Menopause in your 20s might feel like a shock — and one young woman’s experience is resonating with thousands. Gloriah co‑founders Jessica and Isla stepped up when a dear friend underwent surgical menopause at just 25.
Despite Isla’s background as an NHS women’s health nurse, they couldn’t find a suitable intimate-care product. Frustrated by stigma-laden options, they created Gloriah’s Soul Gel — a premium, water-based lubricant designed specifically for menopausal and perimenopausal women.
Menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness, soreness, and low libido are widespread — up to 80% of women will experience them during perimenopause or menopause.
Physical discomfort during intimacy can be distressing, with diminished lubrication causing friction, pain, and lack of enjoyment. Celebrities like Halle Berry have echoed this pain — describing sex during perimenopause as feeling like “razor blades”
These stories highlight a critical need for safe, effective products tailored to shifting hormonal landscapes.
Soul Gel launched on pre‑order in early July, with initial dispatch scheduled from July 14. It sold out three times, initially attracting buzz through an audacious “Lube on the Tube” campaign on the London Underground.
Though Transport for London later issued a cease-and-desist, the campaign had already gone viral. The bold marketing, combined with Soul Gel’s packaging — a chic, terracotta tube inspired by 70s skincare design — helped transform perceptions, placing sexual wellness alongside everyday beauty products.
The founders funded everything independently, hand-filling 2,000 bottles in their living room and navigating trademark conflicts, packaging logistics, and more. Inspired by feminist icons like Gloria Steinem and Gloria Gaynor, the brand name “Gloriah” infuses homage with empowerment.
Isla Wynne Thomas, co-founder, explained they wanted products that felt “beautiful, bold, and stigma‑smashing,” not clinical or patronising.
Behind its smooth texture are gentle, plant-based ingredients: aloe vera, oat, ginkgo, and a proprietary algae extract called AlgaPur, which promises better hydration and collagen support than oils like argan or coconut.
The formula is free of harsh chemicals, fillers, and endocrine disruptors — ideal for fragile vaginal tissue affected by hormonal changes. Each tube retails at £17, currently available for pre-order. A 25% off code, “REACH25,” lowers the price to £12.75 — valid until July 31.
Soul Gel is now stocked in major UK retailers like Superdrug and Tesco. Early user feedback is overwhelmingly positive: one shopper noted, “After having my second baby, I needed something gentle and nourishing.
This has been a lifesaver.” Another shared, “It does feel like a little moment for the soul. Calming, comforting, easy.” Reviewers also praised the oat and aloe formula: “The oat and aloe combo is genius. It feels so calming on my skin, not just down there…” On Amazon, it holds a 4.9‑star rating, though free delivery applies only on orders above £30.
Broader market alternatives include Maude’s Shine Organic Lubricant (£21.59), pH balanced and ultra‑moisturising, and YES Organic Water-Based Lube (£7.99), which users with sensitive skin rave about: “I have super sensitive skin, and this gave me absolutely no issues. Doesn’t feel icky or sticky at all.”
Why does this matter? Just like Halle Berry’s candid discussion about painful intimacy during perimenopause and her launch of a lubricating gel following her own struggles, Gloriah aims to break taboos around aging, hormone changes, and sexual health.
Experts believe openly addressing these issues encourages women to seek help and improves well-being. Personal lubricants reduce friction, support tissue health, boost confidence, and enhance relationships — yet many women suffer in silence.
By combining functional design, empathetic messaging, and feminist aesthetics, Soul Gel offers more than relief — it’s part of a wider movement normalising female pleasure across life stages. Jessica summarised their intent: “We wanted to create the kind of product we wish we could’ve handed our friend when she hit menopause at 25.”
