I’ve Tried It All–These Are the Best Period Relief Products

Let me tell you about my most toxic relationship: the one that I have with my period. At 12 years old, I had my first period. It was also the longest and most intimate relationship of my life. A month later, I felt my first severe, painful cramps. They got worse over the next few years. My gynecologist prescribed me prescription drugs and birth control pills. But neither worked. It felt like I was adding to the problem rather than treating the root.

During this long, toxic relationship, you can bet I tried every supplement, prescription, tea, patch, app, and period relief product under the sun (you name it—I promise I’ve tried it). There are three MVP products that have lasted the test of time and endured bad PMS. I keep a regular supply to help make my period more bearable. You can find out my must-haves and which products you should try based on your symptoms below.

Relief Balm

Best for:Back pain or cramps

To believe it, I had the nerve to try the period hack. It all started when The Everygirl Team was discussing our universal obsession (AKA Equilibria CBD product), and people mentioned using the Relief Balm to relieve period cramps. Is there a cream for cramps? Yes, please! TBH, I didn’t think anything topical could make a difference in my intense, painful, long-lasting cramps, but the ingredients sounded alluring. With 500 mg of CBD, coconut oil, shea butter, lavender, and rosemary, the Relief Balm is aptly named for its promise to absorb into the skin for relief of achy joints, soreness, and—you guessed it—period cramps.

After my first try, I was an instant convert. It’s hard to explain how your ovaries feel (I never thought I would type that sentence), but there was a calming, cooling sensation that eased my cramps for about an hour, thanks to fast-acting formula. My cramps returned a lot less painful after the cooling sensation had worn off, so it seemed to soothe rather than temporarily mask the problem.

Dynamic Roller Duo

Ideal for: fatigue, insomnia, stress

Equilibria’s CBD-infused rollers are my go-to for everything, from de-stressing before bedtime to energizing before meetings or presentations (they come in both an energetic and calming formula). My menstrual game changed once I began to include them in my period symptom arsenal. When that mid-cycle fatigue hits (you know what I’m talking about), I use the Energizing Roller (with essential oils like peppermint, spearmint, and sweet orange in addition to CBD) to wake me up and help me feel inspired before a workout or meeting that my period very much does NotI want you to do.

Likewise, the Calming Roller (with essential oils like lavender, rosewood, and chamomile flower infusion in addition to CBD) is my saving grace when I’m having trouble sleeping (anyone else get period insomnia?) or PMS mood swings kick in. I prefer a natural, relaxed, and good-for you solution to the PMS mood swings. AnotherYou can either drink a cup of coffee or suffer from mood swings. You can quickly and easily get relief by massaging the roller onto your wrists or temples. 

Daily Drops

Ideal for:PMS-related stress, anxiety

I’ve been adding the mint Daily Drops from Equilibria to my morning coffee for almost two years now (time flies when you’re de-stressing with CBD!) and I’ve noticed a huge difference in how I respond to stress throughout the day and how much better my focus is, but I’ve also noticed less tension and stress that often come with my period. These drops are different from the Rollers or Relief Balm because they’re intended for daily use to build up an increased sense of calm and balance in the face of day-to-day stress (instead of immediate relief), so I love that I’m actually providing lasting change in my body over time to help with the moodiness, stress, or occasional sadness and anxiety I feel around my cycle.

Hot tip: Take Daily drops at the same moment or after eating healthy fats (such as avocados, nut butters, etc.). For increased effectiveness, take the Daily Drops at the same time as or after eating a healthy fat (such as nut butter, avocados, etc.). This ritual is very beneficial for hormonal health.

This post is sponsored and written by Equilibria. However, all opinions are those of The Everygirl editorial team.