Walmart Sampling (Canada): U by Kotex

Looks like Canadian Walmart’s are finally adopting American Walmart marketing tactics. Walmart (Canada) is now beginning to offer samples via their site to promote products which they sell. Up for grabs this round is 2 U by Kotex tampons and 1 U by Kotex pad.

You can access the samples by filling out the order form at… https://sampling.walmart.ca/kimberly-clark/

UbK has been in-stores in Walmart for quite a while now, but they just recently released this banner to make it sound like it “just” arrived… which is not really the case though:

You can see all the UbK products available at Walmart (location dependent) in their Health & Wellness section of the website at…

http://www.walmart.ca/Health-Wellness/Product-Collections/U-by-Kotex-products

I like rather than demonstrating the features and all the great protection value of the pad, they emphasize “style” and “cute”… oh man, is the next generation of pads and tampons going to look pretty but work like a rag? LOL…

U by Kotex Cleanwear Heavy Flow Pads (Pictures & Blurb)

Since I’ve already done a review on the Kotex All-Nighter Pads before, I’m not going to review something too similar. Below are some pictures of the U by Kotex Cleanwear Heavy Flow Pads for your reference and interest. This pad is essentially a “smaller” version of the overnight UbK pad-series. Having seen lots of “heavy” or “super” length pads, I found the UbK one to actually be quite short. When I tested this one, I found that the top layer is even more comfortable than the all-nighter one because it has a bit of “padding” yet not so thick as to make it intrusive or annoying. Furthermore, it stands up to quite a large amount of fluid while maintaining a dry top-layer. The “absorption” is clearly visible from the bottom, thus you can gauge how well it can absorb even the heaviest of flows, especially because the pad becomes quite “heavy” (weight wise) afterward, so you can tell it’s definitely capable of providing quality protection.

Suffice to say, this pad actually made me “reconsider” the UbK line of pads since I kind of got turned off by them due to the price and that it wasn’t “up to the expectation” I once had set out for it. Giving the Cleanwear one another chance, I definitely can see its merits now and I am impressed with my overall experience with this one. When I tested the all-nighter version, the “hype” was there, but overly impressed, I was not. On the other hand, this Cleanwear one I actually like more, even though I would wager the design is highly similar, at just a lesser size. I really like the UbK Cleanwear Heavy Flow pad, so if you’re not interested in trying their super-long-huge all-nighter one, this one might be a great alternative to try out!

All the above pictures are “clickable” for a higher-resolution version.

Since this isn’t a full-out review, if you have any questions/comments in regards to this pad (or well, anything on the site really), feel free to let me know and ask away here so that others may benefit from the answers as well! However, should you want more privacy or whatnot, feel free to email me as well.

Rexall – U by Kotex Tweens

So the U by Kotex “tween” series has finally hit Canadian shelves as a couple of my readers have asked me about them. They are also on-sale this week at Rexall or their chains.

You can find the deal on page 14 of their flyer, bottom-left corner and looks like the clipping I have in the following picture:

U by Kotex Tween Pads $3.99 @ Rexall

And of course, it is NOT only the UbK tween pads that are on sale, it includes their pantiliners and tampon lies as well. $3.99 is not CHEAP, just cheapER than usual.

All the difference I see in this is strictly sizing and design (and I don’t mean structurally, by design, I mean simply the “look” of it)… and if you don’t want something that small, don’t even bother trying this out if you’ve already tried the regular UbK pads. Unless I hear differently from readers or my girls that there’s something BETTER about this pad than the UbK pads, I’m not going to test/review it just for the sake that it has cute little flowery designs on it 😛

*NEW* Always Maxi LeakGuard Plus Pads with Odor Lock & U By Kotex Tween Ultra Thin Pad

Was reading up Kayo’s as usual and found two new pad-series posted up! Credit goes to college flowlover for the find. Looks like Always is trying to slowly seep into Tena and Poise market-share with incontinence products…. how Always will fare, we’ll find out soon enough!

