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11/20/2018 3:29 AM

Comparing $10 and $45 Menstrual Cups

9/26/2018 5:44 AM Sustainable Health

I started using menstrual cups for a number of reasons. Tampons have always been so painful to use as they absorb moisture causing vaginal dryness. Thus, making the process of inserting and removing tampons incredibly painful. Not to mention the discomfort tampons cause while inserted. Secondly, while pads aren't painful to use, they are incredibly impractical. They smell horrible, are messy and can cause infections. Thirdly, tampons are expensive and are not reusable! That's a lot of unnecessary waste we are putting back into the environment. Fourthly, menstrual cups are also far more convenient as they hold about one to two ounces of menstrual flow. Tampons, on the other hand, can only hold up to a third of an ounce. Tampons have always given me anxiety that they would fill up and leak, whereas that has never ever happened with a menstrual cup.

Now, the biggest most influential reason I turned to menstrual cups is that tampons are unsafe. I'm not talking about the chemicals that are in tampons (although, still incredibly unsafe, and that goes for organic tampons too) but I'm talking about Toxic Shock Syndrome or TSS.

What is Toxic Shock Syndrome? (TSS)

Toxic shock syndrome is a serious medical condition caused by a bacterial infection. It is caused when the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus gets into the bloodstream and produces toxins. The body responds with a sharp drop in blood pressure that deprives organs of oxygen and can lead to death.

TSS is something I should have heard first about during health class at high school, but many, many years later I learnt about TSS from model, actress, and activist Lauren Wasser. Lauren developed TSS which caused her organs to shut down, have unstable blood pressure, a fever and a heart attack. She was put on life support and was in a coma for a week and a half. Lauren developed gangrene on her leg, which was then amputated and recently her other leg was amputated as well. Many other women have suffered from TSS that has caused kidney and heart failure. This is not a disease that can be taken lightly or to be called "rare".

Comparing a $10 and a $45 Menstrual Cup

I wanted to chat about my experience using a $10 menstrual cup and a $45 menstrual cup.

My first ever menstrual cup was a $10 USD menstrual cup I purchased when I was living in Los Angeles last year. I had been using this particular cup for 6 months prior to trying another cup that was being sold on uni campus and having used that cup for 4 months I then started to use My Cup menstrual cup. I have now used My Cup menstrual cup during my last two periods.

The review... both cups have equal benefits of a menstrual cup: they are both budget friendly, sustainable, are equally safer and healthier for your body, take up less space that a pack of tampons/pads, don't smell weird, can last up to 10 years if cared for, easy to clean, both comfortable in that while inserted there is no pain or even the slightest feeling of the cup during sitting down or any activity.

However, there are some important differences that led me to tuck away my $10 menstrual cup as a back up to my back up. Using the photo below for reference (of the clear My Cup and pink $10 cup) you will notice the tabs at the bottom of the cup are different. These tabs are what help you pull on to remove the cup. The My Cup has a very smooth, yet bumpy tab making the removal process incredibly easy. Whereas, the $10 cup has a ruggered edge which although is very grippy and makes removal easy, it does cause discomfort when inserted, which is a big no no. Also, the tab is very long (which again, does help with removal) but it does add to the discomfort while inserted as you can feel it touching the outer walls. When touching the outside of the My Cup it is incredibly smooth, however the $10 cup has rough edges where the two sides of the cup have been joined together. These rough edges go all the way to the top of the cup (which gets inserted first). These differences may seem minor, but when something is going inside your vagina and staying there for days on end its important to have a comfortable menstrual cup and this is why I no longer reach for my $10 menstrual cup.

Being comfortable during a week of hell is key ladies!

I do strongly recommend using My Cup menstrual cups. They are a New Zealand company, the cups are also made here in New Zealand. For Every MyCup™ Size 1 or 2 Menstrual Cup you buy, My Cup donate one to someone in our NZ Community. The team are incredibly passionate about raising awareness to safe, healthy and environmentally friendly products and are also very helpful!

If you need any advice about menstrual cups or even folding techniques they are just a call away on (03) 332-8235 or 0800 692 876 but if you don't feel comfortable calling, you can always check out their website which have a full run down on periods, your body and on menstrual cups. Just click HERE to hop to their support page.

If you would like to learn how to use a menstrual cup click HERE.

If you'd like to check out their awesome products click HERE

Use the code 'wholesomelyliving' to get 10% off your entire order x

I ask that we talk more about periods and educate ourselves about the toxins that are within products we put on and in our bodies. If theres anything to take away from this blog post Toxic Shock Syndrome is not RARE and please look into the products you are consuming. Each time you buy something you are voting and showing demand for a particular product. As a consumer, you have the power to influence change and create demand for safer, comfortable and eco-friendly products. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week x

Oh Natural – Conscious Beauty Edit August edition – Nourish and Reveal Fresh Spring Skin!

9/5/2018 5:17 AM Cruelty freeSkincare

Oh Natural’s online store is full of irresistible natural makeup, skin care, wellness and lifestyle products especially chosen from New Zealand and around the world. Oh Natural offer a large selection of vegan brands and a huge selection of organic skin care and makeup. Oh Natural only stock cruelty free brands, and everything sold on their online store is free of harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrance.

All mentioned products in the Oh Natural - Conscious Beauty Edit, as well as plenty more conscious, sustainable beauty, wellness and lifestyle products are available online at ohnatural.co.nz

Facebook: @ohnaturalnz | Instagram: @ohnaturalnz #ohnaturalnz | Website: ohnatural.co.nz

PLANTAE CERTIFIED ORGANIC WATERCRESS DAY LOTION RRP $44.90

A very light day cream containing Watercress Botanical Complex and Jojoba to help control sebum, Sage to calm and soothe, with reparative Totara Heartwood Extract to restore the skins natural function and prevent blemishes. Best suited for skin types who like to use a lighter daily moisturising option.

EPIC BLEND MORE MOISTURE LIP BALM – GRAPE RRP $8.00

A divine smelling balm, like a grape juice slushy minus the purple lips and brain-freeze! This balm is a delight for keeping your lips hydrated with organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, organic sunflower oil, organic beeswax and Non-GMO vitamin E.

Shed winter layers, and invite in the new season! The beauty practice of exfoliating stretches as far back as ancient Egyptians times. Exfoliating aids in blood flow and removes impurities and dead skin cell build up that lead to a dull complexion. Exfoliating also aids moisturisers and serums to penetrate the skin better, becoming more effective at a deeper level. Improve texture and reveal fresh, glowing skin for the bright new season with these top seller natural beauty exfoliators.

THE DARK HEART BEARD CO. – ARABICA FACIAL SCRUB RRP $25.00

An Arabica facial scrub that will leave your skin silky soft. The Fair Trade coffee grounds will slough off dry skin, while the avocado oil emulsifies impurities and the UMF 10+ Manuka honey provides additional moisture to your skin.

PLANTAE CERTIFIED ORGANIC BRIGHTENING CAMELLIA FACE POLISH RRP $49.90

A gentle facial exfoliant designed to help restore the skin’s natural luminosity. Sourced from Southern France, evenly ground organic rice grain seeds are finely milled to ensure a completely even exfoliation of the skin, and a more even complexion whilst not impairing the skins natural protective barrier. Antioxidant rich Camellia Oil is extracted from the rich green plant leaves, and Shea Butter nourishes and protects, while Peach Leaf and Fruit Extracts brighten and improve skin texture and luminosity.