Welcome ladies! Let’s chat about greener alternatives for our little lady down stairs, shall we? I want to help you all learn more about the nasty chemicals you’re putting into your body once a month, and where to get greener alternatives for a good price. Fasten your seatbelt, it’s about to get real taboo up in here!
First and foremost: TAMPONS. Oh, the horror! These tiny cotton rolls of embarrassment are the number one offender. Less than one-tenth of an inch of skin separates a toxic “essential” from the rest of your body. GROSS. The average tampon off the shelf at your local grocery store contains odor neutralizers (perfumes), chlorine, rayon, polyester, adhesives, polyethylene (PET), polypropylene, pesticides, and propylene glycol (PEG) – all of these things are linked to hormone disruption, cancer, birth defects, dryness, and infertility. Don’t forget, once you’re done using it, they get thrown in the trash and sent to the landfill – which then puts all of these chemicals into our environment as well! I think we can all agree on the fact that tampons are 110% disgusting – even before being used! I have done some research and found a few companies that offer organic tampons for a reasonable price.
First up is Cora. Cora is one of my personal favorites because they are doing more than providing a greener alternative. Cora donates a percentage of each sale to provide women and girls in developing countries with the products necessary to continue their lives while being on their period. Many girls are forced to drop out of school due to the lack of sanitation during their menstrual cycle. Cora wants to help these girls stay in school and reach their full potential. If this is something you’re interested in supporting, go here to get your first box!
Next up is Natracare. On their product page, Natracare says “Our products are a direct response to health and environmental concerns about dioxin pollution caused by chlorine bleaching, pesticide spraying on conventionally grown cotton, and the use of rayon and plastics in feminine hygiene.” I can get behind that! You can get your first box of Natracare products easily here!
Now let’s talk about The Honest Co. Being the beautiful human that she is, Jessica Alba founded this company, who not only supplies environmentally friendly feminine hygiene items, but also greener alternatives for almost every aspect of a woman’s every day life, including makeup, home, and infant care. You can check out their selection here!
Now we’re getting into some alternative feminine hygiene methods. My personal favorite is the menstrual cup. They are definitely intimidating, and a little more invasive than a tampon, but OH LORD do they work! Menstrual cups are not only free of harsh chemicals, fragrances, and dyes – but are great for the environment. The cups are made from surgical grade silicon and last for at least a year. You can wear the cup for up to 15 hours without having to empty it. I personally empty and clean mine in the morning when getting ready to start my day and before bed. There are two sizes available with every brand – one for women under the age of 30 who have never given birth, and one for women over the age of 30 who have. There are two big brands that everyone talks about, DivaCup and Intimina. I highly encourage you to do some research of your own within these two companies and decide which would be a better fit for you and your lifestyle.
Let me think, who should we visit next? Oh yeah, Thinx! Thinx is a revolutionary product. Absorbent Undies? Cute ones too? This is like a dream. They claim to be “period proof underwear that protect you from leaks and keeps you dry”. What more could we ask for? Thinx offers 6 different styles of period-proof undies. These are great for the ladies who prefer using pads, but also helps the environment by eliminating the waste. Check them out here!
Lastly, I want to talk about This is L. This is L. offers a free trial for first time users. They offer more than just tampons too. They also have pads, liners, and condoms. Yes, condoms! Safe sex is about more than wrapping it – its about what you’re wrapping it with! These condoms are free of glycerin, parabens, and N-9. A lot like Cora, they support women in developing countries. With each box purchased, one is donated to a female entrepreneur in a developing country! Head on over to www.thisisl.com to get your free trial today!