Always Maxi LeakGuard Plus Pads with Odor Lock

Always Maxi LeakGuard Plus Pads - Long/Super without Wings, Scented

Information quoted from Always.com:

Unlock the best-kept secret in protection — NEW Always Maxi LeakGuard™ PLUS Long Super with Odor Lock™. For an active life with a sensitive bladder, you need a pad that does more than just absorb. That’s why we’ve created reliable, discreet protection you can use without changing your lifestyle. It absorbs in seconds and neutralizes odors due to urine and menstruation for hours. Plus, the soft, top layer helps keep you comfortable, while body-hugging channels help protect you against sudden leaks.

and condensed information from the PGeStore:

Always Maxi LeakGuard Plus Odor Lock ABSORBS in seconds. NEUTRALIZES odors for hours.

• The comfort and security you need to help you feel protected
• Super soft cover
• Helps eliminate and neutralize odors
• Absorbs quickly to help protect you from leaks
• It feels good to be so confident every day
• Without Wings
• Lightly Scented

Directions: To Use: Remove Pad from disposable wrapper, apply pad to underwear To Dispose: Remove Pad from underwear, wrap in disposable wrapper, throw in trash. Do not throw out Pad in toilet.

U By Kotex Tween Ultra Thin Pad

U By Kotex Tween Ultra Thin Pads

Information quoted from Kotex:

Product Features * Serious attitude. Serious protection for smaller sizes designed for a Tween * CleanWear cover for a clean and fresh feeling. MicroMax core locks in fluid fast. * Tru-fit wings help this baby stay put. * Folded and wrapped * Easy Open Wrapper in fun, bold colors. Product Description Product Description U by Kotex Tween Ultra Thin Pad w/Wings

Totally cool that there are finally some new pads hitting the market! Of course the UbK pads are just an extension of their existing pad line, but the new Always will be similar to the Envive by Always that they have in other parts of the world. I hope this will reach Canada soon since the above information were for the US only sadly 😦 However, it’ll only be a matter of time until it gets here (just like usual, we’re slow) and I’ll be monitoring pad-news and the store shelves closely 😀 If anyone has any Canadian information on this, please feel free to let me know!

Your Man (or Boy) and YOUR Period. Love Him – Love You!

Guys - Do you run away from this or do you face the reality?

As promised, I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to write about this topic. Many of you are confused probably at the title (unless you’re my regular followers who’ve read my previous “hint” on this upcoming topic), but it’s all about men in menstruation! After all, how could I not have a topic all about that eh? As many of you know, men in general are not very well versed on the subject of menstruation. According to statistics by U By Kotex:

72% of women believe that society is more open to discussing men’s health.
And 60% of those women feel that they’re expected to keep vaginal health issues to themselves.

Well it’s a good thing that the other 28% of women believe that society is equally or more open to discussing women’s health and I’m glad to be one of those guys considered by that 28%! Also…

28% of girls wish they could talk to their boyfriend, husband or significant other about vaginal health.

And although 28% seems like a small percentage, then given those statistics world-wide, that is a tremendous number of women who wish they could talk to their boyfriend, husband or significant other about vaginal health. Although this does not necessarily mean menstruation is the only key topic about menstrual health, but certainly you can imagine that within that 28% that there must be a handful who want to be able to have such conversations with their bf, hb or s/o. To put it into perspective, assuming data from EarthTrends, the female population worldwide is approx. 3,428,196,000. Although understandably, not all these females may have reached the age of menstruation or have the necessity to talk about vaginal health – there is a potential based on the above figures that 959,894,880 of females DO want to talk about vaginal health issues with their bf, hb or s/o. Stunning isn’t it, that so many females have to keep quiet on such an important life-topic to someone they’re supposed to be with for life, for better or worse?

With statistical-mumbo-jumbo behind us, being a member of a menstrual-interested community, sharing this interest of menstruation both knowledge and fetish, I can say that there are quite a few men who are actively interested in menstruation and vaginal health. Even if they’re not part of the community, I’m sure there are many more who secretly hide their interest in the female menstrual cycle, perhaps out of shame or embarassment. Suffice to say, for the many of us guys who speak openly and passionately about periods – what is there to say about us?

If you look around the internet, you will see many discussions, particularly ones created by men – that have a very negative perception of menstruation. It’s what society is so accustomed to – being immersed in an environment where menstruation is taboo and thus, causes many men and women alike to become repulsive to something nature has given the female body. Whether you believe in a greater being or biological science, the reality is that females born with a vagina and eventually reach normal sexual maturation will menstruate. To be a man, you must hate menstruation. To be a man, you must forbid your girlfriend, wife or partner to speak to you about her period or vaginal health. To be a man, you must act disgusted every time she brings such topics up. To be a man, you should not assist her in buying her feminine hygiene items. To be a man, it is inappropriate for you to have any knowledge about menstruation other than she’s bleeding, she’s bitchy and she’s in pain. How has our definition of being a man evolved to ignorance and having no compassion and understanding for our female counterparts. Should we not love them – through understanding and nurture their positivity towards their own body and natural bodily functions?

