Organic Tampons vs Compact Super Unscented Tampons, 16 tampons: which is safer?
Lola Organic Tampons is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
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
U by Kotex
Compact Super Unscented Tampons, 16 tampons
PFAS grade
Good 70/100
Overall grade
Good 52/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
rayon/viscose absorbent core, cotton blend applicator
Confidence
72%
PossibleBleach residues (chlorine/dioxins)
PossiblePesticide residues in cotton
ReportedToxic shock syndrome (TSS) risk
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Cardboard degradation or splinters and Allergic contact dermatitis from cotton or additives on the Lola and not on the U by Kotex.
- We flag Bleach residues (chlorine/dioxins), Pesticide residues in cotton and Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) risk on the U by Kotex and not on the Lola.
- The Lola is organic cotton, cardboard applicator where the U by Kotex is rayon/viscose absorbent core, cotton blend 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