what you’re actually getting. These blends often hide fillers, pixie-dusted actives, or under-dosed ingredients behind fancy names.
3. Buzzwords and Vague Claims
If the label says things like “feel sexy,” “glow up,” “get toned,” or “enhance your feminine power” — but there’s no clear connection to science or evidence-based benefits, please be wary. Aesthetic language doesn’t equal efficacy.
4. Reviews That Feel… Off
A large number of glowing reviews posted within a short time window, or ones that sound generic, overly scripted, or oddly similar, could mean the reviews were incentivized or fabricated. Companies buy reviews.
5. Overpriced for What You’re Actually Getting
Compare what the product offers (doses, servings) to reputable brands. If it costs double or triple for less than half the servings — that’s not premium, that’s predatory.
6. Too Much Money Spent on Packaging and Hype
If the packaging looks like a fashion brand and the website feels like a pop-up shop with neon slogans and no actual product details — that’s a distraction. Don’t get me wrong, quality brands have nice websites, BUT good products don’t need smoke and mirrors.
Why I’ll Never Promote Garbage
Listen — I get offers to promote things all the time. But if I wouldn’t buy it at full price myself, with no discount, no kickback, and no deal… I won’t promote it. Period. Not even if I’m paid.
Especially not if it’s targeting women with feel-good language and feel-nothing results.
Anyway, I saw this particular supplement line and felt like I needed to speak up — because I’ve been that woman. The younger version of me would have 100% bought into this kind of branding. I just didn’t know better at the time. So if this saves someone else from wasting their money and wondering why nothing’s changing — putting my opinion out there is worth it.
You deserve supplements that respect your body and your intelligence. Not gimmicks dressed in glitter.
That’s why I’m sharing this.
So maybe, just maybe, you’ll pause before falling for it too. Or you’ll share this with a friend who’s thinking about it.
Brands That Actually Do It Right
Listen, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here. I’m about to share some supplement brands, but that doesn’t mean I’m trying to slide through the back door on you and go crazy with promotions and make this a sales article. But BECAUSE this is an article about supplements – here are some companies that I’ve trusted and worked with for years now. I use them for my clients — and for myself. There are many other quality brands out there, these are just a few.
Titan Nutrition
This is a fitness and lifestyle brand that’s focused on results, not hype. Their supplements are clearly labeled, clinically dosed, and free of artificial colorings and unnecessary fluff. They list every ingredient and the total volume per serving — no filler games. What you see is what you get. If this interests you, you can get 20% off of your purchase with this Athlete link [HERE].
Pure Encapsulations, Thorne, Douglas Labs
Professional-grade brands used in functional health practices. Every formula is third-party tested, clean, and formulated based on actual research. It’s not flashy — and that’s a good thing. It’s effective. If this is something you might need, here is a [20% Off Invite Link] for a free customer account *Will need code: 972244
Fullscript
Not a brand, but a trusted dispensary platform where you can access professional-grade supplements that are thoroughly vetted and practitioner-approved. Fullscript Dispensary: [10% Off Store Link]
Need Help Navigating?
For personalized coaching and more insights on optimizing your health and wellness, feel free to reach out:
- Website: [Limitless Health and Performance]
Thank you for spending some of your time with me today! If this brought value and insight to you, you can show support by liking and sharing this with your friends.
Until next time, Be Well!
Britt Larson | IFBB PRO, CFNMP
@coachmusclenugget @LimitlessHealthandPerformance
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement. The views in this article are opinion and not to be taken as absolute fact, please do your own research when considering and/or purchasing supplements.