Best Period Swimwear 2026 (UK), Tested & Reviewed

Written by Emma Walsh | Brighton | Last updated: June 2026

My top 10 period swimwear picks at a glance

Temporarily buy 1 get 1 free | Now £15 per pair (normally £29.95)

This is the one I kept coming back to all summer. The Lunã period swim bikini bottom genuinely held up every time I wore it, at the beach, in the pool with my kids, and on a full day out in the heat. The fabric doesn't feel any different to a regular bikini bottom when you're in the water. It dries quickly, it doesn't drag, and the absorbent gusset does its job without you being aware of it.

What stood out most was the confidence it gave me on a medium flow day. I wore it for a full afternoon at the beach, in and out of the sea, a lot of walking around, a long sit in the sun, and I didn't feel the need to check once. That is exactly what you want from a product like this.

The size range is the most inclusive on this list. There is a dedicated teen range for younger girls and an adult range up to 6XL. The materials are OEKO-TEX certified, which I appreciated. And with the current buy 1 get 1 free deal, you're getting two pairs for the price of one competitor. It's the standout option on this list by a clear margin.

Emma Walsh, tested at the beach and poolside over multiple summer days, medium flow days.

Emma Walsh, tested at the beach and poolside over multiple summer days, medium flow days.

£17.99 per pair

WUKA is probably the most recognised period brand in the UK right now, you'll find them in Boots and Sainsbury's, and the Swim Bikini Brief is a solid product. It's made from recycled nylon, has UV50+ protection built in, and at £17.99 it's the second most affordable option on this list after Lunã's deal price. There's also a dedicated teen range in sizes 2XS to M, which is a genuine plus for mums shopping for younger daughters.

For light to moderate flow days by the pool or at the beach, it works reliably. The fit is comfortable and it looks like regular swimwear. Where it falls slightly short is on heavier flow days, WUKA themselves recommend it for light days and suggest a backup for anything heavier. The adult range goes up to 4XL. It's a good solid option, just not quite as reassuring as Lunã when your flow is at its peak.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside and at the beach, light flow days.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside and at the beach, light flow days.

£34.99 per pair

Modibodi has one of the broadest swimwear ranges on this list, bikini briefs, high-waist briefs, one-pieces, and a proper teen range with youth sizing. All styles are OEKO-TEX certified and the brand is transparent about how the technology works. The swimwear bikini brief holds up to 20ml on the light-moderate version, which is more than most.

The main hesitation is the price. At £34.99 for the bikini brief, it's the second most expensive option on this list for the base style. Modibodi frequently runs promotions, so it's worth checking before you buy, but at full price it's a significant spend per pair. On performance, it held up well for a pool day on a light-moderate flow day, the absorbent layer felt less wet after extended time in the water compared to a couple of others I tried. A strong option if the price works for you.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside and at the beach, light to moderate flow days.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside and at the beach, light to moderate flow days.

£20 per pair

Azure Belle is an Australian brand that specialises exclusively in period swimwear, which shows in the range. Bikini briefs, high-waist briefs, one-pieces, sets, and a teen range too. The designs are genuinely attractive and more varied than most of the specialist brands on this list. The Bikini Brief holds up to 6ml (roughly one tampon) and is designed for light to moderate days.

At £20 per pair it's well priced for what you get, and the style choice is a real selling point. The main limitation is absorbency, 6ml is on the lower end for a day at the beach on anything other than a lighter flow day. For women who want to feel confident on a medium flow day without any backup, you might want to consider Lunã or Modibodi instead. But if style matters and your flow is manageable, Azure Belle is genuinely lovely.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, light flow days.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, light flow days.

£24.95 per pair

Flux Undies is a London-based brand with strong eco credentials and their Leakproof Swim Bikini holds around three tampons worth of flow, more than WUKA's swim bikini and a step up from Azure Belle. The PFA-free materials are a genuine positive, and 5% of proceeds from the swim collection goes to ocean clean-up. For an eco-conscious shopper, there is a lot to like here.

The main drawback is range: Flux currently offers only one swimwear style, a bikini bottom. No high-waist option, no one-piece, and the size range in the swim line is narrower than their underwear range. If you want variety or full coverage, you will need to look elsewhere. For the bikini bottom itself, it performed well at the pool on a moderate flow day. A good product, just limited in options for now.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, moderate flow day.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, moderate flow day.

