Alert! A silent killer has been spotted looming around your stash of toiletries!
It’s disguised as something white, uber clean, fresh smelling and was created to protect you, but over time… it can kill you (enter horror movie sound effects).
What is it? Your regular sanitary pads!
This may seem like a total shocker for many women across the globe. We all thought that this sanitary product is harmless for human use (ok maybe it’s the opposite for the environment, but that’s another story!).
But come to think of it, have you ever wondered how sanitary pads are produced?
Let me give you a quick backstory here: In order to cut down on costs, sanitary pad manufacturers use recycled papers to produce these pads.
You might be thinking “Oh sh*t, no way are those recycled papers going anywhere near my hoo-hah!”.
This is exactly the reason why manufacturers bleach these papers and strip them of any natural or chemical colors for it to be as white as possible. After all, we always associate white to being clean, right?
Now, with all this bleaching, comes a chemical byproduct known as Dioxin (which rhymes with ‘toxin’, the name itself already sounds deadly!). This chemical is considered a carcinogen and is said to be 11,000x more poisonous than cyanide.
Repetitive exposure to Dioxin can cause the following:
- Cancer.
- Reproductive problems.
- Developmental problems.
- Immune system suppression.
- Hormonal and endocrine system disruption.
If you think that Dioxin is the only thing you’d have to worry about. Think again.
See that mesh “dry” cover and plastic backing, they may contain BPA and BPS which may hinder embryonic development, increasing the chances of your unborn child to have congenital abnormalities.
Not only that, the “protection” we are so craving for actually traps heat, keeping the genital area warm and moist, making it a perfect breeding place for bacteria to grow and multiply (hi, UTI and skin infection!) as well as possibly give you a pad rash.
So, where do we go from that?
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Contents
Best Organic Menstrual Pad & Panty Liner Brands
If my intro scared you to death, don’t worry, help is on the way. There are amazing companies that care for us girls and created a whole line of organic menstrual products.
Let’s get to know them and their product range.
Seventh Generation Pads (Free and Clear)
Live your life freely! Seventh Generation pads are certified free from harmful chemicals, perfumes and bleach that over time may cause irritation and serious health problems.
Made especially for women with sensitive skin, these pads are uber comfortable to wear and is absorbent as your regular yet unsafe pads. Choose your health, choose to live free and clear (from harmful chemicals, that is!).
Pros
- Affordable.
- Good product range (for light to heavy flow, winged/non-winged, maxi or ultra-thin).
- Fragrance & deodorant free.
- Chlorine-free.
- Hypoallergenic, Gynecologist tested safe for sensitive skin.
- Strong adhesive to make sure your pad stays in place.
- Ultra-thin variants are really thin and discreet, you won’t even feel it’s there!
- The PureFit design makes it comfortable to wear.
Cons
- Not sure if these are made from organic cotton as there’s no mention of that in the packaging nor company website.
- Overnight pads could use more back coverage (like a wider back to avoid accidental leakage while sleeping).
- Pad wrappers don’t have the small tape/adhesive to securely wrap your used napkin with.
- As with most organic sanitary pads, expect that the absorbency rate is a bit slower, you’d feel some moisture in there (not the overwhelming, icky kind though).
Choose what suits your needs from their wide range of menstrual pads:
| Product | Best For | My Rating |
|---|---|---|
Panty liner Pads | Everyday, wingless |  |
Maxi Pads, Regular Absorbency | Light Days, wingless |  |
Ultra-Thin Maxi Pads | Normal Flow, w/ wings |  |
Ultra-Thin Pads, Super Long | Heavy Flow, w/ wings |  |
Ultra-Thin Pads, Overnight | Overnight, w/ wings |  |
Rael Pads (100% Organic Cotton)
Rael pads are probably one of the best organic cotton feminine pads on the market.
Made with 100% organic cotton, grown without any harmful chemicals (such as pesticides, etc.) and completely fragrance and bleach free, these pads are uber comfortable and won’t cause any irritation.
Don’t be fooled by its super thin exterior, as the large and overnight varieties can absorb a huge wave of period blood (Ok, I may have exaggerated there a bit, what I meant to say is, it can absorb the heaviest of flows!).
Pros
- Affordable.
- Good product range but… (see first bullet point under Cons).
- 100% Organic Cotton (non-GMO).
