Disclosure: Links with a * are affiliate links.
Last year we rounded up 10 of the best period underwear brands, a few of which also offered swimwear. But there are also dedicated period swimwear brands out there!
The internal workings of period underwear and period swimwear are much the same – primarily a moisture-wicking layer next to the body to keep you feeling dry, followed by a middle layer that absorbs and locks in the blood – except of course that period swimwear needs an outer layer (or another inner layer) that’s water repellant, both for enhanced leak protection and to stop the middle layer just soaking up water instead.
While I have yet to try any period swimwear myself, the brands making it are quick to point out that it looks just like regular swimwear, so no one will know about the absorbent gusset inside. Réjeanne, for example, says their gusset is less than 1mm in thickness and “completely invisible”.
It’s worth noting that since I published that period underwear article, Thinx settled a much-publicised class action lawsuit for not disclosing that its products contained PFAS, so you might be wondering if these period swimwear brands also contain toxic chemicals. For each brand, I’ve noted down whether they contain PFAS or what they say about the matter. (Good news – there’s one unknown, but no definite yeses!)
Right: Nérée bandeau bikini top, 79€ (~£68 / ~$85) and menstrual swimsuit brief, 45€ (~£39 / ~$49)
Réjeanne
Size range: FR 34-50 (UK 8-24 / US 4-20)
Price range: 119€-149€ for one-piece swimsuits, 29€-109€ for bikini separates
Absorbency: 12 hours’ protection during light flow days
Do they use PFAS? While the website doesn’t mention PFAS directly, they state that their products are “silver nanoparticle-free, and Standard 100 by Oeko-tex® (CQ 1254/1 IFTH)-certified”. As of 2023, OEKO-TEX bans PFAS for its Standard 100 certification.
Good to know: On medium or heavy flow days, the brand recommends wearing this swimwear in conjunction with other leak protection such as a menstrual cup.
By far my favourite brand on this list from an aesthetic perspective, French company Réjeanne is making period swimwear (and lingerie) with a fashionable look. From gold hardware details and plunging cuts to subtle and stylish prints, their leakproof swimwear gives off more of a luxe vibe than most of the alternatives out there. Everything’s made in France, using fabric that’s OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100-certified, and selected pieces offer UPF 50+ sun protection.
Right: Recycled swimwear crop top, £37 (~$47 / ~43€)* and Recycled swimwear bikini brief, £28 (~£36 / ~33€)*
Modibodi*
Size range: XXS – 4XL
Price range: £59-£72 for one-piece swimsuits, £28-£42 for bikini separates
Absorbency: 1-2 tampons
Do they use PFAS? No – see here.
Good to know: There’s a feature on their website to view garments on models of different sizes – find it just under the product images.
Conscious of your environmental footprint? Modibodi’s leakproof swimwear range* is all made from pre-consumer recycled nylon, which cuts down on both energy use and waste headed for landfill. A few styles are reversible too, so you can enjoy multiple looks while only buying one swimsuit.
Right: Kanoa asymmetrical bandeau bathing top, 50€ (~£43 / ~$54) and high waist period swimwear bottom, 60€ (~£51 / ~$65)
Elia
Size range: XS-XXL
Price range: 50€ for bikini tops, 60€ for bikini bottoms, and 96€-120€ for one-piece swimsuits
Absorbency: Up to 12 hours’ protection during light flow days
Do they use PFAS? No (mentioned in product descriptions).
Good to know: Elia also sells matching girls’ swimsuits for ages 3-6 and matching reusable swim nappies for ages 6 months to 3 years, so you can coordinate with your little one!
Another French-made brand that’s bringing fashion-forward style to the period swimwear industry, Elia’s menstrual swimwear range includes two period swimsuit styles plus one period swim bottom shape with various coordinating tops to choose from, all available in various colours or fabrics. My favourite thing about this brand however isn’t its chic designs, but how radically transparent it is about pricing: scroll down on the product page for a clear breakdown of that garment’s raw materials costs, its manufacturing cost, its share of marketing and logistics costs, and a bunch of other things that businesses need to pay for.
Right: Tankini top, $65 (~£51 / ~59€) and Leakproof bikini swim bottom, $50 (~£39 / ~45€)
Knix
Size range: XS – 4XL, plus XS+ – 4XL+ in selected styles which fit UK DD-F cups
Price range: $95-$100 for one-piece swimsuits, $45-$65 for bikini and tankini separates
Absorbency: Up to 3 tampons
Do they use PFAS? They state that they “do not intentionally use PFAS” – more info here.
Good to know: Not all Knix swimwear styles come with period protection! Make sure the product title includes ‘Leakproof’ if that’s what you’re shopping for.
Five different bikini tops (plus a tankini top) and a number of leakproof bottoms styles makes Knix’s period swimwear collection a good one to check out if you’re after a period bikini, since there’ll probably be a combination you like. One-piece swimsuit options are more limited, but they’re still pretty chic and available in a range of colours and prints.
Right: Period-proof Salt bikini, $115 AUD (~£59 / ~$74 USD / ~68€)
Slix
Size range: AU 8-18 (UK 8-18 / US 4-14)
Price range: $115 AUD for leakproof bikini sets, and $95-$130 AUD for leakproof one-piece swimsuits
Absorbency: Up to 2 tampons
Do they use PFAS? Unknown – I couldn’t find any information on this.
Good to know: Slix swimsuits are available with or without the period-proof lining, so make sure you’ve selected “period proof” when choosing your size/colour options (which adds $20 AUD to the regular price).
