Is this normal? Just got my order of magtein. It's a small container that's maybe 1/4th filled up. How much do I take? The dosing doesn't mention any measuring tools.

We are writing a whole blog on scales and scoops that will be very eye-opening for many people. The variability is much higher than most people realize. Since the early days of Ceretropic, I have refused to promote scoops for measuring nootropics. I thought it was insane everyone was including scoops for things that I knew varied in density from batch to batch. Short of jet milling each batch down to an exact particle size, it's always a mixture of varying particle sizes. Every product varies from each other in density. Some are light and fluffy. Some are dense and granular. Then just when you think you understand the physical properties of a compound, the synthesis route changes. So you are left with a completely different physical powder. It's the same chemically, but not physically. Not a single vendor out there is controlling particle size. Not one. Particle size and crystal structure is more of a materials science rather than a chemical science. So naturally things will vary from batch to batch. Even in the same batch, it will vary some throughout the batch. Also, how someone scoops varies. Is the pile level or heaping? Are their air pockets in it? People using scoops do not control variables scientifically. When you are aiming for consistent results, consistent dosing is a must. This is especially true for compounds that have a tight dosing window, or a steep dose/response curve. If you take a scoop of huperzine-A, that can range from "I feel nothing" to "Ohh shit, I took too much." For magnesium it's not as big of a deal, as overdosing on magnesium is not a big risk. However, it is a habit I want to break people of. You know what doesn't change? The gravitational pull of the Earth. The only accurate way to dose powders is using a scale. Accuracy matters. Safety matters.

Everyone here knows I am the last one to say good enough is good enough. If we are doing everything in our power to ensure every batch is tested and pure, but customers are inaccurately dosing, then what's the point? I've caught a lot of shit for it over the years, because many people get very upset when you tell them they have to use a scale to accurately dose. However, I have stayed true to that message. Just because everyone else is doing it does not mean that's the proper way. Convenience always wins out over accuracy for the average consumer. The only way I feel comfortable telling people they can use scoops is if they have a nice set of stainless steel ones that they can calibrate with a scale for that specific batch of that specific product. So you get a jar of powder in, and use your scale to figure out which of your measuring spoons gets closest to the dose you want of that specific powder in that specific jar. Then you use the scoop the same each time till that jar runs out. Then you calibrate with a scale again for the next jar. That's the only way I am comfortable promoting scoops as a dosing method. I just care deeply about our customers, and feel that promoting inaccurate dosing methods is at odds with the rest of our mission.