From there, the idea of swapping all disposable period products for eco-friendly period products interested me, and you’ll see those reviews soon.
I finally landed on the decision to grow Earth Day into Earth Month to take you along my journey of creating an eco-friendly bathroom in the hopes of helping you do the same.
The truth is that when you reduce your consumption, homemaking is far easier. Without the influx of new things and using up other things, you don’t have to worry with clutter, because you already have the system that works for everything you need.
Increasing how sustainable your home is, and even better with specifically focusing on the bathroom, you can truly transform your homemaking experience, which is why I’m sharing all of these reviews, tips, and product suggestions for Earth Month.
***I think this goes without saying, but this post is going to share a lot of TMI things about periods. I want to be as helpful and transparent as possible, so this is your warning.***
Also, I want to thank each of these brands for partnering with me to help me increase my sustainability as well as share some really great products with you! The thoughts and reviews I share are 100% my own.
Alright, let’s get back on track with the idea that sparked everything for Earth Month – PERIOD PANTIES!
What are period panties / period pants / period underwear?
If you’ve yet to hear of them, you are probably wondering what are these period pants? Honestly, I hadn’t heard of them until Emma at The Simple Environmentalist shared a video reviewing them, which wasn’t that long ago.
Period pants are basically pads and underwear marrying each other. They are underwear that can absorb blood just like pads can, but the cool part is that they leave you feeling dry until they are full.
Why should I choose period pants over what I’m currently using?
There are many reasons as to why you should choose reusable period pants over disposable period products.
Lifetime cost of disposable products compared to reusable ones Harmful chemicals within the disposable period products Waste that lasts decades Comfort Period odors
Let’s look at this piece of information from Harvard Business School:
Close to 20 billion sanitary napkins, tampons and applicators are dumped into North American landfills every year. When wrapped in plastic bags, feminine hygiene waste can take centuries to biodegrade. The average woman uses over 11,000 tampons over her lifetime, leaving behind residue far beyond her lifespan.
[source]
Twenty BILLION period products are dumped in North American landfills alone! Now imagine the rest of the world’s landfills.
You alone could use over 11,000 tampons in your lifetime, and that can be expensive.
The other side of that is the chemicals used in these products include anything from pesticides, bleach, dioxins, fragrance, and who knows what else. If you didn’t know, there are no regulations for disposable period products, so you could be exposing your body to very dangerous things. Check out SafeCosmetics.org to learn more.
These chemicals are what create period odor. Reusable period pants don’t do that.
Also, I don’t know about you, but wearing a pad and even some tampons just aren’t comfortable. Pads can provide that good-ole diaper feeling [yuck!] and noise that basically screams that Mother Nature is here!
When I learned about period panties, I knew I had to try them, because my body and the planet deserve it!
How long do period pants last?
The cool thing about period pants is that they can last for YEARS! Of course, this depends on many things, but the least projected lifespan of a period pant that I’ve seen is two years. Some women have gotten as much as ten years of wear before needing to replace them, which is incredible!
While the upfront cost may seem like an investment, the truth is that they pay for themselves quickly and with proper care can even save you a lot of money!
How many do you need per period cycle?
The answer is that it depends on your flow. Period pants come in different styles and absorbencies.
There are some that only hold half a tampon’s amount of blood and others that can hold up to four tampon’s amount of blood.
How many pairs of panties you need depends on your specific needs, but I’ve found that on a regular day [not my heaviest day], I use two regular/normal flow period pants during the day.
Do period pants leak?
When you order the proper size, no! We will get into sizing in a moment, but I want to address something else first.
If you pay attention to the photos, you’ll see where the absorbency lining is. Some period panties have very obvious linings, while others go from the waistline in the front to the waistline in the back.
I honestly prefer the waistline to waistline lining because it provides complete peace of mind. However, I have yet to have any leakage of any kind with any of these period pants.
How do you know what size to order?
The general rule of thumb for period pants is to order a size up from your normal panty size. That is what I did for each of these.
However, there are a few panties I wish I had ordered in my actual size. I’ll share which I liked in the larger size and which I could have ordered in my actual size.
How do you care for period pants?
This is very important and simple!
To care for your period pant, rinse them until the water runs clean and soak them after use. Do not allow them to dry out or you may not be able to get them clean.
Once rinsed, wash them with your normal laundry in cold water.
The most important part of care is to hang them dry! DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE DRYER! It can ruin their absorbency.
Do period underwear stain?
