Muffin, fanny, box, beaver, nether regions, donut, punani, coochie, Britney, va-jay-jay, Beaver, map of Tasmania … the list of names for a woman’s area” could go on. Despite its importance (carrying on the human race, among others), the humble vagina is oft overlooked in the beauty department. Here at bd, while we love all things nail polish, cleanser, anti-ageing and the like, suitable recognition must be given to those quiet achievers on the site. I’m talking about the brands that are working hard to take care of down there. Often forgotten by the beauty pages, but forever talked about among women, here are a handful of products many of us couldn’t do without.
Femfresh specialises in a range of women’s care products including intimate wash, cleansing wipes and new breathable liners. According to Gay Jacques, product manager of Femfresh at Church & Dwight, women’s interest in using specific personal hygiene products in the genital area is on the increase. Consumers are becoming more aware that shower gels with a high pH can upset the natural balance of their most intimate area,” she says.
Femfresh’s latest innovation is its Silver Care Breathable liners, which help to minimise the reproduction of odour-causing bacteria. They’re also dermatologically and gynaecology tested for everyday use.
Lelo
A leader in intimate lifestyle products since its inception in 2003, Lelo has changed the way people perceive personal massagers. At this stage, the best-selling product from the range is the Gigi, a mid-size G-spot massager. In addition to the well-known favourites, this month saw Lelo launch the world’s first SenseMotion couples’ massagers into Australia. Named Lyla, Oden and Tiani, the remote-controlled massagers feature the latest in motion-sensor technology. Users tilt, shake or turn the wireless controller, prompting the massager to respond. Plus, the wireless controller mimics the vibrations felt by the person with the massager, so the person holding the controller feels what their partner is experiencing.
Here the Lelo designers have done something truly unique,” says Lelo’s USA sales manager Donna Faro. You now have the potential to control the sensations you and a partner are experiencing by simply moving a controller from the palm of your hand.”
Thursday Plantation
Boasting tea tree oil as its hero ingredient, Thursday Plantation prides itself on being a leader in science-based natural healthcare products. The brand’s Tea Tree Feminine Cream is a natural antifungal cream used to treat itching, burning and discomfort in the area. Free from polysorbates, petrochemicals, propylene glycol, synthetic parabens, fragrances, and preservatives, the cream can be used on the sensitive areas of the female (and male) body.
Specialising in all things feminine hygiene, Summer’s Eve has built a reputation on gentle products that effectively keeps downstairs clean and fresh.
The are the best selling among the comprehensive range,” says Summer’s Eve brand manager Rebecca Hamilton. We are seeing a growing trend with this product as women begin to understand that taking care of that area is just as important as washing your underarms. Because the washes are soap-free and pH balanced, they don’t dry the skin and are suitable for that sensitive area – so it’s much better than using soap down there!”
Summer’s Eve has separate Feminine Washes for sensitive and normal skin. The hypo-allergenic, soap-free formula washes away odour-causing bacteria from the external vaginal area without causing irritation. Hamilton says the brand’s are also very popular because they come in individual packaging, making them perfect for women on the go who want to freshen up during the day.
Pharmacy-only home pregnancy testing brand Discover has five products in the range, including two in-stream products, two dip-and-read products, and a , which helps predict ovulation. The planning kit can tell users 24-36 hours prior to ovulation, as it picks up increases in the lutenizing hormone (LH) that can be detected in the urine. It is over 98 per cent accurate in laboratory testing in detecting the LH surge.
In detecting pregnancy, from the moment an egg is fertilised and someone becomes pregnant the body begins producing the pregnancy hormone human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone doubles every 36 to 48 hours as the pregnancy progresses, reaching its peak at eight to 10 weeks. In clinical testing, Discover detected the hormone levels in 62 per cent of women, six days before the day of the missed period, and these detection rates increased as the women got closer to the missed period. For women two days before their missed period, Discover detected the hormone levels in 99 per cent of them.
Unfortunately it’s an accepted fact of life that with most down-there hair removal comes ingrown hairs. Caron Laboratories Bump eRaiser Medi Paste is formulated using tea tree oil, triclosan and vitamin A to prevent and eliminate ingrowns, reduce redness and swelling, and ward off infection.
Lilliane Caron, owner and founder of Caron Laboratories says breaking or snapping of the hair is the most common cause of ingrowns, and they can be caused by any hair-removal method. Bump eRaiser products are formulated to reduce redness and inflammation while preventing infection of the hair follicle,” she says.