Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Turn up the heat in the bedroom, vegan style!

Okie doke, I know that my niche in the blogging community is primarily beauty-based, but every once in a while I feel inclined to feature products that seem to be a bit off topic. In a way, this post is related to health and skincare... or at least that's what I've been telling myself to justify this occasion. :) Anywhoo, this post is more of a highlight than a review per se. I want my fellow vegan peeps to extend their green, eco-friendly lifestyles into the bedroom. That's right, I'm talkin' 'bout sex. Also, for all of you non-vegans – who really wants to put propylene glycol, poluquaternium 15 and propylparabens on their naughty bits anyway? Those are all ingredients found in conventional lubricants. Can we say yuck?

As far as vegan lube goes, there are a handful of products to choose from. Astroglide is a company that has been making lube for quite some time. They recently came out with Astroglide Natural, which is an eco-friendly, all-natural, botanical personal lubricant that doesn't contain any glycerin, alcohol, fragrance, flavorings or hormones. I have confirmed with an associate of the company that this lube is 100% vegan. Also, it's packaging (carton and bottle) are recyclable and are printed with soy-based ink. Astroglide Natural contains Xylitol (corn cob-derived, a natural, sugar-free humectant that helps retain and absorb moisture), Aloe Vera (which soothes and moisturizes), Vitamins C & E (powerful antioxidants) and chamomile extract (which also soothes and has anti-bacterial properties). It's water-based, water soluble, latex safe, smooth and "long lasting." You can pick up this vegan lube in most major drug and chain stores. It's $9.99 for a 2.5 fl oz. bottle.
Click here for a free sample.
For more info: Astroglide Natural

Looking for vegan condoms? Well look no further than Glyde. These jimmy hats are made without milk protein (found in some latexes) and are totally vegan and aren't tested on animals. No snickering, people! These condoms are made out of latex and are lubricated with a silicone-based lube that is free of spermicides. They are available in 3 (~$4) or 12 (~$8) packs in Ultra (regular), Maxi (extra large), Special (slightly smaller), Strawberry, Blueberry, Vanilla, Wildberry, and Cola. What, no Sexual Chocolate?
For more info: Glyde Condoms

I also highly recommend that if you are going to use sex toys, buy the eco-friendly versions that don't contain PVC (polyvinyl chlorides) and get yo'self some eco-friendly, sustainable, organic cotton bed sheets.

A couple more eco-friendly tips for gettin' it on:
Turn off the lights during sexy time and shower together afterward (save gallons of water)!
And if you haven't already, go vegan. Vegans taste better. (I had to throw that in)