What I love so much about period underwear is that they do not stain! Well, the lining in every pair I have is black, so you at least don’t have to worry about staining, which is so thoughtful of all of these companies!
I’ve also not experienced any blood getting to the bottom of the underwear to be able to show through or leak out the bottom, because the lining is created to keep that from happening. So you shouldn’t have to worry with that either!
Is there any period odor from wearing period pants?
In case you missed it above, I wanted to address this again, because it is very important!
NO! When I was wearing these period pants, I was shocked that there wasn’t the typical “period odor” that you have when wearing a pad or liner.
The reason that odor occurs when wearing conventional pads or liners is because of the chemicals used in creating these products. It creates a chemical reaction with your blood to produce that smell.
What does wearing period pants feel like?
Honestly, like regular panties, but a little thicker depending on the absorbency level of the period pant.
You aren’t “sitting” in your blood like you do with a pad. The panties are made to absorb your blood into the lining, which is what is so brilliant about them!
Unless the period pant was full or I had lots of blood clots, I was dry!
Period Pants Review
As I did with the Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper Review post, I will share the facts and my thoughts for each item.
The brands included in this review are:
Bambody GenerationMe Modibodi Proof Wuka
For no specific reason, I decided to do this review in alphabetical order.
1 // Bambody Period Panties Review
You can order Bambody period pants through their website or on Amazon. I personally like their options on Amazon over their website, but it’s only because they have a few more color options.
I tried Bambody’s Absorbent Hip Hugger [in violet] and Absorbent Panty [in black], which fits like a high-rise panty.
Here are the facts:
Bambody period pants are designed in Australia and made in China.
The reason they are made in China is that Bambody’s main material is bamboo. They are open about the sustainability and ethics that go into creating their products, which I appreciate knowing.
Materials used: To get more specific about the materials used in their panties, I’m going to quote exactly what they share on their website.
“The fabric body of the underwear is made from predominantly bamboo, with cotton and spandex for structure and stretch. The central leak proof gusset is a bamboo fabric that is polylaminated, which is then covered by a second layer of bamboo fabric. The absorbent styles have a central crotch section that is made from polyester (80%) and nylon (20%). The hipster waistband is made from nylon (52%), rubber latex (30%), and polyester (18%).” – [source]
Absorbency: Both styles are made to absorb 2 tampons worth of blood.
Packaging: Bubble envelope & underwear was in resealable plastic bags
Price: Check out current prices on Amazon.
Bambody also does a lot of charitable things, so I do encourage you to check out their website to learn more about them.
My Bambody Absorbent Period Underwear Experience Comfort: 10 out of 10! Super comfortable! Feels like regular underwear, but just a little thicker. Absorbency: 10 out of 10! I was dry all day when wearing these period underwear, which is a win in my book! Fit: 10 out of 10 – Size up!
I ordered a size up from my actual size as suggested by everyone. The funny thing, and by complete accident, was that the pair of Absorbent Hip Hugger came with one medium and one large instead of two larges.
I actually appreciated this, because it allowed me to see the difference in ordering up a size. The actual size was very snug, but not so snug that they weren’t comfortable. However, I love the way the large fit better.
The fit and feel of both styles were extremely soft and comfortable! I love that the hip hugger style had a wider bottom compared to a bikini style panty.
The only difference between the two styles is how high they come up on the waist. If you prefer a high waist panty, I recommend the Absorbent Panty. If you prefer a lower waist panty, I recommend the Absorbent Hip Hugger.
Overall, I love my Bambody Absorbent Period Underwear, and highly recommend them!
GenerationMe’s Eva Wear Period Panties Review
GenerationMe is an amazing company that sells a variety of eco-friendly period products, including Eva Wear Period Panties.
For this review, I tried the High-Rise Brief [in beige] and the Hipster [in blue].
Here are the facts:
EvaWear is based in the USA and made in China.
Materials used: Body: 85% Nylon, 15% Spandex. Middle layer: PUL, 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex. Inner Lining: 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex.
Absorbency: Both styles are made to absorb 2 tampons worth of blood.
Packaging: Reusable plastic envelope & panties were wrapped in plastic packaging
Price: $16.95+
Check out the EvaWear Period Panties that GenerationMe carries [they are really cute!].
My EvaWear Period Panty Experience Comfort: 8 out of 10 Absorbency: 10 out of 10 Fit: 9 out of 10 – Size up!
Overall, I do like the EvaWear Period Panties. They are soft and work well.
