U by Kotex Kotex Ultra Thin Overnight Pads With Wings
Skip until brand discloses waterproof backing composition.
Kotex does not disclose PFAS status or waterproof backing materials. Overnight pads typically use water-repellent coatings whose chemistry remains unknown; independent lab testing is limited.
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
non-woven, absorbent core, waterproof backing (treatment unspecified)
Lab data
No public lab test
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What U by Kotex Kotex Ultra Thin Wings is made of, ingredients and materials
U by Kotex Ultra Thin Overnight uses a non-woven top layer, absorbent core (likely wood pulp and super-absorbent polymer), and an unspecified waterproof backing. The backing material and its treatment are not disclosed by the brand, which is the primary safety concern for this product category. Non-woven and absorbent core materials themselves carry low chemical risk in typical menstrual pad formulations, but the waterproof layer is where PFAS or other persistent chemicals often hide.
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
The waterproof backing material and treatment are not disclosed. PFAS compounds are widely used in period product backings for water resistance; this product's backing chemistry is unknown, placing it in the possible range pending brand confirmation.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Super-absorbent polymer (SAP) cross-reactivity
No documented safety issue with the SAP core material itself, which is standard across the menstrual pad category. Reported cases of irritation or toxic shock syndrome are not linked to SAP chemistry but to prolonged wear and bacterial overgrowth.
Skin sensitizers or irritants in non-woven layers or adhesives
No recalls or widespread complaints of contact dermatitis specific to Kotex Ultra Thin Overnight. Non-woven materials and acrylate adhesives used in pads are generally recognized as low-irritant, but formulation details are not public.
Fragrance or scent additives
The Ultra Thin Overnight line is not marketed as scented; unscented products carry lower risk of fragrance allergens. No fragrance components are listed or disclosed in available product information.
Chlorine bleaching residue or dioxins
Chlorine-free bleaching is standard in modern U.S. period products post-2000s. No documentation suggests Kotex uses chlorine or leaves dioxin residues, though the brand does not explicitly confirm bleaching method.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Kotex (owned by Kimberly-Clark) has not publicly disclosed the composition of waterproof backings in their period products despite industry-wide scrutiny on PFAS use. The brand has not pursued third-party certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or explicit PFAS-free claims) that competitors like Seventh Generation offer. No recalls or documented chemical contamination incidents specific to this product are on record. Silence on waterproof backing composition is a material transparency gap in a category where PFAS is known to be common.
How it compares in its category
Kotex Ultra Thin Overnight competes in the mainstream mid-market segment; similar products from Tampax Pearl and Always also do not publicly disclose waterproof backing chemistry. Certified organic or PFAS-free alternatives (Seventh Generation, Cora, Aunt Flow) explicitly state their backing materials and have third-party verification. On disclosure alone, Kotex lags transparent competitors; whether the actual product contains PFAS remains unknown without brand confirmation or independent testing.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place and use before the printed expiration date. Change every 4-8 hours during heavy flow to prevent prolonged absorbent core saturation and odor. Do not flush, even though the wings and top layers are soft; dispose in regular trash. If you develop skin irritation, discontinue and switch to a hypoallergenic or certified product; irritation is rare but may indicate sensitivity to undisclosed additives in the core or backing. Request PFAS disclosure from the brand before repurchasing.
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
- U by Kotex has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to U by Kotex Kotex Ultra Thin Overnight 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.