The 4 Best Cum Lubes That Look, Feel And Taste Like Real Semen
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A cum lube should provide comfortable glide during vaginal or anal penetration and it might be water-based, silicone-based, or even oil-based, but it needs to look and feel like real semen during use.
Cum lubes mimic the texture, appearance, and sometimes even the scent or taste of real semen so you can explore creampies, facials, and many other ejaculation fantasies whenever the mood strikes.
But that’s also how a cum lube differs most when compared to other types of personal lubricant.
After more than 13 hours of cumulative research consulting our medical review board regarding safe ingredients and crowdsourcing opinions from enthusiasts and those who use realistic cum lubes regularly, we’ve concluded that Bust It Nut Butter and Sliquid Silk are the best cum lubes available.
In A Hurry? Start With Our Top Cum Lube Picks
Important Things To Know:
- Safety: Our top two recommendations are free from glycerin, parabens, added fragrances, flavors, and dyes. These ingredients can be irritating or toxic and some can increase the chances of developing a vaginal infection. Other cum lubes on our list — particularly those with flavor or scent — achieve their realism through the use of ingredients we do not necessarily endorse.
- How we chose: When choosing the best cum lubes, we weighed: their ingredients, additives, potential allergens, intended use, performance, texture, and consistency. Although safe ingredients are of the utmost importance, performance was also a top consideration.
*When you purchase a product through an affiliate link, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. On behalf of our entire team, thank you in advance for your support!
Our Top Recommendations
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Best Overall
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Also Good
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Most Realistic
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Flavored, Scented & Edible
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4.9
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4.9
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4.5
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4.5
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$11.82 (4 oz)
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$24.00 (8.5 oz)
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$12.99 (4 oz)
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$21.99 (8.5 oz)
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Description: Bottom Line: Bust It Nut Butter is one of the safest cum lubes on the market, proving that you can buy realistic fake semen in a bottle without compromising on quality and safety. The only possible downside is that it's not edible — meaning oral sex fantasies can’t be enjoyed safely using this cum lube. [Read Full Review] |
Description: Bottom Line: Sliquid Silk is not made or marketed as fake semen but it functions exactly like it. Plus, you get the quality Sliquid is known for — a slippery, fun lubricant made with ingredients you can feel good about. You won’t be able to use it during blowjob play but everything else is wide open to you. [Read Full Review] |
Description: Bottom Line: If you’ve ever watched porn and thought the cum shot looked incredibly real, you were probably looking at Spunk Lube and just didn’t realize it. This product looks and feels as close to semen as you can get in a bottle. If it wasn’t made with parabens, it might be the perfect cum lube. [Read Full Review] |
Description: Bottom Line: This is the only cum lube on our list that’s edible. Many people love this cum lube specifically because of the realistic scent and flavor. If you’re not concerned about the ingredients (glycerin and parabens), this could be a great option for all your semen-filled oral sex fantasies. [Read Full Review] |
Bottom Line: Bust It Nut Butter is one of the safest cum lubes on the market, proving that you can buy realistic fake semen in a bottle without compromising on quality and safety. The only possible downside is that it's not edible — meaning oral sex fantasies can’t be enjoyed safely using this cum lube. [Read Full Review]
Bottom Line: Sliquid Silk is not made or marketed as fake semen but it functions exactly like it. Plus, you get the quality Sliquid is known for — a slippery, fun lubricant made with ingredients you can feel good about. You won’t be able to use it during blowjob play but everything else is wide open to you. [Read Full Review]
Bottom Line: If you’ve ever watched porn and thought the cum shot looked incredibly real, you were probably looking at Spunk Lube and just didn’t realize it. This product looks and feels as close to semen as you can get in a bottle. If it wasn’t made with parabens, it might be the perfect cum lube. [Read Full Review]
Bottom Line: This is the only cum lube on our list that’s edible. Many people love this cum lube specifically because of the realistic scent and flavor. If you’re not concerned about the ingredients (glycerin and parabens), this could be a great option for all your semen-filled oral sex fantasies. [Read Full Review]
Why Trust Our Review?
