Progressive personal care brands are amplifying the conversation on vaginal health, sexual pleasure, ... [+]
The female experience, regardless of culture, age, status, or geography, is often veiled by stigma. This holds especially true for matters that have to do with our menstrual cycle, vaginal health, body hair, reproductive systems and sexual pleasure. For decades, we’ve been programmed to associate monthly periods as taboo. Although a natural and normal occurrence within the female body, it is something we’ve been taught not to discuss publicly. This would explain why as impressionable teens, we learned to refer to our period as “monthly visitor” or “Aunt Flo.” And while some might find this endearingly old fashioned, these small behaviors may lead us to associate what our female bodies go through as shameful.
The negative connotations attached to something as natural as women getting their monthly periods extends to all things related to vaginal health, sexual pleasure, and personal care. Notice how women don’t shop for sanitary pads, tampons, suppositories or lubricants the same way we do for skincare. Does this mean that our vulvas and vagina’s don’t deserve the same care and attention?
Generations of women have gotten into the habit of picking personal care products that are familiar. Perhaps these were the same tried-and-tested pads, cleansers, and topicals used by their ancestors. Instead of opening up conversations that allow us to discover and demand for better options, societal norms dictate that we go through womanhood and all its stages in silence.
In the advent of mindful movements that cultivate self-care and body love, we’ve seen a shift. More and more women are now speaking up about their personal care concerns and the gaps in the market that need filling. As a result, a new crop progressive brands have come forward with narratives and innovative products that empower women to embrace their unique experiences without shame.
From a consumer's point of view, the arrival of new players in the personal care space compels one to rethink and re-evaluate the choices we’ve been making for our bodies. Do I buy the same wash I’ve been using for decades? Or is it time for something better, safer, and cleaner? Must we silently suffer through dryness down there? Do we have a choice? The engaging and powerful stories presented by these game-changing brands tell us: it’s time to take control of the narrative that is our unique female experience.
HER JUICE BAR: All The Self Care You Need For Down There
Her Juice Bar offers clean and efficacious products that address concerns like in-grown, infections, ... [+]
HER JUICE BAR offers a complete range of intimate care products that offers clean, cruelty-free, and gynecologist approved solutions for irritations, infections, in-growns and intimacy issues. The brand’s genesis, as the name suggests, began at a bar. “It all started after rounds of cocktails and intimate conversations. Opening up with our friends, we discovered a core truth: we’ve all experienced some sort of down-there scare,” the team writes. Working closely with progressive women’s health experts and biochemists, HER JUICE BAR has developed clean, natural, and sustainable products for the vulva, vagina, and body. The team adds, “Beyond making efficacious products, we’re increasing vaginal health awareness, making self-care sexy and having hard conversations.” At HER JUICE BAR, “nothing is too taboo.”
A Feminine Wash Packaged And Formulated Like A Facial Cleanser
Bellini Bliss with Boric Acid Purifying Feminine Wash from HER JUICE BAR
There are six delicious formulas for feminine washes from HER JUICE BAR that address skin sensitivities, microbial odors, pH imbalances, just to name a few. They are packaged in biodegradable tubes and bottles that are just as chic as your premium facial cleanser. Formulations are both gentle and efficacious. You get that clean, fresh feeling all day long without the dryness. My favorite from this range: Bellini Bliss. It is a purifying, daily wash that combines Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Aloe Vera Oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Tea Tree for nourishing, deep clean.
Turmeric Tonic Scrub: The Only Brightening Scrub You’ll Need This Summer
Turmeric Tonic Scrub from HER JUICE BAR
Summer always goes hand in hand with swimwear, short shorts and skirts. Some fashion forecasts even say that visible underpants are the new black. No matter the style, cut or length, we can only be truly beautiful when we feel good in the skin we’re in. And that includes the parts that are more private. This is why as soon as temperatures begin to rise, I incorporate a twice weekly brightening scrub into my body care routine.
HER JUICE BAR’s Turmeric Tonic Scrub is an all natural, gentle skin treat that I like to use on my bikini line and underarms. It is formulated with Sea Salt, Jojoba Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Sweet Almond, Turmeric Extract, and Vitamin E. Apart from gentle exfoliation, this tonic scrub promotes collagen production for healthier, softer, smoother skin. It also evens out skin tone and improves texture around the underarms and bikini line, which are often prone to ingrown and darkening.
Quench Vaginal Dryness With a Wet Martini
Wet Martini Moisture Inducing Supplements from HER JUICE BAR
It may be summer, but that doesn’t mean we have to suffer through dryness down there. Vaginal dryness is often caused by the decline in estrogen levels, which happens during and after menopause. Birth control, PCOS, tampon use, hormonal imbalances, and medications also affect moisture levels in our vagina. This occurrence, a natural progression to our journeys as women, may in turn result in discomfort during sex, soreness, itching, and even discharge.
