Today I’m giving you an honest review of Thinx period underwear so you can decide if you want to give them a try (psst, I had a couple leaks.. keep reading).

There’s been a lot of buzz around Thinx period underwear. Yeah, period underwear.. You read that correctly. Underwear that was specifically designed for women on their menstrual cycle. “WHAT WILL THEY COME UP WITH NEXT?” you might be thinking… and I don’t blame you. 

Except, period panties are actually a brilliant concept. All you want to do is lay around on the couch without pants on and eat gallons of ice cream while you’re watching Gilmore Girl reruns, right? Why not have a special pair of underwear for that? Periods deserve nice things too, you guys. 

These underpants are different, though, because they hold in your menstrual blood. According to the website, if you have a light-normal cycle you can wear Thinx all day long without a pad, tampon, or menstrual cup.. And have no leaks. WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT?

I got my first pair and then I got a bazillion questions. I’m answering them honestly below! 

Are Thinx toxic? 

Yes. Unfortunately, just a week after writing this blog post I learned that the witchcraft of Thinx underwear is actually toxic chemicals (read this article My Menstrual Underwear Has Toxic Chemicals). Thinx was found to have PFAS, a chemical linked to cancer and fertility issues. People are speculating this is because Thinx has anti-leak protection, which PFAS are often used for (previously they were used for this purpose in fast food packaging).

I don’t recommend it, but if you’re willing to take that risk, keep reading for a review of how effective Thinx are and decide if the potential health risks are worth the reward of not having to use disposable pads and tampons.

NOTE: AS OF JANUARY 14TH 2020, I NO LONGER USE NOR RECOMMEND WEARING THINX UNDERWEAR

Thinx, what are they? 

Thinx website states they are organic cotton underwear with a super secret leak-fighting technology (which we recently discovered  includes toxic chemicals). They absorbs your menstrual blood throughout the day and allegedly hold about 2-4 tampons/day (although, they don’t say what size tampons.. I’m a super user myself).

Why would I choose Thinx over a pad or tampon? 

GURL. It’s 2020 and it’s time we stop using disposable ANYTHING. The planet is on fire, get it together!

Do Thinx feel like a diaper? 

The coolest part about Thinx is that they are really thin and don’t feel like you have a pillow on your peach. It feels like nothing is going on down there. Just a normal day with normal underpants. 

Can Thinx replace pads? 

Absolutely. Thinx can replace pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. Since they hold 2-4 tampons/day, those with light-regular cycles can wear them around without worrying about leaks. The first time I wore them, I experienced a lighter cycle (this happens for me every other period). I went to the bathroom A LOT to check and make sure and I was actually fine. 

Do Thinx leak? 

They certainly can! I wore my Thinx overnight on a heavy day of my cycle (3-4 super tampon days) and they were leaky by the time I woke up. So, note to self.. don’t solely wear Thinx on heavy flow days… EXCEPT I took a risk on New Years Eve. I thought my heavy flow was behind me, but I was so, so wrong. After eating about 10 oz of steak I started to think “we might have a situation here…” I went to the bathroom and, well, it looked like something had died down there. Blood on my tights, legs, etc. 

So, yes, Thinx leak. If you have a heavy flow, you’ll want to pair your period panties with a period cup, or at the very least have a second pair on hand.

How do you wash Thinx?

So, maybe I’m a weirdo, but I bring them in the shower with me in the morning and rinse them out with a little Dr. Bronners soap. I scrunch them (don’t ring them!) until the water runs clear and then hang them up to dry. You can also rinse them and put them in the washing machine, but don’t put them in the dryer. Hang drying is best! 

What size should I get? 

I got the high waisted ones in a medium. I weigh 144 and I’m 5’5. There is also a size chart for each pair of underwear on their website. 

How much do Thinx cost? 

They range in price from $24 (thongs) to $39 (boyshort). That might seem a little steep for underpants but think about all the pads and tampons you’ll never have to buy again. Cha-ching! 

When does Thinx have sales? 

Lucky for you, they always offer $10 off your purchase when you use this referral link. This is my link, which gets me a pair for $10 off, too! They call it blood money and I’m super into that.

All the photos in this post were taken by Annelise Claire Photography.