Babe With The Power

If you're a part of the Lovability fam, then you know we're BIG fans of lube.  While we'll sing lube's praises for penetration all day, it's not the only route to Pleasuretown you can take. There are some other, just as fun ways to experiment with lube that you might have yet to explore. 

So we picked the brains of some of the smartest pleasure educators around, and they gave us the down-low on seven of their favorite, creative ways to use lube.

#1 Moisturizer For Your Lips

No, not those lips (that's pretty obvious, right?), but if your other puckers are in need of a little moisture, Lovability Co-Founder and President, WaterSlyde inventor, and world-renowned pleasure queen Maureen Pollack has the best trick.

“I use our HALLELUBEYAH Organic Aloe lube as lip gloss,” she says with a sly smile. “I like to say that 'our lube is good for all your lips.' Try saturating your lips with lube. It’s seriously HOT. And because it's organic and super clean, I have no worries about doing mouth stuff after our lube has been applied.”

Another little secret Pollack shared. "Our Bomb Balm Arousal Balm has a plumping element to it, so I get major compliments when I use it on my lips. And I'm always like, 'Little do you know what's going on.'"

#2 Spice Up Your Couples' Massage 

A massage is a great way to relax and get in the mood. According to Nina Nguyen, a Berlin-based sex educator and co-founder of Fraulila.de, an LGBTQ+ platform in Germany, the only thing that would make massaging your partner's body even hotter is wetting your hands with a little lube.

"People forget lube isn't only for penetration," Nguyen says. "It has multiple uses and comes in many different forms. Although the standard water and silicone-based are perfect for sex, you can get lubricants that are great for massages as well.

"Any lube made for vaginal and/or anal use will have the oiliness needed for an awesome massage. Then you can ease into sex much better, which is more pleasurable for both partners."

#3 Spice It Up Even Further

Wanna really experience all the delicious magic lube can offer? Sex expert and educator for Bedbible Rachel Worthington invites you to take your massage a little further south.

"If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can also try a perineal massage," Worthington says. "Just add a dollop of lube to your fingers, warm it up a bit and then gently massage the area just below the anus. In penis owners, massaging this area can actually indirectly stimulate the prostate, but it can also feel super pleasurable for vulva owners, too."

When it comes to what kind of lube to use, Worthington says she always opts for oil-based as "they are long-lasting and often nourish the skin." Just be sure to avoid oils when using condoms or sex toys, as they can cause damage. If you're playing with a vibrator or using a condom, water-based lube is best.

#4 Upgrade Your Shower Sex

Shower sex is one of those things that's always great in theory. But water zaps the moisture out of your skin, which makes penetration really uncomfortable and even painful. Nguyen says that reaching for the lube is the answer.

"Most people have issues with lubrication in showers, jacuzzis, and tubs," she says. "Here is the best solution: you need silicone-based lube as it's water resistant and lasts longer than ordinary lube. Some stores carry lubes made specifically for underwater sex in any occasion, which can come in handy in other situations like naturist/nudist beaches, private swimming pools, and so on."

That's right, lube may just be the thing to make all your exhibitionist fantasies come true.

#5 Give Your Nips Some Love 

Who doesn't love a little nipple play? Any fans of this kind of foreplay should take Worthington's advice and introduce the girls to lube.

"If you have sensitive nipples and enjoy nipple stimulation during foreplay and sex, try dabbing a small amount on each nipple," she says. "Then have your partner stroke, squeeze or flick your nipples, and every sensation will suddenly feel even more intense. Plus, it will have a delightfully cooling effect, which can be intensified even more by gently blowing on the nipples."

#6 Try A 'BUSENFICK' 

Our boobs can feel so much more than we give them credit for. If you haven't experimented with them beyond the casual groping, erotic therapist and sensual massage educator Jazmin Light is about to rock your world.

"One way people can use lube, especially if they are into safe sex, is for a 'Busenfick,' as they call it in German," she says. "Boobfuck would be the literal translation." 

Don't be terrified of the brass, unromantic language. The actual act is much more inviting.

"Here's how it goes: you sensually smear the lube on and in between your breasts and on his shaft. And then, like a dolphin (male on his back, girl on top), glide your chest up and down on his shaft."

#7 Get Your Hands Dirty

Getting a little handsy is always fun, and licensed marriage and family therapist Shadeen Francis says you can make it even more fun with some lube. Just a warning: this can get a little messy.

