Let’s face it: A lot of sex toys on the market today contain sketchy ingredients that may aggravate your sensitive vulva or vagina. Lubes are no different. Whether you use them as a pleasure-enhancer or to increase natural lubrication, you wanna use something that does more good than harm. Enter: natural lube.
Read more on Cosmopolitan.
Lube may or may not be the single most important thing to have in your bedside drawer (condoms, vibrators, and massage oils come in close second). And unfort, 68 percent of you admit to “rarely or never” using lube, which is. a. travesty!
Read more on Cosmopolitan.
Dallas-based Sliquid has struck a deal with one of the gay adult industry’s top male performers, Rocco Steele, to curate a line of high-performance lubricants that speak directly to an LGBTQ+ customer base. In this new partnership, Sliquid will be manufacturing a water- based formula and a silicone formula with Rocco’s name attached to it, expanding the product range of their existing LGBTQ-focused men’s line, RIDE BodyWorx.
The partnership between the adult film star and the lubricant powerhouse came to be during a meeting between Rocco and Sliquid’s founder, Dean Elliott, while both where in Los Angeles on business in the summer of 2019. “I’m standing in front of this big, burly muscle guy with tattoos all over him and I’m curious to what his story is,” Elliott remarks about his first encounter with Rocco. “Then he talks with this deep, distinctive voice that’s similar to my own, which I don’t run into very often! I was like this guy has a story to tell, and sure enough, we hit it off with a great conversation about his backstory and later-in-life journey into the adult industry. He’s a great guy.”
“I’m good friends with Buck Angel, who has a product line with Sliquid called the T-Collection, and he is the one that introduced me to Dean,” says Steele. “I was already aware of the success of Buck’s T-Lube, as well as Sliquid’s reputation of being a leader in the industry’s lubricant space. As someone who uses lube almost daily, as a tool of my trade, producing a namesake lubricant has been on my to-do list for many years. Meeting with Dean that day just happened to be the right timing, and the perfect partnership with Sliquid was born.”
The RIDE Rocco Collection is debuting with two types of lubricant offerings. RIDE Rocco Water Based is a slick, water-based lubricant that is infused with natural seaweed extracts, including Carrageenan, Nori, and Wakame. The addition of these extracts makes Rocco’s water-based lube ideal for men because it won’t become sticky or dry up quickly when used topically. RIDE Rocco Water Based is also perfect for those occasions when you need to clean up quickly; just wipe away and go. This water-based lube has been thoughtfully formulated with gay men in mind.
The second offering in the collection is RIDE Rocco Silicone. This premium blend of medical-grade silicones is ideal for all types of erotic encounters, from sensual massage to safe and comfortable anal sex. RIDE Rocco Silicone is thin and sheer in consistency, offering that silky, barely-there feeling, while also being long-lasting. This combination of silicone is also 100% waterproof, making it the perfect choice for water play. Rocco points out, “this particular blend of Silicone is sure to become the gold standard of lubricant for many of my fans because it does exactly what its intended to do, make sex more enjoyable and memorable while keeping up with the action. You won’t need to stop the fun to reapply over and over again, and that’s important to me.”
Rocco can now add lubes to his portfolio of successful ventures, which also includes underwear and sex toys. “As a member of the gay community, and someone that has been a fan of his for quite some time, I was very familiar with Rocco’s film work and other product lines,” says Erik Vasquez, Marketing Director for Sliquid. “Rocco is a solidified legend in gay pop culture, so being able to work with him on this collaboration has been an exciting experience. He is very in tune with his persona and extremely insightful when it comes to the industry, which made working on the creative process with him an absolute pleasure.”
To prepare for the launch of the collection, Rocco visited the lube manufacturer’s Dallas headquarters. During his visit, he and the Sliquid marketing team went to work creating the aesthetic in which they intended to present the new collection to the public. The idea came down to keeping it straight forward, but with an edge. With Rocco on set, the team went to work shooting photo and video content that highlights the two stars of this launch, the premium lube and the superstar persona behind it. Leather, neon lighting, and plenty of smoke machine work helped bring the imagery of the RIDE Rocco Collection to life in gritty detail that will appeal to a broad gay male customer base who enjoy Rocco Steele’s prolific film work.
