U by Kotex Security Ultra Thin Pads with Wings
Skip until brand discloses water-repellent chemistry.
Kotex does not publicly disclose PFAS use or absence in these pads. The water-resistant backsheet typically requires a finish, but the brand provides no transparency on its composition or testing.
The better-graded swap
Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Maxi Pads
100/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nonwoven fibers with unspecified water-resistant finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What U by Kotex Security Ultra Thin Pads Wings is made of, ingredients and materials
U by Kotex Security Ultra Thin uses nonwoven fibers (likely polypropylene or polyester blends) with an unspecified water-resistant finish to prevent leakage. The water-repellent coating is the critical unknown, manufacturers typically use either fluorochemical-based PFAS (most common for period-care absorbents) or non-fluorinated alternatives. Kotex has not publicly disclosed which chemistry is used in this product, leaving the PFAS exposure pathway unclear. This ambiguity is the primary safety concern, since nonwovens themselves are inert and widely used in menstrual products.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Kotex has not published the chemistry of the water-resistant coating on this pad. Fluorochemical PFAS are standard in absorbent hygiene products for water-repellency, but non-fluorinated alternatives exist. Exposure to PFAS in menstrual products is absorbed through vaginal tissue at higher rates than through skin; undisclosed use is a transparency risk.
Source, ATSDR ↗Skin irritation from adhesive or coating residues
Ultra-thin pads rely on strong adhesive systems and water-repellent coatings; individual sensitivity to either is reported anecdotally but is not product-specific to Kotex Security. If irritation occurs, it is more likely from PFAS or adhesive than from the nonwoven fiber itself.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde-releasing resins are not standard in nonwoven fiber production for period-care products. No recalls or test results on record for Kotex Security products indicate formaldehyde contamination. This is a low-priority hazard for this product category.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes or restricted colorants in bleaching/whitening
Period-care nonwovens are typically unbleached or whitened with hydrogen peroxide rather than azo dyes. No known issues with restricted colorants in Kotex Security pads. This hazard is unlikely in nonwoven-based pads.
Microplastic shedding from nonwoven fibers
Nonwoven fibers in pads are mechanically bonded, not heated or agitated in use, making microplastic release during normal use unlikely. No test data on record confirms microplastic shedding from Kotex Security pads. This is a low-probability hazard for this product.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Kotex (Kimberly-Clark) has not made public commitments to PFAS-free formulations for period-care products or disclosed the water-repellent chemistries used in its lines. The parent company has committed to phasing out PFAS in some tissue products, but no equivalent statement covers absorbent hygiene products. No major safety recalls or heavy-metal or formaldehyde issues are on record for this product line. The silence on water-repellent chemistry is a significant transparency gap in a product category where PFAS migration to vaginal tissue is a documented concern.
How it compares in its category
Many mainstream period-care brands (Kotex, Always, Tampax) do not disclose PFAS status, placing them in the lower-transparency tier. Brands that have committed to PFAS-free or transparent water-repellent chemistry (Cora, Rael, Sustain, some Seventh Generation lines) offer clearer alternatives. Ultra-thin pads in particular rely heavily on efficient water-repellent coatings, making PFAS chemistry choice more material to this product than to thicker variants. Without disclosure, this product sits in the cautious-use category rather than the skip tier, because nonwoven-based pads carry lower intrinsic hazard than some alternatives.
If you buy it
Use as directed; nonwoven pads are not heated or reused, so degradation or off-gassing is not a concern. Change pads every 4-8 hours per package guidance to minimize contact time with any coating. If you have unexplained vaginal irritation or allergic symptoms after using this product, consider switching to a brand with documented PFAS-free formulation. Request Kotex customer service to disclose water-repellent chemistry; consumer pressure drives transparency in this category.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Kotex Security has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to U by Kotex Security Ultra Thin Pads with Wings?
- organic cotton, wood pulp
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Fragrance allergen content
- cellulose, cotton blend, absorbent core
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bleach residues and processing chemicals in cellulose
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Cotton, wood pulp absorbent core, plastic backing
- Pesticide residue
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More period pads grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.