So, what’s really in Tampax Tampons?
We know you’re here to get the facts about what your tampon is made of — so let’s get to it.
Tampax tampons have an important job: to absorb and lock-in your period flow to help avoid leaks and ensure you have one less thing to worry about - because you got things to do! So, they are primarily made from absorbent ingredients like purified cotton, rayon fibers, or a blend of both. Since a tampon is considered a medical device, our products are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Safety first
Quality and safety is at the heart of everything we do, so all of our products are thoroughly evaluated before they get on the shelves and into your vagina. For us, safety includes everything from where our ingredients come from to how we package the product, and all the steps in between. Call us perfectionists, but ensuring safety starts with a four-step, science-based process for ingredient assessment that builds on and exceeds government requirements. We look at safe limits, smart uses, and evolving safety information to ensure our products are the highest quality. Basically, if the safety or efficacy of an ingredient is ever in question—we don’t use it. Period.
To know more about our safety process, visit this article.
Nothing but the best ingredients
At Tampax, we believe you deserve the best. We relentlessly pursue the best ingredients that can be used safely from both science and nature, and we continuously assess every finished product to ensure safety. For example, rayon is a synthetic material derived from purified wood pulp and is processed into an absorbent cellulose fiber. Its unique fiber shape (trilobal rayon) is specifically designed for tampons. It absorbs fluid quickly and expands to help stop leaks. Natural cotton is an ideal absorbent fiber that provides the period protection we all need. Some tampons use a combination of natural cotton and rayon fibers that help provide the ideal absorbency level for your flow.
Purposeful design, intentional ingredients
Our products are designed to give you the comfort and protection you want with only the ingredients you need.
SMOOTH REMOVAL LAYER
Provides comfortable removal even on light days.
ABSORBENT CORE
Provides protection by absorbing and storing menstrual fluid.
LEAKGUARD BRAID™
Helps stop leaks before they happen.
STRING
Used to remove the tampon.
Gently expands to your individual shape thanks to Tampax FormFit protection.
APPLICATOR AND ANTI-SLIP GRIP
Helps to comfortably insert the tampon.
What ingredients are in Tampax Pearl and what’s the benefit?
Our ingredients are carefully selected to give you protection and comfort you can feel good about. Learn more about why we selected them.
Major Ingredients in Tampax Pearl: Our purified cotton is a plant-based ingredient purified for usage. Rayon is a material derived from purified wood pulp and is processed into an absorbent cellulose fiber. Our purification process ensures Tampax tampons are made without elemental chlorine bleaching and do not add any perfumes to the tampon. Comfort is key, so our Tampax Pearl plastic applicators are made without BPA and designed to make insertion easy and smooth. The LeakGuard Braid helps stop leaks before they happen by channeling them back to the core.
| Ingredient | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Rayon | Fibers that help absorb and retain fluid |
| Cotton | Fibers that help absorb and retain fluid |
| Polypropylene | Fibers that help channel fluid back to the core |
| Polyethylene | Fibers that help with smooth removal |
| Polyester | Thread that sews tampon together |
| Glycerin | Coating that helps fibers wick fluid |
| Paraffin | Wax that helps keep string clean |
| Ethoxylated Fatty Acid Esters | Coating that helps fibers wick fluid |
| PEG-100 Stearate | Coating that helps fibers wick fluid |
| Titanium Dioxide | Makes thread look whiter |
Vetted and validated by 3rd party experts
We think our tampons are pretty amazing, and we’re not alone! Tampax is the #1 recommended tampon by U.S. Gynecologists (a.k.a. the only people who know vaginas better than we do). The cotton and rayon fibers in the tampon core are certified in accordance with the standard 100 by OEKO-TEX, which means they are tested for harmful substances, to ensure they can be used safely. OEKO-TEX is an independent certification body for textile products in the raw, semi-processed, or finished state, at all production levels. The tampon manufacturing sites are also tested. This label certifies that our products comply with the limits set for over 100 harmful substances.
Leading with trust and transparency, now and into the future
Tampax is the first Tampon brand to use SmartLabel ™, where you can find detailed information on our ingredients.
All people have the right to understand what goes into the products they buy, so we will continue to feature Tampax ingredients on SmartLabel.org, Tampax.com, and our packaging so that when you reach for our products, you’ll know what is in them, that they are tested, and that they can be used safely.
Behind every Tampax, there are 80+ years of experience and real people who care about making a product that’s safe and comfortable for you to put in your body.
Your trust in our products is what keeps us innovating and continuing along our ingredient transparency journey.