Review: The Lily Cup One

As far as I know, the Lily Cup One is one of the only collapsible menstrual cups available. Squish it down until it's practically flat, then tuck it away in the carrying case which comes with your purchase! It also features a ring stem, which helps one pull the cup down easier for removal.

The cup and carrying case is hot pink, as it's Intimina's signature color. Some reviewers described it as too feminine.
On the flip side, the carrying case can easily be mistaken for a package of blush or lip balm due to the hot pink color.

(via Amazon)

The Lily Cup One by Intimina ("LC One") is aimed towards teens and first-time users, but it's also marketable to any user seeking a portable cup. The circular case is as round as tarte's sample-size Amazonian Clay Blush, and as thick as a Dirty Little Secret blush case (see pictures below). You can tuck it away in a bag or jacket pocket without it taking up much room. If your period suddenly comes while you're on the go, this menstrual cup has your back!

What also makes this easier to use is the ring stem, which has a flattened base that's easier to grip. Regular cups have a pole-like stem, which may be harder to grasp when removing the cup. The silicone cup material is flexible enough to be comfortable while strong enough to withstand tugging on it for removal.

This cup checks almost all the right boxes... Almost. Unfortunately, the Lily Cup One only comes in one size: 20ml capacity. At 1.85" in length and a 1.54" diameter, it's noticeably smaller than the average 'regular flow' cup. For example, the popular Diva Cup in Size 1 lists 30ml capacity, and it is 2.25" long and 1.69" in diameter. To see the difference between multiple brands, check out Put A Cup In It's comparison charts (Both Imperial measurements and Metric measurements available).

A comparison between the Lily Cup One
carrying case & compact blush packaging

Maybe Intimina made the LC One so small so teens can use it easily, or its collapsibility factor demanded a smaller cup size... or both of these factors combined.

No matter the case, this cup is a little small for my needs. This is due to two things:

My current period situation: Pretty heavy, especially on 2nd-5th days and with moderately severe cramps. I was on The Pill for 6 years,  during which I had very mild periods—a relatively light flow, almost no cramping. Then, this past August, I stopped The Pill in favor of the non-hormonal copper IUD, ParaGard. The Copper IUD is notorious for making monthly flows heavier and longer than they normally are (without hormones). I think this is a fair trade considering how The Pill was affecting my body and mind. My flow currently lasts between 5-6 days and most of the days having a heavy flow. I have heavy cramps 3-4 days of my period. I'm hoping that after time passes with my IUD in, my periods will return closer to how they were pre-Pill/pre-IUD. 

My business: My cervix is usually on the low side during menstruation—I don't have to reach far in to feel it. Some people have described some low cervixes as 'dangly' and it sounds very similar to how mine gets on my period. I have not given birth.

MY EXPERIENCE

(via Intimina)

I bought this cup for its key features, the ring stem, and portability. I also took my low cervix into account and thought a slightly smaller cup would be better. My flaw was purchasing a cup before my IUD was inserted; I had no way of telling just how heavy my flow would be. I thought, since my periods were fairly light, the IUD would not cause my periods to be very heavy... but I was wrong!

While I find it easy to use, the Lily Cup One is simply not large enough to meet my current period needs. On my heaviest days, I find myself needing to empty the cup every 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Perhaps, my "dangly" cervix takes up a bit of room in the cup—thus, preventing it from reaching full capacity at 20ml. After further research, I've considered cups with a sphere or bell shape; these reportedly work well with low cervixes because they are wider towards the stem, which allows more fluid to be collected.

(via Intimina) It may defeat
the purpose of the ring stem
to cut it off; still, its flatness
may still be easier to handle
than a pole stem (which most
menstrual cups have).

Despite my heavy flow pushing the LC One to its' limits, I generally like using the cup. Unless I've started leaking, it feels like it's not even there. All of my cups sit "low" (I don't need to reach in far in to feel it) and since this cup is already small, and the ring stem is not as long as the traditional pole stem, it does not poke out and there's no need for me to trim the stem off. I also don't have issues of pressure on my pubic bone—the silicone is pretty flexible due to its collapsibility, although some reviewers have mentioned that it may be too flexible. This means the cup may have trouble popping open because the silicone is not rigid enough to push against one's vaginal walls to open.

I love the design of the Lily Cup One dearly, and lament that it only comes in one (very small) size. Fingers crossed that Intimina will release a larger version of this! But until that day comes, I'll need to rely on another cup which can accommodate my heavy flow.

