I though companies like Knix and Thinx really reinvented period products when they developed and started selling undies that you can wear instead of tampons, menstrual cups and pads. There was just one final frontier, a place where those panties really couldn't go – and that's anywhere near the water.
Don't get too disheartened, though, because I actually found a company that makes the kind of clothes I've been waiting for my entire life. Ruby Love is a brand that, yes, sells underwear, sleepwear and activewear for people who bleed, but they also created something pretty special: period swimwear.
As Ruby Love says on their website, these bikinis, one-pieces and sets give you "leakproof, all-day maximum protection in the water – no tampon required." You can simply buy their period-proof bottoms to pair with tops already in your collection or browse all their mix-and-match sets. But, understandably, all the amazing technology is pretty packed into things like the Hipster Period Swim Bottom.
It has a built-in absorbent liner, and I imagine it works something like the Huggies Little Swimmers diapers that don't puff up immediately when they get wet. They won't swell in the water, and each pair is reinforced with mesh that will help protect you from leaks out the front, back or sides. The organic cotton liner that actually absorbs all the blood is apparently odourless and super easy to wash, and you can even pair this bottom with one of their Double-Sided Pads if you need a little extra security while you relax by the pool.
Everything they sell is automatically environmentally friendly, since (unlike tampons, pads and disposable liners), you can use them over and over. I'm personally really interested in their Period Swimwear Bundle, which comes with three styles of any black swim pieces at a discount. And you know I'm excited that they offer so many black options, because that's ALL I want to wear down there during the first day or two of my period.
I'd check their size chart before you place any orders, but it looks like most swimwear comes in sizes ranging from XS to 3XL. They also offer a complete Teen Swim collection, which is exactly what I wish I had when I was 13 and trying to use a tampon for the first time before a friend's pool party.
And when you consider how magical these swim bottoms and one-pieces actually are, those price tags will look like nothing. Everything seems to be priced in USD, so you might just want to pull up a calculator as you shop. They do, however, offer international shipping, which is 50% off if you spend at least $65!
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