We’ve invested hundreds of cumulative hours researching, evaluating, and testing the best lubes over the last two years so we know exactly what to look for in terms of ingredients, safety, and performance.
We began by speaking with several members of our medical review team, who consist of board-certified OB-GYNs, pelvic health experts, and sex educators about what makes a great lube, and what ingredients and safety precautions people should look out for.
As a kink expert and top-rated sex blogger with over 10 years of experience, I’ve spent years learning about, experimenting with, and trying a range of toys and sexual aids, all the while staying informed about the highest-performing and safest products available over time.
When considering the safest and best cum lubes, I took this information along with aggregated crowdsourced opinions and recommendations from subject matter experts, and spent over 13 hours of ongoing research to create a list of cum lubes that met our strict criteria for safety and performance.
Only two cum lubes met those criteria 100%: Bust It Nut Butter and Sliquid Silk.
Two additional highly-praised products were selected based solely on their performance and customer reviews, however, we note which safety criteria they did not meet.
We realize that when it comes to cum lubes, the look, feel, texture — and in some cases, taste and smell — are an important part of their performance.
If you fantasize about loads of cum, this type of lubricant should make you believe that’s real jizz hitting your skin or running down your throat — if it doesn’t, it won’t fulfill the fantasy.
For this reason, we included products that offer amazing realism, despite their less-than-ideal ingredient list.
We do not accept paid placements, and all our recommendations are brand-neutral. For accuracy and thoroughness, we also have an expert from our medical review board evaluate all reviews.
How We Made Our Picks & Features We Considered
When we spoke to our medical review board and began learning about what makes a great personal lubricant, we discovered that many products on the market are made from potentially harmful ingredients.
Cum lubes are no different.
Many include ingredients like glycerin or parabens and in some cases, fragrances that can be irritating to those with sensitive skin.
That said, cum lubes are sought after specifically for their realism and some of the formulas that perform the best are those that use ingredients we don’t normally endorse.
We still included these “high performers” but also fully disclose possible risks regarding the safety of their ingredients.
Additionally, hybrid lubes that contain water may affect vaginal or anal pH, however, we could not independently verify the pH or osmolality values for these types of lubes.
Our medical review board advised us that there is limited research regarding the pH and osmolality of hybrid lubes — if they are even tested for those values at all — and there is little in the way of regulation in place.
For this reason, even water-based cum lubes may not undergo testing to discern pH or osmolality, which is a safety concern to keep in mind when it comes to using them.
When choosing the best cum lubricants, we considered:
- Safe Ingredients: It is always better to use lubes with a limited list of high-quality ingredients that won’t cause irritation, including glycerin (which can cause yeast infections) or parabens, (which can possibly lead to endocrine disruption).
- Allergens: This is always an important consideration. Always check the product label to examine non-silicone ingredients you may be allergic to or sensitive to, particularly if there are oil-based ingredients derived from nuts or other common allergens.
- Additives: It is always best to choose a cum lubricant with a short ingredient list, if possible. Those that have fragrances, flavors, or dyes should generally be avoided because such additives may irritate vaginal or anal tissue. That said, some cum lubes are designed to offer scent and taste for added realism, and these should be used with caution, particularly if you have sensitive skin.
- Formulation: It’s important to consider the way the lube is formulated and how its ingredients fit together.
- Texture/Consistency: Cum lubricants have a realistic, semen-like texture but their consistency can vary from lightweight to thick and heavy, depending on the formula. Although they don’t necessarily mimic the texture of your body’s natural lubrication, we considered the thickness of each lube selecting a range to suit a variety of preferences.
- Real-World Performance: Finally, we considered the performance of each lubricant. For our top cum lube list, we heavily factored realism over the need for only safe ingredients. Safety was absolutely considered, and as a result, we rejected cum lubes that had too many unsafe ingredients and additives relative to their formulation.
Our In-Depth Breakdown Of The Best Cum Lubes
After spending over 13 cumulative hours researching cum lubes and over 2 years of research (and counting) evaluating the best lubes in general, we’ve narrowed our picks to the list below.
Our top two choices have met our very rigorous performance and safety standards and are free from harmful chemicals (like parabens) and additives (like glycerin).
