It might come with age, but I’ve recently found myself browsing the no-frills section of my favourite lingerie brands – seeking out the best cotton underwear where I used to gravitate towards the typically more ‘sexy’ styles.
It’s the comfortable – and, crucially, breathable – styles that’ll see me through the more practical side of life, after all.
Hear me out, though; they needn’t look anything like the big Bridget Jones pair you’re currently thinking of either. Promise. There’s actually a variety of styles, shapes and colours when it comes to breathable cotton underwear and they’re just as empowering as your favourite lace pairs. Likely a lot less circulation-cutting, too.
Dare I say it, now I’ve gone cotton, I may never go back. And according to the rave reviews on the below bestseller styles, you won’t want to either.
Best cotton underwear FAQs, answered:
Is cotton best for underwear?
Meet the expert: Dr. Alyse Kelly-Jones, board certified OB-GYN.
The truth is, as appealing as silk or satin feels (and looks), the best fabric for your vagina is most likely cotton. It’s the least irritating fabric on skin – because, let’s face it, it’s a sensitive area down there – and is super lightweight and airy which means you’re less at risk of an infection.
“It’s healthy to have a vaginal discharge, similar to the moisture you always have in your mouth,” Dr Kelly-Jones told Healthline. “You want your underwear to gently absorb any extra moisture,” she explains, and cotton is the fabric to do it.
This is because, to put it bluntly, yeast thrives on moisture. If you’re wearing a synthetic fabric, you’re trapping moisture and essentially creating a breeding ground for bacteria. So at the very least, a cotton lining is something we should all aim for.
Continue down to our round-up of the best cotton underwear for you and, of course, your V.
For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Senior Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd. Seeking more underwear content? There’s the best period pants/period underwear (and period pants for teens), and the best bras.