Coconu Oil-Based Lubricant Review

Posted by MandiLea02

Before I got my hands on Coconu, I avoided oil-based lubricants like that long-ago mistake of a boyfriend who texts you in the middle of the night, wanting to “Netflix and chill.”

Oil-based lubricants have some major downsides, making them incompatible with certain sexual activities & undesirable for many individuals. First of all, any product that is oil-based is not latex-safe. (The oil will damage/weaken latex & polyisoprene condoms. Nitrile or polyurethane barriers must be used instead.) Secondly, most oil-based lubricants that are currently on the market are also “synthetic” or petroleum-based and not vagina-safe. (Because they do not easily wash away or get absorbed by our cells, they tend to remain inside the body for longer periods of time, providing a lovely little habitat for bacteria).

Coconu offers one of the few available plant-based oil lubricants, and the only lubricant to be USDA-certified organic. Plant-based lubricants are special; unlike their synthetic counterparts, they actually are considered safe for vaginal penetration.* Coconu’s ingredients include: sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, sweet almond oil, canola oil, kukui seed oil, sea buckthorn oil, and Tocopherol (Non-GMO). There is no alcohol, petroleum, gluten, fragrance, or dye. Coconu’s formula is also paraben & phthlate free.

Coconu’s packaging is very simple & tastefully designed. The oil-based lubricant comes in a copper-colored plastic tube with a flip-top and is packaged within a sky-blue cardboard box. At $22 for only 3 oz, it is on the pricey side — even for high-quality lubricants. (Coconu also makes a water-based version, but the price is exactly the same.)

*With so many natural ingredients, Coconu prides themselves on being hypoallergenic & body-safe. However, as with all lubricants, please discontinue use if you experience any irritation or negative side effects. To my knowledge, there is little or no actual research on using coconut or other plant oils as personal lubricants. Some individuals still argue that it can clog pores and/or disrupt the natural environment of the vagina. As with any other controversial topic, my advice is to educate yourself so that you can make an informed decision. Remember: all of our bodies are unique, and it is rare that any single lubricant would be perfect for every individual.

Having never used an oil-based lubricant before, I didn’t quite know what to expect. For some reason, I had imagined a slick & runny consistency similar to cooking oil. However, Coconu looks & feels more similar to a tube of Vaseline: an almost gel-like substance that is very thick and gooey. As the lube spreads out & warms up with skin-on-skin contact, it becomes a thin & slippery oil sheen… but it never makes my skin feel sticky. Instead, I actually feel softer & more moisturized after using it.

Coconu has a very gentle, natural smell that does remind me of cooking oils, but which I personally do not find very sexy. It also tastes horrible — or rather, it doesn’t taste much at all, but the consistency is such that I want to gag. Being an oil-based lubricant, it takes a little more effort to completely wash away. (Water obviously doesn’t cut it. It helps to physically wipe off any remaining lubricant and then wash with soap afterwards.) It also has the potential to stain fabric, so be aware of that possibility when you’re breaking in a new set of sheets.

I tried using Coconu Oil-Based Lubricant in many different situations and (not surprisingly) I found it better suited for some sexual activities than others.

PIV Intercourse

This lube really impressed my partner & me. Even though it’s thick and somewhat awkward going on, it feels very thin and natural once the action starts. It allows for easy insertion & comfortable thrusting, but without feeling overly wet or squishy. (In this way, it was very similar to our experience with Pink Silicone Lubricant.) It lasted longer than we did, so we never had to reapply. And surprisingly enough, it seemed to make clean-up easier too. My partner and I are fluid-bonded, so we don’t often use condoms during PIV intercourse. Coconu seemed to allow his cum to slide out of me all at once instead of slowly dripping down my legs as I scamper awkwardly to the bathroom.

Anal Play

Anal play isn’t something that I do much anymore, so my experience here was limited to the very small Perfect Plug from Tantus. With just a thin coating of Coconu, the plug slid in effortlessly. (Always a good sign.) But what really surprised me was that it stayed lubricated! One of the reasons I hate wearing butt plugs for an extended period is that taking them out can sometimes feel uncomfortable if the lube has had a chance to dry. Although I certainly didn’t push for any world records (probably only wore it for 30 minutes or so), the plug was just as perfectly lubricated coming out as it was going in. The fact that oil-based lubricants are long-lasting is a huge perk for anal play.

