Photo: Courtesy of Lola.
Lola, the period company known for its organic tampons, wants to be the first brand to be there for women from “their first period through their last hot flash.” And it’s thinking well beyond just that time of the month by branching out with a new line of condoms and other sexual health products.
Coined Sex by Lola, the new range that boasts everything “natural” you need to have sexy time with your partner (or solo) safely. The collection includes ultra-thin condoms made of natural rubber latex and lubricated with 100% locally-sourced, medical-grade silicone oil. There’s a water-based personal lubricant formulated with aloe juice to mimic the vagina’s natural moisture. And to round things out, there are also all-natural cleansing wipes that’s made with 100% bamboo soaked in a purified water solution to maintain a healthy vaginal pH balance.
The brand is maintaining its transparency when it comes to its materials and where they come from. During the R&D process, Lola found that many suppliers sold lubricants mixed with other additives like industrial-grade silicone, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require companies to share in their ingredients lists since lube is considered a medical device, not a drug that requires more stringent ingredient regulations. (Though many that are on shelves now haven’t been cleared with the FDA.) But the line avoids the scary stuff and unnecessary ingredients altogether like parabens, petrochemicals, and other known carcinogens; glycerin, which is often formulated in a number of lubricants but can also cause yeast infections, according to SELF; as well as synthetic colorants, flavors, and fragrance, which can all irritate anyone’s naughty bits, especially if you already have sensitive skin.
Photo: Courtesy of Lola.
Some might be wondering, “Why condoms?” But Lola’s founders saw it as a natural progression for the brand that already working to destigmatize reproductive health. While condoms and lube are associated with and marketed to people with penises, Lola didn’t want to keep accepting the status quo, kickstart innovation in the category, and open up discussions about sexual health for everyone involved. The brand surveyed about 1,000 women and found that 36% of women say they actually buy the condoms, while another 33% said they buy them with their partner. As co-founder Alex Friedman told Fortune, “Brands are targeting the male consumer, [but] women want to have that conversation and play an active part in the decision making.”
Besides our attitudes towards condoms have changed in recent years. A 2017 survey by Trojan Condoms in partnership with Indiana University’s National Survey of Sexual Health & Behavior found that 96% of those polled thought that when seeing a woman buy condoms as being responsible and smart, or don’t find it to be any of their business. (Because it’s not anyone’s business other than their partner.) Plus 68% of women polled either “strongly disagreed” or “disagreed” that it was a man’s “responsibility” and not the woman’s to supply the condoms for a heterosexual hookup, though only 18% of women said they purchased the condom for their most recent sexual encounter. But with Lola stepping further into sexual health, those numbers are sure to skyrocket, especially since you can easily order them along with your monthly supply of period products.