I gave them an 8 out of 10 on comfort, because the lining is more noticeable when you wear them. They don’t feel like a diaper, but they are thicker than the Bambody panties that have the same absorbency level.
The only reason I docked a point on the fit is that I don’t like how the high-rise briefs ride up. The hipster pair is my favorite of the two because of this. I do like where the high-rise sits on my waist, but I cannot stand it when panties ride up, which is most likely due to my bottom’s shape.
Modibodi Underpants Review
I tried two completely different period pants from Modibodi, so I’m actually going to have to split them up to share them with you.
But before I do, here are the facts about Modibodi:
Modibodi Underpants are designed in Australia and made in China.
Packaging: Cardboard envelope & panties in cardboard [completely zero waste packaging!]
Modibodi Seamfree Boyleg
Materials: Outer – 91% Nylon 9% Spandex Gusset – Merino Wool, Polyester, Polyamide
Absorbency: 2-3 tampons worth of blood
Price: $28.00
Check out the Modibodi Seamfree Boyleg Underpants
My thoughts about the Modibodi Seamfree Boyleg Period Pants
I cannot share a review of this period pant because they didn’t fit.
This style runs true to actual size and the large was too large for me to test. As I mentioned before, period pants need to fit to be leakproof.
However, I can provide a few insights for you.
The material was a bit silkier than the bamboo and cotton pairs because the outer is made mostly of nylon. I didn’t like how structured the lining was. There was hardly any movement to be had when I did try them on, even after I washed them.
I did give these to my sister to try and review for us, and when she is able to provide us a review, I will update this post with her thoughts.
Her initial thought is that she loves the feel of the material.
Modibodi Classic Boyleg
Materials: Outer – 95% Bamboo Viscose 5% Spandex Gusset – Merino Wool, Polyester, Polyamide
Absorbency: 1-2 tampons worth of blood
Price: $23.00
Get your own pair of Modibodi Classic Boyleg Period Underwear
My Modibodi Classic Boyleg Period Underwear Experience Comfort: 10 out of 10! Absorbency: 10 out of 10! Fit: 10 out of 10 – Size up!
Honestly, after I saw the seamless boyleg pair, I didn’t expect to like these. I’m not sure why either. However, I really really like the Modibodi Classic Boyleg, and sizing up one size was PERFECT!
These are probably the lightest pair and felt almost like regular underwear when wearing them.
I recommend these to be used as a backup to tampons or a menstrual cup or for super light days where you may only be spotting.
Since receiving these period underwear, Modibodi has increased their inventory in many ways, so I recommend you look through all they have to offer. They have more materials, including recycled materials, and colors to choose from now.
Proof Period Pants Review
I received Proof’s Leakproof Hipster and Leakproof Brief to review, but as always, let’s dive into the facts first!
Here are the facts:
Proof is based in the USA and made in China.
Materials used: Outer: 75% Nylon 25% Spandex Lining: 100% Polyester Lining: 69% Cotton 25% Polyester 6% Acrylate
Packaging: Bubble wrap bag & panties were in plastic bags
Price: Leakproof Brief – $35, Leakproof Hipster – $43
Shop Proof Period Panties now!
My thought about Proof Period Panties
These run true to size, so I am unable to provide you with a review. However, I also gave these to my sister to review, so once she does, I will update this post with her review.
Now, I will say that the website does say to order them according to your actual size. However, a lot of people swear by ordering these a size up, so I stuck with reviewers.
My initial thought of the Proof period panties are that the material is like the Modibodi Seamless pair, which was a bit silkier. However, I did not like the width of the middle. It is too narrow for my preference, especially when on my period.
We will see what my sister has to say about it in her review, as she her initial opinion seems to be that she really likes them.
Wuka Period Pants Review
The last brand on the list, but certainly not least, is Wuka. The period pants I tried of theirs are the Ultimate Bikini, the Ultimate Midi Brief, and the Basics Hipster.
Here are the facts about Wuka:
Wuka period pants are designed in the UK and made in China.
Packaging: Cardboard box & compostable corn starch packaging that looks like plastic [cool, right?!]
My Wuka Ultimate Bikini & Basics Hipster Reviews Wuka Ultimate Bikini & Wuka Basics Hipster Period Pants Wuka Ultimate Bikini Period Pant
Materials used: Outer 95% Organic Cotton, 5% Elastic, Internal 80% Polyester, 20% Nylon, TPU
Absorbency: Up to 3 tampons worth of blood
Price: Medium Flow – $22.00
Check out Wuka’s Ultimate Bikini Period Pant now!
