Always Ultra Sanitary Towels, Size 2, Long, Moderate Flow

I think I’ve tried most options out there in terms of menstruation products and I keep coming back to Always mostly because of safety and security. While Always are my go-to brand, I do hate some of the recent changes that have been cropping up with the sanitary towels. However, each month I do typically buy the Always Ultra Long Plus towels or the Always Night Time towels suitable for heavy flow.

My cycle is long and heavy. Typically lasting around seven days, I find days two and four are the worst and I flood quite easily. While flooding I have in the past with shorter length towels leaked either at the sides or if I am lying on my back when sleeping it leaks backwards to my bottom area and out of my underwear leaving that dreaded red puddle on the bed. My resolve for this has been to wear two of these towels – one from the front of my underwear and the second overlapping but lying closer to the back end of my underwear. This has stopped any leakage and discomfort.

* Ingredients *

I really think it’s important for people to see/understand what is in the products they use as allergies and irritations are much more common. When you’re throwing your lady parts into the mix do you really want to apply something to that area that you’re allergic too? Hell no!

* Petrolatum – Mineral oil & wax. This is an emollient that is not beneficial for sensitive skins and is a derivative of petrol which can block pores in the skin, cause rashes, allergies and worse.
* Behenyl Alcohol – Emulsifier. This is an emollient fatty alcohol and can cause irritation in sensitive skins.
* Zinc Oxide – Helps to heal sore skin.
* Silica Dimethicone Silylate – Absorbant.
* C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate – Emollient. Gives products a silky texture and feeling.
* Glycerin – Humectant oil. Helps to draw away moisture from the skin. Best if it’s from plant glycerin rather than synthetic but I presume here that this is synthetic glycerin.
* Niacinamide – Part of the vitamin B group of vitamins. Helps to repair damaged skin.
* Panthenol – Alcohol form of vitamin B. Good but not for the lady part region given that it can lead to irritation.
* Polyhydroxystearic Acid – Helps to suspend other ingredients so they are dispersed evenly.
* Isononyl Isononanoate – A 2008 study showed this is a highly allergic but new ingredient.
* Glycine Soja Oil – Soyabean Oil. If you are allergic to peanuts it’s advisable to watch out for soybean oil.
* Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract – Blue chamomile flowers. Anti-inflammatory and skin soothing flower extract.
* Bisabolol – Anti-inflammatory oil that helps to heal skin. This has a slight floral scent.
* BHT – Butylated Hydroxytoluene is an ingredient that is listed as ”caution” due to its possible carcinogenic properties.
* Tocopherol – Synthetic Vitamin E. Not great for celiacs as this can come from natural or synthetic sources – one source being wheat.
* Hexamidine Diisethionate – Emollient and anti-foaming ingredient. Safe in small doses.

* Hates *

* Ingredients – some of the ingredients in these towels are questionable and have caused irritation and discomfort.
* Marketing – granted the marketing for the towels isn’t going to directly affect your lady parts, I do hate that they feel we need ‘Odor Neutralising Technology’ why can’t we be left to our normal lady part smells and be proud? Also, the addition of this technology has actually made things worse down there. The fragrance is so strong it smells like a monthly body perfume, and has caused so much pain and discomfort I have had to go to the doctors. The only resolve for this is to put a barrier of cream on the skin where the pad will touch.
* The new materials. These towels definitely feel more plastic and synthetic and I get that they want them to last longer and be more waterproof but does that really come before comfort? Bring back the more cotton feeling ones with added technology.

* Loves *

* The price. You can’t beat the price for these especially when they have numerous offers on in the shops and online.
* They offer many variations of shape and pack size to suit all flows.
* They really do leak less than many of their competitors.
* The longer towels and night time towels allow you to feel safe and secure when out and about, at work or during the night.

Final Opinion:

The towels have both good and bad points. I love that they are safe and secure, I love that the wings are strong enough to withstand lots of movement throughout the day without crumbling inwards. I love that these absorb heavy flows and are longer ensuring there are no leakages at the front or reverse of the towels which can lead to embarrassment.

The downside is that these cause irritation, I mean full on sore and itching. The scent technology I feel is to blame heavily as are the changes to the materials used in the upper section of the pad. If you are unable to use these I recommend the moon cup or the Always Sensitive pads without the scent technology. Your local one pound store (not naming names) tends to stock these. As for future continual purchases? I will buy these until they make become unusable – either through more changes to the product design or the sensitivities to the ingredients get too much.

I recommend these to those without sensitive lady parts or those with heavy or long flows.