4 out of 5 stars

Click to shop Intimina's
Lily Cup One on Amazon

Big points to Intimina for creating a travel-friendly menstrual cup. As my first cup, it was incredibly easy for me to use and super comfortable to boot. I'm docking a full point because they only make this in one size... Yet, despite it not being my "Holy Grail," I'm keeping this cup for the sake of portability. I'll never be caught without an emergency period product! So, the Lily Cup One will be tucked away in its carrying case in my purse, if ever my time of the month comes while I'm on the go.

My first time using a menstrual cup has passed, my Lily Cup One is sanitized and in my current purse for emergency purposes, and I've purchased another set of menstrual cups to try out on my next cycle. What brand could they be? Find out in my next cup review! ✻

Thrift: Free People Batwing Blouse & More

Earlier, I paired this top with black boots but they
were wet from the rain (Excuse my tsinelas!)

Free People's brand is all about living free-spiritedly, creatively, and fashionably. They're normally way out of my price range: starting at $40-$50+ for tops, this brand is popular for its vintage-inspired, bohemian fashion. I was thrilled to find this muted green top in a secondhand store.

I managed to snag this cozy batwing blouse for $15.00 at my local Plato's Closet. This chain of secondhand stores buys trendy and fashionable brands to appeal to the teen and young adult market. It has flowing sleeves, and the gauze gives it a light airiness that knit batwing sweaters tend to lack.

Unbranded dark blue crop top, $6.00 (left)
New Look black lace crop top, $5.00 (right)

Additionally, I found two crop tops that perfect match my newest fashion taste. I've stepped away from heavily layered, light-colored clothes in favor of deeper, richer colors. I still love a good cream-colored top—especially underneath a black lace overlay as seen on one of the crop tops to the left.

The store I purchased these from, Plato's Closet in Pacifica, was originally not my favorite place to shop in. But as of November 1st, they began operating under new ownership and are in the process of revitalizing the store. The store felt so much more comfortable to shop with the changes they made, adding different displays and training their employees with exceptional customer service skills. Read my full Yelp review here.

I love walking into a thrift store because I never know what treasures might be waiting inside. It's hard to choose what to take home because everything is priced so reasonably, but once I whittled down to the things that really spoke out to me, I walked away with three cute tops.

Eco-Friendly Periods: Menstrual Cups & More

It's time to talk about sustainable menstruation! Here's why a menstrual cup is the best option... and reasons why it may not work for you. I'll also go over environmental impacts of regular tampons, 100% organic cotton tampons, and a list of other eco-friendly period products at the very end. I won't go into detail about any cups that I've tried out because I'd like to dedicate smaller pieces for reviewing them specifically.

(via lacopamenstrual.es)

Menstrual cups are not only a more affordable alternative to plastic tampons, but they're also much friendlier to our planet. While it's nice saving money from not buying tampons regularly, my main reason for using a menstrual cup is so I may live more sustainably. I started using a cup in August 2018... and noticed plenty of other perks besides environmental ones, and I don't plan on using tampons again unless it's an emergency situation. Before we get into menstrual cups, let's talk about why the average tampon is so harmful.

(via putacupinit.com) A comparison of waste for just one period.

Tampons are disposable, and most readily available tampons are made of synthetic material with plastic wrapping and applicators. After one-time use, the tampon wrapper, applicator, and tampon are destined to end up in a landfill. For the ongoing project DesignLife-Cycle, UC Davis undergraduates collect information on embedded energy within products: the material they're made from and the process of making and breaking them down. You would think this information is easily accessible to the public, but oftentimes it isn't. In 2016, students researched specifically on the average tampon's life cycle:

[Synthetically made tampons] have amounts of plastic which means they’re not biodegradable. In other words, their speed of decomposition is extremely slow and can take up to 450 years to completely decompose. 

The rate at which a plastic applicator decomposes can be “centuries longer than the lifespan of the woman who used it" (The Guardian). 

A single woman can use [an average of 11,000 tampons] within her lifetime. 

Seeing roughly half of the human population experiences menstruation, you don't need to think hard about how many tampons are thrown away each year. Hint: the number is in the billions. Additionally, tampons and other products end up in our waters and beaches when they are flushed down the toilet because they can slip through filtration at wastewater treatment facilities (that is, if they don't clog your plumbing first). With a menstrual cup, you don't have to flush anything down the drain beside your menstrual fluid.