"Any scratching during sex should be intentional and consensual," Francis says. "So I like to suggest that before any hand play, not just add a little lube to the area, but to put a generous squeeze of lube in their palms. Rub it into both sides of your hands, like you would if you were washing them. You can get some surprising sensations from the back side of your hand or between your fingers."

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As you can see, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to what lube can do for you. So the next time you're feeling frisky in the bedroom, grab a bottle of HALLELUBEYAH ORGANIC aloe-based lube and see what kind of (very fun) trouble you can get into.

About The Author

Emily Blackwood is a freelance journalist committed to answering the plaguing question of what makes us truly happy. Turns out, it's a lot. Her work has been published in SELF, HuffPost, and YourTango. You can learn more here.

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Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical or professional advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.

Shopping for your next vibrator or picking up condoms for a hot date should be fun. But navigating aisles of products with unfamiliar ingredients that force you to decode labels can quickly turn a sexy errand into a stressful one.

In theory, certifications should be a helpful way to evaluate if a product is safe and effective. But in practice, the plethora of certifications—all of which are regulated by private organizations that have their own set of standards—can be really confusing. And to top it off, some certifications are more reputable than others.

So, how can you determine which labels to look for when you're shopping? And what does it mean when a product isn't certified? Here's a quick breakdown of some of the most common certifications you'll find on sexual products and what they actually mean.

What Does It Mean To Be Certified?

Outside of condoms and lube, the FDA does not regulate sexual health products. So your favorite dildos and do-dads can hit the market without any government approval.

You're not alone if that makes you feel icky. Private certifying organizations were created to fill the gap and give shoppers some guidance on what's safe to use.

When a company is certified, that means an outside organization has reviewed the product and deemed it safe for human use. So rather than just throwing the word "organic" on the label, for example, a company that's gone through the certification process can put a special "certified organic" logo on their products that tell you they've met a specific organization's standards.

Generally speaking, certifications are voluntary, and there's no universal standard that products have to meet in order to receive one. Each organization has different requirements, and some are more stringent than others. In other words, certifications aren't foolproof—but they are important for helping you make informed decisions, especially when the FDA isn't providing guidance.

Types Of Certifications To Consider

Advocating for your body (and your pleasure) goes beyond what goes down in the bedroom. Whether you're shopping online or IRL, taking the time to familiarize yourself with certifications can help you make informed decisions about what goes in and on your body. And that's pretty damn empowering.

Here are a few certifications that are popular in the sexual health space and what they really mean:

Organic: When it comes to our good 'ole pal personal lubricant, certified organic (or made with organic ingredients) is ideal. Because if a lubricant is labeled as organic, it should mean that the ingredients haven't interacted with any chemicals.

Vegan and Cruelty-Free: While the two certifications are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to two different things. A vegan product means it doesn't contain any animal products or byproducts, while a cruelty-free item wasn't tested on animals. Some certifying organizations, like PETA, look to cover both bases.

Fair Trade: Ever wonder where your condoms come from? If you want to be sure that they were made in ethical working conditions, look for a fair trade certification. This means that the workers who made your condoms (or lubricant, or sex toy, etc.) were treated fairly and paid a livable wage for their labor.

B Corp: You want to do good and feel good, so look for products that are manufactured by B Corporations. These are businesses that have been verified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet stringent standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. With this certification, you can be sure that your money is going to a company that's actually doing good in the world.

Gynecologist-Tested: Many popular washes and wipes on the market today claim to be gynecologist-tested. While that sounds like a pretty good indicator of safety, it's really nothing more than a marketing tactic. There's no third-party certifying organization that verifies this claim—it's simply something companies can say on their own. Ignore it and focus on the ingredients.

Associations That Certify

The certifications we just talked about are all well and good, but which organization can you actually trust?

Like all things in life, it's really up to you to determine which certifications matter to you and which ones don't. Put on your cute investigator cap and check out the certifying organization's website to learn more about their standards and process. Transparency is always a good sign, so look for organizations that are open about how they certify products and what requirements manufacturers have to meet.

Here are a few certifying bodies you'll likely see:

Leaping Bunny: One of the most popular certifications in the beauty industry, Leaping Bunny certification requires that a product and its ingredients aren't tested on animals at any point during development. [Note: products are exempted from the animal testing restriction when testing on an ingredient is required by a regulatory agency, such as the FDA.]

