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Byrdie / Amelia Manley
As if having your period wasn’t already enough to deal with every month (the cramps, the mood swings, the bloating), adding insult to injury is the fact that having great products to help you handle the monthly occurrence isn’t necessarily a given. And that holds especially true when it comes to tampons. While seemingly pretty basic, the good news is that there’s been a recent onslaught of innovations that have revamped the category and made the choices out there more varied than ever before. When it comes to choosing a tampon, it really comes down to a matter of personal preference. “Base your choice off of what feels best for your body and your menstrual flow,” advises Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in Westchester, NY, and Monistat ambassador.
Here, the best tampons to choose from.
Best Overall
Lola Organic Tampons
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Made from certified organic cotton
Small applicator
Four sizes by flow level
A little pricey
If you’re part of the growing number of women who are more and more cognizant of what tampons are made of, you’ll be happy to know that these are made of 100% certified organic cotton. Even the applicator is BPA-free, as well as super compact, and there’s a size for every level of flow, too.
Price at time of publish: $10 for 18 Count (with Subscription, $29 Every 3 Months)
Applicator: BPA-free plastic | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 18
Best for Beginners
Tampax Pearl
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Easy to insert
Three sizes by flow level
Fragrance-free
Made of plastic
For those who have been hesitant to get on board the tampon train, these are a choice pick. An anti-slip grip at the base of the applicator makes them extremely easy to insert, even for newbies. Plus, they’re both fragrance- and chlorine-bleach-free, and clinically tested for safety.
Price at time of publish: $10 for 47 count
Applicator: Plastic | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 50
Best for Swimming
Playtex Sport
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Courtesy of Amazon
Good value
Made of cotton
Easy and comfortable to insert
Not a wide range of flow sizes
As the name suggests, we love these for days that you’re going to be super active, including in the pool. The unique FlexFit technology creates complete and total protection so you never have to stress about leaks, and also ensures the tampon moves with you as you move, making this one of the most comfortable options we’ve ever tried.
Price at time of publish: $10 for 48 Count
Applicator: Plastic | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 50
Best Budget
L. Organic Cotton Tampons
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Compact applicator
Wrappers are color-coded by absorbency
Gives back to women in need
Can be difficult to insert
Despite the wallet-friendly price tag, these have all the same great features as some pricier picks, think organic cotton, and a compact, BPA-free applicator. While there are only two levels of absorbency, we appreciate that they’re clearly distinguished by different colored wrappers. Also nice: For every product you purchase, one goes toward a woman in need.
Price at time of publish: $22 for 30 Count
Applicator: BPA-free plastic | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 30
Best Plastic-Free
Rael Organic Cotton Unscented Tampons
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Amazon
BPA-free applicator
No rayon or synthetic materials used
Easy to insert
On the small side
If you’re trying to eliminate plastic, for whatever reason, but don’t love applicator-free tampons, here’s the solution. The applicator on these (certified organic, responsibly-sourced, Texas-grown) cotton is made of plant-based materials. You get the same ease of use, without any plastic involved.
Price at time of publish: $14 for 32 Count
Applicator: BPA-free plastic | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 18
Best Applicator-Free
Cora 100% Organic Cotton Non-Applicator Tampons
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Good value
Highly absorbent
Nice packaging
Can be a little uncomfortable
If you are comfortable going sans applicator, try these tampons. A rounded tip makes manual insertion surprisingly quick and easy, and, unlike some other applicator-free options out there, even this string is made of cotton. Reviewers rave not only about the ease of application, but also the impressive absorption.
Price at time of publish: $15 for 36 Count
Applicator: None | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 36
Best Menstrual Cup
Saalt Soft Menstrual Cup
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Saalt
Provides a snug, comfy fit
Long-wearing
Pretty packaging
Can be tricky to remove
Yes, this technically is not a tampon, but menstrual cups are having a major moment. Plus, when it comes to minimizing environmental impact, this completely reusable option can’t be beaten. We like this particular one, made from an ultra-comfortable, medical-grade silicone that fits nice and snugly, and can even be worn for up to 12 hours.
Price at time of publish: $29 for Small Pack of 1
Applicator: None | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 1
Best Organic
The Honeypot Co. Super Organic Bio-Plastic Applicator Tampons
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Soft and comfy
Easy to insert
Made from clean, simple materials
Only two absorbency levels
Byrdie Editor Holly Rhue is just one of many women who sing the praises of these tampons. The organic cotton used is free of pesticides, chemicals, chlorine, and dyes, while the applicator is made of a soft, sugarcane-derived material that makes insertion comfortable and easy (as does a textured grip at the base and a full-length withdrawal cord).
Applicator: BPA-free plastic | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 18
Best for a Light Flow
O.B. Organic Tampons
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Easy to insert
Good value
Come with and without an applicator
Could be more absorbent
For a lighter flow, these are choice. They’re comfortable and easy to put in and take out and can be used for up to eight hours, great on days when your flow is lighter. Just keep in mind that some find them not be quite as absorbent as others, hence the part about them being good for a lighter flow.
Price at time of publish: $10 for 24 Count
Applicator: Plant-based | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 24
Best for Heavy Flow
U by Kotex Click Compact Tampons
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Compact enough to fit in pocket
Inexpensive
Comes in range of absorbency levels
Contains dyes and paraffin
For the highest level of absorbency, these super plus tampons expand comfortably to stop leaks in their tracks. Although small in size, all you need to do is pull the lower part of the tampon until you hear a click, and then you can insert it.
Price at time of publish: $11 for 16 Count
Applicator: Plastic | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Count: 16
Final Verdict
There are all kinds of great new tampons to choose from these days. The Lola Organic Tampons are our all-around favorites, made of organic cotton and with a BPA-free applicator, and available in a variety of absorbencies. Those who prefer to go applicator-free should consider the Cora 100% Organic Cotton Non-Applicator Tampons, while those who are very active will appreciate the mega-comfortable and leak-free Playtex Sport. Check out The Honeypot Co. Super Organic Bio-Plastic Applicator Tampons, too, unique in that they boast a sugarcane-derived applicator.
What to Look For In a Tampon
Fragrance-Free
Dr. Dweck says she recommends avoiding tampons that contain fragrance since fragrance can disrupt the pH of your vagina and increase the risk of yeast infections and/or bacterial vaginosis. In related news, she adds that organic cotton options may be a good pick for those who have very sensitive skin.
Absorption
While it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference, Dr. Dweck recommends using the least absorbent size based on your particular flow, to make insertion and removal more comfortable.
Applicator or Non-Applicator
Again, totally your call, according to the doctor. It’s all about what feels most comfortable and easy for you.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She also frequently covers health and wellness.
Meet the Expert
Alyssa Dweck, MD, is a gynecologist in Westchester County, New York. She’s co-authored three books, and has a special interest and expertise in female sexual health.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough tampons from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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