Penile Masturbation

I’m rarely satisfied with lubricant options for hand jobs. Many lubes get tacky so quickly; I end up using a lot and yet still rushing through my partner’s pleasure. Coconu was perfect. It was warm & velvety soft, slippery without being messy. It allowed me to slow down and give my partner a long, teasing play session without ever needing to add more lubricant. Honestly, I think that this will be the primary way that our tube gets emptied.

Vaginal Masturbation

Although I loved using Coconu vaginally with my partner, I really did not enjoy using it with sex toys. I felt like it took a very large amount to coat my silicone dildo — and thrusting still wasn’t as comfortable as it should have been. I even purposefully chose a medium-sized, smoothly finished toy (the Vamp Lola), so that it would become super slippery. No dice. This lube just doesn’t seem to cut down on drag very much at all.

It’s important to note that oil-based lubricants should not be used with porous sex toys. (And I highly suggest that you shouldn’t be reintroducing them to your body either.) For more information on sex toy safety, click here.

Massage

Coconu states on their website that the oil-based lubricant can also be used as a massage oil, but I was skeptical. I mean…it’s lube. Not exactly the most appealing consistency for a long, relaxing massage.

Reluctantly, I asked my partner to try it anyway — and I was incredibly surprised. It actually feels very nice on the skin. The oil allowed my partner’s hands to glide smoothly over my back without drying out, and it didn’t make either of us feel sticky. In fact, after gently wiping away the oil residue, neither of us felt the need to jump into the shower to wash it off. Although I don’t enjoy it as much as my favorite massage candles, it would do perfectly well in a pinch. (And it’s very convenient if you want to jump right into other sexual activities.)

Coconu Oil-Based Lubricant certainly isn’t an “across the board” lube for me, but it has still proven to be a pleasurable addition to my toy box. It’s a good silicone substitution for my fluid-bonded partner & I when we’re looking for that au naturale feeling during PIV intercourse. It has not caused any negative reactions within my body. And its strengths really shine during penile masturbation & anal play; the staying power is amazing!

There are a lot of considerations when deciding whether or not to use an oil-based lubricant. Consider what type of safer sex barriers you intend to use, what toys might come into play, how upset you’ll be if your sheets/clothes accidentally get stained, and where you stand in the “safety of plant-based oils” debate. But if you’ve decided that oil-based lubricants will fit nicely within your sex life (and you can afford the price point), I highly recommend Coconu’s organic oil-based lubricant.

Pros: feels natural, long-lasting (especially good for anal play & hand jobs), provides a long-lasting silicone lube alternative for use with silicone sex toys, doubles as a massage oil, USDA-certified organic, hypoallergenic, one of few plant-based oil lubricants on the market (vagina-safe)

Cons: not latex safe, may stain fabric, should not be used with porous sex toys, more difficult to remove from skin than water-based lubricant, bad taste, quite expensive (especially for how much I seem to use)

Special thanks to my lovely affiliate, Peepshow Toys, for sending me this item in exchange for an honest, unbiased review! If you would like to purchase Coconu Oil-Based Lubricant, please consider doing so here. And don’t forget to use discount code “Mandi” at checkout to save 10%!

Good Clean Love Bio-Match: Restore & Balance Review

Posted by MandiLea02

Good Clean Love‘s Bio-Match line was created with the vagina’s natural environment in mind, mimicking pH levels, salt balance, and lactic acid production in order to create products that are vulva-friendly and health-conscious. The line consists of two products: Restore (a lubricant) and Balance (a “personal wash”).

Description

Good Clean Love’s Bio-Match Restore is a water-based gel lubricant, which is safe for both silicone sex toys & latex barrier methods of contraception. It is free of petrochemicals, parabens, & glycerin — with a minimal list of ingredients: organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice, xanthan gum, lactic acid, natural flavor, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate. It can be used to add lubrication to sexual activity or simply to alleviate daily vaginal dryness and discomfort.

Restore comes packaged in a small, cardboard box that includes (1) a 2 oz. tube with a screw-on top and (2) a plastic applicator for easy internal reach. Good Clean Love estimates that each tube is good for approximately 15 applications.

