8 Best Cotton Underwear for Women, Tested & Approved

Frequently asked questions

• Innersy Cotton Hipster Panties (6-pack), $20: I liked the soft cotton, flat waistband, and tag-free design of these mid-rise hipsters, which held up well through repeated washes. They offer more coverage than a bikini without feeling as substantial as a brief, though they don’t offer any smoothing or tummy control.
• Truekind Comfort Cotton Smoothing Panty, $19: These full-coverage briefs have a wide, lightly compressive waistband that smooths without digging in or rolling down, plus an inclusive size range up to 4X. The very high rise, however, can make them tricky to wear under lower-cut pants and skirts.
• Wirarpa High-Waist Cotton Panties (4-pack), $20: Glamour contributor Anna Vognsen wore these supportive 95% cotton briefs through pregnancy and postpartum and praised the wide waistband for staying put without digging in. They’re also available in an especially broad size range, up to 7X. The leg elastic tends to dig in, however.
• Pact Organic Everyday Classic Fit Bikini, $14: I initially liked these organic-cotton bikini undies for their soft, breathable fabric and full-coverage fit. But after about six months of wear, they started losing their shape, so they didn’t hold up as well as my top picks.
• Gap SoftMade Organic Stretch Cotton Bikini (3-pack), $30: These 92% organic-cotton bikinis are lightweight and breathable, with barely-there seams that stay discreet under clothing. The trade-off is a fairly minimal waistband, which can allow the underwear to shift or slide throughout the day.

As Glamour’s shopping editor, I’ve curated and tested more than 30 pairs of cotton underwear over the past three years, wearing each for at least three months. I narrowed down the list based on the following criteria:

• Material: I aimed to include pairs made of at least 90% cotton (with the exception of my Spanx shapewear and Tommy John picks), prioritizing fabrics that felt high-quality and held up after at least 10 washes without noticeable stretching or shrinking.
• Fit: I looked for underwear that felt comfortable throughout the day without riding up or digging into the skin. I also tested a range of popular silhouettes—including full-coverage briefs and boy shorts, cheeky bikinis and thongs, and styles with tummy control—while considering which options minimized visible panty lines.
• Sizing: I considered the overall size range of each pair, noting which brands offer extended sizing and where options are more limited.
• Value: Price matters, especially for everyday basics. I took into account the cost per pair and favored affordable multipacks when possible, while including higher-priced styles that stood out for their comfort, durability, and performance.

“Cotton underwear helps keep moisture away from the body and eliminates targeted heat,” Monica Grover, MD, ob-gyn and chief medical officer at medi-spa Vspot, tells Glamour. That’s a good thing, she says, since “overheating or moisture can disturb women’s pH and resistance to antibacterial treatment options.” Unlike synthetic materials, which have a tendency to trap heat, “cotton is naturally hypoallergenic,” says Dr. Grover, “which helps to alleviate any irritation—allowing for your vulva and vagina to breathe.”

Does that mean you should toss out all of your synthetic undies? Not exactly. But you might want to be more intentional about when you wear them—and consider cotton underwear, especially for workouts when other fabrics will keep you wetter and may lead to irritation or infection, says Beri Ridgeway, MD, an ob-gyn and cofounder of Ina, a brand of intimate skin care products.

“One-hundred-percent cotton is always best, especially during menopause, since it can prevent friction that can worsen vaginal dryness,” says Erica Montes, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and adviser for women’s health and wellness brand pH-D Feminine Health. You can shop for blends, but the cotton content should be at least 90% for breathability and comfort, says Dr. Grover. (Almost all of the undies in this story are.)

There are certain people who benefit from wearing cotton underwear more than others. “For a person who has never had vulvar concerns, irritation, or infections, I recommend they wear what makes them happy,” says Dr. Ridgeway. “But for those with irritation, itching, discomfort, or a history of infections, I recommend cotton because the vulvar skin is delicate and vulnerable to irritants and allergens.”

Dr. Grover also says that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women with vulvodynia (persistent irritation of the vulva) wear 100% cotton women’s underwear to help relieve symptoms.

“You really should sleep without underwear if you’re prone to vaginal issues,” says Nancy Herta, MD, an ob-gyn at Michigan State University, noting that moisture from sweat or discharge can get trapped overnight. “Allowing that area to get some air helps to keep it dry and clean.” Giving your vagina breathing room helps prevent irritation, yeast infections, and bacterial vaginosis. That said, not everyone likes the feeling of sleeping totally commando—if that’s you, switch to loose-fitting cotton underwear that promotes airflow.