Key Takeaways
Attn: Grace pads are designed around a Skin-Safe™ standard and feature a plant-based top layer that is free from petroleum-based plastics, bleach, latex, synthetic dyes, and synthetic fragrances.
They replace harsh chemicals and petroleum-based materials with gentle, plant-based, renewable alternatives wherever possible.
Their products are formulated without over 1,700 substances that EU cosmetic safety regulators have restricted or prohibited, a voluntary standard Attn: Grace applies to its products, even though U.S. incontinence products are not required to meet it
Their pads are independently verified through certifications including OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Dermatest® Excellent, B Corp™, and Carbon Neutral Manufacturing.
Attn: Grace pads are designed with sensitive skin as a primary consideration; with a gentle, plant-based top sheet and no synthetic dyes, fragrances, chlorine, or latex
Attn: Grace is the first Certified B Corp™ in the incontinence category, a third-party benchmark of social and environmental accountability awarded by the nonprofit B Lab.
Why the Ingredients in Your Incontinence Pad Actually Matter
If you've ever experienced irritation, redness, or discomfort from an incontinence pad, you're not alone. The materials used in many conventional pads can directly affect your skin, especially in an area as sensitive as the pelvic region. Knowing what's actually in your pad is an important question. Here's an honest look at what many pads contain, what Attn: Grace does differently, and why it matters for your everyday comfort and long-term skin health.
What Ingredients Are in Conventional Incontinence Pads?
Many mainstream incontinence pads prioritize absorption performance, with material choices that reflect generic industry manufacturing practices
Common Materials Found in Many Standard Pads
Petroleum-based plastics: used in the top sheet (the layer touching your skin) and back sheet for structure and moisture resistance.
Bleach: used to whiten the pulp core. Elemental chlorine bleaching which is used in some conventional pad manufacturing, can produce dioxins, a class of persistent environmental compounds. Not all manufacturers use elemental chlorine bleaching; "totally chlorine-free" (TCF) and "elemental chlorine-free" (ECF) processes exist and produce significantly lower or no dioxin byproducts.
Synthetic fragrances: added to mask odor, but fragrance formulas are proprietary blends that can include numerous undisclosed chemicals, many of which are recognized skin irritants and allergens.
Synthetic dyes: used for branding or aesthetic color coding. Artificial dyes are among recognized contact dermatitis triggers.
SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer): widely used synthetic gelling agent derived from petroleum. While functional, it is not a naturally derived material.
Adhesives and binders: used to hold pad layers together. The specific chemistry is rarely disclosed on packaging.
The U.S. does not require full ingredient disclosure for incontinence products. Because absorbent hygiene products are classified as Class I medical devices under FDA regulations and not cosmetics, they are not subject to cosmetic ingredient listing requirements. Consumers therefore have limited visibility into exactly what materials contact their skin for hours at a time.
What Makes Attn: Grace Different: CLN Design™ and Skin-Safe™
Attn: Grace was built around a different premise: that incontinence products should prioritize the person wearing them, not just absorption performance. Their answer is CLN Design™, a proprietary material philosophy that replaces petroleum-based and chemically harsh components with plant-based, renewable alternatives wherever possible.
What Is CLN Design™?
Attn: Grace's engineering framework for cleaner incontinence products governs material selection throughout the pad, prioritizing plant-based, Skin-SafeTM materials where they matter most and starting with the layers that touch your skin. The result is a micro-perforated plant-based top sheet and an absorbent core designed for fast fluid transfer, with petroleum-based plastics and harsh chemicals excluded from the skin-contact layers
What Does Skin-Safe™ Mean?
Skin-Safe™ is Attn: Grace's brand standard, a commitment that no product contains ingredients known to cause skin irritation or harm. It is a design specification backed by third-party certification, including OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and Dermatest® Excellent testing.
