5 Women On What Gets Them Through Their Periods

Periods suck. There’s no two ways about it. In the best cases they can be mildly inconvenient and, in the worst, excruciatingly painful. There are a few little things you can do to make them a little better however, and it’s more than just ensuring that the emergency chocolate cupboard is fully stocked at all times.

To provide you with some inspo, we asked the women of BBHQ to divulge the tips and tricks that they rely on to make their monthly gift suck that little bit less. Girl, you. Are. Welcome.

“As if having a period wasn’t enough, my skin likes to have a full on freak out whenever I reach my time of the month. The rest of the time, my skin is pretty breakout-free apart from the odd one here and there, but when it comes to my periods, they come thick and fast around my mouth and chin. To keep them at bay, my absolute go-to is the Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying & Hydrating White Charcoal Mud Mask. This lightweight mask is perfect for treating my spots without stripping my skin and drying it out, which can make my spots worse (no thanks!) The mask is really comfortable to wear, meaning I can get on with my usual day-to-day whilst it gets to work. If you haven’t tried it yet, you need to.” – Kate, Content Assistant 

“When I’m on my period, the last thing I want is to be on my period! I try to make sure my period is as normal as possible; that means getting extra spot treatments in the days before, monitoring my mood and anxiety in a mood diary, and using my menstrual cup so I don’t have to keep worrying whether my tampon has leaked or if it’s been in for too long. I use a BeYou Menstrual Cup, not only because it means I don’t have to do a mad dash to the shop to buy tampons (menstrual cups can last for up to ten years with proper care!), but because I can leave it in for 12 hours without panicking that my white jeans are ruined or if I have toxic shock syndrome. A life saver when my PMS levels are reaching their pinnacle.” – Liv, Content Assistant

“I have told everyone I know about BeYou Period Patches. EVERYONE. I honestly don’t know how I ever lived my life without them. They’re so effective and easy to use, I feel like anyone who suffers from period cramps should get a pack. You just stick them on under your clothes to wherever is hurting – I usually put one on my lower belly and one on my back – and then you’re good to go for 12 hours. They feel a bit tingly and cooling and they really do stop that achey cramping feeling.” – Alex, Social Media Executive

“One of the biggest things I notice when I’m on my period is that my body just can’t seem to get enough sleep. No matter how many z’s I catch, I’ll still wake up feeling exhausted, and being woken up through the night by cramps and bloating, certainly doesn’t help. Obviously, there’s no miracle cure, but Grace & Green Night Pads and BEYOU Period Patches come pretty damn close. Wearing a pad at night makes me feel much more comfortable and protected from leaks, and these ones are ultra-thin yet super absorbent, so I forget I’m wearing anything at all. I also love that they’re biodegradable, as one of my goals this year was to make some swaps to become more planet-friendly where I can.” – Francesca, Marketing Executive

“After using tampons and pads for 19 years, deciding to try some environmentally friendly alternatives was a scary move… but one that I’m so glad I made! I ordered and tried the BEYOU Menstrual Cup and decided not to watch any scary YouTube videos and to figure this one out on my own! I found it took a while to fit the cup into a totally comfortable position, so take your time and try to stay relaxed! It’s just you and your cup. Once I found what I was happy with, I was able to get on with my day and night with absolutely no worries, seriously, at night… no leaks! It’s official, I’m converted.” – Ailsa, Customer Services