RIDE Rocco Water Based and RIDE Rocco Silicone benefited from a soft launch during January’s ANME Founders Show in Burbank California last month. “Leading the sales and merchandising initiatives for all that we offer allows me the opportunity to get behind the latest and greatest, and there is truly nothing more exciting and rewarding than to be able to help represent a brand-new product launch,” says Michelle Marcus, VP of Sales and Merchandising for Sliquid. “From the moment our distribution and retail partners caught a glimpse during the show, I already knew we struck gold with this incredible collaboration between our RIDE brand and one of the biggest names in the adult industry, Rocco Steele. The reception has been overwhelming, to say the least, with interest from around the globe, and dedicated placement already in place within the US.” Marcus adds, “Personally, I am super enthusiastic about the endless opportunities RIDE Rocco offers to the mainstream consumer, and I cannot wait to see it explode beyond our collaborative expectations!”
When speaking of the successful debut of Sliquid’s newest product line, Elliott notes, “The creation on the RIDE Rocco Collection has truly been a team effort with input from so many talented individuals. From the early development stages to getting this lube onto shelves across the world, my amazing marketing, sales, operations, and warehouse teams have all worked tirelessly to make sure that this collection is ready for its close up, and I think they have all done a magnificent job. It’s been a labor of love for the LGBTQ community, and this is just the beginning. I see great success ahead for our collaboration with Rocco.”
RIDE Rocco Water Based and RIDE Rocco Silicone are both currently available in 4.2oz and 8.5oz bottles. The packaging is distinctly reminiscent of the RIDE BodyWorx collection but with Rocco’s instantaneously recognizable image printed directly on the front of the label. The full RIDE Rocco Collection is now available for retail purchase at Sliquid.com, RideLube.com, RideRocco.com, and RoccoSteeleOfficial.com. For wholesale information, please email Sales@Sliquid.com, or contact your preferred distributor to check availability.
Looking for eco-friendly condoms is complicated. Kim Marks, the owner of As You Like It, a nontoxic and environmentally conscious sex shop in Eugene, Oregon, describes the concept as a Catch-22: “Condoms are onetime use, but we need them for safe sex,” she says. Matthew Nolan, the co-author of the Oh Joy Sex Toy book series who runs a website of the same name, agrees. “Condoms are super tricky,” he says. “Almost all condoms are made from latex or a latex derivative — stuff that takes forever to degrade. The best thing you can aim for is a cruelty-free, considerate condom manufacturer.” And there are a handful of companies that go the extra mile to ensure that their rubber and manufacturing processes are sustainable.
Read more on The Strategist.
You’re ready to go … except that you’re not.
Things are heating up, but your body’s not keeping pace. Whether it happens with a partner during sex or solo with your favorite toy, vaginal dryness is never fun. It can result in feeling unsatisfied in the bedroom, experiencing discomfort or even pain during intercourse and masturbation.
If it’s happened to you, you’re not alone. In fact, 17% of women ages 18 to 50, and 25% of women ages 50 to 59 have experienced vaginal dryness during sex, according to Women’s Health Concern.
What causes vaginal dryness in the first place, and what can you do if you’re feeling dry down there when you don’t want to be? We took those questions to the experts and asked for their recommendations.
Read what they said on Huffington Post.
A good lube will get the job done, but the best lubricants for women will make you feel like you just stepped out of a steamy, luxurious bath. And whether you want to add a little slip ‘n slide to your sex life or need lube for medical reasons, there’s no better time to buy one than right before Valentine’s Day.
Not all lubes are created equal. You’ve got your silicone- and water-based versions, ones with coconut oil, and even organic and vegan options.
Read more on Glamour.
For the unlubricated—er, uninitiated—there are three main types of lubricants available to level up your pleasure time: silicone-based, oil-based, and water-based. Each comes with its own list of pros and cons, or dos and don’ts. After doing the research and trying all the options safely, though, I can tell you with confidence that water-based reigns supreme as most versatile, and better yet, I can recommend the best water-based lube available for you to try.
Read more on Well+Good.
If Lizzo is right and we really are our own soulmates, it’s time to seriously re-evaluate the way we’re getting ourselves off. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, there’s really no better time to make a date night with yourself and do some, ahem, field research.