Experience

As I’ve mentioned before, my body’s lubricating abilities have been drastically reduced with the emergence of my “low libido.” My partner and I are always looking for a lubricant that feels natural but lasts an impressively long time, and that’s why Restore piqued my interest. If it mimicked the vagina’s natural environment, would it mimic natural lubrication too?

Turns out, it does an okay job. It’s relatively thin and slippery without being too watery and it lasted as long as we needed it to (albeit we didn’t push for any world records). However, even though the instructions say to apply to both partners, it’s definitely more of a lube for the receptive party. It dried out almost as soon as we applied it to my partner’s penis; not even lasting the few moments it took for us to get into position before intercourse.

Thankfully, it works much better when applied inside of the body, and that’s where the handy plastic applicator comes into play. As I went through the process of squirting lube directly into my vagina for the first time, I found myself wondering… Could this be injected ahead of time, purely in anticipation of sex? Would it be a good option for individuals who do not produce enough natural lubrication but maybe don’t want to pack lube with them for a night on the town?

The next time my partner and I had to run some errands and go grocery shopping, we tested it. We were gone for a couple of hours, we came home, grabbed a condom (to cut down on friction, just incase the lube had dried out), and jumped straight into a PIV quickie. To my surprise, Restore had maintained its wetness — whether this is a testament more to the lube or the handy applicator that gets “all up in there,” I’m not sure.

The only thing that really bothers me about this lube is the smell. It’s similar to Almost Naked‘s vanilla cake scent, but has a twang of something that smells sour and reminds me of sterile environments. (If you’re thinking that this would taste particularly terrible, you would be correct.)

Bottom Line

Honestly, Good Clean Love’s Restore lubricant did what it was supposed to do, but it didn’t feel so good that it truly impressed me. If you’re looking for a health-concious water-based lube that comes with a handy applicator and feels somewhat natural, maybe this will be perfect for you. But I’m still smitten with their (much more cushiony) Almost Naked lube — which also happens to be more affordable ($15/4 oz vs. $20/2 oz).

Description

Whereas many commercial cleansers can be too harsh for more sensitive areas of the body (like the genitalia), Good Clean Love’s Bio-Match Balance has been specially crafted for this exact purpose. It is both petroleum and paraben-free. However, the list of ingredients is much longer than for Restore, including: water, sodium cocoamphoacetate, glycerin, lauryl glucoside, sodium cocoyl, glutamate, sodium lauryl glucoside, carboxylate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, coco-glucoside, glyceryl oleate, lactic acid, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, mahonia, aquifolium (oregon grape) root extract, hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) extract, allium sativum (garlic) bulb extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender oil), potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate.

Good Clean Love’s Bio-Match Balance arrives in a 4 oz. plastic bottle with a press-to-open top and has a relatively thin, watery consistency. (It is important to note that although this product is marketed as a personal wash, the bottle clearly states that it is “for external use.“)

Experience

First of all, let me say that I don’t have particularly sensitive skin. I can suds up my pubic hair & outer-most vulva bits with regular old body wash and experience no ill effects. I’m also a huge fan of cleaning in between my folds with a simple combination of washcloth & water, never allowing scented products to cross that intimate threshold. So naturally, when I first tried using Balance for its intended purpose, I felt extremely neutral. Sure, I was a fan of the soft lavender scent — and yes, it made me feel quite “fresh.” But there was nothing uniquely special about it, and that hardly justifies a $14 bottle of soap in my life.

As I was wondering how I would possibly be able to write such a lackluster review, I had an idea: I could wash my Lunette menstrual cup with this! After all, it’s made to be a mild intimate wash that is safe for vulvular contact. And although it says “external use” on the label, it wasn’t like I would be pouring it directly into my vagina. I’d simply make sure to rinse my cup very well afterwards.

The verdict? It works wonders. Generally, I like to give my cup a quick wash with soap and water whenever I empty it (to do-away with any lingering smells) and then boil it in-between my periods for a more thorough clean. Unfortunately, I’ve experienced mild irritation from certain soaps and I’m happy to report that Balance is not one of them. It helps me feel clean throughout menstruation without any discomfort or negative reactions.

It’s important to remember that this is not what Good Clean Love’s Bio-match Balance is marketed for — and may even go against their printed instructions. As I mentioned before, my body is not overly sensitive to most products, so although this worked for me, I cannot recommend this alternative use for everybody.

