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.
Verification: Manufacturer confirmed · Last reviewed
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
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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