Bad, Better, Best? Conventional Cotton < 100% Organic Cotton ≲ Silicone

In terms of embedded energy, we should acknowledge that cotton is one thirsty crop—to put it in perspective, it takes up to 700 gallons of water to create just one t-shirt. But other than the high gross use of water, conventionally grown cotton requires "uses more insecticides than any other single crop and epitomizes the worst effects of chemically dependent agriculture. Each year cotton producers around the world use nearly $2.6 billion worth of pesticides — more than 10% of the world’s pesticides and nearly 25% of the world’s insecticides" (Pesticide Action Network). Not to mention that the conventional cotton industry reportedly perpetrates human rights abuses and forced child labor to maintain its low costs. So, the only way we can sustainably and ethically use cotton tampons is by choosing 100% organic cotton: say no to slave labor, say no to pesticides, say no to insecticides. Buying ethically grown and organically produced products will always factor into pricepoint, which is why '100% organic cotton' tampons are priced a little higher than traditional ones.

Silicone may be more sustainable than
100% cotton tampons (via Pinterest)

Menstrual cups are also arguably the best period product option, even over 100% organic cotton tampons, because it eliminates tampon and applicator waste completely (Organic tampons still end up in landfills since tampons are considered biohazardous waste, and are therefore unfit for compost... however, organic tampons break down in as little as 6 months, hundreds of years fasters than synthetic tampons).

While silicone cannot decompose, we can recycle menstrual cups when it's time for a replacement. And if your silicone cup does end up in the ocean, it poses less of a hazard to marine life since silicone doesn't break down into smaller pieces as plastic does. Consumer advocate Debra Lynn Dadd researched and found that silicone "is not toxic to aquatic or soil organisms, it is not hazardous waste and, while it is not biodegradable, it can be recycled after a lifetime of use."

But is silicone really less harmful than cotton?

It should be mentioned that silicone production isn't without faults. Silicone is not a naturally occurring material like cotton, but a manmade polymer whose main component is silicon that comes from silica (commonly found in sand). This polymer is so versatile, it can be found as a water-soluble ingredient in hair products, as food-safe reusable kitchenware, a featured ingredient in car polish, as biocompatible and sterile medical equipment,  sex toys, and so much more.

Silica has been mined for years without much ecological impact; however, in recent decades silica became very valued for its use in oil fracking and this increased demand for silica sand mining in the US and abroad. With several new mining sites (both legal and illegal practices) environmentalists and those living nearby question the environmental and health safety of silica sand mining. It is not only a threat to wildlife habitat but a pollution and health concern for workers and communities living near mining grounds.

Comparing cotton farming and sand mining, they can both be destructive and devastating to the environment when production levels are increased exorbitantly. As consumers, while we make use of household cotton and silicone products, we must also be aware of corporate malpractices that go against our ethical and moral values: environmental pollution and labor exploitation from the conventional cotton industry and excessive silica (frac) sand mining that is led by big oil.

There are eco-friendly but disposable 100% organic tampons, and there are menstrual cups that last for years and are recyclable at the end of its lifetime. They are not perfect products, and each come with their own personal or environmental perks and drawbacks. It's ultimately up to your individual needs!

(via Intimina)

Besides sustainability, there are many other perks to using a menstrual cup... however, it also comes with downsides. The menstrual cup may or may not work for your period situation. See below for pros and cons to menstrual cup use that can help you decide if it's right for you!

Pros to Menstrual Cups

• It feels less irritating than a tampon or thick pad (subjective to my own opinion). Pads are large, cumbersome and make me feel sweaty down there; tampons can feel drying, and their strings get in the way of using the restroom. Menstrual cup material is firm yet flexible enough to conform to the body. Once the cup is in place, I don't feel it: nothing hangs out from my hoo-hah, it doesn't add bulkiness in my underwear, and it leaves my natural moisture alone.

A few dollars per tampon package saved
each month adds up over time! (via Tenor)

• Save money with just one menstrual cup, which can replace between two to ten years worth of tampons (this is the speculated lifespan of a menstrual cup). While their cost is more expensive upfront, you don't have to buy menstrual cups continuously like disposable period products—for example, a menstrual cup that costs ~$25 USD pays for itself within just a few period cycles. After that, you're saving money that would have otherwise been spent on tampons or pads.

• Wear it for longer than tampons or pads. One can safely leave a menstrual cup in for up to 12 hours, but this is highly variable depending on each person's flow and cup capacity. These can be left in for so long because the safest cups are made with medical-grade silicone, which is non-porous so bacteria cannot be absorbed into the cup itself. Alternatively, if tampons aren't removed within 8 hours of insertion, it risks higher chances of Toxic Shock Syndrome or aggravating an already-present vaginal infection.

