I haven’t bought single use period products in 4 years.

Yup, you heard that right.
No more pricey moon times, noisy plastic wrappers, or bulky period trash. No more worrying about leaks or running out of tampons before the end of your cycle, or forgetting to remember packing extras in your purse, or anxiety over the simple fact that having a uterus seems to doom us into creating an enormous amount of waste over our lifetimes.🙃 And I’m here to help you reduce your menstrual waste too.

Reusable products, while requiring an initial investment (which, by the way, governments should be subsidizing IMO), have significantly improved my life. However, it’s important to remember that we all have different bodies, needs, & lifestyles, so there is no one size fits all swap for this. Access to these products, living with a disability, and many other factors also affect an individual’s choice of menstrual products, so I tried to gather lots of options (some of which I have and others I haven’t tried) for you to choose the products that feel most aligned and practical for you. There is no judgement here on what you choose.❤️

Note that none of this is sponsored, however I do have an affiliate link for Caroquilla (which I shared below for you to get a discount should you choose the period undies option) and I received free products from Öko Creations last year as part of a collaboration (at which point I had already owned some of their products for a few years).

MENSTRUAL CUPS & DISCS

These are likely the products you hear most about. While not for everyone, I personally find these to be excellent options for many menstruators, especially those that are used to tampons rather than pads.

They are low mess, discreet, easy to care for, and most find them very comfortable.

However if you have pelvic floor issues, you may want to check with your doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist prior to using one, and always follow the directions for use and maintenance, as this may differ from brand to brand.

The one I’ve been using for nearly 5 years is the DivaCup. Reasons why I chose this particular brand were:

• It’s fairly accessible thanks to being available in most pharmacies;

• They are a certified B Corp;

• They partner with TerraCycle for cup recycling;

• They sell a cup cleanser (in a plastic bottle 💔) for easy cup cleaning;

• Made in Canada from 100% Medical Grade silicone.

For a lot of menstruators, trying out new types of period products can be down right intimidating. I get it. Buying my first menstrual cup and bringing it home, I was so nervous. I read every last bit of the instruction manual and felt like a kid getting their period for the first time all over again.

It does get easier with practice though (like anything else!). I also wanted to share that I heard really great things about the Nixit cup (which is shaped more like a disc), also made in Canada, and will definitely give it a try once my DivaCup is no longer usable.

There are many, many other brands of cups and discs that I won’t all list here, but if the initial one you bought doesn’t feel quite right, it may be worth trying out a different brand for bitter fit and comfort.

PERIOD UNDERWEAR

This year I tried period underwear for the very first time, by a local Winnipeg business called Caroquilla. I had been wearing their regular underwear for over a year (they are sooo comfy), but had avoided period underwear because most brands make them out of plastic fabric and many brands (including Thinx and Knix) have been under scrutiny for containing PFAs, toxic chemicals that may could lead to hormone imbalance and other health issues. Caroquilla’s underwear are primarily made of bamboo, with only the gusset’s quick dry and moisture blocking layers containing synthetic materials.

I think period undies are best for people who are used to wearing pads either overnight or in everyday use. If this is you and you are wanting to try ones at a lower price, you can use my code CHANELLE10 for 10% off or use this link.

Benefits of period undies is being able to free bleed without worrying, they absorb more than a tampon (2-3x more), and you can easily throw them in the wash with other items (I’ve personally never stained other items despite doing this). Always follow the care instructions though to avoid making them less absorbent/leakproof over time. Many brands are selling period undies nowadays so choose ones that you think you’ll actually wear based on style, comfort, and website reviews (a conscious consumer’s best friend).

REUSABLE PADS/LINERS

I love these for overnight and at the start/end of my period when I don’t feel like using my menstrual cup. Only natural fibres are touching your skin and it feels like wearing a cloud (without the itchy plasticky material of a conventional pad).

The brand I’ve been using for several years is Öko Creations, an ethically-made in Montreal women-owned and run small business that uses organic cotton and hemp. They have a variety of different sizes, absorbencies, and my favourite: the reusable thong liners.

Care instructions will again vary by brand, but again, you can throw them in the wash with other clothing as long as you rinsed out them a bit first. Until wash day, they can either be soaked, rinsed then air dried, or just left as is until they’re ready to be washed. I’m lazy so I do the latter then rinse them and give them a few strokes with my stain bar before throwing them in with my regular clothes. Sure they stain, but they still do the trick! If this intimidates you, feel free to check out Öko’s care instructions here.

For those local to Winnipeg, @sewdandee ethically makes reusable pads to order, all the info is in her post here. I have never tried this brand, but know many locals who have!

OTHER OPTIONS

If none of the options above resonate with you, there are also a few eco (albeit single use) products to try (note, I personally have not tried any of these options, but heard great things):

• Joni biodegradable pads, liners, and non-applicator tampons: Wrapped in industrially compostable wrappers, made of bamboo and organic cotton in ethical factories. You can also purchase these locally in Winnipeg at Refill Market.

• only 100% organic cotton tampons with reusable applicator. The tampons are wrapped in compostable paper so there is no plastic involved.

Have you tried any of these, or maybe a totally different type of option? I’d love for you to share below for others to have many more options to choose from. :)

Take care of yourself & remember to rest whenever you can this weekend.

Sending love to all my fellow menstruators out there,

-Chanelle oxo