How to Use Lube and Arousal Gel Together for Easier, Better Sex

Lube still gets treated like a fix for something that’s gone wrong, but in reality it’s more like a pleasure upgrade. Add an arousal gel, and you're supporting your body on two levels: the blood flow behind female arousal, and the comfort and glide that keep sex feeling good once it starts. Here's how to use Vella’s lube alongside an arousal gel, and why the pairing can help you have better orgasms.

What is lube, and who is it for?

Personal lubricants are gels that reduce friction during sex — whether solo or partnered, penetrative or not. Most are water-based, silicone-based, or oil-based, and each behaves differently.

Lube is for anyone who wants sex to feel smoother. It's especially useful if dryness has crept in because of menopause, breastfeeding, hormonal contraception, stress, or certain medications, but you don't need a reason beyond "it feels good."

One study followed around 2,500 women using water- or silicone-based lubricants and found that lubricant use during vaginal intercourse was linked to significantly higher ratings of pleasure and satisfaction. In the same research, women said lube made sex feel very pleasurable in more than 70% of encounters, and more comfortable in 65.5%. It’s not just for hetero, penis-and-vagina sex, either. A separate national survey found that lesbian and bisexual women use lube to increase arousal, pleasure, and desire. These are self-reported ratings, but the pattern still consistent shows that lube makes sex feel better, regardless of age or sexuality. 

Everslide is Vella's silicone-based personal lubricant, made with plant squalane, sea buckthorn oil, and vitamin E. Silicone doesn't absorb into the skin or evaporate, so it keeps its slip for longer without constant reapplication, and it works well in the shower or bath.

What is an arousal gel?

An arousal gel is different from a lubricant. It's a topical product applied to external erogenous areas, most commonly the clitoris and vulva, to increase local sensation. Depending on the formula, that might mean warmth, tingling, or cooling, and some products also boost lubrication.

Most formulas aim to increase blood flow and nerve sensitivity in genital tissue, so that touch and stimulation feel more intense. Common ingredients include menthol for a cooling or tingling feel, L-arginine, botanicals, and mild warming agents. 

It’s worth knowing, though, that an arousal gel won’t create desire or fix low libido on its own. People often use “arousal” to mean desire, but they’re not the same thing. Female genital arousal is your body’s physical response to stimulation: blood flows into the clitoris, labia, and vaginal walls (that’s vasocongestion), the clitoris swells, and fluid seeps through the vaginal wall to create natural lubrication, usually the first visible sign. That’s the process arousal gels are designed to support.

Research on genital and subjective arousal shows the physical and mental sides don't always line up. You can feel mentally turned on with little physical response, or the reverse, which is why needing arousal gel or lube says nothing about how much you want sex. Lower estrogen levels after menopause can also reduce natural vaginal lubrication.

An arousal gel is worth trying if you want more sensation or easier orgasms. That includes people who:

• Need more clitoral stimulation to feel fully aroused or reach orgasm. 

• Have noticed decreased sensitivity or dryness, perhaps due to perimenopause or menopause. 

• Are navigating changes related to stress, fatigue, postpartum experiences, or other medical treatments that might be impacting their sexual response. 

• Want to introduce some novelty into their routine or focus more on foreplay.

Pleasurewave, Vella’s arousal cream, works differently from the tingling and warming gels above. It was developed by the same team behind Viagra® and Cialis®, and uses hemp-derived CBD isolate (with 0% THC) to help the smooth muscle of the clitoris and inner labia relax and increase local blood flow. It contains no menthol, peppermint, or oil, and it’s compatible with condoms and toys. That makes it a good fit for anyone whose arousal feels slower or more muted than it used to, including as hormones shift in perimenopause and beyond. In a clinical study led by Vella’s Chief Medical Officer, 90% of participants reported improved climax and 60% reported more intense orgasms.

How to use lube and arousal gel together

Lube and arousal gel aren’t a package deal. You can use either one on its own and have better sex. But because they do very different jobs, there’s nothing stopping you from using both.

Think of Pleasurewave as the warm-up act: it supports blood flow and sensation, so your body’s physical arousal gets a head start. Everslide is the headliner for comfort and glide, keeping everything slick and smooth once things get going. 

The two formulas are fully compatible, and Vella’s guidance is to apply Pleasurewave first, then follow with Everslide: 

• Apply Pleasurewave 15-25 minutes before sex: Use three pumps on the clitoris and inner labia, and give it time to absorb. The effects last up to two hours.

• Use the wait: Arousal builds best when it isn't rushed, so use that time to kiss, hug, or unwind.

• Add Everslide when you're ready: Pump a small amount onto your hands, your partner, a toy, or your vulva and vaginal opening.

• Top up as needed: A little goes a long way, but add more if the glide fades.

• Keep the clitoris in the picture: For most women, clitoral stimulation is the key to orgasm. With friction handled by lube and sensation supported by arousal gel, it's easier to focus on what feels good.

Both products are condom compatible. If you use silicone toys, check the toy's material before using silicone lube on it. Skip Pleasurewave if you're allergic to cannabinoids, and speak to your doctor first if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

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