Naomi Watts has spent the past few years pulling menopause out of the whisper zone with her brand Stripes Beauty. Now Stripes is taking on a topic even fewer people talk about out loud: desire and arousal in midlife. Its new Rite of Passion gummies, a hormone-free daily supplement, launched in October 2026 at $65 for a 28-day supply.
What it is
Stripes describes Rite of Passion as "Arousal & Pleasure Support" gummies for women's sexual wellness in midlife, when, as the brand puts it, "the body's response to arousal and desire can change." The serving is four Peach Noir-flavored gummies, packed in a single daily sachet. Stripes says the formula is meant to support sexual responsiveness, the blood flow involved in physical arousal, mood and mental clarity.
One distinction is worth noting. In its FAQ, Stripes says the gummies support "your body's response to sexual intimacy, not the creation of it." In other words, this is not being sold as a libido switch.
Who developed it
The formula was developed with two experts in the field: Cindy Meston, PhD, professor and director of the Sexual Psychophysiology Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, and Somi Javaid, MD, FACOG, a board-certified OB/GYN and women's sexual health expert. "We wanted to create a formula that reflects what decades of research have taught us about women's sexual wellbeing in midlife," Meston says on the product page.
What's in it
Per four-gummy serving, Stripes lists 1,500 mg L-arginine and 400 mg L-citrulline, amino acids it includes for blood flow; 750 mg tribulus extract; 120 mg ginkgo biloba; 40 mg chasteberry extract; and 30 mg saffron extract. You take the four gummies daily, and on days when intimacy is planned, Stripes suggests taking that serving about an hour beforehand. It is hormone free.
Stripes is also unusually transparent about the science. It links the studies that informed the formula, including Meston's own research, and states clearly that those studies "did not clinically evaluate Rite of Passion's finished formula." As with all supplements, the claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.
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Our take
It is refreshing to see a mainstream brand treat changes in arousal during perimenopause and menopause as a normal health topic rather than a punchline. That said, a supplement is not a substitute for medical care. Lower desire or arousal can be tied to hormones, medications, sleep, stress or relationship factors, and a good clinician can help sort out which. Stripes' own label says to consult your physician before use if you take anticoagulant, antiplatelet or other medications, have a bleeding disorder or other medical condition, or are planning a procedure. If you use hormone therapy, check with your provider too.
Where to buy
Rite of Passion is available at stripesbeauty.com.