Ouchies - Menstrual pains =( We feel bad for you and want to make you feel better!

OK, so maybe I’ve kinda run around in a circle typing this post instead of getting right to the point! So, ladies, if you ended up with a boyfriend, husband or significant other who was interested in vaginal health and menstruation, how would you take advantage of something like this? I think most women’s reaction would be of utter disgust and yes, I’ve seen it happen. Usually the thoughts of, “Why would a guy ever want to know something like that?” or “Eww, even I don’t like to know about my period, why would I want him to?” From questioning most of my girls, they have a very positive sentiment towards guys who are interested in menstruation (well after all, they know about my interest, lol) or female anatomy – so perhaps I’m getting a very biased response – yet, some great understanding on their point-of-views nonetheless!

So why should you see having a boyfriend, husband or significant other who is interested in your vaginal health and menstruation as a benefit to you? First of all, I’m a believer that knowledge is power – how often have you seen someone’s knowledge be of harm to them? Perhaps one could claim that curiousity may lead you down a bad path, but that’s only if you consider it bad. For instance, curiousity IS what led me down the road of wanting to learn even MORE about menstruation and the female body. However, is that such a bad thing? Although one’s knowledge may not have any direct impact on them, having knowledge of a broad scope only betters a person! Knowledge is only bad when it is applied with the intent to hurt. For instance, having knowledge on making a firearm is not ‘bad knowledge’ BUT using that knowledge to make a firearm and hurting someone with it IS bad!

I asked my friend Sonia about what if she had a boyfriend who was interested in vaginal health and menstruation and she was knowlegdable about his interest. How would she feel? How could she positively view such an interest? Here’s what she says (with corrections to made to her short-hand typing):

• well i would be gladly surprise
• but that’s because i am a very open person, i want to express myself
• and sometimes u can only express yourself about ovaries pain with your girlfriends
• but what if your girlfriends are not there
• and your boyfriend is there and you need to talk to someone you trust
• you know and also people tend to say that you should share everything with your boyfriend
• and from experience, someone who suffers from pains caused by periods, that is a big part of your life
• i personally like my boyfriend to know about those stuff

Sharing period-related things on your mind to a guy who's well-versed in menstruation has its benefits!

As you can see, there can be great positivity and appreciation from a girl to a guy if he’s knowledgeable and shows interest in her body and menstruation. I understand that menstruation and vaginal health is something that is very personal, but let’s face it… if this is someone who you want to spend the rest of your life with – IS there anything concerning one’s health so much “personal” anymore? Your health is naturally of importance to both you and your life-partner!

Although I’m not big on the idea of Whisper using boy/girl relationship as a way of promoting their products… one thing they do have right is the idea that men should be involved with their girlfriend’s period in that he should be supportive and still carry out a “every day” lifestyle whether she’s on her period or not!

Leading into what another one of my friends said about health and sexual-health in general…:

• well, i guess its beneficial for both because it’s important to learn about human health in general. Just because I’m female doesn’t mean I’m constricted to learn about women health only. If my male partner doesn’t know something about their genital health and i do know, i can share that knowledge. So it works both ways. both being knowledgeable about each other’s genital health will be beneficial for both
• as they can take care of each other and not get diseases
• it’s like taking care of each other

[I mentioned whether she’s thinking about genital health particularly towards STD’s]

• more like the opposite!
• Yeah!
• or even cancer
• prostate cancer is common as well
• on menstruation, i guess it helps men understand the hormonal thing women go through, so maybe they can understand why they get irritated at times
• why period even happens
• and the complexity of women menstrual cycle
• knowing is power
• why would you not learn something that is out there for you?
• doesn’t help the men directly
• but any knowledge is important
• Well, being with a woman shows that he cares for her, meaning he must care for everything she is. and menstruation is part of it
• i wonder what Edward Cullen does when Bella is in her period (twilight)

I proceeded to link her to this picture:

