Foreplay gets treated like the opening act far too often. Something you do for a few minutes before moving on to the real event. We disagree.

Done right, foreplay can build anticipation, increase arousal, encourage natural lubrication and give you more time to discover exactly what feels good. And no, it doesn't need to involve complicated techniques, an elaborate bedroom setup or something you saw online and immediately knew neither of you was flexible enough to attempt.

The best foreplay ideas are usually much simpler: slow down, pay attention, experiment and stop treating pleasure like you're racing toward a finish line.

Ready? Here are ten ideas actually worth trying.

Who decided foreplay has to begin once your clothes start coming off? Anticipation can start hours before anything actually happens.

A suggestive message during the day, a lingering kiss before you leave for work or telling your partner exactly what you're looking forward to later can change the mood long before you make it to the bedroom. The idea isn't to reveal everything. It's to give them just enough information for their imagination to take over.

Sometimes the hottest part is knowing something is coming and having absolutely no intention of telling them exactly what.

Kissing is one of those things people somehow become less creative with once sex is on the table. Suddenly something that could last ten delicious minutes becomes a thirty-second shortcut to taking clothes off.

Slow it down. Change the pressure, move from their lips to their neck or shoulders, pull away occasionally and let the anticipation build before going back for more. Paying attention to how your partner responds will tell you far more than following some imaginary technique.

There is nowhere you need to be. Take the scenic route.

Getting naked immediately is efficient. Efficiency, however, isn't always particularly sexy.

Leaving something on can make the process of getting undressed part of the experience rather than an administrative task before sex. Take your time removing clothes, or leave certain pieces exactly where they are for a while.

A little restriction and a little imagination can make something you've seen countless times suddenly feel considerably more interesting.

Touch doesn't need to immediately target the obvious places. In fact, deliberately avoiding them for a while can make anticipation much stronger.

Explore the back, waist, stomach, thighs, shoulders and neck. Change the pressure and pace, and pay attention to the reactions you're getting. You might discover areas neither of you has been giving nearly enough attention.

The point isn't to follow a map. It's to enjoy getting lost.

Lube doesn't have to be something you reach for only when there's not enough natural lubrication. Bringing it into foreplay can add more glide to touch and create another sensation to play with from the beginning.

Lelubé Ultra-Glide Water-Based Lubricant has a smooth, long-lasting formula that can become part of the fun rather than waiting on the bedside table for an emergency appearance. Apply a little to your hands and let them do some exploring.

Because there is no rule saying you have to wait until things get dry before things get slippery.

Anticipation is powerful precisely because you don't get everything immediately.

Try slowing down whenever things begin to intensify. Pause. Kiss somewhere else. Change what you're doing. Let your partner wonder what comes next rather than giving them exactly what they're expecting.

This isn't about frustrating each other for the sake of it. It's about stretching out the moments that usually disappear because you're both rushing toward the next thing.

Sometimes almost is incredibly effective.

Talking about sex doesn't have to sound like you're conducting a performance review. A few words can completely change the energy.

Tell your partner what feels good. Ask them what they want. Tell them what you'd like them to do next — or what you're planning to do to them. You don't need an elaborate script, and you certainly don't need to say anything that feels unnatural.

Confidence and clarity can be seriously sexy. Mind-reading is considerably less reliable.

Sometimes the easiest way to make something familiar feel different is simply to stop doing it in exactly the same place, at exactly the same time, in exactly the same way.

That doesn't mean you need to book a luxury hotel every Friday. Change the lighting, put music on, take your time after a shower, move from the bedroom to another private space or simply switch off the screens and give each other your full attention.

Novelty doesn't always require something dramatic. Sometimes your bedroom just needs to stop feeling like the place where you charge your phone and sleep.

Foreplay doesn't have to be perfectly simultaneous. Taking turns can make it much easier to concentrate on sensation rather than thinking about what you're supposed to be doing at the same time.

Give one person your full attention for a while, then switch. Ask what they like, watch how they respond and resist the temptation to rush.

Pleasure gets considerably more interesting when you're actually paying attention to it.

Here's perhaps the most important foreplay tip: stop assuming everything you're doing has to lead somewhere else.

Kissing, touching, teasing and exploring don't need to be steps on a checklist that ends with penetration. They can be the main event if that's what feels good.

Once you remove the idea that you're supposed to be progressing toward something, there is far more room to experiment. You can follow what feels good instead of following the usual sequence.

And that sounds considerably more fun to us.

FAQ’s about Foreplay

Why Is Foreplay Important?

Foreplay can help build sexual arousal, increase natural lubrication and give partners time to discover what feels pleasurable before moving further. It can also make sex feel less rushed by shifting the focus away from reaching a particular goal.

For some people, more time to become physically aroused can be especially important. Natural lubrication doesn't necessarily appear instantly, and rushing can create unwanted friction. Taking more time and adding lubricant when you want additional glide can make the experience much smoother.

Foreplay isn't a warm-up you have to complete before sex. It's part of sex.

How Long Should Foreplay Last?

There is no correct amount of time for foreplay. What works depends on the people involved, how aroused they already are and what they actually want that day.

Instead of watching the clock, pay attention to each other. If you're both enjoying what you're doing, there's no reason to hurry simply because you think you've spent enough time on the supposedly preliminary part.

Five minutes might feel right one day. Much longer might feel better another. Your body isn't operating on a meeting schedule.

How Can You Make Foreplay Better?

Better foreplay usually comes from communication, variety, attention and allowing enough time for arousal rather than learning a secret technique. Notice how your partner responds, ask what they enjoy and don't assume that something they liked once automatically becomes their favorite thing forever.

Adding different sensations can also keep things interesting. Change the pace and pressure of touch, explore different areas of the body, introduce lubricant or simply do something familiar more slowly than usual.

Curiosity beats choreography.

Do You Need Lube During Foreplay?

You don't need lubricant for foreplay, but you can absolutely use it. Lubricant can add glide and reduce friction during different kinds of sexual touch, regardless of how much natural lubrication your body is producing.

Lelubé Ultra-Glide is a water-based, pH-compatible lubricant that is dermatologically tested and clinically proven to be kind to skin. It is unscented and flavorless, with a smooth, long-lasting formula made to get involved whenever you want a little more slip.

The complete ingredient list is:

Aqua, Glycerin, Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) Flower Water, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Usnate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract.

No complicated instructions required. Add a little. Explore. See where things go.

The Best Foreplay Idea? Pay Attention.

You can search for hundreds of foreplay ideas, but the best ones aren't necessarily the most adventurous. They're the ones that make both of you want to keep going.

Slow down. Kiss longer. Touch somewhere different. Talk. Tease. Add some lube. Change the routine. And pay attention to what gets a very definite yes.

Because great foreplay isn't about having an impressive list of moves. It's about making sure nobody wants you to hurry up and get to the next part.