Diane dares to ask: I was wondering how effective these female enhancement creams really are. I looked at ingredients on 2 brands (Venus Touch and Orexia) and it looks like the only thing that might cause some sensations are the peppermint oil or menthol. What do you think?
Sarah Bellum says:
I’ve never had the need for these products so I’ve never paid much attention to them before. But, wow, once you starting looking, they’re everywhere! Some of them look like they use a simple “tingling” agent, like menthol, to get the job done. Others have different “active” ingredients that they claim will take you to “the promised land.” In either case, real test data for these products is tough to find. So after talking it over with the other lobes of the Beauty Brains, the Right Brain and I put together this list rating these products according to the following criteria:
Active ingredients: What’s in the product that gives it a sexual sizzle?
[Note: As you'll see when you read this list, many of these products are based on L-Argenine an amino acid that has been linked to the production of nitric oxide, a chemical that helps promote sensation down-you-know-where. However, these studies were done on L-Argenine in the blood, not from a topical application like these products provide. Therefore, we're skeptical. Other ingredients like menthol and niacin cause a mild irritation that creates a tingling sensation.]
Proof: What kind of data does the company present to back up their claims?
Cost: Is the product a big rip off or little rip off?
Ok, having said all that, let’s take a look at the top 10 female enhancement creams:
Active Ingredients: L-arginine, Menthol
Cost: $15 for 10 applications ($1.50 per use)
Proof: None provided
Worth trying? Nope. This one’s almost double the price of some of the others and doesn’t seem to offer any added benefit.
Active ingredients: L-Arginine, Niacin, and Menthol. We’ve talked about L-arg and Menthol above. Niacin can provide a topical sensation.
Cost: $24.95 for 20 to 30 uses. (About $1.00 per use)
Proof: According to the website: “Original Climatique was evaluated by the research department of world famous Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. Focus groups, clinicians and sexual scientists agreed with the women of all ages that Original Climatique deserved an unqualified recommendation for use as a sexual enhancer and a pleasure product.”
Worth trying? Hard to tell. I’m not sure what this endorsement means and the niacin scares me a bit – maybe too much sensation if you know what I mean
Active ingredient: menthol
Proof: None.
Cost: $49 per jar of unknown size
Worth trying? No way am I paying 50 bucks for menthol!
Active ingredient: L-Argenine
Proof: Same as #1 and 2 above.
Cost: $27.95 for 2 oz.
Worth trying? Nothing compelling here. Keep scrolling.
Active ingredient: They won’t tell us! There’s nothing on the website that describes what’s actually in the product. A huge red flag!
Proof: You’re kidding, right? They won’t even say what’s in it!
Cost: $19.00 for a month supply. How many times would YOU use it in a month???
Worth trying? Forget it!
Active ingredient: L-argenine, menthol, Damiana, Maca, Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba.
Proof: None.
Cost: $44.00 per jar of unknown size.
Worth trying? More of the same.
Active ingredient: Arginine and Ornithine, more nitric acid stimulation via amino acids.
Proof: Nothing substantial.
Cost: $19.95 for 20 to 30 uses (<$1.00 per use)
Worth trying? I’ll pass.
Active ingredient: L-Arginine
Proof: There are references to clinical studies on L-Arginine but they don’t indicate how the L-Arginine was applied. Could have been ingested? Can’t tell for sure.
Cost: $24.95 per bottle (approx. 30 applications) (< $1.00 per use)
Worth trying? Well, at least it’s cheap!
Active ingredients: Damiana Leaf, Suma Root, Motherwort, Wild Yam, Ginkgo Biloba, Peppermint Leaf. (Peppermint has an effect similar to menthol.)Cost: $59.95 for 30 applications ($2 per use)
Proof: None.
Cost: $59.95 for 2 ounces
Worth trying? No thanks, due to lack of proof and high price.
Active Ingredients: Borage Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Coleus Extract, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and natural fragrance.
Proof: Surprisingly, this is the only product that claims to NOT work through irritation. Unlike niacin and menthol, Zestra uses a different mechanism. Here’s what they say about their study results: “The Phase 3-type study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Zestra(R), compared to placebo oil in 256 women diagnosed with acquired mixed interest/desire/arousal/orgasm disorders in conditions of home use in conjunction with sexual activities. “Zestra was well-tolerated, and no serious adverse events (SAEs) were associated with study participants’ use of the product,” David M. Ferguson, PhD, MD, FACCP, the study’s clinical director, said.”
Cost: $17 for 9 uses ($1.80 per use)
Worth trying? Could be. Zestra is a bit more expensive per use, but it’s the only product that seems even remotely legitimate in my opinion. I’d bet my money on this one.
The Beauty Brains bottom line:
I’m not convinced there’s substantial research showing ANY of these really do anything beyond providing some surface tingling. But if you really want to try one, it looks like Zestra could be the best of the bunch.
What do YOU think? Have you tried any of these? Would you? If you would, would you tell anyone? Let’s find out! Leave a comment and share your salacious stories with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
This story prompted a number of comments and emails. One astute reader named Pam, pointed out that the British equivalent of the NAD is the Advertising Standards Authority, or ASA. Her comment was very timely considering we just received a press release that described an ASA survey of how well products in Great Britain comply with the rules in the UK. (Keep in mind that unlike its US counterpart the ASA only has authority over claims in the media like TV, radio, print and websites. They do not cover claims made on packaging; that task is handed by a different regulatory group.
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