Natural Menstrual Products
This post contains unsponsored reviews of natural menstrual products from Rael and The Honey Pot.
Have you given any thought to your menstrual routine lately? Chances are, you figured out what you like to use in your early teens (or even earlier, for some of us) and are still using the same products or brands to this day. Maybe your mother or close friends recommended your current faves. Or maybe you were swayed by those weird blue liquid commercials.
Revamping your menstrual routine could be the next step in limiting your exposure to toxins. Many mass-produced menstrual products are made from synthetic chemicals and treated with chlorine. They also often contain dyes and synthetic fragrances. These ingredients are not only harmful to us, but the environment. And when you consider that the average menstruating person has 450 periods (approx. 3,500 days) in their lifetime, those effects can really add up for both our health and the Earth.
Enter “natural” menstrual products produced by companies like Rael, Cora, and The Honey Pot. The specifics vary by company and product, but the general theme is that the products are made with natural, biodegradable materials (usually cotton) and are free of synthetic dyes and fragrances.
I decided to test out pads from Rael and The Honey Pot (gotta support black-owned businesses). My thoughts below:
Rael Organic Cotton Menstrual Pads – Unscented
First Impression: I like the sleek packaging and colors, it definitely looks like it is marketed toward Millennials/younger people. The pads don’t have the blue “moisture lock core” that comes with the brand I’m used to using. The pads feel soft, maybe because they are made of cotton instead of plastic. They feel nice while wearing.
Use: I definitely felt like I used more pads than I usually do, maybe because the pads weren’t as absorbent as traditional pads. I didn’t have any leaks (or at least, no more than I usually do) so the performance of the pad held up. It was an adjustment to get used to using an unscented pad, which was another reason I switched them out more regularly. The thin top layer of the pad rubbed loose a few times, but this didn’t affect the performance.
Conclusion: I would definitely buy these again, although I will keep testing out other brands to see if I can find a pad with improved odor control and absorbency.
The Honey Pot Herbal Menstrual Pads
First impression: The lavender/mint scent of the overnight pads is both comforting and fresh. I like the idea of having some way to neutralize the smell of my menstrual blood, so this seems promising. The pads themselves have some sort of plasticky-looking wrap around them, much like traditional pads. These pads don’t market themselves as “organic” like Rael, but the cotton used is chlorine-free and pesticide-free. The site mentions that the essential oils create a “cooling” effect when worn.
Use: Unfortunately, I was only able to wear this pad for about one minute before taking it off. For whatever reason the tingling sensation was so intense for me, it became unbearable. I’m not sure if maybe I had an allergic reaction to the mint or something else. I wish I could speak to the absorbency, etc. but I didn’t keep it on long enough to find out. I would love to try an unscented version if The Honey Pot releases one.
Conclusion: The Amazon reviews show that some people had reactions similar to mine, so this product is probably not a good fit for sensitive users like myself. However, in general, this product has glowing reviews.
For more on Clean Beauty, check out previous posts.
Do you have a favorite natural menstrual product brand? Let us know in the comments!
