Blog Posts
🌷 What is a menstrual cup?
One of the most frequently asked questions is: what exactly is a menstrual cup? We are happy to explain this in this blog.The menstrual cup is a small tub made of soft silicone or rubber, which is very pliable. At the bottom is often a stalk or ball. It is a product for female intimate hygiene and is used to collect menstrual blood. Unlike other products such as pads or tampons, a menstrual cup is reusable. Instead of absorbing blood, a menstrual cup captures the blood. Once the cup is full, you can empty it, rinse it and reinsert it. Thus, it is an excellent alternative to traditional means. 🤔 What should I pay attention to when choosing a menstrual cup? Because every vagina is different, it's not a "one size fits all".You choose a cup based on its material, diameter, length and firmness. In addition, each brand of cup has its own shape. ✨ Material: A menstrual cup can be made of rubber, thermoplastic elastomer or silicone. With silicone, it is important that it is the medical variety with the appropriate labels. For example, the Bamboozy menstrual cup has FDA, CE, RoHS, SGS labels and is free of BPA, lead, chemicals, and plastics. So when purchasing a cup, it is important to check this. 👌 Diameter: What diameter or size you need, you will have to estimate. It is more common for women who have already given birth to need a wider cup. A wider cup has more volume, but if it does not fit properly, it is more likely to leak. To properly measure your own size, please refer to this video: ☝️ Length: Longer cups have more volume, but whether it fits depends on the distance between the cervix and the vulva. Also, the length may vary before and during your period. Measure the depth of your cervix on the first day of your period, as this is when your cervix is at its lowest.If your index finger comes to the first knuckle you have a low cervix.Up to second knuckle you have an average position of your cervix.At two knuckles and above you have a high lying cervix.Finally, there are also cups where you can cut/shorten the stem, should it irritate or stick out. 💪 Firmness/extension: If you have strong pelvic floor muscles you are likely to flatten a less firm cup, preventing it from unfolding properly. On the other hand, a firm cup is not comfortable if your vagina is very sensitive.The Bamboozy menstrual cup is available in size S, M and L. Menstrual cup sizesWhich cup and cup size is most suitable for you is very personal. If you have any questions about this, please send us a message.Are you done with tampons and pads and ready to switch to menstrual cups or menstrual underwear? Then check out our full collection here. For questions about the size, layers or function of the cups or underwear, please drop us a line. We'll be happy to help!Read more: 🍷 6 Reasons Why You Should Use Menstrual Cups
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🍷 6 Reasons Why You Should Use Menstrual Cups
In the United States, the menstrual cup is often seen in bathrooms all over the country, and also in the Netherlands, the rubber cup is becoming increasingly popular. In reality, the menstrual cup has been around much longer. The first patents date back as far as 1867, and the cup we use today was invented around 1973. Yet it is not nearly as popular as tampons or pads. And that's a shame, because there are so many more benefits to it! We list the 6 reasons to choose a menstrual cup here. 🌍 1. Sustainable and much better for the environment. In a woman's lifetime, sanitary pads generate an average of 90 kg of residual waste and tampons 60 kg. That's a lot. A menstrual cup, on the other hand, you can reuse and its lifespan is as much as ten years. Bonus is that these cups are also made from recyclable rubber or silicone. ✨ 2. More hygienic The vagina is a breeding ground for bacteria. Hence the disclaimers on tampon packaging: Be aware of TSS (a.k.a. Toxic Shock Syndrome). No product is 100% immune from the risk of TSS, including menstrual cups, but the risk is a lot less. This is because menstrual cups do not affect your mucous membrane. A cup does not absorb but only collects. You are also less susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. However, it is very important that you clean the menstrual cup well with boiling water after use. This can be done in a pan on the stove, or with our sterilizer in the microwave. 