let’s talk tampons

Alright, ladies…I must admit that this one isn’t as fun as talking about mascara swaps. But today’s post centers around a VERY important topic: feminine care. I know it’s something I never really thought about before—I just assumed all tampons and pads were created equal and safe; after all, tampons go IN your body. They have to be safe, right? It wasn’t until my own OB/GYN told me to "Stay away from pads or tampons with fragrance" that I began to question what else was in them and started to research myself.

Conventional tampons, which is what I was using (and probably what’s under your counter if you haven’t made the switch) can be full of all kinds of ingredients that can do more harm than good.

One of the big issues is that companies don’t have to disclose what’s in their tampons or sanitary napkins. That’s a big deal when you consider that women are putting these things inside their bodies (or very close) for prolonged periods of time.

This article from Mercolaexplains why chemicals in tampons or pads are something that we should be concerned about:

“Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and also the thinnest. Less than 1/10th of an inch separates your body from potential toxins. Worse yet, your skin is highly permeable — especially the skin around your vaginal area, not to mention inside the vagina itself.”

So what’s in there that could be absorbed? Well, it depends on the brand. You must remember that tampons are made out of cotton, which is a plant—and plants are sprayed with pesticides (I know, right!) Here are some no-no ingredients you might find in conventional products (according towellandgood.com):

1. Rayon—A synthetic ingredient associated with the increase in the likelihood of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) 2. Dioxin—A result of chlorine processing. A hormone disrupter. 3. Non-organic cotton—Pesticides near your hoo-ha. Let’s leave it at that. 4. Fragrance—If you’ve been around awhile, you know that seeing “fragrance” on a label is not good because manufacturers aren’t required to share what “fragrance” is. Wellandgood.com calls it “chemical soup.” 5. Chlorine—Produces trace amounts of dioxin. But keeping in mind that the average woman will go through 10–15,000 tampons in her lifetime, trace amounts are cause for concern. 6. BPA—a hormone-disrupting chemical found in plastic…as in, the plastic wrapped around your tampon.

It’s not just tampons. That Mercola article explains that Andrea Donsky, founder of Naturally Savvy, found that manufacturers aren’t required to disclose what’s in sanitary pads, either: “When Andrea called Procter & Gamble directly to find out what’s in their Always Infinity pads, the only ingredients the service reps could give her were foam and a patented ingredient called Infinicel2 — a highly absorbent material that can hold up to 10 times its weight.” What else is in them? Well, we don’t know for sure, but we do know there’s a lot of plastic. This Environmental Health News article puts it this way: "’Women are using these products from the age of 12, maybe younger, and almost until 50 – that’s like four decades … once a month,’ said Zota, who was not involved in the study but whose research focuses on social disparities, environmental exposures, and reproductive and children’s health. ‘That’s chronic exposure,’ she added.”

OK, that was kind of depressing, right? There IS good news and that is that there are companies out there working to give women safer options. Hallelujah!

So what are some safer options?

Cora- After trying a few brands, I came across this brand online first (now they are at Target as well!). Y’all know I LOVE supporting mission-based brands.

"That’s why with every Cora purchase, we provide pads and health education to a girl in need. We use the power of business to fight for gender equality and provide products, education, and jobs to girls and women in need in developing nations and right here at home."

I am on the subscription plan, which I personally love so I never have to think about buying them. They show up on my porch every three months. It is completely customizable as well based on your flow and what type of product you prefer and how often. You can easily pause or change it too. The applicator works with ease and I feel like the tampons and pads are just a good as conventional based on comfort and performance/leak protection. THEY WORK! I love that their organic cotton is also GOTS certified.

You can try them for FREE here with my link.

Seventh Generation: A B corporation getting safer products in our homes at a very accessible price and location. You can find Seventh Generation Products at Target and on Amazon, and I use and love so many of them. I don’t feel like the performance is AS good as Cora, but I have definitely used them and like them better than the L brand in a pinch for sure. I love supporting Seventh Generation as a brand, I think they are an important voice in the industry as a whole.

L. Brand: Also available at Target. I personally tried these, and the branding is ON POINT. Unfortunately they were not comfortable and I didn’t like the applicator. I just overall did not have a positive experience, and I have heard the same from many friends, too. Maybe they will improve, because the product is clean, just doesn’t perform well IMO. Very uncomfortable!

Lola:This is another great subscription based brand that gives back. I haven’t personally tried these, but I think they would be worth a try for sure. They donate feminine care products to low income familes and women’s shelters across the U.S. which is so awesome. You can get 15% off your first subscription with the code "FIRST15" too!In case you were searching, Lola also offers safer condoms, lubricants and cleansing wipes as well.

Rael: This brand has TONS of feminine care options to choose from! Tampons, pads, liners, wipes, washes….you name it, they have it! They also have a "Subscribe and Save" option as well for all of their products in bundle savings. The applicator is also biodegradable.

You can get 20% off your purchase using this link!

Thinx: A forward-thinking brand….Think offers period underwear and their brand-new reusable tampon applicators. These are on my list to try–I love the idea of this applicator. I love that this company focuses on the sustainability factor of all the waste we create with feminine care. The underwear is said to hold up to two full tampons worth, so you never feel "moist." (I know, I hate that word, too! ha)

They do say that on heavier flow days, you may still need a tampon. I have also heard this from friends who use the Thinx. I think these are worth a shot for sure!

Let’s talk about something you’ve probably heard of but might not be sure about–menstrual cups. Cups offer lots of benefits when compared to tampons or pads–they’re better for the Earth (they can last for years); safe to use–most are made of medical-grade silicone with minimal, if any, chemicals; and allow you to forget about your period for up to 12 hours. The downside is that there is a learning curve to using a cup; in order to not feel the cup, you have to make sure you get it in the right position. There’s a good chance, though, that you’ll find cups are for you after a little trial and error! Here are a few menstrual cup brands to check out.

This is probably the most popular menstrual cup brand. They have been around for a while and are also a B corp. This is such an eco-friendly option as well. The only complaint people have is comfort (just not being able to get used to it) and then ease of changing in a public restroom. Other than that, I have A LOT of friends who love these. Diva cup makes three different "models," or sizes, if you will. They are available at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens, and Thrive Market.

Lena Cup: Very similar to the Diva cup, the Lena cup claims to be the best cup for beginners due to its ease of use. It comes in small, large, and sensitive. The sensitive is one of the smallest on the market and perfect for teen anatomies and is made of a softer silicone as well. They are registered with the FDA and use medical grade silicone free of harmful chemicals that may leach into the body.

This is a newer brand on the market and definitely offers a lower price point for a menstrual cup. One option is a "menstrual disk." Unlike tampons and menstrual cups, FLEX sits just past the vaginal canal in the same place as a diaphragm and can’t be felt at all once in place. Flex claims to hold as much as three super tampons, and can be used for up to 12 hours. Flex also claims to help with period cramps, irritation, and dryness. Flex is not reusable–it is disposable but creates 60 percent less waste than a tampon or pad. There are different starter kits based on flow, and you can get on a subscription. For medium flow, for example, you get eight disks per month for $15.

They also make a cup as well and these are reusable. These are brand-new and have an easy release ring; you can pre-order here.

So there you have it! Lots of these brands can be found in the same aisles as what you’re already using. It truly is one of the easiest safer swaps out there.