hen clothes are coming off at
lightning speed, it can be hard
to get your libido firing at the
same pace as your partner’s.
For women, arousal is a more
sequential process that starts
in your mind, and it takes time
to bring your body on board.
But know this: a single sexy
thought can be enough to
send ‘get ready!’ signals to
your brain and nether regions,
prompting desire and increasing
vaginal lubrication, says gyno
Dr Elizabeth Poynor. Tap into
this effect from the minute
your alarm goes off and your
body will be screaming for a
release by sundown.7AM
Lather up
In the shower, use a
wash containing an
essential oil that primes
you for getting down.
For instance, studies
show that lavender oil
can lower stress (a total
O-blocker) and jasmine
oil can stimulate your
entire body. Rub it on
your skin using your
hands to activate feel-
good oxytocin. (We like
Original Source Skin
Quench Pineapple &
Coconut Oil, $4.99, for
its delicious-smelling
ext racts.)7.30AM
Spritz on
perfume
Specifically, a powdery
one. Yes, really – the
scent of baby powder
can actually increase
female arousal by 13 per
cent, per the Smell and
Taste Treatment and
Research Foundation
in Chicago.9AM
Banter with
the barista
Just thinking that your
coffee guy is f lirting
with you – whether or
not it’s true – can turn
you on, says Anthony
Bogaert, a psychology
professor at Brock
University. So walk
around like everyone
wants you and it will
have a cumulative effect.11AM
Peek at some
sexy couples
Permission to take a
work break granted.
Do some photo recon
on your phone of various
Hollywood hotties in
steamy movie scenes.
Research shows that
straight-identifying
women, unlike straight-
identifying men, can
get all hot and bothered
by erotic visuals of men
with women, women
with women, men with
men... you get the idea.
Your body’s sexual
response doesn’t judge!12.30PM
Skip the
sandwich
‘Carbs elevate blood
sugar, which leads to
a suppression of the
hormone DHEA - and
when DHEA falls, sex
drive declines with it,’
explains functional
nutritionist Alisa Vitti,
creator of MyFlo, a
period-and-hormone
tracking app. Too many
carbs can also lead to
libido-killing bloat (oh,
burrito belly, you cruel
mistress), so opt for a
high-protein, low-carb
lunch like chicken salad
in a lettuce wrap.4.45PM
Scroll
through
#TBTs
Reminiscing about
sexy encounters you’ve
had in the past – like
the time your partner
surprised you with oral
right after you walked
in the door – can help
you ‘think’ yourself off.
But if you need a more
substantial reminder
to spur hot memories,
re-reading old X-rated
sexts works too.‘CAN’T WAIT TO GET
INTO THESE WHILE
HE’S WEARING
THEM LATER...’138 COSMOPOLITAN SEPTEMBER 2017
sex & relationships