Lube Ingredients

Lube Ingredients
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One of them is also found in antifreeze.
This article was written by Kelli Acciardo and provided by our partners at Prevention.
Lube can be a lifesaver in the bedroom. But if you pick the wrong one, it can be seriously harmful to your health . Many of the bestselling varieties contain some of the same ingredients that are also used in antifreeze, brake fluid, and even oven cleaner, says Wendy Strgar, founder of Good Clean Love, a sexual health company that also makes lube.
And those chemicals might throw off the natural salt balance and pH in the vagina, putting you at a higher risk of contracting bacterial vaginosis . (And if you've ever had BV, you know that no mind-blowing orgasm is worth getting it for.)
Luckily, not all lubes are created equal, and there are plenty of natural—and effective—alternatives. "The best lubricants are those that are iso-osmotic, which means they match the healthy conditions of the vagina—they don't add or subtract any water from the tissue cells or disrupt the healthy bacteria," says Strgar. (Heal your whole body with Rodale's 12-day liver detox for total body health !)
Here are the four scariest ingredients to steer clear of.
Glycerin , a sugar alcohol, increases the osmolality of the lube (a technical way to describe the measure of how much of one substance has been dissolved in another substance). A high level of glycerin isn't good, says Strgar. Too much of this sugar alcohol can lead to bacterial growth and unpleasant side effects like yeast infections and UTIs.
(Check out the Women's Health Boutique for organic lubes and other body-friendly intimacy products.)
Try: Sinclair Select Organic Intimate Arousal Balm . It contains organic peppermint oil to enhance sensitivity and increase blood flow, and organic avocado oil and shea butter to keep things slippery. Fun fact: Each year the Sinclair Institute donates over a third of their profits to DKT International, an organization that has provided millions of men and women with family health and HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
"Most flavored or warming sensation lubricants are made with petrochemicals," which are chemical substances derived from petroleum, and may be found in products like antifreeze, says Strgar. "There is a common misperception about warming lubes, which is that it is sexy to feel burning, but good sex should never burn," she says. "True arousal causes engorgement and a natural warming of sexual organs, so you don't need to pour chemicals on there to make it burn."
Try: Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant . This water-based lubricant is is glycerin and paraben-free and made from 95 percent organic ingredients, like aloe vera. It also has a similar consistency to saliva and natural vaginal secretions.
"Many people have had bad experiences with lubes that burn, itch, or feel really sticky during or after use. Oftentimes those side effects are caused by preservative ingredients like these," says Strgar. Natural products don't have cause those issues, she says.
Try: Wet Organics . This aloe-based lubricant is 100 percent natural thanks to organic ingredients like quinoa, hemp, flax, green tea, and oat extracts. It's long-lasting, nonsticky, and easy to clean up.
"Benzocaine is an irritant that numbs you and can be found in lubes targeted for painful sex or for making anal play less scary," Lilly, a sex toy critic for DangerousLilly.com , writes on her blog . "This is just a bad idea, because pain is your body's way of saying HEY STOP. If you keep going you can end up with injuries, microtears to the delicate tissue, and major problems."
Try: Coconu Organic Personal Lubricant , which is made with organic ingredients like sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter. This hypoallergenic lube is also gluten- and fragrance-free.

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HOME / BLOG / What’s in My Lube? Your Guide to Personal Lubricant Ingredients