If you’re in searching of period swimwear to do some serious swimming in, take a look at Australian brand Slix. Their swimwear range was designed by athletes, and blends high-performance fabrics and sporty cuts with bold, colourful prints. Everything is done in house in Australia, from developing the fabrics to dyeing and sewing.
Right: Ziggy top, $59 AUD (~£30 / ~$38 USD / ~35€) and Cherry leakproof bottom, $89 (~£45 / ~$57 USD / ~53€)
My Secret Swim
Size range: AU 6-16 (UK 6-16 / US 2-12)
Price range: $139 AUD for one-piece swimsuits, $59 AUD for bikini tops, and $89 AUD for bottoms
Absorbency: Up to 2 tampons
Do they use PFAS? They state that all fabrics “are sourced from mills that manufacture using environmentally friendly processes that do not use toxic chemicals”, although PFAS are not mentioned specifically.
Good to know: Their swimwear is primarily designed with spotting or lighter flow days in mind, or as a backup to another sanitary product; for moderate flow days, they recommend checking the swimsuit more frequently.
Another Australian-made brand (except for bikini tops and sarongs which are manufactured in Bali), My Secret Swim’s period swimwear range is made from Repreve fabric which is recycled out of plastic water bottles. So far, they only offer solid black pieces, but have a range of different styles to choose from that offer more or less coverage.
Right: High waist period swim bottom, £23.99 (~$31 / ~28€)*
Wuka*
Size range: XXS – 6XL
Price range: £21.99-£23.99 for bottoms, £49.99 for one-piece swimsuits
Absorbency: 2 tampons (bottoms) or 3 tampons (one-piece swimsuits)
Do they use PFAS? No – see here.
Good to know: Wuka recommends that you only wear their swimwear on lighter flow days if you’ll be swimming for a prolonged time. If your plan is more sunbathing with the occasional dip in the water, then they’re fine for medium flow days too.
Wuka’s leakproof swimwear range* includes a simple scoop-back one piece plus two basic bottom styles (no matching tops) in five solid colours, as well as a racerback swimsuit that’s only available in black. They’re a B Corp-certified company and their swimwear is made from recycled nylon, in a fabric that also offers UPF 50+ sun protection. While their overall size range is pretty impressive, only one style is available in sizes 5XL and 6XL – the black bikini brief bottom. One-piece swimsuits don’t go beyond a 2XL.
Right: Racerback one-piece period swimsuit, $109.99 (~£86 / ~100€)
Ruby Love
Size range: XXS – 3XL
Price range: $69.99 for bottoms, $99.99 for bikini sets, and $109.99 for one-piece swimsuits and tankini sets
Absorbency: Up to 3 tampons
Do they use PFAS? No – see here.
Good to know: You can also buy an optional pad to double the amount of leak protection.
While Ruby Love’s swimwear size range is not as extensive as that of its period underwear, which goes up to 8XL, it’s still one of the more inclusive size ranges on this list. They offer two bikini styles plus separate bikini bottoms in a handful of colours that you can coordinate with a top you already own, or pick one of their many one-piece swimsuits which include ruffled one-shoulder and off-shoulder styles, surf-style skinsuits, short swimdresses and more. There are prints available to choose from as well as block colours, although I don’t personally find their prints to be particularly sophisticated.
And now for a few brands with a much more limited range of styles:
Love Luna
Size range: UK 8/10 – 18/20 (US 4/6 – 14/16)
Price range: £16-18 for bikini bottoms, £35 for a one-piece swimsuit
Absorbency: Up to 2-3 tampons
Do they use PFAS? No – see here.
Good to know: The one-piece swimsuit comes with a hidden shelf bra and removable pads, which I don’t recall any of the other brands’ swimsuits mentioning as a feature.
The most affordable period swimwear brand on this list, Love Luna offers one swimsuit and two bikini bottoms in adult sizing, all available in black only.
Right: Period proof one-piece, $120 NZD (~£56 / ~$71 USD / ~66€)
AWWA
Size range: XS – 4XL
Price range: $24-54 NZD for bikini separates, $120 NZD for a one-piece swimsuit
Absorbency: Up to 1 tampon
Do they use PFAS? They state that they “do not intentionally use PFAS” and that a fabric tests have come back as ‘none detected’. Fabric certifications are linked from their FAQs along with a PFAS policy.
Good to know: If you’re feeling generous, you can add a period underwear donation to your order which will be gifted to someone in Aotearoa, New Zealand who can’t afford period care products.
New Zealand-based period underwear brand AWWA has launched the two period swimwear styles featured above, with the bikini also sold as separates if you just want the bottom. The bottom part of the bikini and the one-piece swimsuit are made with recycled nylon, and what I really like about this brand is how transparent they are about their production process; you can see right on the product page the exact factory where the fabric was spun, woven and dyed, where the final garment was manufactured, and more, as well as any sustainability-related certifications each factory holds.
Right: The Swim bikini period swimwear bottom, $32 (~£25 / ~29€)*
Period.*
Size range: XS – 3XL
Price range: $32 for bikini bottoms
Absorbency: Up to 2 tampons
Do they use PFAS? As well as using fabrics with an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, they regularly send samples off for testing which have shown no detectable PFAS. Those test results (for underwear) are available at the end of this article.
Good to know: According to the brand, their period swimwear will “relax and grow about half a size when wet”, so if you’re in between sizes I’d be inclined to pick the smaller one.
If you’re just after a basic black bikini bottom to swap your regular one out for when you’re on your period, Period. (a.k.a. The Period Company) offers two simple styles* in adult sizing. They’re both made primarily from a fabric that’s 80% recycled nylon.
Know of another great period swimwear brand? Want to share your experience with one of the brands we’ve featured? Leave a comment below to tell other readers about it!
