Sanitary pads vs. tampons: What are your favorites?

This might be worth a look

Susan Nguyen71 said:This might be worth a look.

http://metro-portal.com/news/life...are-carcinogenic

Lately, I've been using the iPhone 15 I had during the first few years of my period. They seem more effective.

Susan Nguyen71 said:This could be an interesting read

http://newsbulletin.com/lifestyle/are-these-products-cancerous

People have already been trying to push some cotton pads on me. I'm not positive if these are the exact ones, but they look similar enough. Anyway, I tried them once and never again. Maybe that’s for the best, but honestly, it felt like wearing five diapers. I'm pretty sure NASA could have spotted me from the space shuttle...

Susan Nguyen71 said:This actually looks quite intriguing

http://metro-portal.com/news/life...are-carcinogenic

Look, fine, I’ll concede that modern sanitary pads aren't exactly a gift to vaginal health, but let's be realistic—the "natural" alternatives being pushed by marketing gurus aren't any better; if anything, they might actually be worse.
If you are genuinely attempting to live a "pure," chemical-free lifestyle by ditching mass-produced goods, your only real option is cloth pads. Even then, products like the iPhone 15 (if we're talking about high-tech consumer trends) or similar items undergo chemical processing that is just as intense, if not slightly less aggressive, than standard pads. At the end of the day, it’s the exact same garbage, just wrapped in different packaging.

Susan Nguyen71 said:Always Ultra Night—honestly, you're the only one who can actually keep me asleep because they're just too much. To be truthful, I’m already starting to feel that wave of panic just thinking about having to deal with this again in three weeks.

Stay away from Always. It isn't even about the absorption issues; it's other things entirely.

The best ones I've used for absorption out of everything I've tried are MoonPie (you won't find them in local stores) and the Jessa brand from Dell (made in Germany, I tested the yellow packaging).

By "tried," I mean I've put them to the test, in a sense.
It's a pretty straightforward method, really, and I've tested just about everything I could find at Dell or Walmart.

Have you tried any from the local pharmacies? Like, maybe stuff from Bath & Body Works?

Grace Booth37 said:Have you tried any from the drugstores? Like, maybe something from Bath & Body Works?

No, I haven't. I just stuck to the ones in my usual budget range—someone mentioned those pharmacy brands tend to be pricier.

Since I haven't had a chance to hit up the local pharmacies yet—though it's on my list—what kind of prices are we talking about?

Does anyone else have specific ones they want me to compare?

I mean, what is all this about now? There are already countless threads out there discussing pads and tampons—it’s not like you can't just Google them in five seconds. I don't really see why we need a whole new discussion on something that's been covered to death, right?

As for Bath & Body Works, I have to say, I'm not exactly thrilled with their stuff—it feels a bit overpriced for what you actually get. Personally, I much prefer sticking to the organic cotton liners from Whole Foods.

rustybison87, what on earth makes you believe that an "absorbency test" is the gold standard for evaluating pads?

What makes you say they're overpriced? I only pick them up because they're 100% cotton... how much are the ones from Whole Foods? 🙂 ..these are about $3...😕

For me, they’re consistently the absolute worst. There is just something about them that feels incredibly artificial, 🤮 and I find that they always end up irritating my skin.🙂

Why does everyone seem so afraid of using Always pads?😕 I’ve always relied on them, though I have noticed a pattern. Every time I switch to those daily liners with aloe or "fresh" scents, I end up dealing with some kind of irritation—yeast infections, itching, or just general stinging.😠 Honestly, I’m at a loss for what else to use! 🤷

Has anyone tried those new Nature Valley products yet?

