Creams and powders in the USA

What are erotic creams and powders?

They are cosmetics for sexual play. Creams change the texture of the skin and add sensation during massage and foreplay. Some warm, some cool and some simply moisturise or add fragrance. Powders do the opposite of an oil: instead of gliding, they leave the skin dry and velvety, so every touch is felt more.

This category brings together products with very different uses, and some have their own category that may suit you better. For long massages there are massage oils. If you want to last longer, look at delay products. For erections there are male enhancers, and for the clitoris, female orgasm enhancers and sensitivity stimulators. If you want to paint the body, there are edible erotic body paints.

Types of creams and powders

They differ mainly in what they do on the skin:

• Massage creams: they glide smoothly for a long massage, with or without fragrance.
• Warming effect: they contain cinnamon, ginger or capsaicin and warm the area as you rub. They are sold as creams that stimulate circulation.
• Cooling effect: they contain menthol, cool the skin and create a temperature contrast if you alternate them with a warming one.
• Invigorating for the penis: they usually contain L-arginine and ginkgo biloba and are designed to help with the firmness of an erection.
• Female stimulants: creams and gels for the clitoris or vagina that aim for more sensitivity or a feeling of tightness.
• Body powders: silk or scented talc powders that leave the skin soft to the touch. Edible ones, such as raspberry, add flavour.
• Intimate care: moisturisers for sensitive areas, some scented or with pheromones, and creams to lighten the skin of the intimate area.

Safety

The skin of the genitals and mucous membranes reacts more than the skin of your arm. Before using a warming, cooling or stimulating cream, try a little on your wrist or the inside of your elbow and wait a while. If it stings too much, wash it off with water and mild soap and do not use it again. Do not put anything in the vagina or anus unless the product page states it is for intimate use.

Not all of them are compatible with latex: those that contain oil can damage a condom. If you are going to use one, check that the product page says “compatible with latex”, and if you have sensitive skin, try a small amount on your forearm first.

How to choose

• Area: the product page states whether it is for the body, penis, clitoris or vagina. Do not use on mucous membranes anything that is meant only for massage.
• Effect: warming, cooling, invigorating or stimulating. If it is your first time, start with a mild one.
• Ingredients: read the list to find out whether it contains menthol, capsaicin, L-arginine or any other ingredient that does not agree with you.
• Condom: if you are going to use it with a condom, look for “compatible with latex” on the product page. Fewer than one in ten state it, and more than half of those say it is not: the V-Activ cream for women from HOT, the vaginal moisturising balm from Bijoux Indiscrets and the Liberté intimate moisturiser from Secretplay contain oil. If the product page says nothing, do not assume it is.
• Flavour: if oral sex is on the cards, choose one that the product page marks as edible.
• Pack size: the product page gives the millilitres. To try a new effect, a small pack is better.

Frequently asked questions

Are erotic body powders actually worth using?

Yes. Apply them with a large brush over the chest, thighs and neck: they leave the skin with a velvety texture and every caress is felt more. If your partner wears a blindfold, they cannot see and can only feel, and the texture of the powder is even more surprising.

Do invigorating creams really work?

They may help, as a complement. Those containing L-arginine and menthol aim for a physical effect: widening the blood vessels in the area and improving blood flow to the penis so the erection is firmer. They are not Viagra and do not replace it. They may be useful if you notice some loss of firmness because of stress or tiredness, and if it happens often, talk to your doctor.

What is an edible erotic powder?

A flavoured powder that you spread on the skin with a brush and can then lick off. It is for massage and foreplay, and it does not work as a lubricant.

Do warming creams burn?

They should not. They give a feeling of warmth as you rub. If you notice a strong stinging, wash the area with water and mild soap and stop using it.

Can an erotic cream be used as a lubricant?

No, unless the product page says otherwise. These creams are designed for massage or stimulation. For penetration, use a lubricant.

Can they be used on the anus?

Only if the product page says so. Warming or cooling ones can sting a lot on the anal mucosa. For anal penetration, an anal lubricant is better.

What is the difference between a delay cream and an invigorating one?

A delay cream slightly reduces the sensitivity of the penis so you take longer to ejaculate. An invigorating one aims for more blood flow and a firmer erection. Delay creams have their own category: delay products.

Do aphrodisiac creams awaken desire?

Not on their own. They act on the skin, which warms up, cools down or becomes more sensitive, and that may help you get in the mood.

Browse by brand

• RUF
• ORGIE
• JOYDIVISION
• INTT
• HOT
• COBECO PHARMA