Kotex unveils consumer-informed product overhaul to tackle period pain points

Kotex has launched a pad and liner portfolio in response to the 82% of menstruators who report frustration with available period products.

Drawing from a survey of 1,000 women aged between 18-49 who menstruate, Kotex outlines that one in ten are unsatisfied with today’s period products. Two in five women are still sleeping with towels under them in 2026 due to the insufficiencies and inadequacies of existing products.

According to the survey, the leading causes of grief were: leaks (36%), shifting or bunching (29%), discomfort (25%), odor (23%), and ineffectiveness for heavy flows (19%).

The six-product overhaul aims to address the dissatisfaction by introducing innovation to its product range. The new pads are powered by Kotex’s Gravity Core technology, which pulls blood to the pad’s base, reducing leakage and maintaining dry comfort.

As part of the brand’s 5X System with LeakShield, Gravity Core is designed to provide breathability while locking in odors, controlling leakage, and maintaining a comfortable fit.

“There’s been a real shift in how we talk about intimate wellness, and pH balance is front and center in that conversation,” says Dr. Hailey Puckett, board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

“When period products are designed to meet women’s needs, it shows we’re moving toward smarter, more wellness-conscious innovation that reflects a more modern, science-informed approach to menstrual care.”

Period pieces

Kotex listens to women and aligns its innovation with menstrual equity efforts.

The collection includes BioCare Ultra Thin pads, Bamboo Ultra Thin pads, Ultra Thin pads, Teen Ultra Thin pads, Liners, and Night Defense.

The BioCare Ultra Thin pads feature a proprietary pH Proactive system that tackles odor and irritants by optimizing pH levels within the pad. The Bamboo Ultra Thin pads have a viscose top layer made from organically grown bamboo. Both systems are also available in Regular, Heavy, and Night defense Ultra Thin pads.

The Teen Ultra Thin pads were designed with newer menstruators in mind, sized especially to provide a comfortable and secure fit, and are available in Heavy and Night Defense Ultra Thin pads.

Night Defense range has also gotten an upgrade with the Extra Heavy Overnight pads, which feature side guards and a “raised back bumper” to reduce leaks while sleeping.

Menstrual equality

Kotex is a founding sponsor for the Alliance for Period Supplies, a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending period poverty. Since 2018, the menstrual product brand has donated over 40 million products US-wide alongside its retail partners.

The Alliance for Period Supplies aims to help ensure that people in need have access to essential period products. In doing so, it aims to enable individuals’ participation in daily life by raising awareness regarding those who lack access, supporting other period supply initiatives, distributing supplies, and advocating for legislative changes to ensure accessibility and affordability in period products.

At the intersection of gender and class inequalities, period poverty is an invisible barrier to gender equity. As menstruators from socio-economically underprivileged backgrounds lack access to proper period care, they also incur increased health risks on top of their isolation from partaking in the public sphere.

Personal Care Insights previously reported that limited access to clean water creates a profound barrier to safe and dignified menstrual management and basic hygiene.