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But while our chemists and researchers can wax poetic about all the amazing properties of each compound included in our lubes, we realize the average lube user might have questions about our ingredients, why they’re included in our different lubricant formulas, and what exactly these ingredients “do.”
In fact, there are three lube ingredients we’re asked about more than any others, so we thought it’d be a good idea to talk about them – what is lube, and what are the most common ingredients?
It can come in many forms, including nitroglycerin, which is used in dynamite. Don’t worry — that’s not the form we use as a lube ingredient! The only explosive quality of our lubes is the orgasms that come with them .
Glycerin is a humectant, which means it can seal in moisture and helps stop products like facial cleansers and skin lotions from drying out or irritating skin. That’s one of the reasons glycerin is such a common ingredient in a vaginal lubricant – it allows lubes to stay wet. Glycerin also helps create the slippery feel of lube and acts as a sort of cushion to reduce friction during sex or while using a sex toy.
We’ve received some concerned feedback from lube users who are afraid that glycerin causes a yeast infection from penetrative sex. We understand why – glycerin is often sweet-tasting and is mistaken for a sugar. Yeast feeds on sugar, so it would follow that glycerin can cause an overgrowth of yeast, right?
Yeast and bacteria don’t feed on sugar alcohols, including glycerin. Glycerin can be converted to sugar by the body, but only through digestion — not when it’s simply applied in lube form.
In fact, when it comes to avoiding yeast infections, it’s better to apply a personal lubricant containing glycerin than it is to use saliva — some studies have linked saliva with an increase in yeast infections.
These features help propylene glycol to keep lubricants wetter longer while also adding a slippery feel and cushion – think of it as a kind of buffer zone that reduces friction in your vagina.
Propylene glycol is also used in many food products, including coffee drinks, ice cream, and whipped cream, and soda.
“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified propylene glycol as ‘ generally recognized as safe ,’ which means that it is acceptable for use in flavorings, drugs, and cosmetics, and as a direct food additive.”
Propylene glycol is also safe for skin — in fact, it is often prescribed by doctors to treat rashes and even skin irritation caused by radiation treatments.
However, a very small percentage of people with sensitive skin may experience skin irritation when using products that contain propylene glycol. If you feel discomfort that you think may be linked to your lube or any other product you’ve applied to your skin, we recommend you discontinue use and consult your family doctor or dermatologist.
They’re used to kill bacteria, yeast, and mold (and you can imagine why it’s important to keep those kinds of organisms out of your personal lubricant!).
Can a paraben cause cancer? That’s a question people sometimes ask, based on a myth that became popularized in 2004 after a study found parabens in samples of cancerous breast tissue. However, according to the American Cancer Society (emphasis ours):
The researchers looked only for the presence of parabens in breast cancer samples. The study did not show that parabens caused or contributed to breast cancer development in these cases – it only showed that they were there.. studies have not shown any direct link between parabens and any health problems, including breast cancer.
The FDA also released this statement (emphasis ours):
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) reviewed the safety of methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben in 1984 and concluded they were safe for use in cosmetic products at levels up to 25%. Typically parabens are used at levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.3%, at the present time there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about the use of cosmetics containing parabens .
Remember, glycerin, propylene glycol, and parabens aren’t our only lube ingredients. You can check out full lists of ingredients for each ASTROGLIDE formula on our product page. We even have lubricants with no glycerin, propylene glycol, or parabens, including:
Formulated with 95% certified organic ingredients and no parabens, glycerin, flavors, or fragrances, Organix Liquid combines aloe vera, chamomile, flower extracts, and other plant-derived ingredients.
Formulated for people with sensitivities to glycerin and parabens. This water-based lubricant has a smooth consistency, is long-lasting and both sex toy and condom compatible.
This silicone lube contains just two ingredients: Cyclomethicone and dimethicone, two types of silicone that are FDA approved for use in skincare products.
Like X Silicone liquid, this silicone lubricant contains Cyclomethicone and dimethicone, with the addition of coconut oil.
Formulated with sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and other organic, plant-based lube ingredients, O is the perfect option for when you want to burn the midnight oil.
Remember that everyone’s skin is different, and even plant-based skin products can cause irritation (after all, plants are a major source of allergies!). To learn which lubricantion is best for you , click here to try a free sample !
Have a question about one of our ingredients? Contact us or tweet your question to @ASTROGLIDE — we’d be happy to help!

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This article was medically reviewed by Rosara Torrisi , LCSW, CST, MSSW, MEd, PhD, a certified sex therapist at the Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy.

Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness. For more information, visit our medical review board.

Madeline Kennedy is a health writer for Insider covering a wide range of topics including reproductive and sexual health, mental health, nutrition, and infectious disease. Before joining Insider, Madeline worked as a health news writer for Reuters, and a domestic violence therapist. She has a master's degree in social work from UPenn and is interested in the intersection of health and social justice.

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