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If you’re helping a teen menstruator navigate those first few years of getting their period, you may still be working to stock your cabinets with the products that feel right for them and their body. As anyone who has been through their monthly visits knows, your exact combo of period products (from pads to tampons to menstrual cups to period panties) is something that takes a bit of trial and error to figure out. While your teen is experimenting with what works best for them, you might be on the lookout for some teen-friendly period products to help them out. Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
Since there are so many period products to choose from these days, it’s simultaneously easier to find a product that will actually feel good and harder to narrow down the overwhelming selection. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a selection of teen-friendly products that range from practical and easily accessible drug store finds; to reusable, sustainable and understated choices for a discreet time of the month; to comfortable and totally non-intimidating options if the usual super-plus tampons feel a bit scary.
So if you’re in the market for an overview of teen-friendly period products, you’re in the right place. Read on for a few of our favorites and hopefully you’ll find something that’s the perfect fit.
A version of this story was published April 2020.
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Kt by Knix Period Swim Short
Image Credit: Knix The stress of heading to a pool party or the beach on your period is real, and teens feel it more than most. The fears or leakage or tampon strings sticking out might even keep them from taking a dip at all. Fortunately, period-safe swimwear is a thing, and Kt by Knix’s swim products — created specifically for teens! — can help them hit the water with confidence. The brand offers a ton of options to suit your teen’s style, from these period swim shorts to one pieces, board shorts, and bikini bottoms, all with cute tops to match.
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Always Teen Pads
Image Credit: Always Simple and easy to use, pads are always a popular choice, and the Always Radiant Flex Foam Teen Pads were created specifically for young menstruators in mind. They’re thin and flexible but promise leak-free protection for your busy teen.
These pads are available to shop on Target.
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Kt by Knix Sleepover Short Period Underwear
Image Credit: Knix These super-leakproof period panties are designed especially for teens (think: smaller leg openings and teen sizing). Kt by Knix offers lots of styles and patterns if this one isn’t quite to your teen’s liking, and they’re the perfect choice if your teen wants a comfy option that doesn’t involve tampons or pads.
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Saalt Seamless Period Underwear
Image Credit: Saalt Listed as one of the best PFA-free period underwear options, Saalt underwear is designed for comfort, coverage, and convenience — all the things your busy teen wants. As a bonus, they’re super-easy to take care of; simply rinse them out in cold water, throw them in the machine, and hang them up to dry.
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Lily Cup
Image Credit: Intimina A menstrual cup is a sustainable menstruator’s best friend. Easy to clean, store, and insert (once you get used to the feel), they are a body-safe and reliable option to keep on hand even if you prefer to pair with other products. Lily Cup is a great introduction for beginner menstruators, especially since it can be rolled up as thin as a tampon while still offering the heavy duty protection needed if you have a heavy flow or a high cervix. Smooth and a little slanted, it works with the design of your body for a natural and comfortable wear throughout your day.
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Cora Organic Tampons
Image Credit: Cora Cora’s organic tampons are 100 percent cotton with a plant-based applicator, and they are seriously comfy, especially for menstruators with sensitive skin down there. Even the applicator goes in gently with no pinching or discomfort, making these tampons a good choice for beginners. Just remember to show your teen how to use the compact applicator — you pull it out first, then push it in to release the tampon.
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TOP Fragrance-Free First Period Kit
Image Credit: TOP Help your teen feel prepared with this handy first period kit, which comes with tampons, two different kinds of pads, a period pouch for handy storage, an instructional booklet, and some stickers to top it all off.
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U by Kotex Teen Overnight Pads
Image Credit: Kotex Don’t be fooled by the “ultra-thin” nature of these U by Kotex overnight pads — they’re seriously absorbent and perfect for helping your teen get stress-free sleep. Providing up to 11 hours of protection, your teen won’t have to worry about a leak no matter how late they sleep on the weekends.
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Pinkie Ultra-Thin Pads
Image Credit: Pinkie These teen pads from Pinkie are sized to fit younger bodies and are made from totally organic cotton top-sheeets. As a bonus, each pad comes in a small drawstring baggie, which provides a discreet way for your teen to carry their pads around and a safe disposal method for used pads.
These pads are available to shop at Target.
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TomboyX Period Underwear
Image Credit: TomboyX Period underwear is an incredibly popular option for people who don’t love the feel of a pad, tampon, or cup while also not loving the feel of bleeding through their clothes. While a lot of options are available when it comes to period underwear, this pair (and a few others) from TomboyX are a great pick for folks whose tastes are less femme. Plus, they’re comfortable, low-key, and arguably cute enough to wear on non-period days.
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L. Organic Tampons
These protective and comfortable tampons are made of organic cotton with a safe and smooth plastic applicator for easy use, especially for beginners.
These tampons are available to shop on Target.
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Pinkie First Period Prep Pouch
Image Credit: Pinkie Small, simple, and convenient is how we’d describe this first period prep pouch from Pinkie — aka a great choice for a teen who wants to take care of their period and get on with the day. This grab-and-go kit includes four pads of varying sizes plus a convenient pouch your teen can use again and again.
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Flex Cup
Image Credit: Flex Cup Reusable, soft and designed with accessibility in mind, the Flex Cup is an excellent pick for beginners looking to get into menstrual cups. The design is easy to insert, remove and clean — with a patented pull-tab at the end to make it easier for folks with disabilities to use. It holds up to 22mLs of menstrual fluid (that’s like 2 super tampons worth!), making it comfortable for folks with heavy or lighter flows.
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Saalt Teen Period Cup
Image Credit: Saalt Saalt’s menstrual cups are some of the comfiest and most practical in the game, made with real vulvas in mind. Designed a little smaller (and in collaboration with real teens), the teen period cup offers up to 12 hours of protection (meaning less anxiety about leakage during school) and is made from medical grade silicone that won’t mess with their pH or bring plastic-y smells where they aren’t wanted.
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On-the-Go Period Kit
Image Credit: Lola A real sampler of all sorts of disposable options, Lola’s handy period kit has pads, thin panty liners, plastic applicator tampons, and wipes along with some cute period-themed stickers and hair ties.
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Cora Perfect Fit Menstrual Disc
Unlike menstrual cups, menstrual discs sit right at the cervix, which many menstruators find to be the most comfortable — and your teen might just agree. This option from Cora is designed to fit most bodies comfortably and can be used for up to 12 hour at a time. Discs are also ideal if your teen has an IUD because they don’t use suction to stay in place, unlike cups, which pose a higher risk of dislodging an IUD per research. Menstrual discs also have the major advantage of auto-emptying for some users, meaning that they dump out blood automatically while peeing thanks to the movement of your pelvic floor muscles — the most convenient option when your teen is dealing with their period at school.
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