The Wet Martini Moisture Inducing Supplement from HER JUICE BAR offers a natural, hormone-free solution to vaginal dryness. Formulated with herbs like Lepidum Meyenii (aka Maca or Peruvian ginseng), Indian Elm, and Ashwagandha or Winter Cherry helps to enhance sexual pleasure, increases vaginal moisture and aids in soothing inflammation. These tablets take effect four days after first dosing. The team at HER JUICE BAR suggests: “Take one capsule orally, twice daily. After a week, decrease to one capsule a day for maintenance.”
Hygiene Hero: The Ultimate Expression of Self Love Through Intimate Care
Hygiene Hero takes an integrated and balanced approach to intimate care, utilizing safe, powerful ... [+]
HYGIENE HERO is a by-product of the growing self-care movement. It is a wellness brand dedicated to creating natural, intimate care products for women from adolescence all the way through menopause. The team behind Hygiene Hero believes that, “the vulva is not just a part of the women’s reproductive system. Its health and aesthetics also impact a woman’s quality of life and self-esteem.” The brand takes an integrated and balanced approach to intimate care, utilizing safe, powerful botanical extracts and clinically tested bio-active ingredients.
Products developed by Hygiene Hero include Private Bars, which are gentle soap bars formulated for cleansing the vulva. The brand also carries Super Deos, and Intimate Care Bundles. Out of all its fun and playful offerings, the V.V Oils and Vipsticks stand out the most.
The V.V Oil: Made To Nourish, Hydrate and Rebalance Delicate Skin
VV Oil from Hygiene Hero
Skin around the private parts of our body are typically more sensitive and prone to irritation. Warm weather, humidity, sweat, shaving, waxing, and wearing tight clothing for prolonged hours can compromise the tone and texture of skin around the bikini area. Hygiene Hero’s V.V Oil is a microbiome balancing private oil concentrate that protects, nourishes, and rebalances skin. A plant-powered formula of rosemary, sunflower seeds, and rice bran helps to soften, smoothen, brighten, calm and hydrate the most sensitive parts of our bodies.
The Vipstick: Personal Care Meets Playtime
The Vipstick Serum from Hygiene Hero also comes in flavors like French Vanilla and Chocolate
The Vipstick, also from Hygiene Hero, soothes, hydrates, and nourishes the labia. It also helps enhance sensitivity around that area. “Think of it as a gentle, delightful daily maintenance for your vulva, and a first-step prep for elevated intimate joy,” describes the team. The Vipstick is formulated with a rejuvenating Peptide Complex that boosts collagen production and plumps the V-spot. A Post Biotic Blend helps to balance the microbiome. Plant extracts like White Mulberry, Camu Camu and Turmeric brightens skin and improves overall texture. Ashawagandha revitalizes and moistures stressed or tired skin. Basil aids in calming, soothing and detoxifying.
Luna Daily: Intimate Care For Everywhere
LUNA DAILY is streamlining our body care routines with products that suit all parts of the body, ... [+]
LUNA DAILY makes a strong case for creating products that are skin-loving from head to toe. This includes our private parts. Brand founder, Katy Cottam explains: “We’re a generation of women, who, more than ever, consider all the aspects of what we buy, eat, put on our faces. And yet, for some many women, their intimate skin was an afterthought, only prioritized when there was a problem. So I decided it was time for a new approach.”
Cottam ponders, “Why should the vulva even need separate products to the rest of our bodies? And how many other women are hiding products in their cupboards? It turns out, too many…” Working closely with dermatologists, gynecologists, and chemists, she began to develop products that are gentle and versatile enough for the entire body, especially our private parts. Luna Daily’s products are formulated at a pH level that works on all parts of the body, including, of course, the vulva. The big idea is to give women a range of products that will no longer necessitate a separate wash, oil or cleanser for the vulva.
The Everywhere Oil: Silky Smooth Skin, Especially Down There
The Everywhere Oil from Luna Daily
The Everywhere Oil from Luna Daily is a lightweight body oil. It combines eight naturally-derived oils to help prevent ingrown hairs, redness and unwanted bumps. Grapeseed Oil aids in decreasing the appearance of scars and stretch marks. Sweet Almond oil brings shine to both hair and skin. Jojoba Oil balances skin’s sebum production. Rosehip lends soothing and smoothing benefits, while Tamanu Oil softens and reduces skin inflammation. A sleek glass bottle of The Everywhere Oil now sits on my bedside, and is part of the evening body care ritual. Using just one product from head to toe has helped to streamline the skin moisturizing regimen. It has also become a constant reminder that our most private parts deserve the same attention, care and pampering that the rest of our bodies get.