🙅♀️ 3. Free of toxins A good menstrual cup contains no toxins because it is made of silicone (medical grade silicone). This does not contain BPA, is free of chemicals and synthetic substances. So pay attention to this when buying your menstrual cup. 💆♀️ 4. More comfort & less worries Did you know that Menstrual cups provide much better comfort than tampons or pads? This is the most mentioned reason why a cup is so nice: you can exercise, go to the sauna, swim, ride a bike, dance for hours and sleep through the night, completely without worries. 💎 5. Longer use You can't keep a tampon in for more than eight hours, while on the other hand, you can leave a menstrual cup in for up to 12 hours. This means a lot less dirty fingers in a day. Of course, the severity of your period determines after how much time the cup is full. The Bamboozy cup S can hold up to 16ml, the M 22ml and the L can hold up to 30ml. 🙅♀️ 6. Save money If you compare a menstrual cup to one pack of tampons, a menstrual cup is not cheap. But if you compare one menstrual cup to a year's worth of tampons, it's a lot more affordable. Let's do the math: A good menstrual cup is +- 25 euros. A pack of tampons costs around 3 euros. In a year you use at least 12 boxes, which amounts to 36 euros. A menstrual cup saves you in the first year already 11 euros! Now this cup will last you around 5 years, so calculate your profit 😉We have done extensive research and tested all brands of cups available in the Netherlands. There are big differences between the flexibility of the silicone, the unfolding power and the different stems. There is also a big difference in price between the current menstrual cups on offer. With our own experiences, we started developing the ultimate comfort cup ourselves.Our Bamboozy Menstrual Cup coaches, Danielle and Vivienne, are ready to answer all your questions and can guide you in choosing the right size.Start using the menstrual cup!
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☁️ Should I Use Shaving Soap with a Safety Razor as a Woman?
Is it necessary to use shaving soap with your safety razor as a woman? And what are the benefits of using shaving soap with your safety razor?We are often asked by our Safety Razor users why it is necessary to buy shaving soap. To explain the difference between shaving soap and a can of shaving cream, we first take a step back - the function of shaving cream, obtained from a spray can or self-foamed with a shaving brush.There are two: first, it partially dissolves your skin grease layer, and second, it softens the hairs as they absorb water and swell. This makes the hairs softer and allows you to shave them better. The air bubbles in the shaving cream used, form a conductive layer on your skin. The razor glides over your skin with less resistance. The combination of water and air bubbles ensures that you have a comfortable shave with less chance of broken or ingrown hairs, less irritation and also ensures that your Safety Razor blades will last longer.So shaving soap and shaving cream from a canister have the same function, but why choose shaving soap over shaving cream anyway? 5 advantages of shaving soap: 🌍 1. More sustainable You only need a small amount of soap to lather it up for a shave. So it is more sustainable. 🐤 2. Softer hair Shaving foam obtained from shaving soap or shaving cream contains a good amount of warm water. Together with the massaging action of the shaving brush, this softens the hairs. 🐬 3. Smoother The hairs are placed straighter away from the skin and the skin pores open further. As a result, you experience a comfortable, smooth shave 😌 4. Better for sensitive skin Canister shaving foams contain some clever solutions to lather without hot water, but this often results in skin irritation, especially for sensitive skin. 🙅♀️ 5. Natural Sustainable shaving soap often contains only natural ingredients.So there are plenty of benefits to using shaving soap. We have a sustainable shaving soap in collaboration with Cosmeau which works well with our safety razors. In addition, it is not tested on animals, free of parabens, and free of SLS. Order this shaving soap together with your safety razor!
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5 Reasons Why Safety Razors Are Perfect For Women
A Safety Razor is a good investment for any woman, and an environmentally friendly one as well.
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🙋♀️ Should I choose 2-ply, 3-ply, or 4-ply washable cotton pads?
