Compare Menstrual Pads
Natracare Ultra Pads with Wings, Regular scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Always Radiant Regular Pads with Wings, Scented 3.7/10 and the Natracare Ultra Pads with Wings, Regular 9.7/10 on the same menstrual pads scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The Natracare Ultra Pads with Wings, Regular comes out ahead, led by its safety score (9.9/10 vs 3.4/10).
The most important dimensions, side by side.
See which one actually scores higher — and why
Free account unlocks full safety scores, spec-by-spec breakdown, and the R3 verdict on Always Radiant Regular Pads with Wings, Scented vs Natracare Ultra Pads with Wings, Regular.
Unlock the full Always Radiant Regular Pads with Wings, Scented vs Natracare Ultra Pads with Wings, Regular breakdown
Free account unlocks all safety scores, complete spec comparison, scoring rationale, and the R3 verdict on which one to buy.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want the strongest leak and runoff protection above every other factor
You specifically prefer a scented pad and the light clean scent is a plus for you
You are comfortable with a synthetic FlexFoam top layer rather than cotton
You value a dermatologist-approved, skin-friendly pad for comfort and reactivity
You want the cleanest, most transparent period pad, with certified organic cotton against your skin
You care that an independent lab found no PFAS marker on this line, not just an organic label on the box
You want a plastic-free, phthalate-free, fragrance-free pad that discloses every layer
You have sensitive skin and react to conventional pads
The main thing to know
The honest headline is that this pad protects against leaks as well as anything in the category, but it is scented, built with a synthetic skin-contact layer, sold without disclosed materials or independent certification, and tied to an independent-lab PFAS detection on the brand's line with no brand test to answer it. On a safety-first read, that combination outweighs the strong absorbency.
Natracare does not publish a PFAS test of its own, the same gap every pad brand has, so the clean result here comes from independent lab testing that found no PFAS marker rather than a company certificate. On the heaviest days a synthetic foam-core pad may hold more.
Skip this if you...
You want a fragrance-free pad with no added scent against your skin
You prefer a cotton skin-contact layer over a synthetic foam one
You want disclosed, layer-by-layer materials and an independent safety certification
You want independent proof the pad is free of PFAS before you buy
You need the highest raw absorbency for very heavy flow, where a synthetic foam-core pad holds more
You want a published grams absorbency figure before you buy
You want the lowest price per pad over a premium organic build
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Menstrual Pads options at every price pointEvery Menstrual Pads in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Always and Natracare across 3 independent criteria: Safety (93%), Efficacy (6%), Usability (1%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with Natracare Natracare Ultra Pads with Wings, Regular - it scored 9.7/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Menstrual Pads across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects how we weight those three pillars, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
