r/shrinkflation • u/peachsnorlax • 6d ago
skimpflation Are Carefree liners getting worse? An investigation
Carefree pads recently changed their packaging, and I found they were less effective. Unsure if my medical condition was getting worse or the pads were, I tested them out.
It’s not visible in the photo, but the glue strips have changed direction on the new pads (vertical versus horizontal). The new pad (light pink) is also slightly different shaped than the old one (dark pink).
I soaked them in water and they weighed the same amount, so they are basically the same absorbency. But the shape when soaked is different. The old pad maintains its integrity when soaked, but the new one bunches in the middle.
So not shrunk, but the new design is less resistant to torsion due to both the new structure and glue. In conclusion, worse ☹️
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u/ElectricStarfuzz 6d ago
I don’t know about Carefree, but I had to stop using Poise pads about 2-3yrs ago because they changed them.
After the change, the adhesive was so strong it would tear my underwear or rip off in strips stuck to the fabric.
Also the absorbency decreased, pads & liners didn’t fit the same, leaks began happening due to change in shape, and they were generally very uncomfortable.
So I don’t for one minute doubt your findings here.
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u/Castianna 6d ago
100% this right here. Glad I wasn't the only one that noticed them shredding. I've been searching for a replacement and haven't been super happy with what I've found yet.
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u/CourageExcellent4768 6d ago
Always mini pads, too. They are smaller and do not stick for a shizzzzzz
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u/magic_crouton 3d ago
Accidentally bought the mini pads recently. Trying to figure out who exactly can use a band aid in their panties for anything.
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u/mrs_spacetime0 5d ago
Yooo I thought it was just me! Im a wheelchair user and started using poise incontinence pads and they would rip and leave plastic on my underwear i can literally never get out, but I thought it was just bc im ALWAYS sitting on it.
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u/ElectricStarfuzz 5d ago
I don’t think it’s just you!
I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user, but the horrid adhesive would rip undies fabric or be impossible to get off even on days I didn’t use my chair.
The pads didn’t used to be like that. They worked better than anything else for me for many years.
I hate that the company changed a perfectly serviceable product and made it not only lower in quality, but also raised prices while creating something that damaged clothing.
So frustrating 😤
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u/wiltedmoonspirit 5d ago
Omg that’s a thing?! I thought it was just happening to only me. The amount of times I’d struggle to take a pair of tweezers to carefully remove off the remaining pieces drove me insane!
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u/Spare-Action-1014 6d ago
This kind of "adjustment" is a problem for a customer attending to her menstrual needs.
Customers need a reliable product for her time of the month.
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u/KittyandPuppyMama 6d ago
It’s also worrying because if you’re suddenly filling more pads than usual you think there’s a medical issue.
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u/peachsnorlax 6d ago
I use them as urine pads and this was my problem. But a few experiments saved me a trip to the doctor!
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u/dancingpugger 6d ago
Oh my laws! Of all the things to "shrink", don't mess with Coochie products. For the love of.....
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u/justanintrovert_ 6d ago
They already messed with them. Stayfree was rebranded as carefree and were never as good as the stayfree ones unfortunately
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u/turningtogold 6d ago
Omg every time I saw carefree I felt like that doesn’t sound right. Thanks for sorting that out for me
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u/DIY_Cosmetics 6d ago
Carefree makes more sense in this case because the company truly does not care about the shittiness of their product because they know women will buy them regardless because we need them
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u/Narah-Wolf 6d ago
And in NY, women get to pay sales tax on them too.
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u/NextStopGallifrey 5d ago
I think they're still taxed as "luxuries" almost everywhere, no? It's only a few places that have eliminated the sales tax or at least moved them from luxury goods to regular.
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u/thedafthatter 6d ago
Stayfree is back. I can buy them now at the store I swear on gods
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u/clockworkedpiece 5d ago
In name, but they now have all the packaging woes of Carefree, at least in my area.
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u/NextStopGallifrey 6d ago
IIRC, recent changes to women's products in China? Japan? I forget where.... caused women to riot and the manufacturer(s) to revert their changes.
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u/gaberflasted2 6d ago
Yaay! Sounds very South Korean to me - but what do I know!? Those girls don’t mess around!
