1. Look for real doses
If an ingredient is inside a 'proprietary blend', you can't tell whether there's a meaningful amount or a dusting. Prefer labels that list every ingredient and its quantity.
2. Check the serving size
'30 servings' means nothing until you know the scoop weight. A 30-serving tub at 15 g per scoop is a very different product from one at 30 g.
3. Match the form to the evidence
Creatine monohydrate has decades of data behind it. Fancier forms cost more and don't outperform it. The same pattern repeats across the category.
A third-party lab report tells you what's in the tub — not that the product works. Both matter, and they're different questions.