A Girl’s Guide on How to Create a Period Survival Kit
Alexa Jocom, founder of Filipino period care brand Halia, shares her tips and essentials for caring for yourself during your menstrual cycle.
When I was in high school, I slowly started to learn how a woman’s body changes as she goes through her monthly cycle. At times, it would be a classmate in a corner bracing herself in pain, sheepishly telling our teacher she couldn’t participate in our sports class (turns out she was having menstrual cramps). In other instances, they would nervously ask me if the back of their skirt was still pristine (they were conscious of period stains). On some occasions, my friends are just not their usual vivacious selves. While I do not experience menstruation myself, in moments like these, I wished there was something I could do to help them feel better.
For Alexa Jocom, founder of Halia, a local brand of sanitary pads and women’s care items, going through that time of the month can be tricky, but having a period survival kit can help you get through those days. In a one-on-one interview with Allure Philippines, she shares her period essentials and practical tips to better work with your body.
Sanitary pads
For Jocom, sanitary pads should be in your kit. She uses her own brand’s offerings. “I use Halia regular pads on normal flow days,” she says. “I also use the Halia super pads on my second or third day or if I have to do an intense workout on my period,” because this variant, she claims, is longer and more absorbent.
Microwaveable hot pillow
The throbbing pain from menstrual cramps is dreaded by everyone, so Jocom uses hot pillows specifically, the Kimochi herbal aroma pillows. This is a microwaveable pillow, and she attests that it gives her comfort. “It’s very warm, but it’s not the type of heat that hurts,” she says.
To use the pillow, she recommends putting it in a microwave for about a minute or two, before cooling it down for a while, so it doesn’t burn. “I use it even before I have my period because I’m usually bloated during that time, and that’s how I know I’m about to get my period,” she adds.
Hand cream and collagen facial mask
To ease the general discomfort during her cycle, Jocom loves to pamper herself. She massages her hands with a hand cream from Aesop. “I like it because it smells really good, it’s creamy, and very lightweight, and it’s not sticky,” she says. Another self-care item on her kit is a collagen mask from Biodance. “I use this when I want to relax, and I put it on overnight,” she shares.
Planner
Many girls would benefit from tracking their cycles, be it on their phone apps or through a trusty planner. For Jocom, she uses the Halia cycle syncing planner. “This is very helpful for me because I use it to plan [to know] when I will get my period and also [to track] for the four phases of my cycle, which is the menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phase. “
Kieran Punay
How to feel better during your menstrual cycle
As she moves through the ebbs and flows of her monthly cycle, Jocom has learned that it is very important to rest and stay hydrated. “On your period, rest. If you have to take more naps than usual, that’s fine,” she says.
For those who want to stay active even during their period, she recommends gentler forms of exercise. “For workouts on your period, I would suggest light activities like walking, yin yoga, or even breathing exercises. But if you still want to go for a run, that’s fine too,” she explains.
She adds that she has since stopped pushing herself through fatigue during her cycle, choosing instead to prioritize an “audit” of the past month. “During your menstrual cycle, it’s really important to also reflect on yourself,” she says.
Above all, Jocom believes it comes down to one piece of advice: listen to your body. Building a period survival kit—stocking up on pads and diligently filling out your planner is not a requirement to buy everything. It is a reminder that these items can help you care for your body better when pain and discomfort arise, because physiological changes are part of womanhood; what you can control is how you approach them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A period survival kit typically includes absorbent sanitary pads for varying flow levels, a microwaveable herbal pillow for cramp relief, a cycle-tracking planner, and self-care items like hand cream or a facial mask. The essentials vary by individual needs, flow intensity, and personal comfort preferences.
Herbal microwaveable pillows apply gentle, sustained heat to the lower abdomen, which can ease the muscle contractions that cause menstrual cramps. Unlike electric heating pads, microwaveable variants deliver warmth that dissipates gradually, reducing the risk of skin burns when cooled briefly before use.
Low-intensity movement — walking, yin yoga, and breathwork — is generally well-tolerated during menstruation and can reduce bloating and cramping. Higher-intensity exercise is not contraindicated, but listening to your body’s fatigue signals and adjusting effort accordingly is recommended, particularly on heavy flow days.
The menstrual cycle has four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal. Each phase involves distinct hormonal shifts that affect energy, mood, and physical capacity. Tracking these phases through a cycle-syncing planner allows women to align rest, exercise, and productivity to their body’s natural rhythms rather than work against them.
Managing period discomfort in active settings involves preparation: carrying absorbent pads suited to flow intensity, keeping a small heat pack accessible for cramps, staying hydrated, and building in rest where possible. Cycle-tracking apps or planners help anticipate heavy days in advance so schedules can be adjusted proactively
