I’ve been using period underwear for eight years, and I’m sharing the best ones. The best non-toxic period underwear is made with organic cotton and without PFAS, antimicrobial treatments, or synthetic waterproof coating.

My Testing Method

I tested the period underwear on heavy flow days from Day 1 all the way through the last day of my period on the lightest flow day. Our extremely heavy flow team member (who soaks through a pad every hour on the first day) also tested the underwear to verify they’re truly leakproof.

The Criteria

These are the only ones I trust because they’re:

• Leakproof
• Comfy
• Made with safe materials (even better if third party verified)

I tried Rif Organic Cotton and Hemp fiber Leakproof Period Undies

Rif Care makes organic, PFAS-free period underwear that’s made of organic cotton and hemp and widely accessible at Target stores and Erewhon. It’s made from a blend of hemp (28%), organic cotton (67%), and 5% spandex in the body and gusset, with a leakproof layer of polyester and nylon and a recycled-polyester absorbent core that’s 100% free of PFAS, SAP, titanium dioxide, chlorine, and bleach. I find these have very decent stretch, hugs me all around very comfortably, are actually cute and breathable while being hefty enough for my heaviest flow days. Each holds roughly two regular tampons or pads worth of flow with up to 10 hours of protection depending on how heavy your day is, comes in a wide XS–3XL size range across briefs, thongs, and boxers, and is HSA/FSA eligible. I love that Rif also donates a portion of proceeds to near and dear programs. Fits true to size and Medium is a snug but still comfy fit.

Price: $29

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Use organicbeautylover for -15%

I tried Period. By The Period Company (budget!)

Period by the Period Company underwear is the most affordable organic period underwear I’ve tried hands down. They offer two different PFAS-free fabric options: a 95% organic cotton 5% spandex jersey for heavy flow styles (absorbing roughly 9 tampons’ worth on the heaviest days), and a 90% polyester 10% spandex microfiber blend, lined in the same organic cotton jersey, for medium flow styles. Both use a polyester absorbent core and a polyester PUL leak-resistant layer. What sets Period. apart is the testing behind its PFAS-free claim. Their fabric is screened pre-production by Intertek against California’s Prop 65 list and a panel of 400+ toxins, then re-tested during production by UL Labs, which has issued a “PFAS Not Detected” validation across the line. I also love their swim period underwear for days I’m going to the beach or pool. They’re comfy, durable and leakproof. I like to size up with this brand.

Price: $9.50 for The Thong Period |$30 for The Swim Bikini

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I tried Saalt Period Underwear

I’ve used Saalt’s period products for eight years now, and they were the first PFAS-free period underwear I ever tried. Saalt tests its materials for PFAS as part of ongoing quality checks (internally not via a third-party). I’ve tried a variety of their styles including the Sleep Short and Boy Short, which are super soft and leak proof all throughout the night even on heavy days. Saalt offers six fabric lines — a 4-way-stretch Seamless collection, a TENCEL Modal line made from sustainable beech wood cellulose, a Lace & Mesh style made with recycled water bottles, an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified biodegradable cotton line, a nylon Teen collection, and a lace collaboration with Hanky Panky — across four absorbency tiers, from Light (about 2 tampons’ worth) up to Super (8+ tampons’ worth) for postpartum or heavy days. I love that they’re also a certified B Corp and puts 1% of revenue toward period equity programs. Saalt fits true to size and a Medium works well for me.

Price range: $12–$49

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I tried Rael Disposable Period Underwear

Rael’s disposable period underwear is a single use option that solves a major pain point and is great for overnight protection, postpartum recovery, long travel or situations without easy bathroom access and even long conference days. It’s made of a 100% certified organic cotton top sheet over a chlorine-free wood pulp core with super-absorbent polymers, backed by a waterproof layer. It’s got a double flap that catches all the liquid even when it’s completely full, so there’s absolutely no leakage no matter how heavy my flow is. At the same time, it doesn’t feel bulky or constrictive and feel comfortable even when I’m wearing non-toxic workout leggings. Rael is the heftiest period underwear of them all and holds the equivalent of up to 4 pads for up to 12 hours of protection. It comes in just two sizes, S/M and L/XL. This is a godsend when I know I’m not going to be able to switch pads for an entire day like a flight day or long drive. It fits true to size and the S/M is still comfy for me as a size 6 jeans gal.

Price: $19.99 for 12 ct (S/M size) | $21.99 for 12ct (L/XL size)

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I tried Aisle Period Underwear

Aisle (formerly Lunapads) is another brand worth mentioning if you’re looking at period underwear specifically. The fabric is a blend of TENCEL lyocell, organic cotton, and spandex, OEKO-TEX certified, and the leakproof layer uses TPU for waterproofing rather than a PFAS-based membrane. I love that Aisle actually sends samples out for independent PFAS testing, and both Sierra Club and Mamavation have separately reported no detectable PFAS in their products. Sizing runs impressively inclusive (XXS to 5X), absorbency is solid at around four tampons’ worth, and they’re a certified B Corp on top of it.