What 55 Women Revealed About Making Safe Product Choices: The Confidence Crisis is Real
Only 13% feel confident, and Google isn't helping.
Why I Asked
Four years ago, my daughter Melody was diagnosed with a rare medical condition. Overnight, I went from leading organizational transformation at work to becoming my family's Wellness Architect at home.
I audited every product in our household. I learned to read ingredient labels like a scientist. I made choices I never imagined I'd have to make.
Image: AI-generated background Canva
That journey taught me something profound: Most of us want to make safer choices for our families. But we're navigating a sea of conflicting information alone.
I wondered: Is my experience unique? Or are other women struggling with the same challenges?
So I created a poll. And 55 women answered.
How I Conducted the Poll
I distributed an 8-question survey via Instagram, professional communities and personal direct reach over two weeks, asking women about their confidence levels, biggest challenges, information sources, and what support they actually need.
Sample size: 55 respondents
Primary audience: Professional women and mothers (70% of respondents)
Response rate: Strong engagement across platforms
What I Found
The Confidence Crisis
Only 13.3% of respondents feel "very confident" making safe product choices for their homes.
Let that sink in. 86.7% of women experience doubt, uncertainty, or outright overwhelm when trying to protect their families.
These aren't uninformed women. Half are professional moms juggling demanding careers. They're smart, capable, motivated, yet they don't trust their own decisions.
The Knowledge Gap is THE Barrier
When asked about their biggest challenge:
30% said "not knowing which ingredients to avoid"
23.3% cited "too much conflicting information online"
Combined, 53.3% struggle with knowledge clarity. The problem isn't motivation. It's not even access to information. It's making sense of the information they find.
Image: AI-generated background Canva
The Google Paradox
Here's what struck me most: 36.7% rely primarily on Google searches for product safety information, yet only 13.3% feel confident.
More searching doesn't create more confidence. In many cases, it creates more confusion and doubt
Image: AI-generated background Canva
What Would Actually Help: A Framework
This finding surprised me: 46.7% said a "simple framework to evaluate products quickly" would help them most.
Not an ingredient list. Not product recommendations. Not even DIY recipes.
Women want a system, a way to think through decisions themselves, confidently and quickly.
Second place? 30% wanted a clear list of ingredients to avoid (and why). Third? 13.3% wanted budget-friendly recommendations.
The message is clear: Give us clarity, not complexity.
Body + Food Are Top Concerns
When asked which product categories concern them most:
73.3% flagged skincare and body care products
70% flagged food and beverages
These two categories dominate and likely because they're consumed daily and directly impact health.
Image: AI-generated background Gemini
Generational Wellness Matters
Perhaps the most meaningful finding: 63.3% rated teaching their children about safe product choices as "extremely" or "very" important.
Women aren't just thinking about today's purchases. They're thinking about the legacy they're building, and what their children are learning by watching them navigate these decisions.
What This Means
These 55 voices confirmed what I experienced four years ago: The problem isn't lack of information. It's lack of trusted frameworks, decision-making confidence, and community support.
Women don't need another 3 AM Google spiral or another influencer telling them what to buy.
They need a system that helps them think clearly, decide confidently, and teach their children to do the same.
That's exactly what The Detox Diaries is building.
Join the Conversation
Do these findings resonate with your experience? Are you part of the 86.7% navigating doubt.or the 13.3% who feel confident?
The Detox Diaries launches Q1 2026 with real transformation stories, practical frameworks, and a community of women building healthier households together.
Your voice matters. Your choices matter. Your legacy matters.
ABOUT THE DETOX DIARIES
The Detox Diaries is an interview series featuring real women who've transformed their lives through clean, sustainable living and are now empowering others to do the same. Each story proves that wellness isn't about perfection, it's about empowerment, community, and building a legacy worth passing down.
Read more stories: Launching Q1 2026
Follow us on: https://www.justsoakin.com/blog I Linked in: Sabrina Messomanah | Instagram | Linktree I IG: @justsoakin
Transparency Statement:
The survey data, respondent insights, and core findings are entirely authentic. AI tools (Claude, Gamma, Canva AI) were used to enhance presentation quality, identify data patterns more efficiently, generate supporting visual assets, and refine communication clarity—but all substantive content, analysis, and conclusions reflect my own research, expertise, and professional judgment.
Poll Limitations
This poll reflects 55 respondents, primarily professional women and mothers from my network. Results are not statistically representative of all consumers. Self-selection bias may skew toward those already interested in wellness topics. Multiple-choice format may not capture the full nuance of respondents' experiences.
