~ Look away now! ~ (Tampax Blue Box Super)

Member Name: blue_ashleigh

Product:	Tampax Blue Box Super
Date:	20/03/08 (773 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: They're better than walking round with nothing - just,,,

Disadvantages: EVERYTHING...!

If you're male or of a slightly sensitive disposition then perhaps you should stop reading now! Similarly, if you're eating, I'd advise you stop reading! Also, if you think of me as slightly 'mysterious', just don't read this! All mystery will be removed! This review is about... p.e.r.i.o.d.s. so if that upsets you - look away now!

In my stupidity I finished my last period and forgot to buy more tampons, so when I realised I had started my period this month I was not impressed to find just a handful of tampons sitting lonely on the shelf! I trundled off to the corner shop in the frantic hope that they would have something... anything! I use non-applicator tampons, usually Lilets or Sainsbury's own, but the shop only had applicator Tampax tampons or pads. I hate wearing pads as I feel so self conscious, plus I have quite heavy periods so I'm always worried that I'll end up leaking with pads. So, I had a choice of Tampax applicator tampons or nothing... decisions decisions! I reluctantly handed the massive box of tampons to the shop owner (who was so slow at putting it through the till, slow enough that a rather hunky guy walked in...) and handed over my £1.49 and toddled off back home to 'sort myself' (avoiding Mr Hunky's eye on my way out!).

As the tampons are applicator ones, their packets are obviously bigger than normal tampons. The box is over twice the size of a normal tampons box. Also the packets the tampons come in are twice the size of normal tampons, and so hiding them discreetly becomes a little more challenging! They come individually wrapped in a paper green package which is relatively pretty... for a tampon wrapper at least! In the box there is a MASSIVE instruction pamphlet. It basically contains all the information you'd normally get with a pack of tampons but the writing is three times as big! You can sit and read about what the tampon's made of - cotton and/ or rayon (apparently absorbent material... yes well...), how to insert (including pretty pictures that make it look like inserting a tampon is a lengthy procedure!), absorbency and when to change your tampon, TSS information, and a few questions such as "Will I still be a virgin if I use tampons?".

So, the tampons themselves. I'd always presumed that applicator tampons had a plastic applicator, but apparently not. Tampax tampons have a shiny cardboard applicator which comes in two parts. The top part of the applicator is rounded and has little triangle pieces which bend open to allow the tampon out. The bottom of the applicator basically does the job of your finger, by pushing the tampon inside you. The tampons are relatively easy to insert (obviously if this is your first time using tampons it may be slightly uncomfortable, but otherwise it's no problem). You simply open your vagina with your fingers, push the top half of the applicator inside you, and push on the bottom half of the applicator with your finger. Inserting the applicator isn't painful, but I find it is harder to place the tampon in a comfortable position than it is with non-applicator tampons. After the first few times though it's quite easy to get used to the angle to insert it so it's comfortable and you can't feel it. Once the tampon's inside you can simply pull out the applicator. I was a little concerned about being left with a cardboard 'thing' inside me and not being able to get it out, but this didn't happen and the applicator slide out very easily! No embarrassing trips to the doctors - phew!

After inserting the tampon I was then left with a blood covered cardboard tube. I live in a house of males and I'm not sure they would particularly appreciate finding that in the bin! The box says you can flush the paper wrapping, applicator, and tampons down the toilet. This may be ok, but I found that the applicator doesn't flush down the toilet - it won't go round the U-Bend it just bobs up and down in the toilet. So, then you have to stick your hand down the toilet, pull out your sodden blood soaked applicator, and resort to wrapping it in toilet roll and putting it in the bin! The applicator's also quite bulky, so thinking about it, I guess you may end up blocking up your toilet if not your drains with a few of these. Also, the more I think about it, the less convinced I am that it's environmentally friendly to flush a cardboard tube down the loo!

Normally if I use Super Lilets/ Sainsbury's tampons I have to change them every 1.5 - 2 hours after inserting them before they start to leak. After 40 mins these super tampons (absorbency - 6-9g blood apparently - my arse!) had started to leak (40 MINUTES!) you can't even sit through an episode of Top Gear without having to run off! Also, with the tampons leaking this often I couldn't sit still or relax as I was worried about getting blood everywhere. Anyway, I scurried to the toilet and tried to take it out. Ok, so normally when your tampon's soaked and ready to be changed it slips out quite easily. These tampons pulled on my insides as I tried to take it out, but the tampon was leaking so I had to remove it then. The reason it pulls is because instead of coming out being the same length as it went it, just wider, the tampon was no longer round it was thin and elongated and pulling the tampon out was stretching it. When I did get it out it was about 4 times as long as it originally was and the edges were falling apart, which left me worried that there was still some left in me. This isn't just a nuisance, but potentially dangerous! HOW can Tampax be allowed to make these!?

I got out a new tampon and unwrapped it from its cardboard applicator. Non-applicator tampons are usually well compact and sturdy. These tampons look like someone's just shoved lots and lots of cotton into a cardboard tube - the tampons are so flimsy! You can't insert these without an applicator as they're so weak and you just end up with a little ball of cotton! The pamphlet claims that these tampons expand to fit the shape of your body comfortably - absolute crap! The tampon wasn't even that blood soaked when I removed it, so the blood must have leaked down the sides. I have never had this problem before - these tampons offer virtually no protection! I had to use about 8 of these tampons before my lovely Boy had been able to get to Sainsbury's and buy me some decent tampons. I honestly did not want to leave the house with one of these tampons in because I was worried I'd end up with stained clothes.


Ok, so a quick recap:

1. Green wrapper is quite pretty
2. These tampon packets are big - though I suppose any applicator tampon packet will be bigger than normally, so I shan't knock marks off for that.
3. The tampons are relatively easy to insert
4. You can buy a pack for £1.49
5. They leak very quickly and so don't do their job, which leads on to...
6. You can't really leave the house or you'll end up with stained clothing
7. They stretch inside you as you try to pull it out, and they fall apart which is potentially DANGEROUS!!!
8. You have the problem of disposing of a blood sodden cardboard tube
9. They're crap absolute crap!
10. You will still be a virgin if you use them though!


Recommend them - Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! They were £1.49 from my corner shop but I'm not going to tell you how much they are in Boots or anywhere because I feel like it is my moral obligation to warn you of how dire these tampons are and to stop you going out to buy them! I was debating whether to write this review as it's not on the most pleasant of subjects, but I felt I ought to warn any potential buyers of the awfulness that is Tampax applicator tampons. Thou shalt never forget to replace tampons after your last period!

Summary: Just don't buy it, simple as!