Transparency isn't a marketing tactic. It's a formulation philosophy.
If you've spent any time reading supplement labels, you've probably encountered the phrase "proprietary blend" — followed by a list of ingredients and a single combined weight. No individual amounts. No way to know if you're getting a meaningful dose of anything, or just a trace.
At D H A R A, we don't use proprietary blends. Here's why that decision matters more than most people realize.
What Is a Proprietary Blend?
A proprietary blend is a group of ingredients listed together under a single umbrella on a supplement label, with only the total combined weight disclosed. Individual ingredient amounts are hidden — legally, under the argument that the specific ratios constitute a trade secret.
In practice, this means a product can list ten impressive ingredients and disclose a total blend weight of 500mg, without telling you that part of the blend is a cheap filler and the remaining is split between nine other compounds, each at a dose too small to do anything meaningful.
This practice is legal. It's also, in our view, fundamentally at odds with what a supplement is supposed to do.
The Problem with Hidden Doses
Effective supplementation is dose-dependent. The research behind any given ingredient, whether it's L-glutamine, collagen peptides, allicin or a prebiotic fiber, is based on specific amounts shown to produce specific outcomes. A study demonstrating that L-glutamine supports gut barrier integrity used a particular dose. A clinical trial on collagen and joint health used a particular dose.
When a brand hides ingredient amounts behind a proprietary blend, you have no way to evaluate whether their product delivers what the research actually supports. You're being asked to trust a label without the information needed to verify that trust.
That's not transparency. That's marketing dressed up as science.
“Fairy Dusting” — The Industry's Open Secret
There's a term in the supplement industry for the practice of including an ingredient at a dose so low it has no physiological effect: fairy dusting. It's used to make a label look impressive, to let brands claim "contains collagen" or "with L-glutamine", without actually delivering a meaningful amount of either.
Proprietary blends make fairy dusting easy to hide. Without individual ingredient disclosure, there's no way for a consumer to know whether they're getting a therapeutic dose or a token amount included purely for label appeal.
We think you deserve better than that.
What Full Transparency Looks Like
When every ingredient and its exact amount is disclosed on a label, something important happens: the product has to actually work. There's nowhere to hide. If the dose is too low to be effective, anyone who knows the research can see it immediately.
Full label transparency means:
- You can verify the dose against published research and clinical studies
- You can avoid unnecessary overlap if you're taking multiple supplements
- You can make informed decisions about what you're putting in your body
- You can hold the brand accountable — if they claim an ingredient works, you can check whether they're using it at the amount that the evidence supports
This is the standard we hold ourselves to at D H A R A. Every ingredient in every product is listed with its exact amount. No blends. No hidden ratios. No guesswork.
Why Brands Use Proprietary Blends
To be fair, not every brand using proprietary blends is acting in bad faith. There are a few legitimate reasons the practice exists:
- Competitive protection — a genuinely novel formulation ratio could be worth protecting
- Regulatory complexity — in some international markets, full disclosure creates compliance challenges
- Cost — reformulating for full transparency requires more rigorous quality control
But in most cases, the honest answer is simpler: proprietary blends allow brands to use cheaper, lower-dose formulations while maintaining the appearance of a premium product. The opacity is the point.
Our Commitment
When we formulated restor.d, Gentle Prebiotic Fiber, and GI ALLY, we started with the research, identifying the doses shown to produce real outcomes, and built from there. The label reflects the formula. The formula reflects the science.
We believe that if an ingredient is worth including, it's worth including at a dose that actually works. And if it's worth including at a dose that works, it's worth telling you exactly what that dose is.
That's not a differentiator. It's just the minimum standard a supplement brand should meet.
How to Read a Supplement Label
Next time you're evaluating a supplement, here's a quick checklist:
- Look for a Supplement Facts panel with individual ingredient amounts listed separately — not grouped under a blend
- Cross-reference doses against published research for key ingredients (PubMed is a good starting point)
- Be skeptical of long ingredient lists with a single combined weight — the more ingredients in a blend, the less of each one there likely is
- Ask the brand directly if you can't find the information — a transparent company will answer; an evasive one tells you something too
Your health decisions deserve complete information. Don't settle for less.
At D H A R A, we formulate with intention and disclose with honesty. Because the only supplement worth taking is one you can fully understand.