It's been three years since period panties became my only form of menstrual protection, and now they are finally gaining more attention on the internet and from other bloggers. Recently, I have tried several different brands and, considering my several years of experience, this might just be helpful for someone out there ;)
- Thinx:
A little backstory: I discovered Thinx period panties three years ago. They were pretty much the only available option back then, at least for shipping to my address. They didn't exist in stores. It changed my life! My periods became much less of a hassle. I have a "normal" flow (I think, but what is normal?), my period lasts 5-6 days, and on the 2nd and 3rd days, I was using about 5 tampons a day, including at night (even though it's dangerous to wear them at night, be careful not to do that). I've always hated pads, so I was all about tampons!
I almost immediately adopted Thinx for the entire duration of my period, washing them by hand each time I changed. I have 4 (which I still use, by the way). They haven't aged at all. It's the Cheeky model in black, and I find them quite attractive. They don't show under clothing, are thin, and are equivalent to about one and a half tampons, I'd say.
The only slight drawback that started to bug me after a few months is the winter... well, in Quebec, during winter, we wear multiple layers of clothing and snow boots. So when you have to change your panties at work, you end up taking off your boots, tights, pants, putting everything back on, and washing your panties... This means spending a good 6-7 minutes in the bathroom!
Nowadays, there are numerous period panty brands, and some have even more to offer than Thinx, both in terms of the panties' composition and ethical and social commitments.
That's what prompted me to try other brands!
- Fempo:
So, I bought three Fempo panties (a French brand, shipping worldwide), including a very absorbent Power++ model, which can last a full day (or half a day of heavy flow). Fempo is kind of the pinnacle of ethics, with sustainable materials, no nanoparticles, textiles sourced in France and Italy, and manufacturing in France and Tunisia. It's a brand I want to support.
Unfortunately, these panties don't quite suit me. They show under all my clothes due to the very pronounced elastic around the entire edge (but I took a size up, so that might be the reason). They're also thick, giving a diaper effect (probably the price to pay for absorption). I'm delighted to have them and support the brand, but I can imagine that I wouldn't have been comfortable if they had been the first period panties of my life. So, I recommend the brand for its commitments, but not necessarily for a teenager or someone not yet convinced by the concept of menstrual panties.
- Mme L'ovary:
At Muscade, we sell Mme L'ovary panties, a Montreal brand (shipping to America and Europe). So, I got one for myself to try. The concept is different from the others, addressing the issue of undressing. The Mme L'ovary panties come with 3 inserts that can be changed throughout the day. It's like a pad, but integrated into the panty, so it doesn't move, stick out, slide, or show! The idea is brilliant. I have only one, and it's the one I wear on the worst day of my period (like if I'm out running errands on a heavy flow day).
However, it also has its drawbacks... it shows a bit under clothes, and personally, I don't find it attractive, but that's just my personal taste. It's also free of nanoparticles.
- Next brands to try: Réjeanne and Elia
I've been eyeing Réjeanne and Elia panties for a while, and I think their designs are the most attractive, closer to "non-period" panties. They are also French and ethical brands, with panties made in France and free of nanoparticles. Réjeanne claims their panties are thin, seamless, absorbent for 12 hours, and equivalent to 3-4 tampons, so I'm very interested!
The prices are similar to other brands, so that's cool.
Overall, period panties are the best protection for me, and they have changed my relationship with this time of the month.
I'm glad I started with Thinx three years ago because their discreet design allowed me to feel comfortable right away. However, I now know that their manufacturing conditions are not the most ethical, and I don't want to buy from them again. There are fantastic, more conscious brands available today! If you're often on the go, I would definitely recommend Mme L'ovary. As for me, I'll wait until my current panties wear out to try Réjeanne or Elia in a few years. I now have 7 period panties, so I really don't need to buy any more at the moment!
And you, tell me about your period panties ;)