Twilight - I Drank Your Blood Last Night (Think on the theme of this blog)

• I mean, why is it important to learn about planets and the universe? If it doesn’t benefit the person directly? it’s the same as menstruation
• if menstruation is gross, we even had to learn about why we poop, and pee
• why we fart

It’s as important for women to know about their own vagina and menstrual-health as it is for a guy who is involved with their female counterpart! After all, heterosexual males love women so much, why is it that we don’t love them as a whole, menstruation-included? Why do we run away when we see the first drop of menstrual flow come from her vagina and feel repulsed towards her vagina when all the other 26 days of the month we’re obsessed with it? Women aren’t our tools, their existence is not to be our slaves of sexual satisfaction, but they are our love and life companions and we should start showing that kind of respect for their bodies! Menstruation is but of only ONE important component to respecting the female anatomy, so don’t perceive it that is the only thing us guys should be respecting.

Girls, you can definitely take pride in knowing that if you have a significant other who is “into” periods or female health – consider yourself a lucky gal! Maybe I should not be trumpeting myself as some kind of hero or “great guy” – but certainly, I would hope to imagine one day my girlfriend will find great appreciation with my knowledge (if she hasn’t already) and know that she’s one of the few blessed with a guy who’s “on her side” when it comes to her health and menstrual-well-being! Girls should be able to share everything with their man and as a man, we should be able to provide a support net for all their worries and help them make the best decision possible when it comes to their health!

Talking openly about your vaginal health and menstrual-cycle to your significant other is important to the relationship's well-being!

Suffice to say another lucky area for a gal when their guy is into menstruation is the fact he’s going to be there for you, sexually, 365 days a year! For many guys, their natural repulsion towards menstruation means that every year, there are (based on a 5-day active menstruating average) 60 sex-less days! Menstruation often causes massive fluctuations in girls, resulting in a higher libido (aka horniness) and many women who have men who won’t even go near them during that time find themselves resorting to masturbation during her period (note: when I say “resort” – it is not meant to indicate masturbation is a bad thing). Why should a guy not fulfill his regular sexual duties just because she’s on her period? Can we not find it in our MANLINESS to ensure that our loving partner is sexually satisfied whether she’s on or off her period? Women make a shitload of sacrifices for men isn’t it about time WE do the same? A good ol’ orgasm for your female partner while she’s in cramped up and totally down is a great way of alleviating her cramps and encouraging her body’s serotonin and dopamine to get to work! Orgasms in women cause the the pelvic muscles to contract as well as repeated cervix movements help relax the muscles often affected by menstrual cramps. Orgasms help us feel relaxed due to the euphoric sensation and release of “happy hormones” which may help with the general moodiness of your girl during her PMS or menstrual phases. A happy girl is a good girl!

Here’s some random thoughts in my head associated with why having a guy who’s interested in menstruation is to your (females) advantage!

• We don’t complain when your period comes – we are happy
• We’ll happily pick up your feminine hygiene supplies for you
• We’ll pick up the CORRECT pads/tampons on the first try
• We’ll pamper you (even more) and care for you, even when you’re on your period instead of running away like little boys
• We know HOW to make you feel good on your period!
• We’re not afraid of the sight of menstrual blood and won’t in turn have you cleaning us up because we puked
• If you’re horny, we’ll still have sex with you because we’re man enough
• We’ll help you track your period, not because we’re timing when to get out of your way, but because we’re excited for your next one
• We may very well know more about YOUR menstrual cycle than you do
• We love you 365 days in a year
• When PMS arrives, we know the right words to say – or say none at all (as long as you’re happy)
• We don’t mind that your breasts may be tender, your face is having a zit-breakout or you gained a few pounds of bloatiness
• We’ll listen to your menstrual complaints happily – because we’re learning from it while you moan and groan
• We’ll show compassion and care because we understand the effects that menstruation has on you, hormonally, physically and emotionally
• We know how to change your feminine hygiene if worse-comes-to-worse (a REAL man should know how to do this, lol)
• We are more likely to be more knowledgeable about your body as a whole
• You’re beautiful to us even when you’re not-looking-the-best due to your period
• We may or may not look forward to the day you reach menopause (I don’t 😦 – I jokingly tell bebe that I’ll have to look for a new wife when that happens, LOL)
• We won’t squirm when we go to take the garbage out full of your bloody pads and tampons
• We’ll encourage you try different pads or tampons – or better yet, try reusable products better for your health and environment
• You can openly have conversations with us about your period, vaginal health and MORE – whether at home or in the feminine hygiene aisle
• You can rely on us to teach our sons/daughters the truth and beauty of menstruation
• We perceive menstruation positively and won’t hassle you about it
• We are knowledgeable enough to use proper terms, PMS is not menstruation and menstruation is not PMS
• You can be proud of us that out of all your girlfriends, you probably own one of the few guys in this world who are interested in your menstrual and vaginal well-being (yes, I said “own” – LOL)
• We have an inquisitive mind and like to learn things… to YOUR benefit
• We give you the best because you DESERVE the best!

