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Flashback: Circa 1951, iconic sitcom, I Love Lucy, is on TV.  This is a time when having television meant you had a total of three channels to watch because there were only three networks.  And all programming was shown in black and white (weird, right?).  In this particular I Love Lucy episode, on screen (and off, actually,) married couple Lucy and Ricky Ricardo are off to bed – both are in menswear style pajamas of long pants, long sleeved button-down oversized shirts.  This was not for the allure of leaving things to the imagination – this was pre-meditated covering up, dispelling the thought that this couple even had, let alone enjoyed, any romance or intimacy.  To further drive the point home and to appease network censors, Lucy and Ricky, while they were able to sleep in the same room, were shown retiring for the evening in separate, twin beds.

Flashforward: 2011.  Basic cable alone provides 100+ channels.  All programming is in color – and, it is decidedly liberal, open-minded and pretty racy.  On regular network television, on-screen couples (married, single – people who just met for the first time) jump in bed, the same bed, at any given moment, removing clothes, showing skin and giving us more than a glimpse of an intimate storyline – and that’s just on daytime soap operas. We’re not shy – bring on overt romance, intimacy, intimate conversation and sexual allusion in all forms.  We want it and we want to be seduced by it and entertained by it on TV, from magazines and online outlets.

Yet even with our newfound freedom of expression – why do we still shy away from select intimate conversations and situations?  For instance, the November issue of Cosmopolitan just came out; the cover teases readers with “Guys’ Top Sex Secrets,” “Kinky Sex,” and “Bigger, Better Pleasure – Ways to Get Him Pumped.”  Nothing shy or held back here.  It’s definitely liberating, it’s absolutely refreshing but it’s missing some of the high notes women are interested in talking about.  If the lead in to a story can discuss getting more pleasure from his penis and ways to make him and keep him hard, can’t we talk about the pleasure of a women being better and wetter – -and tips to make this happen?  As much as we have evolved since I Love Lucy was in production, what’s with the one sided censorship and how do we start getting more enlightened and progressive information we’re craving so we can get an equal share of the hot action?

Tell us what you think…

Sex, desire, intimacy, connection, pleasure…most of us really enjoy it and always seem to want to learn how to make it better – but how about safer? Practicing safe sex with partners goes without saying but what we want to talk about with our readers is being safer in ways that have a different impact on the body. Time and again, women consider a variety of approaches to spice up or enhance their sexual experience…toys, films, costumes and products, including massage oils, aphrodisiacs and lubricants, those fun potions we keep in our trusty “goody drawers.” For some women, choices are made by determining what will make them blush the least, typically selecting a bottle of personal lubricant from the drug store shelves. But what we do we really know about the potion inside the bottle?

It seems pretty harmless…pick a bottle, break it out when needed and let the games begin – pleasure at our fingertips (sometimes, literally). Lubricant, after all, is not like buying ice cream at the grocery store. We don’t usually read the label to see if it includes undesired ingredients because it’s not a food item but it is being applied to rather delicate areas of our body and it is being absorbed into the skin. The same reasons we started combing through ingredients on the foods we consider purchasing is exactly why we should be reading the labels on the personal lube we pick up.

Here’s the wake-up call… many leading lubricants found in drug stores contain the same ingredients found in antifreeze, food preservatives and cleaning solutions like harsh oven cleaner. It’s a little hard to fathom but it’s true. Obviously these are not just undesired ingredients to absorb into the body but are actually bad for a woman’s body (and not too great for the environment either). We know the human body is made up of chemical compounds (hello, H20!) but methylparaben, found in some fo the biggest names in intimate moisturizers, has been shown to have some serious health dangers. Methylparaben is not found in Aloe Cadabra intimate moisturizer. As it is, between work and the pressures of everyday life, the last thing a woman needs is more chemicals throwing off her chemistry.

So, before making any decision on something that goes in your body or on your body the best thing you can do is to arm yourself accordingly. Learn more regarding the truth about lubes and make informed decisions that are really right for you.

Some food for thought…should intimacy products clearly disclose ingredients or have warning labels on them? Let us know what you think.

Even the national morning shows are getting in the act; recently the 4th hour of the Today Show dedicated the hour to “ageless beauty” – the charming,chardonnay slingin’ dynamic duo, Kathie Lee and Hoda, and bevy of beauty and wellness experts spent the hour wearing their ages, and in some cases, their weight, literally on their sleeves –all demonstrating that regardless of age, there is plenty of expert advice and no reason women should look or feel anything less than beautiful, healthy, fit and happy.

