100% Organic Cotton Tampons vs Box 8 Tampons Non-deodorant Super Absorb: which is safer?
Natracare 100% Organic Cotton Tampons is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Natracare
100% Organic Cotton Tampons
PFAS grade
Excellent 100/100
Overall grade
Excellent 96/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
100% organic cotton
Confidence
88%
PossibleHeavy metals in pigments or cotton processing
Playtex Gentle Glide
Box 8 Tampons Non-deodorant Super Absorb
PFAS grade
Good 70/100
Overall grade
Good 58/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Rayon/viscose core, cotton blend, cardboard applicator
Confidence
72%
PossibleToxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) risk
PossibleDioxin and chlorine residue from bleaching
PossiblePesticide residue in cotton
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Heavy metals in pigments or cotton processing on the Natracare and not on the Playtex Gentle Glide.
- We flag Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) risk, Dioxin and chlorine residue from bleaching and Pesticide residue in cotton on the Playtex Gentle Glide and not on the Natracare.
- The Natracare is 100% organic cotton where the Playtex Gentle Glide is Rayon/viscose core, cotton blend, 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 Natracare 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