We Tested Different Period Panties And Here's Our Honest Review

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Periods can be messy and annoying. Fortunately, with technology advancing, women have been given more options to deal with menstrual cycles.

Not just limited to pads or tampons, menstrual cups have become more popular over the years, and now so have... period panties! 

Period panties, also called sanitary underwear, are basically designed to look like your regular undies, except they're supposed to keep moisture away from your skin, as they soak up your menstrual blood or discharge.

They are a more eco-friendly alternative to pads, tampons, and panty liners.

Disclaimer: Bear in mind that everyone's flow and body shape are unique. So what may work for me may be different for others. I also used a menstrual cup while testing these as I have a pretty heavy flow and wanted extra protection all day.

Based in Malaysia, Summer & Peach has period panties from sizes XXS right up to 6XL. So you don't have to worry about the lack of size choice, for sure!

There are two options: Medium absorbency (with lace) and Heavy absorbency (classic). Both types come in black. The Medium absorbency is meant to hold up to 10ml worth of liquid, equivalent to two tampons/two teaspoons. Meanwhile, the Heavy absorbency is able to hold up to 15ml worth of liquid, equivalent to three tampons/three teaspoons.

Pros:
These are cooling and soft. I couldn't feel the elastic bands on them, as they were surprisingly comfortable when worn. I like that the padded area goes right up to the back for the Heavy absorbency version, so you feel slightly more secure overall.

Cons:
At one point, it did leak to my outerwear, although that was probably because I had been wearing it for too long on a heavy flow day. Also, the cotton edge might make it easy to leak to your outerwear. I'd recommend wearing a cup anyway, depending on your flow.

I tried the Heavy absorbency version on my third day with a cup while working out and though it leaked, the panty held up well and the leakage didn't soak through to my outerwear.

Overall, I'd say it's one of the more affordable and comfier ones on this list.

Price:
- RM49.90 (Medium absorbency) per piece.
- RM59.90 (Heavy absorbency) per piece.
- RM111 (Medium absorbency) for pack of three.
- RM155 (Heavy absorbency) for pack of three.

You can get it on the website.

Based in Indonesia, Moove ships their period underwear to anywhere in the world. The panty's outer layer is made from eco-friendly bamboo, while the inner layer is from high-quality moisture-wicking Merino Wool, which gives it that super luxe feel.

The underwear comes in two colours: black and nude, and in sizes XS to XXL.

Pros:
Right off the bat, these are extremely soft and comfortable. They're so breathable and it almost feels like you're not wearing anything. Having your period is already such an uncomfortable time, so wearing a really comfy panty helps you feel a lot more at ease. Even when I leaked into the underwear, it didn't feel too damp.

Cons:
It is on the pricier end so buying several may feel painful on the wallet. But you definitely get what you pay for. If you can afford it and it lasts several years, it's a good investment, for comfort. Plus, it has such a luxurious feel to it.

There are four types of period underwear in different shapes, which cater to different flows as shown on the website. We tried two — The Everyday and The All-Nighter.

Price:
The Easy Breezy – USD26.90 (RM119.65)
The Everyday – USD32.90 (RM145.65)
The Boss – USD36.90 (RM164.13)
The All-Nighter – USD39.90 (RM176.64)

You can get it on the website.

PinkRabbit is a Malaysian company offering two types of period underwear: Hipster and Classic. The Hipster has sizes S to XL and the Classic has sizes S to L.

Both types come in black with different lace bands, and are said to be able to hold up to 25ml worth of liquid. 

Pros:
The material felt really soft and cooling throughout my cycle. Another plus point is that the waist band didn't feel tight against my bloated, aching tummy because it's lace. I leaked into this for several hours and it held up really well. 

Cons:
It is one of the pricier ones on this list, but you do feel a difference in quality. Although I'm not a big fan of the lace band look, it felt soft and comfy when worn, especially with a period bloat, as compared to some elastic bands which can feel quite uncomfortable after long periods of time.

Price:
RM155 per piece.
RM298 for a bundle of three.

You can get it on the website.

Libresse intimawear comes in black and has two sizes: M and L. Its aim is to provide up to eight hours of protection, and states that it's ideal for a regular flow.

Pros:
I wore it with the menstrual cup and went out knowing the cup would be too full and overflow before I had a chance to empty it, and the panty actually held up all the leakage. The outer layer and lace band are also quite comfy when you're all bloated and cramping.

The padded area is slightly thick, so you can definitely feel like there's 'something' there. But this isn't an issue if you need that thickness as 'security'.

Cons:
During my cycle, I'm usually a bit bloated, so I found that the size L was more comfortable and snug, instead of size M which I would usually wear. They only have M and L sizes, so do consider your period bloat when you check the size chart.

Though the thickness of the padded area gives a sense of security, it can feel slightly hot, especially if you're out and about. It would have been better if the padded area stretched right up to the back of the underwear, so that I could feel extra protected using it to sleep at night. This one was a bit short, but it does state that it's meant for regular flows anyway.

Price:
RM68.48 – RM73.90

You can get it here:
- M size – Shopee or Lazada
- L size – Shopee or Lazada

UNIQLO's AIRism Sanitary Shorts come in multiple colours (black, blue, pink, brown, and purple) and sizes XS to XXXL. There are Kids and Adult sizes.

Pros:
Having a heavy flow, I felt really secure with UNIQLO's period panties. The underwear completely absorbed any leakages and prevented the liquid from soaking through to my outerwear each time I wore it. They are one of the more comfier ones for me and they dry really quickly, making it easy to wash and reuse throughout your cycle.

Cons:
The popular sizes were always out of stock when they first came out, but they should be easier to get now. If you're petite, it can feel a lot larger and bulkier than your regular underwear. And it does have a sort of 'raincoat' swishing noise as you move around (if that would be something that bothers you).

Price:
RM59.90 – RM79.90

You can get it in-store or on the website.

Kotex Reusable Underwear is made with cotton and comes in black with two sizes: M and L. It's said to be able to absorb period liquid, equivalent of up to two pads or up to eight hours.

Pros:
It's good for lighter flow days or if you don't have a heavy flow naturally. It's considered as a full brief, so you do feel secure and the padded area feels quite thick. 

Cons:
I would have liked more options in sizes as the size L still felt a bit tight on my waist (I'm usually a size M in general). It's more suitable if you're wearing loose clothing and not very flattering if you plan to wear a fitted outfit, as the elastic band is a little tight for bloated tummies. It can get pretty hot as it's quite thick around the padded area, but you do feel a slight sense of security because of the thickness.

Price:
RM65.99 – RM69.90

You can get it here:
- M size – Shopee or Lazada
- L size – Shopee or Lazada

More than just for periods, they are definite game-changers when it comes to replacing panty liners, or using them on lighter flow days as well. 

So while it does feel like it costs initially, it might work out cheaper in the long run, as opposed to continuously buying pads and panty liners.