By Beatrice Tridimas
A few months back I promised to review different reusable menstrual health products. It’s not the first time that a short, informative review turned into a complex feminist rant with no reviews present. Oops.
But now I’ve given the products a good trial period I can truly and honestly tell you all there is to know.
TOTM Organic Cotton Switch Kit
TOTM make tampons, pads and liners from organic cotton, keeping your lady area clean from all the pesticides and toxins used in regular cotton production.
These are not scary! They are just like your regular disposable menstrual product, you place them in the bin – the tampon applicators in the recycling – except that these BIODEGRADE and don’t hang about landfill until your great, great, great, great…….great (you get the point) grand-daughter will be using them.
The switch kit contains a selection of pads, liners and tampons in a neat little cardboard package (oh yes everything about this order was wholesome), which turned up to my door in compostable packaging (winnnnn).
My first observation? The pads were sooooo soft?! Like clouds, like 5 star hotel pillows. This is a pamper for your ‘v’. And they were also super light, slim and discreet!
Huge success? I think so.
Cheeky Wipes Bamboo and Minky Cloth Sanitary Pads
These started with a win. The package tells me straight away it has been a carbon free delivery. YAY.
Cheeky Wipes make a range of reusable menstrual pads, period pants and wipes. I went for a mixed pack of pads (night; medium; light) in a cute llama pattern, and this never stops making me smile even while my tummy cramps punch me from the inside.
The Bamboo and minky are slightly thicker than the cotton alternative, so I did find them a little too warm and cosy sometimes, but if you’re prone to a heavy flow, these are super absorbent.
So how do they actually work? Well you clip them into your pants, wear them, wash them. Repeat. That easy.
Staining is minimal and they’ve kept their softness and absorbency after washing a couple of times. They were soft to wear, lasted me six or so hours at full flow – but do remember that they will work differently depending on your period – and pretty much odourless.
These, I must admit, were my absolute favourite.
It felt like putting on that one pair of pants that makes you feel simultaneously sexy, comfy and like a queen.
In a neat little cardboard package, with care and info printed on the outside to avoid even more packaging, the pants slipped out, silky, soft and all MINE.
The padded inside felt thick but was the perfect cushion, not stuffy and not indiscreet. They fit like a warm hug (oh yes, Olaf), neat, black and totally soft, comforting my aching womb but still had me feeling sexy.
Yes, periods can be sexy!
They washed well and I think I even wore them overnight with no slips or spills and ZERO odour.
Winner, winner, happy vagin-er!
With all these options, it’s quite hard to say no to going sustainable once a month for 4-7 days (or however it goes for you). And even if it’s the only sustainable change you make, the impact is HUGE.
WUKA, innovators in period pants, revealed that since selling their reusable products, they’ve stopped over 3 million plastic products from going to landfill!
Whether you go for compostable, disposable ease or for wear and wash pants – there are so many different menstrual products to try out. Every period is different, but I do believe everyone can have a liberating, sustainable and FUN (if you can get llamas involved, why not?) period.
Now it’s time to find yours!
Beatrice Tridimas
Bea is a content writer and editor based between Hampshire and London. When she’s not diving deep into the ethics of the fashion industry, she’s writing book and theatre reviews with a steaming cuppa to hand. You can keep up to date with her writing projects via her twitter @bea_trid