We sell different layers of cotton pads. From 2-ply to 4-ply. A cotton pad with fewer layers is not necessarily worse, but this depends mostly on what you personally find important.Is it important to you that it doesn't absorb too much product? Or is it important to you that they are more durable? Or rather that they hold more easily and naturally? There's something for everyone. I explain to you in this post which one is best for you to choose. ✌️ 2-Layer The 2-layer version is the thinnest version we offer. Good if you don't want it to soak up too much product and better for removing nail polish because you can get between the tough spots easier. If you plan to remove your nail polish as well I recommend the black 2-ply. The 2-ply version is also the most similar to a traditional cotton pad. 🤟 3-Layer The 3-ply version is thicker, softer, and thus soaks up a little more product. Some like this, while others find it a disadvantage. They are a bit more durable because they are just a bit firmer and have more "body." They also hold their shape better than the 2-ply. 🖖 4-Layer The 4-layer has a finger notch. So you hold this one differently than the 2- and 3-layer versions. Kind of like a mini washcloth. You're less likely to have dirty fingers, and have more control over where you apply pressure.Depending on what you like, each cotton pad has its own pluses and minuses 😊
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🌍 The First 100% Plastic-Free Reusable Bamboo Cotton Swabs
After months of research and testing, we are introducing the first 100% plastic-free cotton swabs! Worldwide 🥰No matter how big or small you are, with the right attention we can all do something for a better world. So you see with our small sustainable business. 🤔 How did we get there? The reason to start selling reusable cotton swabs a few months ago was because reusable cotton swabs were not safe in the market at that time. The tips could get left behind in the ears. We then put our focus on selling safe swabs.Still, we felt there should be a better solution for the plastic variety. 💫 The process When brainstorming to achieve our goal of making reusable cotton swabs without plastic, we quickly arrived at bamboo cotton swabs. We just weren't sure about its durability. Also, we did not know if it was possible to glue silicone to bamboo long-term.In addition, we wanted to get rid of the self-closing lid, which is nice to carry around, but inconvenient if you often use cotton swabs and they are in your bathroom. We then requested several samples of bamboo lipstick holders. These were too thin and fell over quickly. And a landscape holder, but this one proved awkward to use. Different holdersEventually we decided on a tube with a diameter of 2.8cm. Wider than a lipstick holder, for better stability, but small enough to deliver through the mailbox. The bamboo holder is also finished with a varnish, so it will not crack. The inside has a smooth finish, safer for the cotton swabs, and it allows drips to drain better into the hole in the lid and base.At the same time, we have tested with our manufacturer the cotton swabs for durability, durable bonding, and that the quality and consistency are at the same level as our plastic variant. In conclusion All this together means that you can now use reusable cotton buds without plastic. Bamboo grows very fast, needs little water to grow, and is durable. So perfect to use this for our reusable cotton buds 💚.Do you also want to throw away fewer or no more cotton swabs? Buy our plastic-free reusable cotton swabs here.Cotton swabs are the most commonly found product on beaches. Because of the plastic in the stick, cotton swabs contribute a large portion of microplastics. Animals unknowingly eat this with all its consequences. It is therefore certainly not insignificant to reduce this because it is "only" a cotton swab. Together we can make a difference 🙌.
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💦 6 Tips To Wash and Maintain Your Reusable Cotton Pads
Now you may be wondering how best to wash my reusable cotton pads? So that we extend the life of our washable cotton pads (less waste), and keep them looking nicer. Wash the cotton pads the first time before use, the absorption of makeup is better then. 💦1. Use them wet and rinse them out By proofing them before use, squeezing them, then removing your makeup, and rinsing them immediately with possibly some hand soap, you ensure that your washable cotton pads will last the longest and look nice longer. If you use some soap, for example from LUSH, clean any unused side, that way you push the makeup out, so to speak, from the other side. 🤲 2. Sometimes wash them by hand By hand washing the cotton pads sometimes when they haven't gotten very dirty, we make sure they last longer. Are they not that dirty but you still want to machine wash them? Then wash them at 30° or 40° degrees, instead of 60°.☝️ Please note! Not all cotton pads are washable at 60°. However, all Bamboozy cotton pads are tested to be washed at 60°. 🙅♀️ 3. Do not use fabric softener Fabric softener reduces the absorbency of your cotton pads. Also, don't use bleach or stain removers; these can damage the fabric. 🧼 4. Use the included laundry bag This way they stay together and don't get caught or stuck behind anything. Tip: Do you have a cotton laundry bag? Then button it 2-3. Otherwise, they can fly out. Also, don't wash them with too many at once because chances are they won't get as clean. ✨ 5. Still stains? Soak your cotton pads in white vinegar and lemon. Longer is better. Then wash them in the washing machine. Are they still not clean by then? Then don't worry, they do remain usable and retain their function ☺️ 🌬 6. Do not put them in the dryer For longer life, it is better to hang the cotton pads. I use this Ikea Octopus hanger PRESSA. 🎋 Summary There are several ways to extend the life of your reusable cotton pads. Of course they will last for years under normal use, but if you want to get the most out of them follow the tips above. Let me know if you've discovered any new ways to dry or wash the cotton pads yourself 😊
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💅 Can I remove nail polish with reusable cotton pads?
