Slyde Body London was born from a deeply personal journey of self-discovery and resilience. Founder Sarah Martinez-Murray has spent over two decades working with women in the hair, beauty, fitness, and wellness industries. Through these experiences, she witnessed firsthand the challenges many women face as they navigate the transitions of motherhood, aging, and menopause.

Driven by her own struggles with health and the desire to challenge societal norms around women's wellness and intimacy, Sarah created Slyde Body London—a brand dedicated to celebrating and empowering women at every stage of life.

Nicolle: What inspired you to start Slyde Body London, and how did your personal experiences influence the development of the brand?

Sarah: I’ve spent over 20 years working closely with women in the hair, beauty, fitness, and wellness industries. Many of my clients, some for over a decade, shared their experiences of feeling lost as they aged, particularly through motherhood and menopause. These transitions, often shrouded in silence and shame, left many women feeling invisible. I recall an elderly client saying, "You just get to an age and suddenly you're invisible, no matter how vibrant you were." That sentiment stuck with me, inspiring a desire for change.

After having my daughter at 36, I experienced these challenges first-hand, compounded by a thyroiditis diagnosis and returning to full-time work. I felt exhausted, with my body and hormones out of balance. Amid this struggle, I noticed a lack of sexual wellness products that felt both premium and celebratory, which led to the creation of Slyde Body. After two years of research and development, I launched a product that embraces this life chapter, aiming to shift the narrative from stigma to celebration. This journey feels like the beginning of something truly significant.

Nicolle: Can you talk about the specific challenges you faced with your health, including your Thyroid condition and peri-menopause, and how these experiences shaped your approach to women´s wellness and intimacy?

Sarah:  Before having my daughter, I was fit and healthy, with a background in fitness, wellness, and nutrition. Despite a smooth conception, pregnancy brought challenges like gestational diabetes. After my daughter was born, I enjoyed a calm newborn phase, but by four months, fatigue, weight gain, and post-pregnancy depletion set in. Knowing my body well, I sought help and was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition. With proper care, I began to recover.

At 38, I noticed worsening symptoms like irregular cycles, mood swings, low libido, and weight gain. Despite being told I was too young for perimenopause, I persisted and found a supportive naturopath and doctor who confirmed my condition. I learned that perimenopause can start in the mid to late 30s, but it's rarely discussed, leaving many women to struggle alone. I want to be part of a community that openly discusses these challenges. Slyde Body fits into this conversation, emphasizing self-care, self-connection, and intimacy. Women often put themselves last during these demanding years, but it's crucial to prioritize our pleasure and well-being. Starting with self-care, we can reconnect with ourselves and navigate this journey with strength and support.

Nicolle: How has becoming a mother changed your perspective on self-care and intimacy, and how did this shift lead to the creation of Slyde Body London?

Sarah: Becoming a mum changed what I needed and craved most. With no time for myself and an overwhelming mental load, I realized how easily resentment could build. Thankfully, being an older mum, I was clear on who I was and what I needed. Reading Fair Play by Eve Rodsky was a game changer. The book focuses on the mental load women carry and offers strategies for reclaiming time and space to nurture ourselves.

It helped me be honest with my husband and share that load more equally. This shift has given me more time for self-care and improved our relationship. Establishing boundaries and having honest conversations have been crucial. Even something as simple as taking a 30-minute uninterrupted bath has made a big difference. This journey has deepened my appreciation for self-care and brought new intimacy to my relationships.

Nicolle: Slyde Body London aims to redefine intimacy for women. What does this redefinition mean to you, and how do your products support this mission

Sarah: Redefining intimacy for women as we get older is all about celebrating the new chapters and our age, experience and years. It is such an incredible time and there is something really special about a woman who has lived life and has all of that wisdom and experience washed over her. As our youth years fade, society's norm is for us to step aside, and fade away.

The stereotypical narrative in so many cultures is that as we get older, we aren’t sexy, beautiful or appealing anymore. It’s nonsense and so many women are more empowered, don’t care for validation and know exactly who they are as they get older. Slyde Body London is about celebrating that, carving out time for her and all of her magic. Our products are for her and only her. We want her to feel celebrated, seen and nourished with our products. 

Nicolle: Why was it important for you to create luxurious, aesthetically pleasing packaging for your products, and how do you hope this impacts women´s perception of intimacy products?

Sarah: We wanted women to know it was for her and her alone. The experience of self-care, indulgence and luxury is something special for all of our senses. We want women to open the package and instantly feel that. Our Intimacy Elixir and Luxury Body Oil set is designed to sit out next to your bed or on a dresser rather than hidden away. All of our products are made with luxury in mind and for her to feel amazing through whatever chapter she is going through. So often as we get older, peri and beyond the symptoms and effects can be harsh on the body. Rather than it just being a solution, we wanted it to feel incredibly acknowledged and beautiful along the way. 