USDA Organic: The gold standard for organic certifications, the USDA requires that products bearing its label meet the rigorous standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture. Meaning their ingredients haven't been exposed to pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or ionizing radiation.

Made Safe: A nonprofit organization that, through an internal audit process, assists companies selling household products that are not “toxic” to humans and the environment.

PETA: As we mentioned before, PETA certifies both vegan and cruelty-free products. To receive certification, a company must pledge that neither its products nor ingredients have been tested on animals at any point during development.

Vegan Society, Vegan.org, and Vegetarian Society: These certifying bodies all have different requirements, but the general idea is that products must be free of animal products and byproducts to earn certification. Being free of animal testing is not a part of this certification.

What If My Fav Product Is Not Certified?

Just because a product isn't certified doesn't mean it's a dealbreaker. Getting certified costs money and time, so some small or new companies may not be able to get certified right away. Not to mention that not all products qualify for the popular certifications that a lot of people look for. No organization certifies condoms as organic, for example, so look for other attributes when shopping condoms such as natural ingredients, vegan, sustainable, etc.

So while certifications can be helpful to evaluate and trust a product, there are several other factors to consider when deciding how to shop for body-safe sex toys and essentials:

Natural Ingredients & Body-Safe Materials: Nothing is more important than reading the label to determine whether the ingredients are truly healthy and body-safe. Every product, whether it's for contraception or pleasure, has its own unique set of guidelines and any company selling a product should be fully transparent—from a full list of ingredients and explicit directions for use, to sourcing of its materials and the sustainability of its operations. And if you ask a question and get an evasive answer, that's not a good sign.

Shared Values: Head over to the About page and get to know the company—its founders, its mission—and ask yourself if these are people and values you want to support. There's no shortage of purchasing options out there, so you might as well feel reeeaaaally good about the company you're buying from as well as what's going inside your body.

Partners: Look at the company's partners—all of them. If they sell their products with a natural grocer you trust, for example, you can bet that retailer did their homework to affirm the product is not only worthy of their shelf-space but aligned with their values. Likewise, if the company supports organizations that protect the environment or amplify women's voices, those are actions that transcend marketing jargon.

Knowledge is Sexy - And Powerful

You deserve to feel confident and informed about the products you use, especially when it comes to something as personal as sexual health. So do your research. While certifications are a helpful way to evaluate products, they're not the be-all and end-all. Dig in to the ingredients, ask questions if the FAQs don't address your question, explore the values of the company manufacturing the products as well as the retailer selling them to you.

The more you know, the more empowered you'll be to make the best choices for your body—and that's pretty damn sexy.

About The Author

Emily Blackwood is a freelance journalist committed to answering the plaguing question of what makes us truly happy. Turns out, it's a lot. Her work has been published in SELF, HuffPost, and YourTango. You can learn more here.

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Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical or professional advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.

Being safe in the bedroom means more than just asking for consent and choosing a respectful partner (though those things are mega crucial too). What you use during sexy time  - from the condom and personal lubricant to the massage candle and the pleasure device - is just as important.

Many sex essentials and toy products that come into contact with your nether regions contain harsh ingredients or materials that can throw off your delicate balance and irritate your skin. The potential for mood-killing is high enough to send most people down the rabbit hole of "healthy" alternatives.

Terms like "natural," "clean," and "toxin-free," sound great, but they're often vague, unregulated, and sometimes completely unrelated to the nature of the product itself. You shouldn't have to be a chemist to pick out a good lube, arousal balm, or sex toy, so we're peeling back the curtain on what some of these so-called healthy labels really mean.

Can We Trust Labels?

In theory, labels are supposed to give us consumers insight into what we're buying and using. But there's no shortage of words and terms companies use to make their products sound healthier, safer, or more environmentally friendly that don't always have meaning.

Taking responsibility for your sexual health and wellness means not blindly trusting marketing buzzwords on a label and doing a little more diligence. The more you know about what goes into your products, the more confident you can be about using them.

What Does It Mean When A Product Is Marketed As "Natural"?

The FDA currently has no formal definition for "natural" but they have suggested that it "means that nothing artificial or synthetic." Of course, this mainly applies to food—not condoms, personal lubricant, or vibrators.

