Playtex Products

Playtex Products, Inc. is an American consumer goods company founded in 1960 as a subsidiary of International Playtex, Inc. (itself tracing to the 1932 International Latex Corporation). The company developed and marketed a broad portfolio of personal care products including tampons (Gentle Glide, Playtex Sport), infant care products (baby bottles, pacifiers), household gloves, and suncare (Hawaiian Tropic). Playtex introduced the first plastic tampon applicator in 1973 and held approximately 30 percent of the U.S. tampon market by 2000. Following its acquisition by Energizer Holdings in 2007 for $1.16 billion, the Playtex Products brand was spun into Edgewell Personal Care in 2015. Brand ownership has since been divided: feminine care sold to Essity (2026), infant care sold to Le Holdings Angelcare (2019), and gloves sold to Freudenberg Household Products (2017). Playtex-branded apparel remains with Hanesbrands (acquired by Gildan Activewear in 2025).