My Wuka Ultimate Bikini Period Pant Experience Comfort – 8 out of 10 Absorbency – 10 out of 10 Fit – 7 out of 10 – Size Up!
The bikini style period pant, honestly, wasn’t my favorite.
The thing that bothered me about them is how bad they ride up and don’t stay in place. I’ve never been a bikini-style person, but I wanted to give them a try because, from the photos, they seemed to be a little wider than a traditional bikini-style panty.
If bikini-style panties are your thing, they do feel comfortable. The material is really nice, and the absorbency is great!
Wuka Basics Hipster Period Pant
Materials used: Outer 95% Cotton, 5% Elastic, Internal 80% Polyester, 20% Nylon, TPU
Absorbency: Medium Flow Period Pant holds up to 3 tampons worth of blood & Heavy Flow Period Pant holds up to 4 tampons worth of blood
Price: Medium Flow – $15.00, Heavy Flow – $22.00
Get your own pair of Wuka Basics Hipster Period Pant!
My Wuka Basics Hipster Period Pant Experience Comfort – 10 out of 10 Absorbency – 10 out of 10 Fit – 10 out of 10 – Size Up!
I was able to try and review the medium flow period pants, but I wanted to include the information about the heavy flow period pants just so you had that information.
The experience with this pair was great! It is definitely my favorite compared to the other Wuka period pants.
What I love most about these period pants is that the lining in the front goes up pretty high and in the back it goes all of the way up to the waistline.
If you prefer hipster style panties, I think you would like these.
My Wuka Ultimate Midi Brief Review
Material: Let me share what Wuka shares on their website about these period pants.
“Eco-friendly and luxurious Lenzing® Modal fabric with a super absorbent hi-tech fabric and moisture barrier making it period proof. Carbon neutral fabric made in Austria. Our WUKA Ultimate collection undies are made from our most sustainable fabrics and constructed without compromise.” [source]
I love that the material used in this period pant is carbon neutral. That is definitely different than the other period pants in this review.
Absorbency: Meduim Flow Period Pants holds up to 3 tampons worth of blood; Heavy Flow Period Pant holds up to 4 tampons worth of blood
Price: Medium Flow – $29.00, Heavy Flow – $30.00
Shop the Wuka Ultimate Midi Briefs <
My Wuka Ultimate Midi Brief Period Pant Experience Comfort – 8 out of 10 Absorbency – 10 out of 10! Fit – 9 out of 10 – Actual size will fit well.
These were the period pants that put me the farthest outside of my comfort zone because the sides of these panties are a mesh-like material.
They are really comfortable and airy, which I think is great for summertime wear. It just took a little getting used to at first.
I ordered these a size up and could have used my actual size. However, they weren’t so much larger that I couldn’t fit them. If I had them in my actual size, they would probably be snug but not too tight.
Other than the sizing, I wish these were like the hipster pair where the lining goes all the way up in the back, but that is just my preference.
Which period pants were my favorite?
After trying several of these period pants, I found that my favorite brand overall is Bambody! I loved both styles and the comfort of them the most. I felt like I was wearing regular panties, but had the security of period pants.
The runner-up is definitely the Modibodi Classic Boyleg. These are definitely for lighter or spotting days, and they are also just as comfortable as regular panties.
Final thoughts
Overall I love period pants! They are comfortable, eco-friendly, and affordable when you compare how long they last to conventional tampons, pads, ets.
Also, each of these period underwear are made well, which surprised me a little, because the price of them varies anywhere from $13 to $30. Now, I’m not saying they are all created equal. You can definitely tell a difference in the make, but what I’m trying to say is that none of them are made cheaply.
What matters most is that you’re using a sustainable period product that not only saves you money in the long run, but it also saves the planet, which is what Earth Month is all about.
I think the last thing I want to address is that I love that when I’m on my period, I still have confidence while on my period because I’m not worried about wearing a pad and smelling that period pad odor or having my tampon leak. Instead, I get to focus on enjoying my period, which is a completely different experience that I love!
If you enjoyed learning about period underwear, I encourage you to subscribe via email, because I’ve got more eco-friendly period products to share with you!
I would love to know more about your experience with eco-friendly period products! Have you heard of period pants before today? Have you tried them? Let me know below in the comments!
The post Eco-Friendly Period Pants – My Review of Eco-Friendly Period Underwear appeared first on The Tannehill Homestead.
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