In the context of sex, "natural" should mean the product is made with plant-based or mineral ingredients as opposed to chemicals. A good rule of thumb is to see if you can recognize the ingredients on the list. If you can't pronounce it or have never heard of it before, it's probably not natural.

Still, the word "natural" is kind of a benign term that companies use to make their products sound healthy. So even if a product is marketed as "natural," more research is usually needed to see if the ingredients are actually safe for your body.

Does Body-Safe Mean It Is Safe For Your Body?

The term "body-safe" is used a lot in the toy industry to describe products made without sketchy materials that leach toxins and irritate your skin (gross, right?). Body-safe products are non-porous and smooth, so they don't harbor bacteria the way something non-safe can.

While the label itself can be helpful and reassuring, it's important to note that there is no legal definition of "body-safe" by the FDA. Just because a product is marketed as safe doesn't necessarily mean that it is.

The best way to tell if a product gets the green light in safety is to check the materials. When it comes to your favorite play things, medical-grade polystyrene (hello, WaterSlyde) or silicone, stainless steel, or borosilicate glass are all good bets.

What About Non-Toxic and Toxin-Free?

The word "toxin" usually conjures up images of industrial waste and smoggy skies, but there are toxins all around us—even in our bedrooms. Chemicals like phthalates and parabens are added to many conventional sex products to make them softer, more flexible, or longer lasting. But they can also throw our hormones out of whack and increase our risk of cancer.

Considering that horrifying information, I understand the need to grab anything labeled "toxin-free." But unfortunately, that word also lives in the wild west of unregulated FDA terms. The only way to be 100% sure your lube or personal wipes are free of harmful chemicals is to diligently check the ingredients list for known offenders (which we'll get to in a minute).

How About Chemical-Free?

"Chemical-free" is another one of those terms that doesn't actually mean anything. To be clear, everything is made of chemicals. The air you breathe, the water you drink, and even your own body is a big ol' chemistry experiment.

When people talk about "chemical-free" products, they usually mean products that don't contain synthetic ingredients or harsh chemicals. But since there's no legal definition, the term can be used pretty liberally on labels. For example, glycerin is regularly called out as a dangerous chemical but there's no distinction made between vegetable glycerin - derived from oils and fats - and synthetic glycerin - derived from petroleum.

Again, don't put too much stock in this kind of marketing and always check the ingredients list.

It's Organic So It Must Be Good, Right?

Our friends at the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) don't regulate the word "organic." That's the domain of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) —traditionally for food but it can pertain to any other agricultural products. For cosmetics, body care and personal care products, for example, they can be certified as organic if they are made up of "agricultural ingredients which are organically produced."

An important point to understand here is that the label organic refers to how the food or product is produced or made, and not to what it actually contains. So while an organic lubricant can't be made with pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, it could still be made with materials that may cause a reaction. 

There are also ground rules which allow for use of the word "organic" where perhaps not all of the ingredients are, in fact, organic. Are 95% of the ingredients certified organic? Great - you can call it organic. If only 70% - you can offer "made with" your organic ingredients. Less than 70%? No problem - you can still call out the specific ingredients that are organic. 

Another tip - just because your favorite mag lists a product in an article on the "10 Best Organic Lubes" doesn't necessarily make it so. Yup, always check the ingredients - and if it's not 100% clear, ask the company who makes it!

Yes, Of Course I Want My Products To Be Vegan

When it comes to veganism, there are a lot of different levels. For some people, it's a dietary restriction and for others, it's a lifestyle choice that extends well into the bedroom. 

When it comes to products, vegan generally means that no animal-related ingredients were used and no animals were harmed in making them. Condoms, for example, can be considered vegan if they don't contain casein, a protein found in dairy that can help to soften the latex so that the rubber (condoms) is smooth and thin. 

Some products get a vegan certification from an organization like PETA while others use a "100% Vegan" label on their products. In either case, take the claim with a grain of salt and, yes, check the ingredients list.

What Is Non-GMO? Why Is That Relevant Here?

Here's where things get a little science-y. GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are created in a lab by manipulating the genes of a plant or animal. This is usually done to make the food pest-resistant or herbicide-tolerant.

