The HUD Love Club

In praise of makeout sessions

by Katherine

There’s something wonderfully underrated about a good old-fashioned makeout session. Not as a warm-up act. Not a stepping stone to the next level of intimacy. Not the prequel to anything more. Just a standalone, deeply satisfying, toe-curlingly lovely kiss-fest. The kind where you lose track of time, your lips get a little swollen, your brain gets a little fuzzy, and your whole body hums with pleasure. The kind where you have to force yourself to come up for air.

The slow burn of pleasure

We live in a culture that often puts sex at the centre of physical intimacy - the goal, the main event, the part that’s supposed to matter most. But kissing? Kissing can be the whole story; a rich, sensory experience that deserves a moment (or 10) in the spotlight.

When we allow ourselves to just make out with someone - no agenda, no pressure for anything else - we create space to tune into our own turn-ons. To enjoy touch without expectation. To explore desire in a way that feels playful and connected, without rushing toward a finish line.

Makeouts are mindful

In many ways, kissing is the perfect self-care date, even when it involves another person. It asks us to be present, to notice how we feel, what we want, and what feels good.

A makeout session slows everything down. It’s not about performing or impressing. It’s about feeling. That can be incredibly powerful if you’re trying to reconnect with your body after a breakup, burnout, or just a long stretch of dating fatigue. If full-blown hookups feel like too much right now, a passionate makeout can be just enough.

Intimacy doesn’t need a finish line

It’s okay (actually, it’s great) to set boundaries around intimacy that say: “This is how far I want to go.” Sometimes, the best connections are the ones that start and stop at the lip lock. Maybe you’re just not in the mood for more. Maybe you want to leave them wanting. Or maybe kissing is simply your favourite part (and honestly? Valid).

The beauty of casual dating is that you get to explore what works for you, at your pace, with your pleasures and preferences at the centre. And if what you’re craving is a little makeout magic without anything else on the menu? Go for it.

Celebrate your desire, your way

National Kissing Day is as good a time as any to honour the humble makeout. The chemistry. The tension. The giggles. The flushed cheeks. The way it makes you feel alive. Whether it's on a beach, in a car parked on a deserted stretch of road, or horizontal on a sofa somewhere, making out is a valid, joyful, sexy form of connection, and a great reminder that intimacy can be sweet, slow, and completely on your terms. So enjoy the bliss of a good, old-fashioned snog sesh.

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