Getting your period every month is already stressful enough without having to worry about what kind of chemicals your period products are made with. For me, it has always been difficult to find the perfect tampon, pad or menstrual cup that helps ease me through my cycle. I wasn’t even aware that certain feminine products could contain harmful chemicals, until a couple of months ago I stumbled onto a Tiktok educating women on sustainable feminine care. I was completely unaware that some tampons or pads contain bleach to achieve that ultra-white look. Since discovering that horrifying fact I’ve been searching for the perfect organic feminine product.
- Rael
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I first started with Rael, a feminine care product company that is focused on bringing women sustainable and organic feminine products. Since tampons are my go-to product during my menstrual cycle, I picked up a box just to see how they felt. I was apprehensive at first, after having a horrible experience with organic Seventh Generation tampons and their cardboard applicators. However, when I used the Rael tampons, they were comfortable and easy to insert. Nowadays, sustainable or healthy products are usually accompanied by a hefty price tag. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Rael’s products weren’t much more expensive than my regular Tampax products. The feminine care company began in 2017 and since then has spread to 19 countries worldwide.
- Tampax
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If you purchase tampons or pads, then you know about Tampax and their co-company Always that predominantly sells pads. Recently, Tampax unveiled a new line of organic cotton tampons. However, Tampax has other sustainable options, like tampons with cardboard applicators and menstrual cups. Their organic tampons advertise that they are free of any fragrance and chlorine bleaching. Also, the applicators on the cotton tampons are 90% plant-based. If you’re someone who enjoys purchasing sustainably, but you’re also brand loyal, these alternative products may be perfect for you.
- Thinx
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Thinx period underwear has been all over my Instagram, so I just had to include them. Thinx underwear is a reusable pair of underwear that is designed to replace pads and tampons. However, they can still be worn with tampons and menstrual cups. They advertise as superabsorbent; the underwear can hold up to 4 regular size tampons worth of period blood. Thinx underwear is also made with breathable cotton that draws away wetness while also neutralizing smells and preventing leaks. When I first heard about Thinx, I thought they were too good to be true. How can a pair of underwear absorb blood while also staying breathable without any leaks? When I investigated further, it seemed that people with lighter flows were able to wear the underwear without tampons or menstrual cups. However, if you’re someone like me who has a pretty heavy flow, it’s recommended that you wear a tampon or a menstrual cup as well. This fact and the daunting prices, an average $30 to $45 dollars for one pair, was kind of disappointing to me. However, if you’re someone who has a heavy flow and if you’re worried about leaking and ruining your clothes, then I recommend purchasing a pair to see if it works for you.
- The Flex Company
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The Flex Company is a great sustainable alternative to regular tampons and pads. Instead of providing women with organic tampons and pads, The Flex Company creates menstrual cups and menstrual discs. Yes, you read that right, menstrual discs. The Flex Company advertises menstrual discs as a flexible round plastic disc kind of like a menstrual cup in which it acts like a cup collecting the period blood. However, instead of sitting inside of the vaginal canal, the disc sits just above it in the vaginal fornix and covers the cervix. This prevents the period blood from entering the vagina and collects the blood. If that is not something you’re comfortable using, The Flex Company also sells an easily removable menstrual cup. The Flex cup is like a menstrual cup except they advertise that you can remove the cup like a tampon. Instead of the usual pull tab, The Flex cup has a pull tab that you can insert your finger into and that helps you easily break the seal. Since the menstrual cups are reusable it is more expensive than your usual $7 box of tampons. However, at almost $40 per cup it can save you more money in the long term. If the menstrual cup is too expensive the menstrual disc ranges from $12 to $23.99, for monthly refillable discs.
Hopefully, these sustainable and organic options will help you find peace of mind during your period.