I'll cheers to that.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve embraced all manner of natural alternatives when it comes to my daily rituals.
I sip immunity-boosting mushrooms!
Slather my face with herb-based oils!
Heck, I even made the switch to natural deodorant.
With my beauty and wellness routine as holistic as ever, there was only one area that I neglected in my pursuit of earth-derived ingredients — and that area was self love.
But not for lack of trying! Sure, there was epic innovation in the industry (10 pulsation speeds! Remote-controlled vibrations!), but I had a lot of questions about what, exactly, I was using “down there.” Arguably the most intimate area around.
I sip immunity-boosting mushrooms!
Slather my face with herb-based oils!
Heck, I even made the switch to natural deodorant.
With my beauty and wellness routine as holistic as ever, there was only one area that I neglected in my pursuit of earth-derived ingredients — and that area was self love.
But not for lack of trying! Sure, there was epic innovation in the industry (10 pulsation speeds! Remote-controlled vibrations!), but I had a lot of questions about what, exactly, I was using “down there.” Arguably the most intimate area around.
"
Should it be organic? All natural? An alchemy expertly engineered by a chemist?
Does any of that even exist!?
Thankfully — because a scientist, I am not — a modern sexual wellness brand Maude set out to conquer that exact criteria. Their Organic Lubricant read like a checklist of exactly what I was after.
“In the sexual wellness space and the wellness industry in general, it is important to understand what materials and ingredients you are putting in and around your body,” said Maude.
✔️ Aloe-Based
✔️ 100% Natural
✔️ Organic
Thankfully — because a scientist, I am not — a modern sexual wellness brand Maude set out to conquer that exact criteria. Their Organic Lubricant read like a checklist of exactly what I was after.
“In the sexual wellness space and the wellness industry in general, it is important to understand what materials and ingredients you are putting in and around your body,” said Maude.
✔️ Aloe-Based
✔️ 100% Natural
✔️ Organic
In fact, the ingredient list rattled off a series of other enticing (and, admittedly, recognizable) ingredients, including mushroom, quinoa, linseed and cannabis sativa extracts. But they also made other claims I was curious about — like that it was glycerin and paraben-free, pH-balanced and latex-friendly.
I had questions!
So in pursuit of answering my ever-so-intimate inquiries, I chatted with the Maude founders and did a little Internet sleuthing. The result? A glossary of self-love ingredients and labels to inform your next nether-region adventure.
Why aloe? Isn’t that... a plant?
1.) It’s the leaf juice. 2.) It’s suuuper hydrating — “best for supplementing your natural moisture,” says the Maude team. No uncomfortable dryness or weird artificial ingredients. Just rinse with warm water for a quick clean-up.
Why organic? That seems more salad-y than sultry.
So, “organic” is technically a certification. Put simply, all organic products are natural, but not all natural products are organic. To be organic-certified, according to Women’s Health, a “lube's ingredients won't have interacted with chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs.”
What the heck does pH-balanced mean?
A balanced pH acts as a barrier to inhibit unhealthy bacteria and yeast product, which are often linked to infection. (Eek!) The pH of Maude’s lubricant, for example, is 4.0–5.0 (and the pH of a typical vagina ranges from 3.5–4.5), making it slightly more acidic, but within the normal range.
“The Organic Lube is pH-balanced to match the vagina's natural pH, which if off balance can lead to infection,” notes Maude.
(Psst: want more info on balancing your pH? Read this editorial.)
Does it matter if my lube is latex-friendly?
If you want to pair it with condoms or a personal massager, yes! Maude notes: “Silicone lubricant cannot be used with silicone toys, like our Vibe.”
Why should I care if it’s paraben- and glycerin-free?
Parabens are a preservative often used to prolong the shelf life of health and beauty products by preventing bacteria growth. They also have questionable health and environmental side effects. Glycerin, meanwhile, has been linked to yeast infections for some women. Probably best to avoid both, no?
So about Maude’s packaging…
Stylish, right? That sleek amber bottle is totally bedside-approved. Take a peek at a few more of our favorites:
I had questions!
So in pursuit of answering my ever-so-intimate inquiries, I chatted with the Maude founders and did a little Internet sleuthing. The result? A glossary of self-love ingredients and labels to inform your next nether-region adventure.
Why aloe? Isn’t that... a plant?
1.) It’s the leaf juice. 2.) It’s suuuper hydrating — “best for supplementing your natural moisture,” says the Maude team. No uncomfortable dryness or weird artificial ingredients. Just rinse with warm water for a quick clean-up.
Why organic? That seems more salad-y than sultry.
So, “organic” is technically a certification. Put simply, all organic products are natural, but not all natural products are organic. To be organic-certified, according to Women’s Health, a “lube's ingredients won't have interacted with chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs.”
What the heck does pH-balanced mean?
A balanced pH acts as a barrier to inhibit unhealthy bacteria and yeast product, which are often linked to infection. (Eek!) The pH of Maude’s lubricant, for example, is 4.0–5.0 (and the pH of a typical vagina ranges from 3.5–4.5), making it slightly more acidic, but within the normal range.
“The Organic Lube is pH-balanced to match the vagina's natural pH, which if off balance can lead to infection,” notes Maude.
(Psst: want more info on balancing your pH? Read this editorial.)
Does it matter if my lube is latex-friendly?
If you want to pair it with condoms or a personal massager, yes! Maude notes: “Silicone lubricant cannot be used with silicone toys, like our Vibe.”
Why should I care if it’s paraben- and glycerin-free?
Parabens are a preservative often used to prolong the shelf life of health and beauty products by preventing bacteria growth. They also have questionable health and environmental side effects. Glycerin, meanwhile, has been linked to yeast infections for some women. Probably best to avoid both, no?
So about Maude’s packaging…
Stylish, right? That sleek amber bottle is totally bedside-approved. Take a peek at a few more of our favorites:
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