£39.99

Cheeky Pants is a long-established UK reusable brand and their Period Swimsuit is one of the most affordable one-pieces on this list. At £39.99 you get adjustable straps, removable breast pads, and a design that covers UK sizes 4 to 24. It holds up to two tampons worth and is designed specifically for lighter days or the end of your period.

The limitation is clear: this is not a product for the middle of a heavy cycle at the beach. It is genuinely designed for very light days, spotting, or as a reassuring backup. For that purpose it does the job well at a fair price. A couple of testers found the one-piece runs a little small, so checking the size guide before ordering is worth the extra minute.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, very light flow day.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, very light flow day.

~£28 per pair

Snuggs has a strong following in Europe and the Period Swim Brief has a clean, pared-back look that feels more like a fashion swimwear brand than a period product brand, which a lot of women appreciate. The range includes bikini briefs, a Brazilian cut, and a one-piece. All styles use recycled nylon with UV50+ protection and the brand is PFAS-free.

For light flow days at the pool or beach it worked comfortably. The fit is secure and the material feels good in and out of the water. A few testers found sizing ran a touch inconsistently. Reading the reviews before ordering is a good idea. At around £28 per pair, it is on the pricier side for light-flow-only performance, especially without a bundle deal. A nice product, but value is better elsewhere if performance on heavier days matters to you.

Emma Walsh, tested at the beach, light flow day.

Emma Walsh, tested at the beach, light flow day.

~£25 per pair

Boux Avenue is a well-known UK lingerie and swimwear brand and their period swim bottom looks and feels like a regular bikini, no obvious construction giveaways, nice designs, and a comfortable fit. For women who want period protection without their swimwear looking like period swimwear, there is something to be said for that.

The limitation is transparency. Boux Avenue provides limited detail about how the absorbent layer performs in the water, and I found it most reliable for very light days or as a backup layer rather than a standalone solution for a full beach day. On a medium flow day I would want something more robust underneath. If you are already a Boux Avenue customer and want a convenient entry into the category for lighter days, it is worth trying. For genuine protection through a full summer's day, look further up this list.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, very light flow / spotting days.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, very light flow / spotting days.

~£22 per pair

Figleaves is primarily a swimwear retailer that has added period swimwear to its range. It is accessible, reasonably priced, and available from a brand many UK women already shop with. For very light days or spotting, it does the job.

Beyond that, the product is limited. There is no information available on certifications or the specifics of the absorbent construction, and the period swimwear range is small compared to dedicated brands. The size offering covers standard UK sizing without extended plus. If you are looking for a light-day option and want to buy from a familiar retailer, it is a reasonable pick. If you want genuine confidence for a full day at the beach, spend the extra and go with something higher on this list.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, spotting only.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, spotting only.

~£25 per pair (via UK stockists)

Thinx is one of the original period underwear brands and the Swim Brief is their swimwear option. It is available in the UK through selected stockists including some online retailers, though availability and sizing can vary. For very light days, the construction is comfortable and it works as a backup layer.

The bigger picture with Thinx in the UK is trust. The brand has faced significant reputational challenges in recent years following legal proceedings related to product safety claims, which has affected consumer confidence particularly around material transparency. For UK shoppers who prioritise knowing exactly what their swimwear is made from and having a brand that is accountable when things go wrong, there are more straightforward options on this list.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, very light flow days.

Emma Walsh, tested poolside, very light flow days.

Not all period swimwear works the same way in the water. Here is what separates a product that actually gives you a carefree beach day from one that just looks the part on the website.

After testing all ten options across several months of summer days, the ranking above is genuinely how I would spend my own money. Lunã is the standout. It is the only product on this list I wore confidently for a full day at the beach on a medium flow day without reaching for a backup. The size range is the most inclusive, the materials are certified, and the buy 1 get 1 free deal makes it the strongest value on this list by a wide margin.

WUKA is a solid second for lighter days, especially for anyone buying for a teenager. The teen range is properly sized and affordable. Azure Belle is worth a look if style and print variety matter more than maximum absorbency. And Modibodi earns its spot at three for sheer range and certified quality, if you can catch a sale.

For most women wanting to get back in the water this summer without overthinking it. Start with Lunã.

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