- Fragrance & deodorant free.
- Chlorine and toxin-free (Formaldehyde and Prestice and Fluorescent free).
- Hypoallergenic.
- Maximum airflow for breathability and comfort.
- Ultra-thin yet super absorbent.
Cons
- They should add a wingless variety. Not everyone is a fan of these magical wings. I personally find them irritating (I cut them out sometimes – true story!).
- The overnight and large variants are not kidding. They’re big enough to cover nearly your entire underwear. Perhaps they can donate some of this excess size to Seventh Gen’s overnight pads.
Additional comment: I love the clean, organic design of the packaging. It’s consistent with the actual product.
Choose what suits your needs from their wide range of menstrual pads:
| Product | Best For | My Rating |
|---|---|---|
Regular Panty liners | Everyday, wingless |  |
Ultra-Thin & Light Pads, Petite | Light Days, w/ wings | |
Ultra-Thin Regular Pads | Normal Flow, w/ wings | |
Ultra-Thin, Large Pads | Heavy Flow, w/ wings | |
Thin, Overnight Pads | Overnight, w/ wings |  |
Yes, I gave the overnight ones 5 stars because I love that they are absorbent enough for overnight wear, yet light and thin. Good job, Rael!
Natracare Pads (Organic and Natural)
Not all that’s plastic is fantastic (sorry to burst your bubble, Barbie Girl!) especially when it comes to menstrual pads and panty liners. When choosing your pads, choose wisely.
Natracare pads are made from certified organic cotton and are totally plastic free. No wonder it is gynecologist recommended safe for even the most sensitive skin.
Heck, even its packaging is made of recycled cardboard and is printed with vegetable ink. Doesn’t get any more natural and organic than that!
Pros
- Affordable.
- VERY GOOD product range (they have the best organic cotton panty liners and pads range I’ve ever seen!).
- Certified organic cotton.
- Plastic-free (uses a plant-based backing instead).
- Fragrance & deodorant free.
- Chlorine-free.
- Hypoallergenic.
- Biodegradable and compostable (Mother Nature approved!).
- Cellulose core for maximum absorbing powers.
- Breathable and comfortable to wear.
Cons
- Weak adhesive especially on the wings part of their Ultra pads.
- On the other hand, the adhesive on the liners are quite strong (it tears the liner apart). Hope they’ll be more consistent with the quality of adhesives that they use on both products.
- Wings are quite short and because of the previous issue, it tends to bunch up and stick to the main pad.
Choose what suits your needs from their wide range of menstrual pads:
Note: Natracare Organic Panty Liners individually wrapped are also available for their normal and long liners.
| Product | Best For | My Rating |
|---|---|---|
Panty liner Pads, Curved | Everyday, wingless |  |
Panty liner Pads, Tanga | For Thongs, Everyday, w/ wings | |
Panty liner Pads, Mini | Everyday, wingsless | |
Ultra Pads, Regular | Normal Flow, w/ wings | |
Maxi Pads, Regular | Moderate Flow, wingless |  |
Ultra Pads, Long | Moderate to Heavy Flow, w/ wings |  |
Maxi Pads, Overnight | Heavy Flow, wingless | |
Ultra Extra Pads, Long | Heavy Flow, w/ wings | |
Organyc Pads
If you think maximum absorbency and leak protection only belongs to your good ol’ regular pad, think again! These Organyc pads will have you stunned.
Not only is it super comfortable to wear, but it’ll also keep you protected regardless whether you’re on your lightest or heaviest days. So, stock up now, they come in bulks!
Pros
- Affordable.
- Good product range.
- Made with 100% organic cotton inside and out.
- Fragrance & deodorant free.
- No chemicals, synthetics or dyes.
- Hypoallergenic.
- 100% Mater-Bi layer for total leak protection.
- Breathable and comfortable to wear.
Cons
- They should add a wingless variety.
- Wings are quite short.
- Absorbency rate is a bit slower compared to regular pads, you’d feel some moisture in there (not the overwhelming, icky kind though).
