The period aisle can feel like a wall of pastel packaging and vague promises. But what's actually in the products pressed against one of the most absorbent parts of your body every single month? For most mainstream brands, the honest answer is: more than you'd like, and less than they'll tell you.
Riley exists because we think you deserve better than that, and better than the silence the period industry has traded in for far too long. Here's what actually sets us apart, and just as importantly, what we leave out.
First, what we're about
Riley was founded in Ireland by two best friends, Fiona and Aine, who discovered how many hidden nasties sit inside conventional period products and decided women deserved better. What began as a fight for safer products grew something bigger: a mission to power women's potential through better menstrual wellbeing.
We're proudly B Corp certified, female-founded, and held to rigorous standards of ethics, transparency and impact. That's not a marketing badge, it's a commitment to putting people and the planet ahead of profit.
What you get with Riley
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100% certified organic cotton, across the entire range.
Tampons (applicator and naked), pads and pantyliners, all made from genuinely certified organic cotton. Our pads and pantyliners are cotton throughout (not just the topsheet!)
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Total transparency
We tell you exactly what our products are made from because you should never have to guess what you're putting in your body. -
Gentle by design
Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and non-irritating, designed for comfort and for sensitive skin. -
Kind to the planet
Our pads are biodegradable, with backing film and wrappers made from corn starch and compostable to EN13432 standards. That standard means that at least 90% of the material must convert into carbon dioxide, water and biomass within 6 months via microbial action. No 800-year plastic legacy. -
Cloud soft and super absorbent
Pure organic cotton doesn't just sit better against your skin, it performs. You get a soft, breathable feel with no plasticky rustle or sweaty heat and cotton's natural absorbency means dependable, leak-confident protection you can forget about all day. -
Clever, glue-free tampons
The string is woven in during production rather than stuck on with adhesives, so there are no glues sitting where they shouldn't be. -
No compromise on comfort
Picking the better-for-you option shouldn’t mean compromising on comfort. That’s why we designed our applicators with bio-based plastic, made from sugarcane. There's a reusable applicator option to cut single-use plastic entirely.
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Never get caught short.
A flexible subscription lets you build your own bundle, get it delivered every 3 or 6 months, save up to 20%, and pause or cancel anytime - no more panic dashes to the shop. -
Giving back as standard.
1% of every purchase goes to helping fight period poverty. By shopping Riley products, you’re helping provide period care to people who might otherwise go without, alongside supporting our education programmes and charity partnerships.
What you'll never find in a Riley product:
We're just as proud of what we leave out. Riley products are made without:
- Chlorine bleach
- Pesticides
- Synthetic fragrances
- Rayon
- Titanium dioxide
- Dyes
- GMOs
- Glues and synthetic adhesives
Just 100% certified organic cotton and, well, nothing else.
The reason is simple: your vaginal tissue is highly absorbent, so what touches it can affect your body.
Conventional products can contain chlorine bleach, synthetic fragrances, pesticide residues and plastic fibres. A 2025 UK study even reported traces of chemicals such as glyphosate in some mainstream brands. We'd rather leave all of that out and let you make an informed choice.
The bottom line
What makes Riley different isn't a single hero ingredient, it's a whole philosophy.
Clean, certified organic cotton in. The long list of nasties out. Real transparency throughout and a business built to do right by both women and the planet.
Better for your body. Better for the planet. No compromise.
Ready to make the switch?
Explore Riley's range of 100% organic cotton tampons, pads and liners, and see exactly what clean period care should feel like. Shop the range or build your own bundle today.