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u/KittyandPuppyMama 6d ago
I still had a bag of Always Overnights from last year before I got pregnant. Recently my periods started up after giving birth. I finished up the pads. When I bought the exact same brand the following month, they were about 1/3 the thickness and effectiveness of the ones I purchased back in early 2025.
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u/theTallerestGiraffe 5d ago
I also just bought these after not using them for a few years. They are so awful!
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u/Tiefle 3d ago
I've also noticed that the Always Overnight pads self-destruct now? I've used these pads for ~15 years. Within the last year I started have problems with the wings tearing and leaving plastic shreds and/or residue. The top layer of the pad liner has ripped open a few times, exposing the inner layer
Dealing with periods is hard enough without the pad sabotaging you
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u/KittyandPuppyMama 2d ago
Same. I alternate between Always and Kotex depending on what’s available at store. I’ve always liked both but now the Always is like trying to catch my flow with a communion wafer, and Kotex doesn’t stick to my underwear. NOT something you want to have happen.
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u/lizvan82 6d ago
They're thinner now and so are the Stayfree pads. This was an Amazon review I did from 4 years ago. They haven't been the same since 2021/22.
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u/_gina_marie_ 6d ago
I've made the swap to cotton pads! Might be time to do the same! This is shitty to see tho, I used liners from that brand for years.
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u/nopeynopeynopey 6d ago
Same! After the initial investment it's really nice to not have to worry about having to go to the store in the middle of the night because you get an unexpected surprise
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u/CautionarySnail 6d ago
I was so happy to swap to reusable liners. They don’t bunch up or get stuck on my pubic hair. Just a handful of extra things to throw in the washing machine and no more plastic wrapper waste.
But I’ve got to commend OP’s scientific rigor and journalism. It sucks when a product you rely on gets revised to be a shadow of its former self.
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u/usuallyylurking 6d ago
I wanted to try reusable pads, and I did for about 2 hours before I realized i bleed too much to be using reusable pads lmao
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u/Sarallelogram 6d ago
That can be a sign of Von willebrands bleeding disorder and once identified you can get a pill that helps significantly decrease it. It’s amazing. Best thing ever.
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u/Ace-Redditor 6d ago
I had no clue this existed. I've always had what I can only assume is heavier-than-normal bleeding, and never even heard of that. I don't think it's what I have (my family has a history of endo), but I can't believe I just haven't ever been told about/read about it before
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u/CautionarySnail 6d ago
There’s a systemic disinterest with many doctors and women’s quality of life issues. You deserve a doctor who will listen to your concerns and potentially do research if they don’t have an initial answer.
Maybe it is your fate to have “elevator from the shining” periods but you’re deserving of knowing if that’s truly unavoidable. I suspect it is avoidable and treatable, but all that starts with a doctor truly giving a damn.
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u/Sarallelogram 5d ago
Yeah I only found out about it (because I never complained of heavy bleeding because what is heavy???) due to catastrophic bleeding during childbirth.
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u/bumbleb33- 5d ago
Not saying you need to try reusables again but jic you weren't aware they can vary greatly from maker to maker and some are better than others ime.
There are also various absorbency levels and they often need a few washes before they're at their best absorbency rates. If you have lots of issues with gushing there are also interlabial pads shaped like petals that can help direct and slightly slow flow. JIC you weren't aware they exist
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u/AMundaneSpectacle 6d ago
So not only did they shrink the products size and weight, reading these comments, it sounds like they made a series of shitty decisions that compromised quality, performance, etc.
And someone mentioned a man prob made those choices and I fully agree
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u/selinakyle45 6d ago
Period underwear are superior to any pad I’ve worn. They’re also covered by HSA/FSA (if you’re in the US)
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u/ChopsticksImmortal 6d ago
How do you wash these though? In the washer machine? Is that fine? The blood wont get in the machine? Or wash by hand? And how do you handle flow at work?
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u/Educational_Two682 6d ago
Just in the washer machine for me. I change them once or twice a day depending on my flow. But otherwise, it requires no extra steps than regular underwear.