Now that’s one hell of a list! See why guys who love menstruation rock too? 😀  There certainly are positives to having a guy like this, so rather than feeling that you should be repulsed at his knowledge, take advantage of the fact that he appreciates the female body just that much! We’re a rare breed and you should love that! The next time you meet a guy who’s interested in menstruation, take the time to get to know him as a person – rather than assuming he’s a pervert or weirdo. We’re human just like anyone else – we have just learned to love the female body the way nature made them to be!

S.H.E in a Carnation 康乃馨 Pad Commercial

U by Kotex – Overnight Pads “All Nighter” Review

For those of you who knew, I happily acquired the new “U by Kotex” yesterday and I hope for those who follow along, are excited to see this post!

At around 1:30 yesterday, I hoped on to a nearby Sobeys by work and picked it up. It was well-noted that on the shelves were a fairly small section dedicated to this new line of Kotex products. Certainly, I can imagine that they chose to be conservative with their stock, not knowing whether this new line would sell well. It does boast a hefty price of $4.49 (4.99 at other local retailers) for a mere 14 pads if you’re buying the overnight versions. There were fewer sales for pads and even less for the pantiliners. However, either the female populace who lives around the area are avid tampon users or for whatever reason, there was a huge hole in the shelving stock for the new “U” tampons. I must say, throughout my many experiences with feminine hygiene shopping, I can say in my area that the pads section tend to be the ones that are cleaned out, not tampons.

Funky little designs on the box... not that it matters 'cuz hey, I ain't eating it or anything!

I didn’t take long to find the one I wanted, however, it definitely took extra time (a few seconds? LOL) as opposed to my easily-spotted absorbency of all the other brands – yes, this is I must say, the only brand I’ve ever needed to do a “double-take” to make sure I got the right version. True enough this is my first time buying it and I do not have prior experience to rely on to locate the right one easily, BUT, the assortment of packages look very similar that it be inadvisable to just grab it and assume you got the right one without reading it. I picked up the “U by Kotex All-Nighter” (“Overnight” equivalent). On the way out, I noticed that at the register, the cashier charged me $4.99 instead of $4.49 as stated in the flyer. She assured me it was $4.99 and I disagreed, showing her the flyer I still had on-hand.

I did notice as I was making the purchase, the tag on the shelf did say $4.99 which I thought was weird, but took nothing of it. I asked for her to verify the price in the flyer as it clearly says $4.49. I have a feeling she thought that because I am male, that I would not be inclined in making a stand – trust me, I did and I stood there with the box of pads right on top of the scanner without even turning a shade of a red. I guess whoever she asked did inform her that it was $4.49 and she proceeded with the purchase… BUT oh wait, she also noticed I had an e-coupon for $1.50 off on any U by Kotex product. Of course I know there are retailers who give a hassle for printed-coupons so she again, had to verify with a manager. She came back, rang it through and I got what I wanted at the price intended, $3.14 after taxes.

FYI… you can click on the pics to get an enlarged version (although limited resolution with my iPhone camera)

As you can see, there are just way too many damn colours on the box, lol. The first picture also shows that the pads are all individually wrapped in a bunch of funky colours and unlike the usual where most brands have all the same colour to either specify their brand or absorbency. Of course, the “purple” colour is to indicate the overnight pad size, but still it is much less of an indicator compared to say – the all green colouring of the Always Super pads. As you can see, for 14 pads @ $4.49 (without coupon discount) means you’re talking about almost 32 cents per pad and that’s not with taxes in! On each side of the box has a variety of useful information such as the wide range of available “U” products, pads, tampons and liners and their respective absorbency, features of the product, a fact/myth section and usage instructions. The thing that caught my eye was, “Made in China” – oh dear, should I assume lots of accidents are going to result from this? LOL… I kid.