(via putacupinit.com) Take this Quiz and find out which
menstrual cups might work for you and your period!

• Many options to choose from. Your Goldilocks "Juuust Right," Holy Grail menstrual cup is out there, somewhere, in the period product market. Cups vary not just by size, but by material (for those with allergies or sensitivities), firmness, general shape, and the design of the stem/ring for removal. Besides the standard menstrual cup, there are also menstrual discs with larger capacities than a menstrual cup and (apparently) the allowance of mess-free period sex. How they remain in place, insertion, and removal is reportedly very different than the menstrual cup.

• Become familiarized & unashamed with your body, and feel more comfortable about menstruation. There is still so much stigma about this biological function! People who aren't educated about it are more likely to believe that periods are unclean or that a person on their period is impure or dirty. This stigma isn't just emotionally harmful, but has led to oppressive practices around the world from being unallowed to discuss menstruation to being physically ostracized from school, places of worship, and even the entire community in the duration of a person's period; this causes shame and a lack of knowledge within the menstruating population. Using a cup forces you to be more self-aware of your body through touch, so you have a higher chance of noticing changes in your vaginal health. It also normalizes your period because you are seeing and handling your period blood each time you empty your cup. You'll realize that your body's process of shedding the uterine lining every month is super fascinating and completely natural.

(via Medium)

Cons to Menstrual Cups

That's a lot of "Kensington Gore"! (via Don't Cook your Balls)

• There will be blood... and mucous, in all its liquidy, clumpy state. (since it's collected in the cup instead of being absorbed into a tampon's material). Blood gets on your fingers and under your fingernails. If you're not careful, it may accidentally drip onto the toilet or floor and make the bathroom look like a fresh murder scene! Personally, I think it's cool watching this mixture of bodily fluids splash into the toilet, but others may not want to deal with the mess.

• Less convenient than regular tampons. Anything reusable requires more maintenance over disposable items that you don't think twice about throwing away; menstrual cups must be sanitized by boiling it before each cycle, and you have to at least wipe the cup down between removal and insertion. Another reason why cups are less inconvenient is the public restroom: just wiping your cup off with TP is fine in this case, but walking out of the stall with blood on your hands is not the business. Additionally, if you're getting used to a menstrual cup and/or have a heavier flow, you might find yourself leaking because of incorrect insertion or the cup you're using isn't quite right for you.

(via Medium) The best cup for you
may not be the first cup you purchase.

• The learning curve(s) & the search for your Holy Grail menstrual cup. There's no one-size-fits-all cup! Size matters, and your cervix height dictates which cup fits comfortably. Then once you've bought it, you must learn  how to get the dang thing up there! There's many folds to try; it must be inserted deep enough; how to pop it open once inside; ensuring it's properly aligned to the cervix—otherwise, there's a high chance of leakage. Some may experience difficulty removing the cup when it's time to empty it (I do, because of my short fingers). If the cup you bought isn't working well, you'll have to purchase another or several others until you find one that's works. Each cup on the market is made with different materials and shaped differently, so they each have their own learning curves—they also cost more upfront than tampons, with quality cups ranging between $20-$50 USD. This may mean you'll be spending more money than you previously thought if you don't buy the right cup firsthand.

• Possible physical limitations may hinder those with joint, reproductive or other physically-related conditions from comfortably, safely, conveniently using a menstrual cup. A menstrual cup is not for everyone! That's okay. Please see below for other types of period products that are eco-friendly with small descriptions included.

(via menstrualcup.co)

If you think a menstrual cup is not for you but still want to use more sustainable period products, fear not: you have options!  Many brands have been launched offering environmentally-friendly period products for conscious consumers. Each type listed below has their own pros and cons, but overall are more sustainable than plastic applicator synthetic tampons.

• Organic tampons, no applicator: In best conditions, 100% cotton tampons can break down within 6 months—a much shorter timeframe than synthetic tampons! And without an applicator, you're cutting that source of waste out entirely. Like the menstrual cup, your fingers will be reaching in for insertion. (Brands: Cora, Honest, LOLA)

• Organic tampons with cardboard applicators: With all the perks of a one-use tampon, they generate the same amount of waste as regular tampons but cardboard applicators can technically be recycled, and they biodegrade much faster than plastic applicators. They are subjectively less comfortable to use than plastic applicators. (Brands: Rael, Maxim, Brandless, kali)

• Organic tampons with reusable applicators: Currently unavailable, but various companies will launch tampons with reusable applicators very soon. These applicators may last for years before needing replacement, although it's questionable whether they can be recycled after use. The applicators likely need to be boiled or washed with soap & water to disinfect.  Still producing waste via tampons each month. (Brands: THINX, Dame)

