A *touchy* subject for some unknown reason. Periods are uncomfortable and inconvenient enough as it is, so messing around with what methods work for you can be scary. I’m a pad/ tampon girl, finding that a combination makes me feel the most at ease. However, these products are packaged and made of plastic, and every time I use them I’m reminded how much single use plastic I am buying and using.
I’ve been looking at alternative products for a while, and have found loads of options. If you’re interested, there are alternatives from cups to pads, underwear to plastic free tampon applicators – anything you can think of. I’ve gone for reusable pads, because it’s the closest to what I currently use. The brand I went with are Bloom and Nora, because they were in my local zero waste shop, and I’ve seen lots of positive reviews of them. I bought the trial kit for £33.95, which includes one mini, one midi, one maxi and one mighty pad, with a bag for keeping them in before washing them. The idea is, you use one, rinse it in cold water and then throw it in with the rest of your washing.
So, my review – generally, pretty good, I’ll definitely keep using them. They’re great at night because I feel really secure, there’s no leaking or anything like that, and they’re very comfy. Throughout the day I didn’t really notice them, and the midi pad in particular was great for an average day of work. I also love the cute prints on both the pads and the bag, and they all washed and dried really easily. However, I did feel that some of the pads were a little bulky, and I you could see them through some of my clothes, which isn’t ideal. They were also VERY warm (because they’re sort of fleece-like), so I might not recommend them if you live somewhere very warm. As with many reusable period products, you also need enough of them for a full cycle, unless you do washing everyday, which I do not. However, that is predominantly my fault for just getting the trial pack.
Overall, I did like them, and I will use them, but I’ll also look for other sustainable period products that are less bulky and warm, but maybe stick to these at night. Like I said in a recent post, it’s great to try all these things to see whether they work for you, but if they don’t then it isn’t a positive change! It has to be a positive change for you and the environment, otherwise it won’t be a permanent change.
Link to Bloom and Nora Trial Kit: https://www.bloomandnora.com/collections/popular/products/nora-trial-kit-boudoir#productinfo1
Waste Makes Waste 