Choose what suits your needs from their wide range of menstrual pads:
| Product | Best For | My Rating |
|---|---|---|
Panty liner Pads, Flat | Everyday, wingless | |
Panty liner Pads, Folded | Everyday, wingless | |
Panty liners, Light Plus, Flat | Everyday, wingless | |
Panty liners, Maxi Long | Light Flow, wingless | |
Day Pads | Moderate Flow, w/ wings | |
Moderate Flow Pads | Moderate Flow, w/ wings | |
Overnight Pads | Heavy Flow, Overnight, w/ wings |  |
Super Flow and Maternity | Heavy Flow, Overnight, w/ wings |  |
Which Sanitary Pads are Safe to Use?
Knowing that the chemicals used to grow, and process regular cotton and the chemicals used to plasticize plastic are the biggest threats to our health, we should avoid products containing these at all costs.
When choosing the safest menstrual product, keep in mind the following considerations:
Choose 100% Organic Cotton Menstrual Pads
These are more skin-friendly than synthetic ones or those with gel-like core and a dry weave cover.
Most of the products listed above are guaranteed organic except for 7th Generation (their tampons are 100% organic though, but I doubt that their pads are).
Choose Fragrance/Deodorant Free
I know we all worry that we’d stink down there during our periods, that’s why we choose to mask any odor with scented pads.
After all, society (or more like marketing strategists) embedded it in our minds that period blood stinks, it’s gross, etc. Which is so not true. It’s something natural and beautiful and is meant to be celebrated.
Scented pads and tampons are known to contain chemicals that may actually serve as an allergen to the sensitive tissues in our vag which can cause irritation (rashes, redness, sores – now that’s gross and annoying!).
Would you care about what others think or would you care about your own health? You choose.
Choose Bleach Free/ Chlorine Free
Most, if not all, ordinary pads are bleached to death and as mentioned in my intro, the byproduct of this process is a chemical called Dioxin.
When tested on Guinea Pigs, this substance has shown a high level of toxicity compared to Cyanide.
When exposed to a substantial amount of time (say an average of 30 years of using regular period pads), this harmful substance can trigger cancer (especially on the reproductive system) and other harmful side effects.
Ditch the Plastic
Plastic backing, plastic dry weave covers (never really been a fan of these) are damn right irritating and hot. Yup, air cannot pass through that backing, thus it traps moisture in and puts you at risk for bacterial infections and irritation.
Pads entirely made out of cotton-like those from Natracare and Organyc are the best sanitary pads for sensitive skin.
Be Mindful of the Packaging
Yes, they are organic. They care for the environment and they care for you.
But is their packaging consistent with their product?
Choose pads whose packaging are made from recycled materials and those that don’t use plastic on their individually wrapped products.
Where Does it End Up?
As a true blue eco babe, think where your used product will end up. Most products would end up in a landfill and would probably take years to decompose.
Wouldn’t it be nice if something is compostable? Like if it’s safe for the environment then it’s probably safe for you, right?
The Final Verdict
Drum roll, please…
I am giving this round to the brand who cares not only for me but for the environment as well…Natracare!
I love the quality of their products, it’s super comfortable and at the same time compostable. I am yet to see other brands do something like this.
Their entire product range is superb from panty liners (hi, Tanga/thong version!) to their pads, they have you covered whatever type of flow, underwear, and preference you may have (#Wingless4Life).
One thing I do notice though with all these organic products is that the key to being spotless or stain-free is to change often.
The cotton does bunch up pretty quickly (unless you’re a mannequin who doesn’t move) and seems like they easily become full (they don’t have that harmful gel-like thing to keep you dry).
Other than these, I find them perfect. Never had any irritation wearing them.
It’s never too late to do something good for your body and the environment. Start now and reap positive results later. Be it in your diet, skincare or personal care.
My picks of the best organic menstrual pads mentioned above are there to guide you on your first step to making that positive change.
Remember to put you first rather than what the society thinks. They won’t be there anyway should you be sick from using your ordinary pad for decades.
I didn’t write this to scare you off and make you paranoid for days, wrote this more as an informational article, to open your eyes to the truth, save you from the dangers of using regular pads and let you know that there are other alternatives out there…from one woman to another.
Which organic pad do you swear by? Share your experiences, comments or questions down below. Have a good one!
Want to go even further with healthier menstrual products?
Read my article on reusable menstrual pads.
Or might as well look at menstrual cups (which I have been using for a year and a half now).
Cynthia Stalde
I’m the girl behind Miss Coty. Here I talk about the struggles of womanhood – from hair removal all the way to deep facial wrinkles in your 20s. More about me.
