Maybe I'm in the minority but I love my period. Every month, I get a bloody reminder that yes, I'm fertile, and no, I'm not pregnant. Thank the Lord. It's another way for me to feel one with womanhood and the act of my uterine lining shedding feels oddly feminine for me. Perhaps the biggest downsides come by way of symptoms. And although I don't experience cramps (after Day 1), I do experience mood swings, cravings, inner thigh aches, back pain, and hormonal acne (jawline breakouts become the bane of my existence for about a week).
That being said, I'm almost certain that period-related symptoms are the reason most of us with vaginas aren't a fan of menstruation situations. And I must say I definitely empathize, sis. If you're in need of a little more TLC during your period, we've got you covered on all things period essentials. From tampons and pads to treats that will fulfill your cravings, below is an array of period subscription boxes sure to alleviate your time of the month. The best part? You don't have to leave the comfort of your home to fulfill your period needs. Convenience is king.
LOLA
Courtesy of LOLA
Customize your own period subscription box through LOLA for as little as $9 a month. Depending on your needs, you can curate a box that's a mixture of organic cotton feminine care products absent of dyes, synthetic fibers, and fragrances. Choose between pads with wings, cleansing wipes, tampons, liners, and an essential oil blend for cramps. Ante up your monthly box on the sexual health side of things by including natural lube and/or condoms. And for young ladies in your life who haven't had their first period yet, LOLA has a special First Period Kit. For $34, you will receive a specially curated box that includes 5 regular pads, 5 heavy pads, 12 liners, 10 light tampons, an instructional card for each period product, etc.
Femly
Femly is another period subscription box that touts the fact that it is made of 100% organic cotton. Years ago, I tried one of their boxes and loved the combination of products that were good for my reproductive health as well as snacks that didn't compromise the rest of my body's health with its use. Femly is a black woman-owned company and includes a product line of pure cotton pads, pure cotton liners, pure cotton night pads, as well as the eco-friendly menstrual cup.
Kali
Courtesy of Kali
In an effort to make you "rethink your period", Kali is an organic luxury period subscription box service that allows you to design the box your cycle needs. Whether you want a box delivered to your door every month or once every three months, you can modify the frequency and the contents of your box at any time. As a luxury option, the box is more on the expensive side than other boxes on this list, starting at $16 a month. The Kali box features an array of sustainably sourced feminine care products free of chlorine bleach, synthetic fibers, dioxins, or dyes. What makes Kali different is that they also include self-care products like virgin coconut sugar scrub, lavender-infused bath soak, and rosewater facial mist.
Cora
Cora is a customizable period box. Like the others, you take a quiz and make selections based on your personalized period needs. You then choose between their pads, tampons, or menstrual cup the Cora Cup (you can also click all if they all apply). You then select the duration of your period and your flow. You will be sent the amount of pads or tampons based on those two selections. Add-ons to your subscription box include 6 period liners, 6 lavender body cloths, 6 rosemary eucalyptus body cloths, 6 rose-geranium body cloths, body cloth pouch (10 cloths), 2 individually wrapped heat relief cloths. The cost starts at $12 per month.
The PMS Package
The PMS Package
The PMS Package is a period subscription box that acts as your period survival kit. It's a care package comprised of feminine essentials and comfort snacks synced to deliver to your doorstep at the start of your monthly cycle. The name of the game is pampering and The PMS Package makes sure to do exactly that with unique items like Skinny Pop, Oreos, chocolate, makeup wipes, Chex Mix, socks, and more. The premium boxes start at $34.99.
Athena Club
Courtesy of the brand/Athena Club
Athena Club is redefining self-care by allowing you to get 18 premium or organic tampons for less than $8 a month. In addition to this, the period subscription box offers toxin-free essentials that range from liners and pads to TLC wipes and their menstrual cup. You can also create your own subscription box incorporating other needs Athena Club covers like wellness and body care with their razors, daily probiotics, daily multivitamins, body lotions, and deodorant.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
Best Menstrual Cups For Period
Featured image by Shutterstock
- Best Period Hacks - Life Hacks For Period - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- 5 Black Women Revolutionizing How We Manage Our Periods - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Period & Time of the Month Subscription Boxes - Hello Subscription ›
- 11 Best Period Subscription Boxes Of 2019, According To Gynos ›
- 18 Best Period Boxes [Tampon & Period Subscription Boxes] ›
- I Tried 5 Different Subscription Boxes For My Period So That You ... ›
- The 10 Best Period Subscription Boxes, Period! | Cratejoy ›
- The 12 Best Period Subscriptions of 2019 | MSA ›
- Best Period Subscription Boxes for Monthly Essentials | Cratejoy ›
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
