Menstrual days are difficult and can often get the best of you. Dealing with fatigue, irritability, cramps and feeling hungry around the clock – it can really get to you. To be honest, the last thing you need to worry about is the safety of your pad during a time when you’re feeling so vulnerable.
Over the years I have experimented with several sanitary products and manufacturers, including from the local ones in Kenya and other parts of Africa. I’ve been using Always for many years now and it’s grown into a brand I trust and love. There are several reasons why I have stuck with Always and its other products over the years, which I would like to discuss in this quick take I am writing as part of #MyAlwaysExperience.
Always Pads (Kenya) Provide Me Comfort + Protection
Always was a natural first choice for me. Many of my friends and family in Kenya and South Africa had already been using Always pads when I started my period, which lead me to try the brand after experimenting with a few brands locally first. I haven’t been disappointed so far. The comfort and protection Always sanitary pads provide have given me peace of mind during my periods with added comfort and no leakage.
I have also recently discovered that Always (a feminine hygiene brand owned by Procter & Gamble) shares its safety assessments and ingredient information with independent experts such as physicians, university scientists, and health authorities. If you’re interested in this safety information, it’s available on the Always Africa official website.
Here are a few more reasons why I continue to choose Always pads.
I Experience No Skin Irritation or Burning Sensation
For many women, sanitary pads can cause rashes and other skin irritations. This makes it very important that you choose brands or products that are tested for safety. All brands have different compositions when it comes to sanitary products, so see which one suits you.
It’s always a good idea to avoid homemade cloth-based sanitary pads and tissue papers and instead depend on tested and known brands. I love that Always has a wide range – including soft cotton options for sensitive skin like mine. Just shop at your local supermarket in Kenya and check for different options.
P&G Manufactures Non-Chlorine Bleached Pads
Chlorine contains toxic disinfectants and is one reason why sanitary pads look sparkly white. However, Always breaks away from the use of chlorine as a disinfectant for the sanitary pads, including those sold in Kenya and South Africa.
Always pads (that come in blue and pink packs) are purified using a chlorine-free process while rest of the pads are purified using an elemental chlorine-free purification process. Both the purification processes are completely safe and do not carry harmful implications (e.g., cancer-causing elements) like that with chlorine purified pads.
No Use of Toxic Dyes
The use of toxic dyes in sanitary pads is yet another cause of concern. I have found that Always sanitary pads use pigments that undergo rigorous assessment by health care providers and external authoritative bodies. This assures me of Always’ strict practice of doing away with harmful substances. It reinforces how Always pads are safe and that they can be confidently used by women.
Use of 100% Organic Cotton
In the past, sanitary pads were mostly made from organic cotton. I prefer cotton pads even today. Fortunately, Always has a range of pads made from 100% organic cotton, which is another good reason to transition to Always if you are looking for options. The high-quality material equipped with gel technology successfully pulls in the fluid from the skin and contains the same.
High-Quality Material
A quick scroll through this article summarizes how safe Always pads are and will give you a fair idea about the high-quality materials used in them. Always Kenya makes sanitary pads with materials such as polyolefin, FDA approved adhesive, printed wing paper, absorbent wood cellulose, 100% organic cotton, and safety approved fragrance. The material list is approved for health safety and this assures me that Always sanitary pads are safe for frequent and lifelong usage.
Are Always Pads Safe in Kenya? – A List of Ingredients
Yes, I can say with confidence that Always pads are safe to use. The pads manufactured in Kenya and South Africa follow the same stringent quality checks that P&G employs in other parts of the world, making the sanitary pads equally safe to use in Kenya and South Africa.
For reference, here’s a list of ingredients used to produce Always pads in Kenya:
- Polyolefin
- FDA-approved food-based adhesive
- Printed wing paper
- Absorbent wood cellulose
- 100% organic cotton
- Safe fragrance
I have no doubt that Always maintains a standard product quality across the globe. While I have mostly used Always pads (Kenya), I cannot speak about its tampons and panty liners. I don’t see a need for them right now as I often have a controlled period. But for all my sanitary pad requirement, I go to Always and will continue to do so.
Speaking of periods here are ways you can use to Manage Period Pain
Check out this article on The Problem Of Period Poverty and Fighting Period Poverty In Africa With Always Africa’s Period Programs