U by Kotex Ultra Thin Pads vs O.b Pro Comfort Super Plus 16 pad: which is safer?

O.b Pro Comfort Super Plus 16 pad is the clear pick. U by Kotex Ultra Thin Pads carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

U by Kotex Ultra Thin Pads

Kotex

U by Kotex Ultra Thin Pads

PFAS grade

Poor 25/100

Overall grade

Bad 17/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

cellulose/rayon with proprietary absorbent core and waterproof barrier

Confidence

45%

PossiblePFAS in waterproof coating

PossibleBacterial or mold growth from moisture retention

Our pick

O.b Pro Comfort Super Plus 16 pad

OB

O.b Pro Comfort Super Plus 16 pad

PFAS grade

Good 70/100

Overall grade

Good 52/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

rayon/viscose, cotton, and gelling polymers

Confidence

78%

PossibleMicroplastic shedding or degradation

ReportedIrritation or allergic sensitization from adhesive or synthetic fibers

PossibleBacterial growth or contamination from prolonged moisture

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag PFAS in waterproof coating and Bacterial or mold growth from moisture retention on the Kotex and not on the OB.
  • We flag Microplastic shedding or degradation, Irritation or allergic sensitization from adhesive or synthetic fibers and Bacterial growth or contamination from prolonged moisture on the OB and not on the Kotex.
  • The Kotex is cellulose/rayon with proprietary absorbent core and waterproof barrier where the OB is rayon/viscose, cotton, and gelling polymers, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the OB is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Kotex grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.

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 period pads: see the full ranking