U by Kotex Balance Daily Wrapped Panty Liners

Have you ever been driving yourself nuts trying to find the best possible piece of whatever protective material to slap onto your undies, only to be further confused by seriously conflicting reviews? Well, I have, and on top of years of trial and error, I have many thoughts. I’ve used these liners for a long time and they’re the ones that have worked best for me. If you like thorough reviews and don’t mind reading long ones, here are my thoughts: Main point is, for what they are, they work very well! The first thing to note is that these are exactly what they are advertised as: barely there. That’s the selling point. They are the thinnest and probably smallest you’ll be able to find. Of course, that’s not the right fit for everyone, but that doesn’t render the product useless. With regard to size / coverage, these will work best with undies that have a bit of a narrow crotch area / gusset. For me, that’s exactly what I needed. Most of my undies do not have a wide enough crotch to accommodate larger liners, let alone pads. They are also short, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on the style of underwear. There is a slight curvature, so they’re a bit wider up front and in back which helps a bit for proper placement. I’m pretty sure there is a thong version, but these can be used with thongs by just tucking the adhesive in the back around like wings. They tend to stick better to cotton than synthetic materials, in my experience. I think that’s probably true of almost any pad or liner, though. If your priority is max absorbency, this is not the product for you. Yes, everyone here stating that the absorbency isn’t amazing and the center panel is small are correct. But, for better or worse, that’s the design. They’re supposed be as unobtrusive as possible while offering just enough protection for LIGHT purposes. With that in mind, I have found that (for spotting or cup / tampon backup, which are my uses for this product), I’ve very rarely had issues with leakage. To be fair, I don’t typically bleed heavily. I also can’t speak for those who use these for bladder leakage or daily discharge. For my purposes, the center panel does its job of pulling fluid from the surface to keep you dry. Even the outer portion which seems to just be adhesive offers a bit of protection for your undies. It’s not going to really absorb, but it can keep light leaks from seeping through for a bit until you can change your liner. I do deal with clots sometimes, and they don’t absorb fully, but I don’t think any external product can. As for the packaging issue a lot of folks seem to be having, if I’m getting this right, they’re not peeling the adhesive backing off. They’re just pulling the whole liner out of the wrapper without peeling it off of the backing. That white piece of wax paper type of stuff needs to be taken off. Yknow, so the adhesive is exposed. Speaking of adhesive! Edge-to-edge, which is what I think confuses people when they try to open them. But it’s also what makes these fantastic. I can’t stand when there’s not enough adhesive and everything bunches up or peels away, slips out of place, you know the deal. The combo of these being so thin and flexible + the edge-to-edge adhesive is what makes them feel “barely there”. If they’re the right fit for you & your undies, once applied, it’s like they’re basically built into your underwear. (Tip: press the liner and fabric together all the way around to make sure it’s fully adhered. Just do so carefully, as the adhesive edges can wrinkle if they’re not smoothed out while you’re applying.) They’re pretty soft, but not the softest ever. That’s okay with me. It’s because they’re so thin and only have that center strip of what would be “cottony”. It’s not scratchy or uncomfortable. There’s no plasticky mesh sitting on top. I will admit they can sometimes feel a bit stiff, but because they move with you and don’t slip, it’s not too bothersome. I have sensitive skin, but have not ever had a reaction to these. I can’t guarantee that for anyone else, though, of course. It sucks that we have all these mystery substances to worry about. I do believe these companies should be held to higher standards, but as things are, I’d just say be aware that it’s a risk with pretty much any pad or liner, and stop usage immediately if you notice irritation. Overall, I’d say these are for you if you’d like something small, discreet, and comfortable to wear, but only if you don’t require heavy-duty protection. It’s all about what makes YOU feel protected and comfortable. And what’s compatible with the size and shape of your preferred underwear. I know it can be frustrating to find that, but maybe there’s somebody out there who can be helped along in that process with this ridiculously long review. There are so many options out there. I feel it’s important to discuss them, even if some feel it’s TMI, because when we do, we can help each other find what works, without simply depending on product labels.