As you can see the box open from the top and originally, the flaps are “sticky sealed” against each other, however, can then be resealed using the “slits”. Once you open the box, each pad is vibrantly coloured and each wrapper has a notable “U” Kotex logo on them. From the feel, the wrappers are a smooth-plasticky feel, however, very light and thin. Nevertheless, given that these are overnights, there certainly is quite a bit of size to them, so I would assume maybe the smaller CleanWear versions are a bit more compact. After opening the box, as I mentioned, it can be resealed by taking the top fold of the box and putting it into the slit of the lower one – thus making for a great resealable packaging. A single overnight pad within the wrapper is 13 X 15.5 cm

And here’s a close-up of the pad wrapper… Ok ok, sorry about the wrinkles, crookedness and awkward colour-tone because my camera didn’t like the “shininess” of all the different colours it started really warping the tones, haha.

And the what everyone’s been waiting for, some nice shots of the pad itself…

The first picture depicts a half-opened state of the pad/wrapper. As you can see, these wrappers are hard to reseal a used pad in for disposal. The pad adhesive is stuck on a centre strip which is part of the wrapper itself, very akin to Always pads. The pad design is a very typical curvature of their regular Kotex line – I did not see much difference in that. However, the “pores” of the pad which are intended to quickly trap the wetness in the pad was definitely more dominant. I can definitely say the speed of which wetness was trapped in was amazingly fast – a very good thing for those who experience “stand-up, sit-down” gushes or do not wish to feel the dampness when as menstrual flow is coming out onto the pad. In the second picture, it is simply the wrapper/pad flipped face-down and as you can see, part of the pad and centre-strip actually “sticks out” from the end. I’m not sure what the intent of this design is, although I suppose it may act as a “grasping point”. In the third picture, we finally have a full-blown view of the pad itself. The wings are secured to be stickers, which are affixed to each other like the typical Kotex’s. I’m not sure why they have not adopted a single-sticky like Always, but hey, whatever works! Also note that the designs on the pad (especially the sticky-side) and wings are extremely bold and I’ve noticed when disposed in the garbage, they definitely do “stand out” compared to regular pads, haha.

Here’s some zooms for the pad, from front to back. Some measurement FYI’s… the pad itself is 30 cm’s long, with the front of the pad measuring 10 cm‘s at the widest point. In the middle, when the wings are not extended (and folded in), it measures 9 cm‘s and a hefty 13 cm‘s at the widest point in the back. During overnight, many girls experience leaks towards the rear, mainly due the gravity being at play and the wider coverage will hopefully “soak up the flow” before it goes off an edge. With the speed of absorbency though, I would not see it as being a particular problem it needs to address, although playing it safe never hurts.

Close-up of the "front" of the pad - it is narrower at the front to channel flow towards the rear

Close-up of the "middle" of the pad (wings/adhesive still intact)

Close-up of the "rear" of the pad - the wider back to protect against leakage

I’ll have to say, after thorough testing of the product, I was neither amazed nor disappointed with it. Let’s just say, unless getting a product with wacky looks is your thing, it isn’t worth the extra dollars you’re putting in (unless they decide to do a price-drop). It definitely is thin, although comparable versions such as Stayfree DryMax or even their own Ultra Thin Kotex lines should be able to match this thinness and if it doesn’t match it, at least the difference is not great enough to justify the additional cost.

In terms of comfort, it was quite comfortable and it is light against the skin, unlike the traditional plasticky top-sheet like Always. However, because the “siding” (as you can see from the pictures) often hangs loose, those who have more sensitive skin might describe it as being ticklish or bothersome to them, having it rub up against their skin unnecessarily.What it nice about this product is I’ve noticed that their absorbing “pores” extend completely from front-to-back and there isn’t a “cut off” point on the pad itself, therefore, there is still a “last line of defense” from flow because going off the pad and it might just be very-well the thing that keeps you clean from experiencing a leak instead!