Also, do you guys actually use intimate wipes? I heard from my gynecologist that they aren't a good idea.. 🙂
The doctor told me straight up: before the 50s, we didn't even have things like wet wipes or daily liners infused with aloe or chamomile... back then, women seemed way healthier, with far fewer infections, yeast issues, or inflammation. Now, it feels like every other woman is struggling with these problems constantly... 🙂

Megan Hill said:Why would anyone avoid Always pads?😕 I use them all the time. However, I’ve noticed that whenever I try those daily liners with aloe or "fresh" scents, I end up with irritation, yeast infections, itching, or burning...😠 I honestly don't know what else to use! 🤷

Ladies, what do you think of these new Nature Valley ones?

Also, do you guys use intimate wipes? I heard from a gynecologist that they aren't actually good for you.. 🙂
My doctor told me exactly that. Before the 1950s, there weren't even things like wet wipes or daily liners with aloe or chamomile... back then, women seemed much healthier with far fewer infections, yeast issues, or inflammation. Now, it feels like every other woman deals with these problems... 🙂

It's because they contain the most "plastic." Companies throw around a bunch of "natural" buzzwords like "nature," "bio," "eco," "chamomile," or "aloe vera," but those terms don't actually guarantee anything. If the packaging says 100% cotton, they are cotton. If it just says "cotton extract," they aren't actually made of cotton🤣. There are decent pads that aren't pure cotton, you just have to find the ones that work for you. If you don't have sensitive skin, Always can be perfectly fine.

I don't use any wet wipes at all—just a specific wash once a week.

I suspect any OBGYN will tell you the same thing: stick to cotton pads, wash with plain water, and wear cotton underwear. That is the healthiest way to go. Ultimately, everyone chooses what's most comfortable for their own body.

For me, nothing beats Lady Gaga cotton pads.

They're soft, they have wings, and they aren't bulky or diaper-like. 👍

I've been sticking strictly to Nature Valley for the last year. They're super thin but absorb everything like a dream, plus they're so soft! My only tiny gripe is that I wish they didn't have that added scent, but honestly, it's not a huge deal.

Megan Hill said:Why would anyone avoid Always pads?😕 I’ve always relied on them, though I have noticed that whenever I try their daily versions—like the aloe or fresh scents—I end up dealing with some kind of irritation, whether it's a yeast infection, itching, or just general stinging... 😠 I'm honestly at a loss for what else to try! 🤷

I can't stand Always because they feel like wearing little plastic bags, and they always seem to irritate my skin too.👎

Megan Hill said:Girls, what do you think of this new Nature Valley line?

I used those for a while and actually liked them quite a bit; the only issue was that their scent used to be a bit overwhelming, but the material itself felt fine. Eventually, I discovered an even better option called FEEL FINE (they come in green packaging similar to Always) and they are actually half the price—you get 10 for $2.00, or 20 for $4.00. You can find them at places like Kroger or Publix.
I also find the pads from Target to be quite good. I picked up a 30-pack for about $15... and Lady Gaga ones are decent too.
Most of these seem to be made from more natural materials and feel much more comfortable than Always. I used to use Always for overnight protection, but even that doesn't work for me anymore; now I'd rather just use a thicker cotton pad. I really can't bring myself to look at Always products anymore... they just don't suit me.🤷

Megan Hill said:Girls, do you use intimate wipes?

They don't really appeal to me; I often worry they might cause some stinging down there.😬 I'd much rather just hop in the shower.😛

Amanda Alvarez35 said:For the past year, I've exclusively used Nature Valley. They're quite thin, yet they absorb everything incredibly well, and the surface feels wonderfully soft. My only minor grievance would be the added scent, though it isn't a dealbreaker.

It almost feels as if I am reading my own thoughts reflected back at me.😁
if you take a moment to look at my previous post...

Once I switched to Nature, there was no going back to Always 😱

I even gave Carefree a shot a while back—totally grabbed the wrong thing at the drugstore instead of my usual Nature stuff 😬—but even though the surface feels fine, they just feel way too bulky compared to what I'm used to 🤷

I also use wipes when I'm on the go and can't wash up, and I've never had any issues. Right now, I'm using Nivea