Hear! Hear! But in our quest for good health and beauty at any age, aren’t we missing something? How about the state and fate of our sexual health — or vaginal health? Where are the sound advice and good examples here? Sex, pleasure, desire… vaginal dryness – it happens – and we’re talking more than menopause here.

The question is why vaginal dryness has to be a conversation killer when there are plenty of explanations and solutions to go around — if only the beauty and wellness experts we trust so much will just dip their toes in the water and talk about it…

17% of women 18 to 50 experience occasional dryness; 39% of women experience it up to three months after giving birth. Women’s bodies go through changes all the time…the environment, antibiotics and other medications, stress, giving birth –these are just a few of the reasons physical pleasure gets derailed by dryness and discomfort during intimacy. Some women’s answer to this issue is silence and they are often not even aware of the external reason that may be causing herto not feel so beautiful internally.

It’s time the mainstream sexual health conversation not just starts but really kicks into high gear. Journalists we respect and follow are discussing and engaging us in women’s issues that get very little attention beyond a closed doctor’s office door. Now this will contribute to our ongoing pursuit of external and internal beauty–and wellness–for all ages.

What do you think about this? What about your sexual health and “internal beauty” is on your mind?

What we love about Aloe Cadabra is its versatility. It is a great product for expecting moms, mature adults and the fun-and-frisky set because it is a wonderful, multi-purpose product that makes everyone feel oh-so-good. Because of the incredible cross spectrum of people who use Aloe Cadabra, either with a partner or solo, we were inspired to get a little saucy and present you with our top 5 favorite sex positions for anyone using this 95% organic (and edible!) lube.

#5 – The Pregnant Pounce – We love Sex Therapist Dr. Ruth, and according to babymed.com, she loves the Edge of the Bed position for pregnant women. Our favorite Doc recommends pregnant women to lie on the edge of the bed, on either their sides or back, with their partner standing beside them, next to the bed. With raised legs, and using a pillow for support if needed, this is a great position to pair with Aloe Cadabra because the wetness that comes from our 95% organic lube makes this position fun and easy!

#4 - The Do It Yourself – Aloe Cadabra is totally safe to use with toys, which means one of our favorite things to do is lie back and enjoy Aloe Cadabra by ourselves. According to About.com, it is important to be relaxed to enjoy yourself. Aloe Cadabra is a great way to get wet and wild, while remaining completely relaxed, and we encourage you to try it!

#3 – Can’t Touch My Toes But Still Wanna Go – We at Aloe Cadabra know that crazy positions are NOT for everyone, and we hear ya! We love spooning-during-sex because it does not involve double-jointed extremities and is also very intimate. Lie on your side with your partner behind you, facing your back. Your partner can wrap his or her arms around you, while inserting themselves or a toy, creating maximum closeness. Aloe Cadabra will make this intimate moment totally pleasure-filled without any worries and this intimate moment can even get a bit of a lift using our OTHER favorite sex aide, the Liberator, the best bedroom adventure gear available!

#2 – The Extremist - This is for the brave, adventurous and willing! Our friends over at Cosmo have come up with the V is for Vixen Move, in which you sit on a counter with your man facing you. Wrap your arms around his neck, prop both feet on his shoulders, and have fun! And don’t forget the Aloe Cadabra to help you out with this difficult position – it will make the move easier and more fun!

#1 – Missionary Magic – We said that Aloe Cadabra was versatile, and we meant that! By using Aloe Cadabra in the Missionary Position, you can heat things up and increase your pleasure without any new, fancy moves. Just apply Aloe Cadabra, get in bed (or on the floor!) and let the magic happen.

So, Aloe Cadabra fans, here is our list… and we want to hear yours! What is your favorite position (existing or your very own signature move) that you enhance with Aloe Cadabra?

Ms. Andelloux recently visited Jaiya on her radio show and was asked, “Why do you think lube is important?” Her answer:

“I find that so many people, it helps them with sexual response. It helps them have an easier time having orgasms. It makes penetration so much easier.”

Dr. Laurie Steelsmith

“My patients love Aloe Cadabra- It’s great for hydrating the vagina and vulva and makes sex more pleasurable. I think it is one of the best products on the market.”

Now that’s an exciting endorsement! For more from Dr. Steelsmith, visit NaturalChoicesForWomen.com.

We’re proud to have been part of such a great publication, which you can view as a PDF by clicking HERE.

Read more about the study’s findings on the Huffington Post.