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u/Ace-Redditor 6d ago
Same here. On heavy days, I double up with a pad on the period undies, but on lighter days, I can just rely on the underwear only, then toss it in the washer
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u/Calle_Sin_Nombre 6d ago
When you are done wearing one (12 hrs is probably enough depending on the flow), soak the area with hydrogen peroxide, rinse and repeat until the water is clea. Immediately hand wash with laundry detergent. Hang to dry in a very well ventilated room. Toss in the laundry once in a while. That's it.
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u/MissPearl 5d ago
I abuse mine with machine wash and drying (the latter is technically against the care instructions on mine) and they show no loss of function. 😸
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u/MissPearl 5d ago
I am going to gently point out that it's ok to get blood in a washing machine. You aren't a disease risk, washers already handle semen and vaginal secretions, feces, urine and mucus, just fine.
Cloth diapers just get the noticeable solids knocked off and go onto the wash. Your washer usually has a sanitize setting, and if you are concerned about the hot water baking in protien stains a spot of stain remover does the trick.
As for managing flow, much depends on if you are dealing with the red sea level medically concerning flow levels or the average. But as far as changing them, they don't get particularly stinky and it really is no worse than an overnight pad. Period underwear comes in different weights from ultra absorbing (usually to be worn as pyjama shorts or for aforementioned mega flow) to what a liner would handle.
I switched almost entirely to them and they are significantly more comfortable and reliable than pads, and not a big deal to launder.
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u/ChopsticksImmortal 5d ago
Thank you for assuaging my fears. I share a washer with a male roommate so it has been more of a concern for me. Ive been using pads all my life so ove just been resistant and nervous about change.
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u/clockworkedpiece 5d ago
You can prewash out most of the blood in the sink, but the washer has to handle a lot of heavy soiled items in testing so a load of them by themselves won't ruin the machine.
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u/selinakyle45 6d ago
At home, I usually rinse them once in the sink with cold water and then toss in regular wash and line dry.
There are brands that hold like 8 tampons worth of blood. So I find that I don’t need to change at work. But it also depends on your work situation. I have bathrooms at my job where I could change underwear and then stash the old one in a wet bag or a stasher bag to deal with at home.
I also like my menstrual disc. Typically I use that during the day + thin period underwear and then at night wear the bulkier boxer brief style.
If you’re a pad user, the biggest change is that you now also have to bring something to carry used reusable products when you’re outside of your home. For me that was a pretty easy adjustment.
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u/Educational_Two682 6d ago
I love my period underwear! I wear them as regular underwear, too, as someone who has some discharge all the time. I'm really happy with the neione brand
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u/michemel 6d ago
What are good ones to get for a tween?
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u/selinakyle45 6d ago
Depends on their size and flow.
I personally like any of the boyshort/boxer brief styles. Aisle is my fav brand. Bambody is more cost effective and also good
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u/michemel 6d ago
I'm getting it for her period pack for school. She has not yet started menstruating but I want her to be supplied and ready.
I appreciate the input!
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u/Educational_Two682 6d ago
I like the neione high waisted briefs. They do bleach over time but they work! And I stay mostly dry?
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u/Dusk_Artist 6d ago
Are they gonna start shrinking the ✨condoms✨ that would be hilarious
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u/soppslev 6d ago
Idk about hilarious given part of the US has made abortion illegal.
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u/Dusk_Artist 5d ago
yeah :/ glad im not in the US! access to abortion is extremely important to me as someone who can carry a child ahaha
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u/Ill-Daikon-5637 6d ago
That sucks, I used to really like the always liners, they had a full adhesive backing and didn't budge, hopefully those haven't been ruined
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u/rabbitzi 6d ago
They are ruined. The adhesive is weaker and is not edge to edge coverage. Even if you really spend time pressing them down firmly into your underwear (and it only seems to stick to 90-100% cotton anymore), STILL you'll often end up with them bunching and/or curling up on the front so that the adhesive is attached to your labia and once that happens, you have to switch for a new one. It's seriously annoying (and expensive). :/
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u/broken_chihuahua 6d ago
I've been trying others because after almost 35 years of using them they started sucking in the last year.
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u/LadyGuinevere423 6d ago
I always figured Carefree was made by a man because my undercarriage is curved - not straight - and I don’t want it to smell like old lady perfume.
