Good Clean Reads

As we journey through life, our bodies undergo remarkable transformations that mark different phases of our health and well-being. Perimenopause and menopause are two such stages, often arriving with a mix of emotions and physical changes. Typically occurring in our forties and fifties, these stages signal the end of our reproductive years—a time of transition and renewal.

It is important to understand that perimenopause and menopause are natural life phases, not ailments or diseases. Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, characterized by hormonal fluctuations and a decline in progesterone. This stage can last several years and varies for each woman. Menopause is technically one day on the calendar, reached after twelve consecutive months without a menstrual period. It marks the end of ovulation, reproduction, and menstruation, signaling a decrease in hormone production. Postmenopause, which begins the day after menopause and continues for the rest of a woman's life, is marked by further declines in progesterone and a steep decline in estrogen.

As you transition into menopause, you might be noticing the changes that come with this significant life shift. Alongside the emotional ups and downs, mood swings, hot flashes, and disrupted sleep, you may also be experiencing vaginal pain and dryness, which can make sex feel unexpectedly uncomfortable.

If you haven’t explored the world of personal lubricants before, now might be the perfect time. A high-quality lubricant can make a world of difference, alleviating discomfort and helping you rediscover the pleasure and intimacy that menopause may have temporarily put on hold.

"What we learn with pleasure we never forget. " Alfred MercierIn our culture, so focused on instant gratification, it is easy to lose sight of what creates a long-lasting and deeply healing experience of pleasure. While instant gratification does feed our brains with a dopamine response, making us constantly want more, the deep experience of true pleasure resets the chemical balances in the brain and body towards centeredness. Sadly, many...

The arousal response is your body’s natural mechanism for accessing pleasure. Although often confused with the genital swelling that accompanies our arousal response, the ignition for our arousal lives in the sexiest organ of our body—our brain. Specifically, in the limbic area of the brain, which processes memory and emotion and is conveniently co-located with our olfactory bulb, our sense of smell invigorates our emotional process, our access to memories, and our feeling of being turned on. Truly, your orgasmic potential begins with your ability to cultivate your arousal mechanism.

The ability to orgasm remains one of the most coveted and yet misunderstood human experiences. We often believe it is solely a genital experience, but our ability to climax reverberates throughout the body and initiates deep in the brain. Below is an easy-to-use guide that, with a unique blend of practice and letting go, will help move you from arousal to orgasm.

The full practice of Tantra is a life-long spiritual quest that demonstrates the interconnectedness of everything and includes yoga, meditation, and breath work, as well as sexual techniques. However, the Western and more modern interpretation of Tantra has become synonymous with spiritual and sacred sexuality. These Tantric books and tantra practices explore and teach techniques that are capable of elevating the sexual participants to a sublime and ecstatic spiritual plane. Starting with the basics, here are a few simple techniques that can introduce you to the transformative power of Tantra and help you understand how to start practicing tantra:Maintaining eye contact during lovemaking creates a powerful feedback loop of emotions and sensations.

I have often referred to Good Clean Love as my fifth child, the one that was born a few years after my youngest daughter, when I was desperately searching for a way back into my body and my sex life. Good Clean Love became the answer to how to sustain a sex life with my husband of then 20 years despite the complications from 4 live births over the previous decade. This was the child that I tended late at night when all the others were finally asleep and was in many ways a way into my finding myself- and my own purpose and meaning beyond the roles of mother and wife that I loved, but knew that there was something more for me.

In recent years, natural and organic ingredients have surged in popularity, captivating the hearts of consumers and companies alike. As awareness grows about the harmful chemicals lurking in many conventional products, the demand for natural ingredients has never been higher. A 2018 survey conducted by the Fashion Institute of Technology’s graduate school revealed that a remarkable 90% of consumers believe that natural or naturally-derived beauty ingredients are superior for their well-being. Join us as we explore the essence of natural ingredients and uncover the myriad of benefits they offer for both you and our precious planet!

Sex toys are more popular than ever before. The sex toy industry is booming, with 60 million toys sold every year. In recent years, the variety and innovation in the sex toy industry have significantly increased. 

Personal lubricant has a bit of a reputation for being a niche product. It’s something that we’re often told is for a post-menopausal population, masturbation or anal play. In reality, however, lube is made to enhance pleasure, not just for specific people or play.  

Lube can benefit anyone with an active partnered or solo sex life. Anyone who’s used a lubricated condom has already benefited from just how great lube is (as you likely know, the lube that comes in the condom wrapper is what helps avoid chafing and tearing). The same thing happens in our bodies. Lube adds slip and reduces friction to help make sex safer and more pleasurable. Body-safe personal lubricants like Almost Naked Hint of Mint are a great way for anyone to ease into sex or masturbation, and they help keep your sessions going if things begin to dry up.