Lunapads Review And Giveaway! 4/1

You may remember that I just posted a review of the DivaCup last week. Yes, many people e-mailed me shocked and disgusted by the whole concept of reusable menstrual products. But...Even MORE of you were not only familiar with such products, you already use and love them! I think that people have a hard time wrapping their mind around something different than they're used to. That's okay! I am guilty of assuming things in the past, too.

I know before I started cloth-diapering, I had a horrible mental picture in my mind. I had visions of gigantic prefolds, gargantuan diaper-pins, and squeaky rubber pants. I couldn't have been more misled. There are certain stereotypes that surround many eco-friendly products, and I think the same can be said about reusable menstrual products.

I found that I was spending a ton of money on tampons and pads every single month. I started thinking about this, and started researching better ways to manage my monthly visitor. I already use cloth-diapers on my babies, so why not try reusable menstrual products, too? It just made sense to me. I had what Oprah likes to call an "Ah-Ha Moment" and started seeking out alternatives to tampons and disposable pads.

As much as I love my DivaCup, I like having some back-up protection as well. After having my tubes tied, a decision I have seriously come to regret, my periods have been out of control. It's BAD. Heavy is an understatement, folks. It's more like open the flood-gates and grab the nearest life preserver! I was literally bleeding through a super-absorbency tampon in less than an hour at times. Sorry to be so graphic, but it's the truth!

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This is when I discovered my DivaCup and subsequently, Lunapads! This Canadian, woman-owned company has really made a splash in the world of feminine care. On a side note, I have to wonder...Why is it that all the really cool stuff comes out of Canada?! They have Tim Horton's, Swiss Chalet, and my husband's favorite band Rush is Canadian, too! Just thinking about all the awesome things Canadians have to offer makes me want to travel to the Toronto area again. I miss hanging out with my Canadian pals, and definitely miss East Side Mario's! It's been a few years since my last venture up north! The only thing I never quite understood? Bagged milk...But that's a whole different post altogether!

Anyway...Back on topic here...These reusable menstrual pads that not only help save you some serious cash, they also help protect the environment. Did you know that billions and billions of tampons, pads, and their packaging end up in our landills every single year? Now that's a LOT of biological waste! Not to mention, pads and tampons contain additives, bleach, and other synthetic materials that have been linked to serious health problems like TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) and even cancer! (Dioxins used in feminine care products are known carcinogens, and with repeated use can effect a person's reproductive and immune systems.)

The makers of Lunapads set out to find a safer, sustainable option for that time of the month, and they developed Lunapads! These pads come in many different sizes, absorbencies, colors, and prints. (Yes, they are cute, too!) Lunapads are made of a super-soft 100% cotton fleece, and they also feature a layer of thin, breathable nylon in the base pad to help prevent soaking through. Since I tend to bleed like a stuck pig, I was sent an assortment of Lunapads to help me combat my heavy flow. This assortment included a couple of pads as well as extra liners. Take a look!

How adorable are those?! I love the fun, vibrant colors and prints. It almost makes me look forward to having my period! (I did say ALMOST, right?) I really appreciate the fact that these products are fun and feminine rather than dull, bland and boring. It's bad enough I have to wear ridiculous granny panties during my period. At least now I can still feel a little sassy, even during that time we all dread!

Lunapads are really easy to use. They simpy snap around the gusset of your underwear to keep them in place. For very light flow days or pantyliner use, you can wear the pad on its own. If you're cursed with insane bleeding like me, Lunapads have additional inserts that can be placed into the pad for added protection. The inserts are held in place with convenient little ric-rac bands. The really cool thing about this 2-part system is that you can simply change the insert and reuse the base pad, provided there was no bleeding through. For all of you cloth-diapering mamas out there, think of it like an AI2 (all-in-two) cloth diaper. You can replace the soiled insert and reuse the "shell"! Take a look at one of my Lunapads outfitted with 2 additional inserts:

I used my Lunapads in conjunction with my DivaCup, and I have to say, I was quite impressed! These pads are very comfortable, easy to use, and stayed in place wonderfully. I was also surprised by how absorbent these super thin pads are. I am so used to bulky, uncomfortable disposable pads that I couldn't even fathom something so slim doing the job! Of course, they did, and they did it well. As long as you change them as you would a "normal" pad or tampon, Lunapads perform extremely well. Added bonus? You can walk around comfortably while wearing Lunapads. You don't have to feel like you're wearing a diaper anymore! And let's face it: Pads can feel like diapers.

I know what you're thinking though...Yes, you have to wash them. Really, it's not as bad as you might expect. As soon as you change your pad, it is recommended that you rinse it immediately in cold water. This not only removes the menstrual fluid, it also helps prevent staining. We want those bright colors to stay that way, right? You then just wash them! Not too hard at all! If you're on the go, Lunapads also offers a variety of carrying cases to hold your soiled pads! I love the look of their Moon Pad Bag!

Overall, I am loving my Lunapads. They're my greatest discovery since my DivaCup! Using both of these products has totally changed the way I view my period and my body in general! I am so glad I made the switch from disposable feminine products. I know I am doing what's best for my body and for the environment, too! Try it! I am willing to bet you'll be pleasantly surprised! I know I was. I'm definitely a Lunapad gal now, and I am not looking back. This is a wonderful product, and I wish more women would give these products a shot.

HOW TO CONNECT:

You can check out Lunapads for yourself on their website. You can also check out their handy retail locator to find Lunapads both online and at a store near you!

You can also connect with Lunapads on Facebook, on twitter, and on their blog!

WIN IT!

I am thrilled to announce that the generous ladies at Lunapads are offering one very lucky reader a $50 Gift Certificate to their online shop! How cool is that?!

Please use this easy Rafflecopter form to enter.


This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents 18+ until 11:59PM on April 1, 2012. No PO Boxes. Winner will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!

***Disclosure: I received a complimentary sample to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway