Written by Suni Crane 

During my early college years, I stumbled upon an article written about a badass woman with two gold legs named Lauren Wasser. I was quickly captivated by Lauren’s story and her journey of conquering Toxic Shock Syndrome, so much so that I fell into a deep cyber search of what exactly TSS is and how it connected to her story. Wasser faced a 1% survival rate and lost both legs in amputation due to tampon-induced Toxic Shock Syndrome. Simply put, an average tampon is the culprit of Lauren’s life-changing story.

I’m no doctor, so while I will not be giving a detailed description of TSS, I will say that it only makes sense to educate ourselves further and make small changes that lead to healthy period care. The hard-hitting issue is that major period care companies don’t give a d*mn. There is no need for harmful chemicals to be on the ingredient list of our tampon boxes, yet here we are.

Less is more, and Viv gets it. Viv has created a 100% toxin-free tampon that is made from one beautiful ingredient…cotton. Ground-breaking, right?!? Don’t worry; Viv keeps pad and cup users in mind too, with the 100% toxin-free winged bamboo pads and the 100% medical-grade silicone cup.

Let’s face it; the swap is a no-brainer. Viv’s line of eco-friendly products is not only better for our bodies but better for our planet. A typical pad or tampon can live in landfills for up to 800 years before naturally decomposing. The thought of a pad or tampon outliving us is absolutely unfathomable.

Yes, I know we all have the tried and true brands we’ve used for years, but I truly never looked back once I made the swap. There is a noticeable difference in how our bodies react to unwanted and unnecessary chemicals vs. clean and non-toxic products. I won’t go into detail, but if you really pay attention, you’ll see the difference once you try Viv. The perfect way to test out an array of products is the Viv Perfect Fit Kit. This kit really does help you find the perfect fit while also allowing you to explore other alternatives you may have shied away from in the past.

Self-care doesn’t exclusively mean face masks and a tasty glass of wine; it means truly getting to know your body and learning to care for yourself in the best ways possible. The overarching point is that you deserve a non-toxic, eco-friendly way to care for your body during your period. 

Let’s do better with Viv.