• Menstrual cup with special pull-stems: Currently unavailable; in an effort to create menstrual cups accessible, some companies will soon release newly designed cups meant for those who cannot use traditional-style cups. These stems are used to break the seal that keeps the cup in place when inserted. All the perks of a menstrual cup, however, it still may not be the best design for your specific needs. (Brands: Keela, flexcup)

• Washable cloth pads & pantyliners: No tampon OR applicator waste but may add bulkiness or sweatiness in your underwear; you should also purchase a generous package of them so you never run out between washing. Requires laundering—higher maintenance needs compared to other products. (Brands: Small businesses on Etsy, Lunapads, Charlie Banana)

• Period underwear: No tampon OR applicator waste, but this alone may not be enough to collect your menses and may need to be paired with a different period product anyhow. You should probably purchase more than one to switch out for if/when it absorbs full capacity. Also requires laundering. (Brands: Modibodi, Harebrained, THINX, Lunapads)

• Menstrual sponges: Made of natural sea sponge, these can be reused up to 6 months with proper care. I would not recommend a menstrual sponge to most people, due to a combination of risk factors and strict upkeep to maintain sterilization. They are a natural material, but it may concern you that they aren't actually plants—sea sponges are considered animals despite immobility and a lack of organs. Their filter-feeding means sand or other small particles may be present in the sponge which may make you apprehensive of inserting it into your body. And, because it works through absorption, the sponge must be thoroughly sanitized by soaking in a safe solution for 1-2 hours between periods OR risk it harboring bacteria or fungi which can lead to imbalanced pH, infections, or even TSS. Like tampons, a menstrual sponge should only be left inserted no more than 8 hours. It is still a viable option if one has the time to maintain proper sterilization of the sponge. However, if you want a period product which absorbs menstruation from within the body, my recommendation is 100% cotton tampons because, despite downsides of the tampon waste, cotton tampons are made from plant material which biodegrades, and its disposability poses much less health risk than a reusable menstrual sponge.

For menstruating folk, if we collectively begin using sustainable period products like the Menstrual Cup it would significantly cut back on tampon and plastic applicator waste going into landfills and our waters. I think the personal benefits of using menstrual cups outweigh its downsides—however, the cup doesn't suit every person's needs and you may still wish to reduce your period product waste. I recommend researching on your own as much as you can, to choose an eco-friendly period product that's best for you. I hope my extensive guide has helped you consider purchasing any eco-friendly product for your menstruation needs. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for menstrual cup reviews! ♥

2019 Calendar Printables

It's almost the end of the year and bujoers abound have begun prepping for 2019. A popular practice is starting a fresh journal in January, which lasts the whole year... this means creating a Future Log that includes all 12 months. Here are some free printables I created with all the months of 2019, for those who don't want to write it by hand. Scroll below for links!

Have you ever received washi with extra thin strips between them? They make excellent decorative borders!
Click here for the washi set that these super thin washi strips came in (found on Amazon)

(via tenor)

So... I don't actually start a new journal in January! My journal does last the 12 months, but it starts in July and ends June the following year. This is convenient because, as a student, summer is when I'm most free to begin a new journal. When setting up my current Future Log (which goes into 2019), I printed the months instead of writing by hand; I like the clean look, and it fits well in the 2nd premade spread in Rhodia's Goalbook (above). Since the New Year is coming up, I thought to share these Printables with the Bujo community.

There are two versions of this calendar: one with a 2 square-inch border when printed at 100% scale, and the other without borders. The borders are meant to be decorative or help you keep a straight line when cutting them out. The one with no borders is available for those who prefer them without.

Click on the links below to download Bullet Journal 2019 Calendars

Download 2019 Calendar with no Borders

Download 2019 Calendar with 2" Borders

These free printables are for personal use only. See the example on the left for the approximate size. Let me know if you're using these in the comments below, or if you have other ideas for Printables you would like to see!

The Plant allows me to share bullet journal related things more easily than posting on the Bullet Journal Junkies Facebook group. I lurk, comment, but rarely post—posts are quickly pushed down due to its large and international member base (however, I'll post any Bujo-related articles when they air on my blog!!) If you're a member, you may not see me but I'm there... ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ

Also, welcome to The Plant! Feel free to reach out to me directly on my blog if you have Bujo-related questions or if you're interested in bullet journaling. Thanks for visiting and have a lovely day ~ ☁