The absorbency capacity is quite large, although once it becomes highly saturated, you do run into an issue where the top-layer definitely does not feel as dry and the surface becomes slightly damp. Again, for those who may be extra sensitive, this “pooling” feeling might be an issue. What I find however, is that unlike many other pads, the “U” distribute flow throughout the rest of the pad very well, which means you don’t (or shouldn’t) run into a scenario where one portion of your pad is heavier than the other and thus encourages build-up and leaks. Unfortunately, it is perhaps this distribution of fluid that it keeps the wetness a bit “surfaced”. Even an intense concentration of flow in a particular area after a while will dissipate itself throughout. When you remove a saturated pad, you will feel it is “evenly balanced”. I think I did mention that the draw-in rate is quite fast and although it immediately makes you feel dry, I have a feeling it does “flow back up” a bit once it has been sitting for a while. Nevertheless, the wetness on top is not indicative to me as an unacceptable problem as every pad I would imagine has a degree of wetness at the top, it’s just a matter of how much and whether it is to the point where it bothers you.

Now it comes down to the adhesive, both at the bottom of the pad and the wings. The adhesive at the bottom of the pad is quite sticky and will adhere to underwear well. I will definitely give a thumbs-up for the fact the pad operates very well under conditions of rapid movement, activity and is resistant to bunching both when dry and wet. Because of also how well it stays on the underwear, it is also capable of conforming to movements of your body and thus, keeping it close to you to keep you leak-free. I must say however, the adhesives do not go completely front to back, which means I found tendencies for the pad extreme front and extreme rear to possibly “come up” which might result in peeling off the underwear in the most unfortunate of cases. The wings were definitely secure and so secure that even a single misplacement might mean it makes it very hard to “re-place” it. I accidentally wrinkled it a bit and I can tell you it stayed wrinkled until I threw it in the garbage. Like the previous complaint before, I did find that the wings because the adhesives weren’t 100% covering that it exhibited a “peeling” action towards the edges, which might mean a possibility of the wings becoming undone if the motions are just right. Each of these scenarios are rare, but I thought I’d bring it to light anyways.

And above is the look of the wing when the sticky-tabs are pulled off with the remainder of the wrapper when the pad is fully removed. The centre core of the pad is very similar to the regular Kotex line of pads, including even the line-designs and such.

While I do think that the pad itself does not “revolutionize” menstrual hygiene and such as it doesn’t have anything amazing like the Always Infinity Infinicel (or does it and I don’t know about it?), the whole idea of Breaking the Cycle and bringing openness towards the topic of menstruation for males and females is great! I certainly hope that more men will become aware, educated and helpful when it comes towards dealing with their menstruating family and friends alike!

U by Kotex – Here We Come!

Just a little teaser for some of my readers to stay tuned! Sure enough, I was lucky enough to find the new “U” by Kotex pads, liners and tampons at a different Sobeys – since the one by my house lied. I could technically post the review for today since I already have all the pictures and information – but, I prefer to create a bit of suspense once in a while 😛 Although I’m hoping to get an actual menstrual review of this, looks like you will just have to deal with me and take my word for it for the time being 😀 I assure you my testing methods are quite thorough and proprietary, LOL. Like all my reviews, they’re my (male) personal opinion, so read for strictly informational and “at your own discretion” purposes.

I noticed at the particular Sobeys that there was actually a larger “hole” in the shelving stock for the tampons, compared to the pads. The liners appeared to be pretty full so looks like there weren’t that many buyers, unless they already “sealed the hole” with new stock. People were pretty relentless, probably because it is new and they are more likely to read the box contents and thus flip through the different types. However, they made a mess of things, the packages were collapsed and ones in the wrong place. To be honest, unlike other brands and even their own Kotex line of products, these ones looked “too similar” to each other, probably also because the boxes were too colourful which scrambled the basic intuition of things being easily coded/spotted. Even I took a bit of time (ok, fine… 4 seconds probably, lol) in figuring out which one was the one I wanted to get.