Nicolle: You have mentioned the desire to start open and honest conversations about women´s health and well-being. What topics do you feel are most important to address, and how does Slyde Body contribute to these discussions?

Sarah: From motherhood, hormones, juggling careers, libido, sexual wellness and our bodies. All of the topics that we talk about with our girlfriends. We want to put it out in a more public conversation to help break the stigmas associated with it. As we get older it changes - all of it. We want to just be real, authentic and connected to our community about it. There are so many great people now talking about all of this and using platforms to share - linking and being a part of that and talking about all the things we aren’t supposed to talk about. Like vaginal dryness - it’s a thing. Let’s talk about that like it's normal - because it absolutely is!

Nicolle: Building a community of women in midlife is a key part of your mission. What are some of the ways Slyde Body London fosters connection and support among its community members?

Sarah: Through our platforms, we share our stories, experiences and conversations about it all. Connecting with other incredible women and organisations that are a part of the conversation and sharing what they are doing, finding, experiencing and sharing. We will continue to make products to support women for the different stages and things they need and feel incredible each step.

We are also doing collaborations with some other women and businesses to continue to connect with more women and expand the community. We are part of the British Menopause Society and want to keep being informed, updated and a part of the information and support out there for women. We know that being a part of this and building this community will change the narrative for our daughters and that in itself feels amazing. 

Nicolle: How do you see Slyde Body London evolving in the future to meet the needs of women as they navigate different life chapters?

Sarah: As we continue the conversation, expand the community and evolve we know that we will be able to continue to support women going through these chapters of their lives. We also see such power in being able to be a part of the change for the next generation to come.

Having the information, the products, the platforms and the reach will change the way our daughters grow up and evolve into their later years. If we were able to be a part of changing that so women everywhere feel seen, empowered and celebrated as they get older… then that is a really beautiful thing. 

Nicolle: Your North Star goal includes offering comprehensive support for working mothers within your company. What specific changes would you like to see in the workplace to better accommodate the needs of women and mothers?

Sarah: Women today are working more, doing more, owning businesses, leading companies and teams and holding so many things together. Working women and mums in particular are burning out. They are juggling careers and then home life and the normal corporate structure of 9-5 isn’t built for working mums. Generally speaking, a lot of women are the lower income earners and therefore they are the ones to sacrifice work and career if they become a mum. If women choose to keep working or need to work, it can become really difficult to try and work and also be there for your kids.

That narrative of ‘women can have it all’ is so out of touch. The average woman trying to have it all is struggling and absolutely can’t have it all without help, a stack of cash or extra support.  I want to be able to have Slyde Body set up and financially able to provide proper maternity leave for our mums. Paid maternity leave and flexibility for when they want to come back to work. Having flexibility around hours, work from home, support. It would allow so many more mums and incredibly, talented women to do more in their role and offer them the opportunity to thrive.

Nicolle: What advice would you give to other women who are juggling motherhood, health challenges, and a career, based on your own experiences with Slyde Body London?

Sarah: Trust and honour yourself. If you know something is going on in your body - keep asking for help, reaching out to people in women’s health or find communities that you can share with. Don’t ignore it and don’t let an old, outdated DR tell you that you are fine if you know you aren’t. And don’t be ashamed of wanting and needing support through these years and chapters.  And the big one... Don’t forget who you are in the midst of the wild ride of life. You have your music and magic within - don’t let that go quiet while you are so busy looking after everyone else. 

Slyde Body London is more than just a brand; it is a movement aimed at redefining how women perceive and experience intimacy and self-care. Sarah’s journey highlights the importance of listening to our bodies, advocating for ourselves, and finding joy and connection in every chapter of life. By fostering open conversations and creating luxurious, intentional products, Slyde Body London seeks to empower women to embrace their unique journeys with confidence, dignity, and celebration. As Sarah continues to expand her community and offerings, her mission remains clear: to support women in feeling seen, valued, and vibrant as they navigate the complexities of life.

You can visit Slyde Body London´s website here and you can follow her on Instagram here.

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Nicolle Knapova is a 30-year-old young adult writer and freelance blogger from the Czech Republic. She has a master’s degree in Creative Writing and Publishing at Bournemouth University. She loves to write about music, books and TV shows. If she’s not writing her fan fiction, she’s writing her poetry and sharing it on her Instagram @elisecaverly.