This blog post was written by Caitlin, our Assistant Body Care Lead and an intrepid product tester! Read below to learn more about Holy Sponge! and what a Menstruation Activist is.
I remember the first time I tried using a tampon - it was terrifying. I felt like I was taking a foreign object and entering a foreign place. Over a short period of time (no pun intended), I got used to using tampons, and they easily found a way into my monthly routine. To me, there was nothing friendly about a tampon, and pads just simply were not appealing. Now that I have grown well into my womanhood and learned to love my body and my monthly cycle, I have also learned to love the power of choice as a female consumer! Enter: the Holy Sponge!
Photo via Holy Sponge! Instagram feed
The Holy Sponge! was created by Janeen Singer, a self-proclaimed menstrual activist who wanted to provide women with safe, earth-friendly alternatives to toxic, commercial menstrual products. Although a sponge may seem intimidating at first, you might find yourself surprised by the soft, silky body of the sponge. Before inserting, the sponge should be run under warm water to soften making for easier and more gentle insertion than a dry, cotton tampon.
The Holy Sponge lasts for 3-6 cycles and is fully compostable - making this both a great economic and eco-conscious consumer option. For someone who doesn’t even like to carry a wallet, nevermind a purse, the Holy Sponge is a true savior! No purses, bags, or backpacks required to accompany you on your next trip to the bathroom making the sponge an extremely discreet way to experience your monthly cycle.
Janeen and her team have put great care and energy into creating Moon Ritual Kits which come with a set of 2 professionally and sustainably harvested sponges, an easy-to-read illustrated guide for care and use, a small vial of organic tea tree oil for disinfecting, responsibly harvested dried herbs for a bath or cleansing ritual, and a cotton carrying bag. The Holy Sponge team is also quite accommodating and will gladly disinfect your sponges with peroxide instead of tea tree oil if you happen to have an allergy, sensitivity, or preference.
Photo via Holy Sponge! Instagram feed
If you are interested in trying the sponge, you will be investing in an educational exploration of your body. I am now even more amazed at what my body is capable of and how easy the sponge is to use - once it’s in, you can hardly tell it’s there!
You can learn more about Janeen and the Holy Sponge at http://www.holysponge.net/