Heck, I won’t even mention which one I get until I create enough suspense 😆 Not that I assume I get all too many visitors unlike more popular blogs. However, that is right – ladies and gentlemen, I am currently the proud owner of my very first package of  “U by Kotex” and will provide a more detailed entry tomorrow (or maybe even the day after? lol) FYI – they did take my $1.50 off e-coupon with a bit of waiting and such for verification, but I’ll include that in my future entry! Toddles 🙂

Don’t Advertise Stuff You Aren’t Selling

Gah, went to Sobeys because I couldn’t resist the fact I was home alone and wanted to check out the new U by Kotex. As per my previous post, they were supposedly being sold for an outrageous (lol) $4.49. Given I had a save $1.50 coupon, I could bite my tongue and just suck it up – just so I can be one of the firsts to review it! When I got there, I immediately went towards the feminine hygiene aisle. You know, I can enter any store and get lost like an idiot… but I know where my FH aisles are without a second though 😆 I know with “new items” they don’t always put them in the regular aisles, so I scoured the entire store just to see if they put it in a “special display” or something but sure enough, the shelves haven’t even been moved to create space and everything was “as is”. It was quite disappointing since I did go there just for that and it wasn’t like it was “on the way” or anything… actually, probably “out of the way” at that.

My day was honestly boring, but then again, I didn’t bother finding much to do ‘cuz I know I’ll be busy tomorrow. I really did want to test out those news pads, so I’m going to try again at the Sobeys near work, in case it is a more “popular” store there that might stock a variety of items and such. My ex-ex girlfriend just teased me, telling me that she think she saw the new pads available at Rexall in Toronto Downtown… what a teasing little bitch 😀 lol. Well, hope I find it at the Sobeys near work or at one of the local stores! The coupon only lasts ’til mid-May or something, gah!

That’s it for tonight, wasn’t planning on an entry today anyways – but you got one 😛

U By Kotex @ Sobeys Canada (Samples/Coupons Within)

ZOMGWTFBBQ!!! They have arrived.

Just as I was complaining about how there were no Kotex sales this coming week, sure enough, I wake up in the morning to check the flyers and Sobeys is the first place I’ve seen the new “U by Kotex” hit local Canadian-shelves!! Although I won’t be picking some up (unless I can’t resist) until there are better prices or a coupon, I’m excited that they’re available. I’m not sure how many of my girls I will be able to talk into trying them out, although many are currently busy with their final exams and such.

I will have to say, $4.49 a package is pretty pricey, with only 14 pads in the smallest package and I was typing this at the very moment, I decided to check out the revamped Kotex site. Apparently, they do offer a coupon, so I just printed it out and now I have a save $1.50 for the next package I buy!! 😀 I have a Sobeys right by my work, so perhaps I’ll sneak over there during a break or something to do a bit of investigating!! I suppose given the do also have a 25-sobeys bonus points, it might be worth it 😆

The coupon is available to both Canadian and American residents, so please verify at the top of the page or use the CA or US links I have enclosed here! Unfortunately right now, I can’t send samples to any of my girls’ houses since they have either left campus or whatnot >_< or have even left back “home” to vacation! I’m also not risking having Kotex samples to my front door addressed to me, lol. However, for those who have the liberty of ordering and live within Canada/US, feel free to check out the free samples! Likewise, the following links for CA (English), CA (French), or US (English).

Suffice to say, I’m not a big ultra-thin lover or anything, but hey, I’ve been commenting a lot on the whole new designs and said features, so it’d be unfair of me to make judgments before actually try them. Unfortunately, only 2-3 of my girls actually use tampons, so I won’t be able to get a good review on those for a bit! It’s going to be rather hard to persuade my ex-ex to use something other than O.B., lol.

I’d just like to note for the guys, that having seen a review for the new U by Kotex at Kayo’s that Kimberly Clark (Kotex MFG) that they’re willing to send even to male sample-requestors, which is kinda nice and all of them! I’m sure that a good portion of the pad/tampon sales are actually to flow-lovers, lol, so they definitely would be smart to send to us too! 😛 I wish I had sisters that I can use as an excuse to have sent to my house, har har. I’ve tried send it to work too, but unfortunately, they will only send to households, so it never got there 😦

Now that I’ve spent some time researching this, I really want to run out to Sobeys right now and get a package, lol, damn, I should stop reading about this stuff. Maybe I’ll wait until the weekday since today I’m wrapping up some other errands and tomorrow is Rose’ birthday, so I don’t want to pack too much into my schedule. Looks like this is an interesting morning to wake up to and now I have to go pee, so I’m going to end my post, lol.

Toodles, I hope those who will take the time to test out any of the U by Kotex products, liners, pads and tampons alike will take the time to post their thoughts should you feel comfortable! If not, feel free to send me an email to let me know how it turns out for you! 🙂