Saalt Leakproof Cotton Brief (Period Underwear)
Reusable period underwear with a cotton face - not plastic-free (the absorbent core is synthetic), but a leading PFAS-free choice with published third-party testing.
The verdict: Minimal plastic contact
Honest framing: no reusable period underwear is plastic-free, because the absorbent and leakproof layers have to be synthetic - here a 92% recycled polyester absorbent lining and a polyurethane-backed polyester leakproof gusset, under a 95% cotton / 5% elastane face. So it's minimal-contact by construction. What makes it a leading pick is the chemistry that actually matters in this category: Saalt reformulated after finding PFAS pre-launch and now publishes recurring third-party "Not Detected" PFAS results.
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Skin contact |
|---|---|---|
| face fabric (cotton) 95% cotton (OEKO-TEX) - the layer against skin | Cotton | Yes primary |
| face fabric (stretch) 5% elastane | Elastane Spandex / Lycra | Yes primary |
| absorbent lining 92% recycled polyester / 8% elastane - inherent to period underwear | Polyester | Yes primary |
| leakproof gusset polyurethane-backed polyester barrier layer | Polyester | Yes incidental |
Reusable period underwear cut as a full-coverage brief, with a soft cotton face over the absorbent and leakproof layers built into the gusset. Worn in place of pads or tampons and machine washable. Saalt is a B-Corp that found PFAS in a pre-launch fabric in 2020, reformulated and delayed launch, and has since published recurring third-party results (2023, 2024, 2025) all showing PFAS "Not Detected" - the transparency history that earns its category-leader spot here.
Pros
- Cotton face against skin; reusable (reduces disposable waste)
- PFAS-free with recurring published third-party test results
- B-Corp brand, transparent about its PFAS reformulation history
Cons
- Country of manufacture not disclosed
Notes
- Judge period underwear on PFAS-free third-party testing, not fiber purity
Common questions
Does the Saalt Leakproof Cotton Brief (Period Underwear) have plastic in it?
Yes. On the Saalt Leakproof Cotton Brief (Period Underwear), the face fabric (stretch), absorbent lining and leakproof gusset are plastic and sit in the skin path. The rest of what touches your skin is cotton.
What is the Saalt Leakproof Cotton Brief (Period Underwear) made of?
Part by part, the Saalt Leakproof Cotton Brief (Period Underwear) is: face fabric (cotton) — cotton; face fabric (stretch) — elastane; absorbent lining — polyester; leakproof gusset — polyester.
Where is the Saalt Leakproof Cotton Brief (Period Underwear) made?
The Saalt Leakproof Cotton Brief (Period Underwear) is made in Not disclosed.
Categories: Women's Undergarments
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- manufacturer https://saalt.com/blogs/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-pfas-and-period-underwear PFAS timeline - found PFAS pre-launch 2020, reformulated; third-party tests 2023/2024/2025 all "Not Detected"
- review https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/best-period-underwear/ independent roundup listing Saalt as third-party PFAS-tested
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