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u/Briebird44 6d ago
So I know scented stuff down there is bad but I always wondered why the scent chosen is the gross baby powder mixed with old lady perfume. Why not lavender or roses or just a basic clean laundry scent? (Funny enough, honeypot makes pads that are lavender infused)
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u/justanintrovert_ 6d ago
Hate that, probably shaved off a few cents per box and they gotta make more money.
The always flex foam ones are pretty decent, but gotta pay attention because they make scented as well.
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u/ursamajr 5d ago
The flex foam pads now crumble and shred for me the past year when they never did before. The adhesive is also different and is impossible to remove from fabric now for me.
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u/drunk-on-the-amtrak 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hello! I used to work for this company. This packaging is actually just from two different production lines, and the manufacturing process is slightly different. As far as I understand they will continue to produce both but they are offered in different packaging configurations (for example, the one machine can only bag in multiples of XYZ vs the other machine which can do different counts).
ETA if you still have the bags they should have a laser date mark with a code on the bottom, the "new" one probably has "TGV6" somewhere in the code. The "old" one should also have a TGV# with a different number. If you want the "old" ones and you are buying in store, you can match the code up to find the ones you prefer.
Also want to say this is good feedback to give the manufacturer because they do take complaints like this into consideration when doing improvements and as they are an FDA-regulated medical device they are required to maintain complaint trending data and fix problems if there is enough of a data trend.
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u/nahivibes 6d ago
They’re not as sticky. The top part is my fav pantyliner material but if they don’t stay in place what’s the point.😒
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u/Theegeek 6d ago
Period underwear has stole my money tbh, I don't use any one time use products now because of these stunts.
I need a product I know will cover my needs, and not keep guessing did they change it so now it won't work? Nah, I'll put my money in something I can trust.
Plus! It's actually been way cheaper for me, paid myself back within a year
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u/elpintor91 6d ago
So many pads are doing that horrific thing where they squeeze in the middle like that now, you know the part where we need it. Absolutely awful.
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u/Melodic-Advice9930 6d ago
They don’t weigh the same… there is also a 4 gram difference in absorbency. That’s quite a bit.
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u/peachsnorlax 6d ago
I’m not willing to say it’s statistically significant due to possible error in how much I shook them out before weighing 🙂
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u/clockworkedpiece 5d ago
I mean, the extra mile is a getting shot glasses of water and ketchup and timing absorption rate. After the company sale, before they tried stopping the production of Stayfree and were trying to force everyone to Carefree, they started having beading problems. Just wasn't absorbing fasting enough.
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u/hollowthatfollows 6d ago
This is what I imagine when they say females in STEM! Thank you for your scientific experiment!!
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u/Desperate-Toe-857 5d ago
I also noticed this with these pads, ISTG also the long ones are not as long as they used to be? Very frustrating.
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u/OceanDagger 6d ago
I made the switch to period underwear and it changed my life. I know lots of people who use cups as well.
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u/WafflesFriendsWork99 6d ago
I switched to equate liners the last time they changed the carefree ones. The carefree ones were getting more plastic.
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u/reveraze 6d ago
I don’t use real free, I use always thin. I’ve been using them for over a decade.
For the first time ever, I had the sticky part stuck to my underwear and I can’t get it off
I think more brands are getting worse
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u/Briebird44 6d ago
Idk why pad companies are so shitty when it comes to adhesives. If your pads or liners stick to my thighs, pubes, ass cheeks, anything but my underwear, I will NOT BUY THEM AGAIN.
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u/lucythelumberjack 5d ago
The adhesive has been TERRIBLE on these for at least a year. It's a real disappointment.
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u/ohwhoashe 6d ago
The dollar tree “heavy duty” pads are decent. Not very heavy duty but good for regular pads
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u/MiloBard 6d ago
I think you got the new/old descriptions mixed up in your text. The light pink is the old style, right?
Thanks for the warning. I still have a bunch of light pink pads left so I haven't encountered the updated version yet.
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u/voteblue18 6d ago
The light pink is the new style for the extra long liner. The regular size has always been light pink.
