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The Best Period Swimsuits of 2024

12 June 2024  |  Admin

You know that feeling. You're looking forward to your summer holiday and spending time at the beach or chilling by the pool. Then you check the calendar and...dammit! You realise that your period is due.

Obviously if you use tampons or a menstrual cup this is less of an issue for you. But for those of us that can't or don't want to use internal period protection, having your period on holiday can be a pain.

The good news is that period swimwear has been a thing now for a while.

Here at Cheeky we've been all about 'Simple Reusables' since we launched our bestselling reusable wipes kit way back in 2008. Our period pads and period underwear has been incredibly popular with our customers over the last 8 years. Our period swimwear has gone from being the new kid on the block several years ago to being a customer favourite!

How Does a Period Swimsuit Work?

Period swimwear works by keeping water out and menstrual blood in whilst you're in the water. It has a water repellent layer, absorbent lining and wicking fabric to absorb period blood inside your swimsuit and wick it away from your skin, meaning it protects against leaks.

Generally period swimwear is suitable for light to medium flow days. It can't be too absorbent as obviously the absorbent area could absorb too much and be saggy. (Think about disposable nappies in water). On heavy flow days you may need to rinse it or change more often.

All swimwear should be rinsed immediately after use as chlorine and salt water will eat through swim suit fabric!

Doesn't Your Period Stop in Water?

This comment comes up a lot on our socials. 'Your period stops in water, what's the point of period swimwear'. But actually, your period doesn't stop in water.

According to Healthline what's actually happening is that the water pressure can slow down the outwards flow. It doesn't stop and in a normal swimsuit any leakage is quickly dispersed by water anyway.

However as soon as you get out of the pool, this changes. Just try sitting on a white towel after you've been swimming on your period in regular swimwear without protection and you'll quickly realise what we mean!

That's why period swimwear is such a lifesaver for preventing leaks, not just for holidays but for school swimming lessons etc.

Here at Cheeky we're proud of our period products and our service too. Our fantastic customer service team all use the products themselves so are well placed to answer any questions you may have about period swimwear, so feel free to drop them a line.

We've compiled this list to save you the hassle of doing so, comparing online specialists like ourselves with High St retailers too. Here's our guide to the best period swimwear for 2024:

8 Best Period Swimsuits of 2024

Modibodi Period Swimsuit

Best Designer Swimsuit

Modibodi One Shoulder Swimsuit

Modibodi are an Australian brand, well known for their period pants. This one shoulder swimsuit comes in a pretty lavender colour.

Sizes Available: 8 to 22 (XS to 4XL)

Price: £59.00

Absorbency Level: Light to Moderate

Guarantee & Returns Info: 60 day trial period

Customer Reviews: "The one-shoulder design adds a touch of elegance. I've worn it a few times when flow was light to moderate, and there was no leakage. Gives me the confidence and comfort I need for pool and beach swims."

Cheeky Teen Period Swimsuit - Racerback

Best Teen Period Swimsuit

Cheeky Teen Period Swimsuit - Racerback

Cheeky new racerback swimsuit is available in a gorgeous jade / turquoise colour, brilliant for showing off your tan! Perfect for teen swimming lessons or water sports activities. Size 2 is roughly equivalent to age 11 to 12, but this totally depends on the size of your child!

Sizes Available: adult size 2 to 4 up to size 22 to 24

Price: £33.99

Absorbency Level: Light to Moderate

Guarantee & Returns Info: 100% Happiness Guarantee - love Cheeky Products or your money back, no quibbles!

Tester Reviews: "Love this! It's comfy and secure for lane or sea swimming but is flattering also."

Marks Spencer Period Swimsuit

Best High St Period Swimsuit

M&S Scoop Neck Period Swimsuit

Sizes Available: 8 to 24 (XS to 4XL)

Price: £29.00

Absorbency Level: High Absorbency

Guarantee & Returns Info: 35 Day Returns policy (unworn with hygiene seals in tact)

Customer Reviews: "Inexpensive and does what it needs to do, I found the fit was good, material is good quality, not flimsy. Ideal for use in the spa or beach, probably need something more robust if you were doing a lot of swimming."

Cheeky Period Pants For Swimming

Best Period Bikini Bottoms

Cheeky Period Panties for Swimming

Cheeky period swimming pants or bikini bottoms are brilliant for pairing with their matching period bikini crop top, or your own favourite bikini top for mix and match style!

Sizes Available: 4 to 6 to 22 to 24 (XS to 4XL)

Price: £16.99

Absorbency Level: Light to Moderate Absorbency

Guarantee & Returns Info: 100% Happiness Guarantee - love Cheeky Products or your money back, no quibbles!

Customer Reviews: "Good quality. Nice style, you wouldn't know it was a period bikini set"

Primark Period Swimwear Review - Best Budget Period Swimwear

Best Budget Period Swimming Costume

Primark Period Swimming Costume

Sizes Available: XS to XL

Price: £16.00

Absorbency Level: Not Specified

Guarantee & Returns Info: 28 Day Returns policy (unworn with hygiene seals in tact)

Customer Reviews: "Used these last year so good, deffo a game changer."

Cheeky Plus Size Period Swimwear

(Image courtesy of Real Girls Wobble)

Best Plus Size Period Swimsuit

Cheeky Period Proof Swimwear - One Piece

This flattering one piece period swimming costume comes in black or a gorgeous new neon red colour which is due to arrive end June 2024. The double strap detail is cute! This is the most inclusive range of period swimwear we could find for sizing.

Sizes Available: 2 to 4 to size 22 to 24

Price: £33.00

Absorbency Level: Light to Moderate

Guarantee & Returns Info: 100% Happiness Guarantee - love Cheeky Products or your money back, no quibbles!

Customer Reviews: "A great product. Discreet period support and still stylish. Worn for a spa day and it gave me the extra security I needed."

Wuka Period Swimsuit Review

Best Colourful Period Swimsuit

Wuka Scoop Neck Period Swimsuit If you're sick of black period swimsuits, Wuka period swimwear offer their scoop back period swimming costume in black plus four fruity colours! Choose from blue, purple, deep pink or tennis green.

Sizes Available: 8 to 18 (XS to 2XL)

Price: £49.00

Absorbency Level: Light to Moderate

Guarantee & Returns Info: All Wuka swim bottoms and one-pieces are eligible for a return or exchange within 30 days of delivery, as long as the original sanitary strip and tags are attached.

Customer Reviews: No customer reviews available yet.

Love Luna Period Swimsuit Review

Best One Piece Period Swimsuit

Love Luna Period Swimming Costume - John Lewis

This flattering one piece period swimming costume from Aussie brand Love Luna is popular at John Lewis.

Sizes Available: 8 to 10 to size 18 to 20

Price: £35.00

Absorbency Level: Light to Moderate

Guarantee & Returns Info: Returns within 30 days in its original condition with labels still attached and unworn plus proof of purchase.

Customer Reviews: "Was unsure about this product to start with, was great and my holiday was a lot more pleasurable."

If you've got any further questions at all about period swimwear, please do contact us. The team all use the products themselves and love to chat pee, poo and periods all day long! We've also got some further reading that you may be interested in: 

About the Author: Helen Rankin founded Cheeky Wipes, the original reusable wipes kit back in 2008 after disposable wipes caused her eczema to flare up. 4 kids later, she went on to develop their range of 'Simple Reusables' to include period pants, reusable period kits and reusable incontinence pants. Both she and the rest of the leadership team are now navigating menopause, with all the joys it brings!

The Company was recognised for their hard work in developing environmentally friendly products with the Queens Award in Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2021.