I get asked quite often if washable cotton pads can also remove nail polish. Nail polish remover can contain acetone, which dissolves nail polish remover and is moderately aggressive.Of course, we have tested this to see what the effect is when you use our cotton pads to remove nail polish with it. We tested different colors on both our white and black discs. All contained acetone. I want to add from an observant reader, that it is better not to remove your nail polish with washable cotton pads if they contain aggressive agents. This may in fact harm the environment. If you have eco-friendly nail polish, of course, you can and it will also leave less color on your cotton pad! The clean discs. These are our soft pads. For red nail polish, we tested the 2-ply discs, for the purple nail polish we tested the 3-ply. The reusable cotton pads while removing nail polish. The discs before I washed them. They dried for 24 hours before I washed them. In the picture, they are not yet dry. After removing nail polish, the discs become a little stiff if you don't rinse them immediately. In our test, we didn't rinse them out to see the effect after washing. The result? They become soft again after washing.🤔 But do they also leave stains?On the white discs, this is of course more visible, they leave faint stains. If you don't mind this, then you can use white discs to remove your nail polish just fine. After washing them, they are clean and reusable. A photo showing the result of different colors on our white cotton pads. The pad was washed at 60 degrees along with our bedding. Of course, we're not just going to wash our discs separately 😬.Then the big question, how visible does the nail polish remain after a wash on the black discs? Not entirely surprisingly, a lot less visible! Very faintly you can still see light spots but a lot less than on the white discs. Again, they are reusable regardless of stains. Bamboozy after washingOn the white piece more visible, but almost not visible on the black. This is a worst-case scenario though because here we left the nail polish on for 24 hours. Bamboozy cotton pads washAn interesting result. On the white discs, purple is less visible than red, but on the black discs, purple remains more visible than red.😃 SummaryYes, you can remove nail polish with all our types of discs. The black version leave less visible stains than the white discs, should you find this important. Do you rinse them directly with water? Then the stains are even less visible. They remain reusable after a wash and the 2-ply version is (slightly) more suitable for this job because you can get around your nails easier.Do you have your own different experiences with our discs and nail polish removal? We would love to hear from you. Let us know via the contact form, Instagram, or chat.
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🤔 Should I choose Black or White Reusable Cotton Pads?
We have both white and black reusable cotton pads. The white version is most similar to traditional cotton pads. But what are some good reasons to choose the white version or the black version? 3 reasons to choose white washable cotton pads: ✨You can see what you are removing from your face My biggest reason personally for choosing white is to see what you are removing from face. Still gives that satisfying feeling. Could be just me though 😬 🐩 If you wear mostly light clothing Practical on laundry days. The white discs can easily go with light laundry or bedding. ⚪️ They are the closest thing to traditional cotton pads Traditional cotton pads are white, for first-time buyers feels more familiar due to recognition. There is something pure about the white version. 4 reasons to choose black/dark washable cotton pads: ⚫️ Less visible stains Do you use a lot of dark makeup and want to minimize visible stains on your cotton pads? Then there is no better solution than dark cotton pads. Despite the white version generally washing white well, you don't have this problem at all with black pads 👠 Give a more luxurious feel The first time I used black cotton pads, I did notice that they look more luxurious in your bathroom. There is something special about the black version. 🐧 Easier if you often wear dark clothes Just like the white version with light clothes, the same applies here, practical for wash days if you wear a lot of dark clothes. 💅 More convenient for removing nail polish Because stains are less visible, we recommend the black one if you plan to remove nail polish as wellHopefully I've made your choice a little easier if you're still in doubt. Of course, it's also a personal choice what you like 😄
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