Bottom Line

Do I think that Balance is worth the price tag? No, not for me…even if it is a good menstrual cup cleaner. However, if you’re the type of person who has really sensitive skin and/or has a difficult time finding soap that is genital-friendly, this might be a good product to try — unless you are also sensitive to glycerin.

Special thanks to Good Clean Love for providing me with these items in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

If you would like to purchase Good Clean Love Bio-Match products, please consider doing so through my affiliates: SheVibe and Sexy Time Toys.

Good Clean Love – Almost Naked Lubricant Review

Posted by MandiLea02

I love lube.

I love it so much that my partner has officially declared me a “goo hoarder” and placed an embargo on any further lube purchases until we start emptying a few bottles. But when Good Clean Love offered me some of their products in exchange for my honest opinion…well, I simply couldn’t say no. And dear holy lube gods, both my partner and I are very glad that I didn’t!

Good Clean Love prides themselves on being an organic, earth & body-friendly company. They are a member of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics & Organic Trade Association, a Coop American Green Company, a Certified B Corp, and certified organic by Oregon Tilth. Basically, they want to raise awareness of the potentially harmful ingredients commonly found in sexual wellness products — and offer you safe & natural alternatives. (I plan on doing a separate post on lubricant safety soon!)

Good Clean Love’s Almost Naked lubricant is free of all petrochemicals, parabens, and glycerin. It is 95% organic and 100% vegan, with a very limited list of ingredients: organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice, xanthan gum, agar, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, sodium lactate, lactic acid, and natural flavors (including lemon & vanilla).

It arrives in a small flip-top tube and is available in 2 different sizes: a travel-handy 1.5 oz and the regular-sized 4 oz. (You can also purchase 4 ml sample packets.) The lubricant itself is a water-based gel that is safe for use with latex condoms and silicone toys.

The first thing that I noticed about the Almost Naked lube was the smell; it’s sugary sweet and reminds me of cake icing. As a lover of all things buttercream, I obviously had to do an immediate taste test. I was surprised that, despite the distinct smell, there is little-to-no taste that can be detected — either by myself, my partner, or my wonderfully cooperative friends. (Not gonna lie… I was slightly disappointed. But I guess I don’t need to be eating the lube.)

As I settled into bed with my beloved Jopen Comet II and my tube of Almost Naked, I quickly discovered that there was something special about this particular lube. First of all, the gel is simply fantastic. I can apply it to the tip of my toys and it stays perfectly still. It waits for me to spread it out in whatever way that I desire — rather than sliding out-of-control all the way to the base of the toy and dripping onto the sheets.

I’m no newcomer to gel lubricants either. I own multiple varieties, but not a single one of them will last more than a few seconds if I turn my toy upside down. Almost Naked will stay in its little “dolloped” shape without any perceptible change, completely defying gravity. It’s basically magic.

When in use, I find that the gel feels both cushiony and slippery — and a little goes a long way. (All of these things should make it absolutely fantastic for anal sex, but I haven’t personally tried it yet.) My partner and I have always used lube, but it has truly become a necessity over the last couple of years as my libido has taken a nosedive. If we’re wanting something that feels natural, we’ll definitely reach for a thinner silicone lubricant. But if we’re in the mood for extremely wet and squishy sex…Almost Naked is perfect. It never seems to dry out (no matter how hard we go at it), and yet it wipes off with no fuss.

I can’t say it enough: I love Good Clean Love’s Almost Naked lubricant! It has amazing staying power, feels gloriously squishy, and (most importantly) is health-conscious. At approximately $15/4 oz, it is a smidge more expensive than some other water-based lubricants, but I’ve also been much more impressed with it. To be honest, I think this will be our go-to gel lubricant from now on.

Pros: gel has incredibly thick consistency, only need a small amount, long-lasting, safe for the body and the environment, water-based (so it’s safe for toys & contraception), little-to-no taste

Cons: sugary smell can be off-putting for some individuals

If you would like to purchase Good Clean Love’s Almost Naked lubricant, please consider ordering from my lovely affiliates: Good Vibrations, SheVibe, or Sexy Time Toys.

A big thanks to Good Clean Love for sending me this item in exchange for my honest & unbiased review!

EROcentric

Aspiring & Advocating for Sex-Positivity

personal lubricant