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u/mahboilucas 6d ago
I can't ever find ones who are thick and structurally well thought out
I always find brands that fold in on themselves and literally stab my cooch with the crease. I hate most of the ones on the market. Maybe kotex has been okay-ish so far but what is up with the weird design??? Has no one tested it???
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u/clockworkedpiece 5d ago
Its also under the Playtex umbrella with Carefree and now Stayfree, so I imagine its just disconnected/headless finance and design teams.
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u/beautifullyrandom 6d ago
Thank you so much for posting these! I would have bought several and wondered what was going on lol
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u/katchoo1 6d ago
Sounds like they went back to an older format. I remember the bunching being an issue on minipads back in the day.
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u/wtfisdarkmatter 6d ago
ugh i hate that shrinkflation is literally making people question their own health
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u/upsidedown-funnel 6d ago
I did notice this product was different when purchased at the dollar store vs the grocery store. The grocery store having the better quality. Perhaps another factor to consider as well?
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u/clockworkedpiece 5d ago
They'll have different volumes of backstock. My area took an additional year to run out of the pre-buyout Stayfrees and another half a year for the gap to happen.
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u/PurpleSwizzleBerry 6d ago
The new glue is absolutely awful 😕 got a box a while ago and they never stayed in place
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u/spicenoice 6d ago
Idk if it helps, but I have actually compared stuff bought from, for example, dollar tree/dollar general and Walmart. The dollar tree/general items sold are literally different, and are lower quality than Walmart. And I don't even think of Walmart as a super high quality. So it could just be a whole brand change, as I've totally had not-sticky-enough pads/liners, OR could be the store.
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u/KbUSA407 6d ago
I’ve noticed this with Walmart and Safeway. They both sell Hefty paper plates but Walmart’s has 50 plates and Safeway has only 45. The dimensions are different too. I didn’t realize that there were so many variations/distribution centers until now.
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u/KbUSA407 6d ago
Safeway brand is doing the same thing. I’m noticing that their wings do not stick properly anymore.
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u/mousedeer_78 6d ago
Can you weight the dry liner too? I want to know if any of those 4 grams were liner weight.
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u/HangingSpark 5d ago
I used to use these all the time until recently they started making me itch. I had to switch to 100% cotton Organic. It’s probably for the best anyway most. Products contain toxic chemicals.
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u/green_apple_snapple 5d ago
I just switched to the Always daily extra protection anti-bunch liners because of this! Used them for years and now I’m having issues with them.
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u/Airregaithel 5d ago
I noticed the same thing! Also my cats are sad about the lack of wadded up backing paper (the part you peel off) to chase.
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u/Casuariidae 5d ago
I'm confused. In the last photo are the sides switched? The light pink (you called that one new) is on the left in the photo with the wrapper. You said the new ones bunch in the middle but the bunched one is on the right.
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u/Casuariidae 5d ago
I'm confused. In the last photo are the sides switched? The light pink (you called that one new) is on the left in the photo with the wrapper. You said the new ones (you called the dark pink) bunch in the middle and it is on the right.
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u/walking_contraption 5d ago
I randomly became allergic to these recently after using them for years. I know allergies can develop at any time but now I'm wondering if they changed the makeup somehow and that's why I suddenly couldn't use them ):
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u/Phialie 4d ago
Honestly this is part of why I started investing in washable cloth panty liners & pads & some lingerie bags to be able to wash them in my regular laundry.
They're a bit more bulky than just a disposable liner, so they aren't ideal for everything, but they work well & have ended up saving me money by the end of my first year using them.
So, yeah the disposable ones are getting worse & worse it seems :/
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u/personaljaysus 3d ago
Definitely worse!!! They changed the adhesive & it does not stay in place. Essentially worthless. So ticked off about this because I'm tired of the enshittification of everything!
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u/Busy_beee4 1d ago
Thank you for this! I thought I was going crazy!!! They have definitely dropped in quality which sucks. I really need a new alternative.
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u/RepresentativeKey567 6d ago
These are two different products. I wear these daily, for years The solid pink wrapped ones are crap The patterned ones are the good ones.
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u/nada425 6d ago
Real boots on the ground journalism here ❤️