IMHO, there’s not enough period content on the internet. When Thinx came out, they kind of blew up, but there have been some ethical concerns about the company that have overshadowed their very dope gender-neutral/fluid inclusive advertising. Truthfully, I’ll literally read any article about this topic—I suppose it’s my version of watching pimple-popping videos on YouTube (which is fucking disgusting).

As far as my own preferences go, I am firmly on team tampon. I wasted 2 precious years of my “womanly” life not using them, and I wish I could go back in time and smack myself. I’ve been trying to convince myself to buy a Lunette cup for half a decade, but when push comes to shove, I turn to the safety of the familiar. As an amateur environmentalist (she says, drinking her plastic take-out cup of coffee), I want to manage my period like I manage everything else—buy organic when possible, look for recyclable or compostable packaging—like a lil’ hippie.

I’ll spend, like, a fifth of my life dealing with this (natural, beautiful) menace, so I wanted to honor it with a blog post. Here are the things that make the struggle easier.

Clue

Thank the deity of your choice for Clue. I literally don’t know how I’d survive without this handy tool. Clue is an app that tracks your period and fertility, a major boon to people like me that can’t be on hormonal birth control because of health issues (TMI?). I use it to avoid a monthly Carrie shower scene, but it’s also great for women trying to conceive—you can set reminders during your fertile window to take your BBT! It’s not always 100% accurate because bodies are unpredictable DEVILS, but it’s damn near perfect. And there are a ton of other tracking options in addition to your cycle—you can track exercise, mood, skin breakouts, alcohol consumption, and sexy times, among other things. This is a great all-in-one app for people who, unlike me, don’t have their life data strewn across multiple apps (FitBit, Lifesum, etc).

P.S. Somebody buy me that uterus tote bag, stat.

L.

Hands down, these are my favorite tampons ever. Affordable, organic tampons in the prettiest packaging imaginable, available at Target? The downside here is that the tampons come with applicators, which is wasteful. I switched to these from o.b., so it pains me to toss the plastic, but I am about that organic cotton life, fam. They even have a subscription service that looks super affordable (like, $5/month affordable). Plus, their message is inspiring; they’re the TOMS of menstruation. Every time you buy L., a product “is donated to a female entrepreneur in a developing country.”

P.S. They also sell sustainable condoms and do work to combat HIV/AIDs. Get on it.

Brandless

I’m actually surprised that I haven’t repped Brandless yet here on the ol’ blog. I am in love with this site, which is a great shopping destination for organic non-perishable/shelf-stable grocery items and beauty products. Best of all, they have organic tampons and pads! The panty liners are a particularly good deal—like a year’s supply for $3! They’re a brand-new company, so they’re adding new products all the time.

Seventh Generation

I have loved Seventh Generation for ages, but now that Maya Rudolph is the brand ambassador? Color me obsessed. Seventh Gen is also available at Target, which just makes life a million times easier.

Seventh Gen feminine products are more expensive than L., at least at my Target, but they do have a no-applicator tampon option which ups the environmental ante. The brand’s commitment to plant-based, natural products gives me all the feels.

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What products to you use to stem the tide? Comment your faves below!