Thinx Thong
Do you know what’s in your tampon?
Cotton, right? Sadly, no.
Contrary to popular belief, cotton isn’t actually the main ingredient in conventional tampons.
Instead, most tampons at your local drugstore contain a mix of rayon and polyester that’s been bleached and whitened with chlorine and might also contain synthetic fragrances or dyes.
Sanitary pads are no better – most mainstream pads are roughly 90% crude oil plastic.
Just as alarming, the US Food and Drug Administration regulates feminine care, but does not require companies to list all the ingredients in their products.
Upon learning this, I went on the hunt for non-toxic, effective alternatives… and prepared myself for the worst – the world of reusable cloth pads and menstrual cups.
Much to my surprise, instead I found natural brands that are not only effective, but stylish and modern (including sexy period pants (no joke!) and the most stylish tampons I have ever seen. They are so chic you can even leave the box on the bathroom counter.
Head over to my website, The Bare Essential, for my four favorite brands of natural, organic feminine hygiene products.
Here are a couple of facts that shocked me about conventional brands (check this ranking out to see how mainstream brands like Carefree and Always stack up).
Feminine pads from many of the best known brands contain Super Absorbent Powders (SAPs). While doing their job to absorb fluids, SAPs are made from polymers that are derived from crude oil.
- Tampons and pads often contain wood pulp.
- Because the vaginal walls are highly permeable, the contents of a tampon can easily make it to the bloodstream.
Add this to the fact that over a lifetime, the average woman uses 17,000 tampons and pads – it’s time to make a change.
Here are my favorite products:
LOLA – The most stylish tampons I have ever seen
I’m typically not a fan of subscription services, but this one is pretty simple and you can cancel, adjust or skip at anytime. Lola delivers safe, 100% cotton tampons directly to your door. No synthetics, chemicals, or dyes. You can also personalize your monthly assortment based on absorbency. As for the packaging? It’s really stylish! So much so, you could even leave this box on the counter.
Natracare: I always use their pads as they are plastic free
At the risk of sounding like a hippie, I’ve become somewhat fanatical about plastic. Without going too off topic, it’s not enough to buy BPA-free products, because companies often replace BPA with other chemicals just as harmful, if not worse. One day something clicked and I couldn’t face putting plastic sanitary pads next to my vagina for a week out of every month.
So I switched to Natracare. Their feminine hygiene products use soft, certified organic cotton and totally chlorine free, plastic free, biodegradable materials.
I wasn’t sure how the consistency of their plastic-free pads would compare with the conventional pads I used to use, but there’s really very little difference.
The natural ingredients are highly effective at locking away menstrual fluid and the absence of synthetic materials ensures your skin is able to breathe and stay dry.
Thinx: Period panties that are actually sexy
If you live in New York City, you may have seen Thinx period panties plastered all over the subway earlier this year. In a nutshell, each pair are outfitted with patented antimicrobial, leak-resistant fibers in the crotch that absorb as much as two tampons or a pad’s worth of blood — without the wearer feeling it — and promise to leave the wearer feeling dry. They come in three pretty, lace-trimmed designs (including a thong).
The business operates on a buy-one-give-one model. So every pair of THINX sold generates a donation to Uganda based AFRIPads, which trains women in developing countries to make and sell reusable pads, which are sold at affordable prices to local women.
I haven’t tried them yet, but I think the thong version is quite pretty so I’m tempted to give them a go!
Honest Company: Jessica Alba does it again
It’s hard to fault Jessica Alba’s Honest Company products, and her tampons are no exception. These tampons sold out the moment they went on the market. They are made with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and the innovative compact plastic tampon applicator is made from 90%+ bio-based materials. There’s no bleach, pestiside-treated cotton, fragrances, deodorants, rayon, or synthetic superabsorbents – everything you need, nothing you don’t!
Katja Buhrer is a clean beauty and wellness writer in Brooklyn, New York City. Sign up for her free weekly wellness tips via her website.