While most women around the country had a sexual wellbeing revival when they read Fifty Shades of Grey, some of the amazing sex scenes did seem a little too fictional. Sure, it makes for great reading, but when you try out a bit of Christian Grey action in real life and it doesn’t pan out, it can leave you feeling a little, well, unsatisfied. Therefore, we turned from the page to real people and real sexual health experts, who can give you tips guaranteed to make your life a whole lot more sexy.
1. Lacy Lingerie: Stephanie F, 26, of Athens, Georgia, details, ‘Whenever I wear matching bra and panty sets, I feel sexier all day. I used to save them for special occasions, but now I find that I need that extra kick on blah days, like Mondays.’
2. Shower Sex: ‘In Skyfall, Daniel Craig as James Bond has an especially steamy shower scene,’ notes wellness writer Anna Davies. ‘Give your guy the 007 treatment by surprising him as he’s rinsing off after a long day.’ I’m sure he won’t mind getting sweaty all over again!
3. Underwear Swimming: Becky C, 30, of Manhattan, Kansas, recalls, ‘A couple of years ago, my husband and I were hiking on a hot day and we came to a stream. I’ve never been skinny dipping, but I did go in the water in just my underwear. It was really fun! Now, whenever we’re hiking and it’s hot, we’ll “underwear swim,” and then lie in the sun to dry out. It feels sort of like breaking the rules, but we won’t get charged with indecent exposure.’
4. Lipstick Lift: Amy L, 34, of Savannah, Georgia, comments, ‘I have tubes of my favourite shade of lipstick everywhere. Whenever I’m in a bad mood, I find myself reaching for it. The act of applying it is soothing, and I know this sounds weird, but I love seeing the lipstick blot on a napkin. I’m a really good lipstick blotter, and seeing the outline gives me a weird confidence kick.’
5. Flirt with the Barista: According to Davies, ‘Giving a guy a compliment — even when you’re attached, not really interested, and know you would never want to be with him in the real world — will make his day, and give you confidence in yours’
6. Playful PDA: ‘A lot of long-term couples stop touching each other, except when they want to have sex,’ says sexuality educator Charlie Glickman. ‘Make a point to hold hands watching TV, or put your hand on his thigh in the car to stay in sync.’ Davies advises, ‘Think back to your favourite moves as a teenager — your hand in his back pocket or engaging in a long kiss even when you’d see each other as soon as algebra was over — and add them to your repertoire for a sexy boost.’
7. Thigh Highs: Tiffany James, CEO of UnderCoverWear, a boutique lingerie company, recommends investing in a pair of thigh-high sheer stockings – even in the summer. The surprise of wearing them out of season will seem even sexier, especially if that’s all you’re wearing, and wearing something out of the ordinary in the bedroom can help to ease your inhibitions.
8. Say Cheese: Mandy L, 31, of Birmingham, Alabama, admits, ‘I’ve never gotten past the sexy selfie phase. Thankfully, now I have the good sense not to share the photos with anyone but my boyfriend. But the entire process makes me stop being critical of the way I look and makes me think, yeah, I’ve still got it.’