While the FDA maintains that GMOs are safe to eat, there are some animal studies that suggest otherwise. Accelerated aging, infertility, and immune system dysfunction have all been linked to GMO exposure. And since GMOs can be absorbed through your skin, it's not a bad idea to avoid them in your lubes and condoms. FYI- the butterfly symbol on a Non-GMO Project certification label signifies that the product went through a rigorous process to ensure it doesn't contain any GMOs.

But here's the kicker: labeling something GMO-free or non-GMO - like condoms, for example - when it does not logically contain any chemicals that might be GMO is essentially marketing a distinction without there being any difference. In other words, it's done strictly for marketing purposes to stand out from competitors and not because it's signifying a substantive difference from other brands.

It's A Clean Product? That Sounds Nice.

Some labels mean specific things you can wrap your head around and others are about as clear as mud. Clean is one of those terms. It's often used to describe products that don't contain any synthetic ingredients—but again, since there's no legal definition, it can be used pretty liberally on labels.

Rather than rely on a nebulous term like clean, take a look at the ingredients list to get an idea of what's actually in the product. If you find a bunch of crazy-looking, unpronounceable words, put it back on the shelf.

Plant-Based? We Can Get Behind That!

Yep—animal products can be lurking in some pretty unexpected places. And while you might not be down with wearing leather or eating eggs, you might not realize that some of your personal care items contain animal by-products.

So what's a compassionate consumer to do? Look for products that are plant-based. This means that they were made without any animal products or byproducts and no animals were harmed in the making of the product. Organizations like NSF and the Plant Based Foods Association have certification programs to ensure products are truly animal-free.

While it's still a marketing tool, plant-based at least has some logic to go along with that good feeling. 

Good For Sensitive Skin? Pregnancy Safe?

Some people need to take extra precautions when choosing personal care products due to skin sensitivities or pregnancies. Terms like "good for sensitive skin" may lead you to believe that a product is gentle enough for anyone to use—but that's not always the case.

Products labeled as sensitive usually refer to being gentle enough for those with sensitive skin—but since there's no legal definition, it's not regulated. So while the product might be less likely to cause a reaction, it's not guaranteed.

Pregnancy-safe products, on the other hand, have to meet certain FDA criteria to be able to use that label. Products that are safe for pregnant people to use will usually be clearly marked as such, but if you're unsure, check with your doctor before using anything new.

Chemicals To Avoid In Sexual Health Products

Respect for you and your body starts with what you put on (and in) it. So let's avoid the following nasty chemicals as much as we can:

- Synthetic Glycerin

- Propylene Glycol

- Parabens

- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

- Trimethyltin Chloride

- Phthalates

- Toluene

- PEGs

About Nitrosamines In Condoms: Do They Cause Cancer? (Answer: NO)

A few years an article was published entitled "Are Condoms Killing You?" The question was raised because a carcinogenic substance is commonly found in latex condoms (as with baby bottle nipples, it helps to maintain elasticity). Fair question to ask, except for the fact it was suggested by the researcher that only condoms "free of nitrosamines" were safe while others might cause cancer. This myth was destroyed after researchers determined that the level of nitrosamines in latex in condoms is so very, very low and doesn't pose a risk. They estimated that if a person used ~1,500 condoms over the course of their life, the amount of nitrosamines transferred from that number of condoms would need to be one million (!) times higher for there to be even the possibility of being considered toxic. Fear mongering aside, the World Health Organization recommended to the condom industry that it reduce nitrosamine levels and they continue to do so. 

Bottom line: as a consumer, look for brands claiming to be "non-detectable" - a level so small that it is considered statistically insignificant - if not nitrosamine-free.

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No product will ever be 100% perfect and more research is being done every day to help us understand the effects of these chemicals on our bodies. A great organization (and one Lovability is proud to partner with) which is working to eliminate toxic chemicals that harm our health and the environment is Women's Voices For The Earth.  

The point is not to live in fear of an ingredient label. It is to be mindful of what you are exposing yourself to and make the best choices you can with the information you have. So don't be fooled by pretty packaging or nice-sounding labels. Do your research, talk to your doctor if you have questions, and find products that work for you and make you feel good—inside and out.

About The Author

Emily Blackwood is a freelance journalist committed to answering the plaguing question of what makes us truly happy. Turns out, it's a lot. Her work has been published in SELF, HuffPost, and YourTango. You can learn more here.

___________________________________________________

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical or professional advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.