Tampon Super 16 pcs vs Organic Tampons: which is safer?

Lola Organic Tampons is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Kotex Tampon Super 16 pcs

Kotex

Tampon Super 16 pcs

PFAS grade

Good 70/100

Overall grade

Poor 42/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Rayon/cellulose core; cotton/rayon cover; plastic applicator

Confidence

72%

PossibleChlorine bleach residues in rayon core

PossiblePlastic applicator degradation or microplastics

ReportedAllergic reaction to synthetic fibers or residual processing chemicals

Our pick

Lola Organic Tampons

Lola

Organic Tampons

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 92/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

organic cotton, cardboard applicator

Confidence

82%

PossibleCardboard degradation or splinters

PossibleAllergic contact dermatitis from cotton or additives

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Chlorine bleach residues in rayon core, Plastic applicator degradation or microplastics, Allergic reaction to synthetic fibers or residual processing chemicals and Toxic shock syndrome risk (general tampon hazard, not brand-specific) on the Kotex and not on the Lola.
  • We flag Cardboard degradation or splinters and Allergic contact dermatitis from cotton or additives on the Lola and not on the Kotex.
  • The Kotex is Rayon/cellulose core; cotton/rayon cover; plastic applicator where the Lola is organic cotton, cardboard applicator, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 30 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Lola is the one to buy.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More tampons: see the full ranking