Sustainably Sexy: Sliquid Organics Botanically Infused Natural Intimate Lubricant

Sliquid Organics Botanically Infused Natural Lube ($20 for 8.5 oz, $13 for 4.2 oz)

If you only make one change in your sex life in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day later this month, make it this one: Switch to a water-based organic lube, made without glycerine, parabens, or petroleum byproducts.

Why? Just as you've been avoiding eating non-organic offenders from the Dirty Dozen, that famous list of fruits and vegetables with the highest concentration of pesticide residues, it's time to give some careful consideration to the kinds of chemicals you're willing to have up inside your most intimate areas, where they can cause allergic reactions, yeast infections, and irritation in precisely the places you don't want to be experiencing irritation. 

This week my partner and I have been reviewing the Sliquid Organics Botanically Infused Natural Lube, winner of the 2009 "O" Award for Outstanding Lube, Lotion, or Potion at the AVN Novelty Expo, and it has quickly become our new favorite.

The Sliquid lube is water-based, which means it plays nice with condoms and sex toys. It's also free of glycerine, parabens, and petroleum byproducts (all can wreak havoc on sensitive skin and reproductive anatomy), and the main ingredients are water, plant cellulose from cotton (a thickening agent that makes it last longer than other glycerine-free lubes we've tested), and aloe barbadensis.

The botanical extracts (including the aloe, plus extracts of hibiscus, flax, green tea and sunflower seed) are certified organic, the ingredients are 100% vegan, and the product is not tested on animals, making it a perfectly sexy Earth Day tribute. It has a subtle scent that is sexy but not overpowering and, most importantly, it does the job and it does it better than any other lube we've tested, organic or no: The Sliquid lubes are, well... slick.

If you've been using K-Y or other brands readily available at the grocery store or pharmacy – or if, heaven forbid, you haven't been using lube at all – the first thing you'll notice is that this stuff is extremely slippery. A little bit goes a long way, but (because it's water-based and free of all the nasty stuff) it won't make a horrible mess if you go crazy and get sloppy with it. It tastes fine and is perfectly edible, should you end up with some of those lubed-up bits in your mouth, and it works well as both a vaginal and anal lube.

The Botanically Infused Natural Lube and other products by Sliquid are featured items in the Eco-Rotic Green Sex Collection this month at GoodVibes.com (in the interest of full disclosure, I do have an affiliate relationship with Good Vibrations, but not with Sliquid or any of the manufacturers of products I write about).

My partner and I have also been testing Sliquid's new Stimulating O Clitoral Arousal Gel this month (see image at right). It has roughly the same ingredients as the Natural Intimate Lubricant, plus peppermint oil, menthol, and sweet almond oil that truly do feel pretty crazy on sensitive body parts like lips, nipples, and the clitoris.

For my money, however, I'd stick with the lube: For the same $20 it will cost you to get the tiny 1oz bottle of the Stimulating O Gel and the novelty of some tingly bits, you could have eight times the fun with 8.5oz of an excellent all-purpose lube.

Don't miss Sarah Estrella's previous Sustainably Sexy features and Sexy Lubes, Lotions & Potions reviews! For the latest Sex & Relationships headlines, please subscribe to this column (above) and follow @Sexaminer on Twitter.