What Attn: Grace Pads Are Free From
When asking "do Attn: Grace pads have chemicals?", the most accurate answer is: not the harmful ones identified in our Skin-Safe™ standard. Here's the specific list of what you won't find in any Attn: Grace pad or liner:
No petroleum-based plastics: the top sheet is made from plant-based polyethylene derived from sugarcane waste
No bleach: the wood pulp absorbent core is totally chlorine-free (TCF)
No synthetic fragrances
No synthetic dyes
Free from over 1,700 substances restricted under EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: substances classified as carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxins, among others, that EU regulators have prohibited from cosmetic and personal care products
How Certifications Back Up the Claims
It's easy for a brand to say its products are clean and safe — third-party certifications make those claims verifiable. Attn: Grace holds multiple independent certifications that substantiate its Skin-Safe™ commitments:
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Certified
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is an internationally recognized certification that tests textile products for over 100 harmful substances, including pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and pH levels outside safe skin ranges. Certification means the product has been independently lab-tested and confirmed safe for skin contact. Attn: Grace uses OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified materials.
Dermatest® Excellent
Dermatest® is a German dermatological testing institute that evaluates products for skin compatibility. An 'Excellent' rating (the highest tier) means the product was clinically tested on human subjects and found to be non-irritating under the conditions of the study. This certification is particularly relevant for people with sensitive skin or those managing skin conditions in the pelvic region.
B Corp™ Certified
Attn: Grace is the first Certified B Corporation™ in the incontinence category. B Corp certification evaluates a company's social and environmental performance, including supply chain transparency, ingredient sourcing, and environmental impact. It is awarded by the nonprofit B Lab after a rigorous independent assessment, not self-reported. Attn: Grace earned its B Corp certification in 2022 with an impact score of 107. (Attn: Grace B Corp announcement)
Attn: Grace's manufacturing process is certified carbon neutral, reflecting a commitment to environmental accountability that extends beyond the product itself.
FSC Certified Tree Pulp
The wood pulp used in Attn: Grace pads is sourced from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a global standard for responsible forest management. (FSC)
Cruelty Free & Vegan
No animal testing. No animal-derived ingredients.
How Attn: Grace Compares to Major Competitors
The following comparison reflects publicly available information about conventional incontinence pad materials and Attn: Grace's documented product specifications. It is offered as factual context, not as a comprehensive product-by-product analysis.
Feature |
Attn: Grace |
Conventional Mainstream Pads |
|---|---|---|
Top sheet material |
Plant-based polyethylene (from sugarcane) |
Petroleum-based polypropylene or polyethylene |
Bleaching method |
Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF) |
Elemental chlorine or chlorine dioxide (varies by manufacturer) |
Synthetic fragrances |
None |
Present in some products |
Synthetic dyes |
None |
Present in some products |
Third-party skin safety certification |
Dermatest® Excellent |
Not standard across category |
OEKO-TEX® certified materials |
Yes |
Not standard across category |
The table above describes category-level practices, not specific claims about named competitors. All descriptions of conventional pad practices reflect industry-standard manufacturing as reported in published sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Attn: Grace pads safe for sensitive skin?
Yes. Attn: Grace pads carry a Dermatest® Excellent rating, the highest available, meaning they were found to be non-irritating in clinical testing on human subjects which is a meaningful benchmark for those with sensitive skin, though individual responses can vary.
Do Attn: Grace pads contain fragrance?
No. Attn: Grace pads are completely free from synthetic fragrances. No masking scents or perfumes are added to any product in the line. If you've experienced reactions to scented pads in the past, this formulation difference is meaningful.
Are Attn: Grace pads chemical-free?
"Chemical-free" is technically not possible because water is a chemical, and all matter is composed of chemicals. What Attn: Grace products are, more precisely, is free from harmful chemicals as defined by our Skin-Safe™ standard: specifically petroleum-based plastics, bleach, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, and over 1,700 substances restricted under EU chemical safety law.The skin-contact materials are 100% plant-based and independently certified safe for skin contact through OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 testing and Dermatest® clinical evaluation.
What certifications do Attn: Grace pads have?
Attn: Grace holds OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification, Dermatest® Excellent, B Corp™ certification, Carbon Neutral Manufacturing certification, FSC Certified Tree Pulp sourcing, and Cruelty Free & Vegan status. These are all third-party verified, not self-declared.
What are Attn: Grace pads made of?
Attn: Grace pads use a micro-perforated plant-based top sheet derived from sugarcane-sourced polyethylene, and a rapid-wicking absorbent core made with sustainably sourced, totally chlorine-free (TCF) wood pulp. Petroleum-based plastics and synthetic components have been meticulously excluded from the skin-contact layers.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace consultation with a qualified health professional. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties about completeness or suitability for any purpose. If you have health concerns or persistent symptoms, please consult your clinician.