“Your sexual pleasure is a journey, not a destination,” says Toronto-based sexual health and consent educator Samantha Bitty. “What got you off in 2010 might not get you off in 2020.” Translation: try new things.
Read more at Flare.com
In this article, we will share with you a simple and practical guide to the best anal lube. We’ve tried these products ourselves and we’re sharing whatever information we have gathered about them based on our personal experiences.
When it comes to sex, your imagination is the limit. Tim and I have been experimenting with different sex positions all throughout our married lives and so far, we’ve been very happy with all the wonderful things we have discovered about each other. We became more considerate and better sex partners and we’re hoping you’ll learn from us too. We’ve tried incorporating sex toys in our lovemaking and have tested a lot of anal lubes to make our sex adventures more exciting and safer.
Read more on MySexToy.com
I don’t know how sex has gotten such a bad rap, but it’s a terrible thing that it has. Most of us love it! We know that it’s a healthy, happy, wonderful activity when it’s between consenting adults. So why on earth is it such a taboo subject? That’s rhetorical, of course. Religion and culture, at times, are to blame. However, that doesn’t mean we have to perpetuate the problem.
The only way to change the course of negative behavior is to nip it in the bud and to model good behavior instead. And in terms of talking to our friends about sex, it can be as easy and fun as it is informative.
There are a lot of ways to improve your sex life. Talking to your friends about sex might be one of the greatest hacks of all. Here are five reasons why talking about sex with your friends can be key to a happy, healthy sex life.
Talking about something validates it.
When we talk about our sexual experiences, it validates them as being important and worthy of doing, and therefore of talking about too. When we say out loud the things we like to do, we give those things weight. Sex is important. Talking about it reminds us of that fact.
This goes for everything from how we have sex to the accessories we employ, like lube, vibrators, and even sex furniture. Nothing is better for validation than having someone not just listen but also really hear you when it comes to what you know to be true.
Sharing info is the best way to get info.
When we share what we like to do or how we do it, the person with whom we are sharing will likely do the same. You just might be surprised at what you can learn from your friends.
When it comes to learning more about how to decorate our houses, or where to travel, or how to find the best burger, we always get the best tips when we’re sharing our own best tips. So, why is it that we rarely do that when it comes to all things sex, from positions to lube, to fulfilling fantasies? Time to change that up!
Teaching something is the best way to learn it.
Studies have shown that when we teach another person something, we reinforce our own learning. So, it only follows, that by talking to our friends about how to do one thing or another, or why doing A or B is a good idea in bed, we would become even better at doing those very same things.
If we teach our friends the importance of masturbation or the value of sex in a long-term relationship, or how to talk to one’s partner about what one wants or needs, we are likely to feel more invested in and better at those things ourselves!
Talking leads to confidence, and confidence leads to great sex.
Even as we get older – or in some instances, because we’re getting older – we can feel insecure about certain desires or about our bodies or about using a new toy or lube, or about our ability to please our partner. But talking to a trusted friend can really help to boost your confidence.
Now, you want to choose your confidante wisely of course. You want someone who will hold you up and not tear you down. But you just may be surprised at how much more confident you feel when you have someone to run things by and how much that confidence helps your performance in the bedroom.
Talking about sex is, well, sexy.
Naturally, it’s sexy to talk to your partner about sex. But it can also really get you in the mood by swapping dirty tales with a trusted friend. Think about it, you sit around chatting with your friend about how great last night was and the next thing you know, you’re all revved up thinking about how great tonight could be too.
Sex begets sex, having it, talking about it, all of it. Keeping your life sexed-up doesn’t have to mean indulging in porn marathons or deluges of sexting. (Although it can mean that too!) Sometimes, something as simple as having a spicy conversation with a friend can keep your sex life spicy too.
One way we can set sex back onto the road to redemption is by talking about it. I don’t mean tell everything to everyone. But instead of talking about unruly kids and bathroom habits, why not talk about the best lubes you’ve discovered or that new vibrator that is just out of this world?
We go to friends for support when it comes to nearly everything. It’s high time that sex became one of those things we turn to them for too. Trust your friends to keep your secrets; to boost your confidence; to help you discover new things, and even to feel better when you experience something embarrassing. Chances are they have too, which is why talking about sex with your friends can be key to a happy, healthy sex life.
As it turns out, friends are the key to a happy life…and to a happy sex life too!