Two additional choices were included based on the merit of their performance, despite not meeting our safety criteria 100%.
In both cases, we noted which criteria they did not meet — and why.
Editor's Note: All products reviewed by Women’s Health Interactive are independently researched, vetted, brand-neutral, and deemed to be the very best in their category.
We do NOT accept sponsored or paid reviews.
We are able to fund our team and maintain high editorial standards, objectivity and independence by earning affiliate commissions (*) when you purchase a product that we recommend, at no extra cost to you.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Best Overall: Bust It Nut Butter Hybrid Glide
- Hybrid Water And Silicone Formula Has A Creamy, White Texture That’s Made To Look And Feel Like Real Cum
- Formulated Without Glycerin & Parabens, It’s One Of The Few Cum Lubes That Meets Our Strict Safety Standards
- Can Be Used On Its Own Or With Squirting Dildos; Compatible With All Condoms And Most Sex Toys
- Designed To Be Mixed With Water, So You Can Adjust The Texture To Your Liking
- Safe To Use While You’re Trying To Conceive
- Only Comes In 4-Ounce Size; You’ll Need To Buy Extra For Intense Jizz Or Bukkake Fantasies
- Lack Of A Pump On The Bottle Makes It Hard To Control How Much You Use
- Inedible So You Can’t Use It For Oral Play
- Hybrid Silicone Formula Means It Shouldn’t Be Used With Cyberskin Or Silicone Dildos
Bust It Nut Butter is one of the best fake semen lubricants available for those seeking a product that looks and feels like the real deal, and it’s a well-made lube in general.
It’s also one of only two cum lubes on our list made with safe, high-quality ingredients — with no glycerin or parabens in sight.
The hybrid formulation gives you the best of both water-based and silicone-based lubes, plus it’s safe for condoms and most sex toys, excluding low-quality silicones.
A little will go a long way during typical lube use; this hybrid silicone lube requires fewer reapplications compared to water-based lubricant, although it’s likely not waterproof enough for use in the bath or shower.
The only thing holding Bust It Nut Butter back from a higher ranking is the paltry amount you get in a bottle.
A single four-ounce bottle means that you’re not going to enjoy big jizz-scenes like facials or multiple creampies — at least without using all of your lube in the process.
That said, you’re supposed to mix equal parts of water with this cum lube, 1:1, so you can stretch it a little farther, although it may not be as thick as you’d like by the end.
We also wish it was edible — that would make it the perfect cum lube.
It’s probably just as well that it isn’t edible, since one reviewer noted, “It looks and feels great but it tastes like dish soap.”
Bust It Nut Butter is designed to be used with Doc Johnson’s line of squirting dildos but it can be used with any ejaculating toy of your choice.
If you’re looking for a cum lube that’s safe — inside and out — this is our top pick and one you can feel good about using!
→ Learn more* about Bust It Nut Butter or check pricing*.
Also Good: Sliquid Silk
Sliquid Silk
[Note: Get Sliquid Silk for only $19.54. Use code AFF-WH15 and get 15% off site-wide at Lovehoney — a specially negotiated discount we secured after independent review.]
- Feels Like Real Cum With A Thick, Creamy Texture And White, Milky Appearance
- Formulated Without Glycerin & Parabens, It’s One Of The Few Cum Lubes That Meets Our Strict Safety Standards
- Can Be Used On Its Own Or With Squirting Dildos; Compatible With All Condoms And Most Sex Toys
- A Little Goes A Long Way And The Larger Bottle Size Will Accommodate Bukkake Fantasies
- Lack Of A Pump On The Bottle Makes It Hard To Control How Much You Use
- Inedible So You Can’t Use It For Oral Play
- Hybrid Silicone Formula Means It Shouldn’t Be Used With Cyberskin Or Silicone Dildos
- Not Fertility-Friendly
We consider Sliquid Silk to be a stealth cum lube because Sliquid doesn’t market it as such — but plenty of folks use it that way.
And we see why.
This lube has a thick, creamy texture and a milky appearance. Once you get it in your hand and on the rest of your body, it really looks like semen:
Sliquid is known for its great ingredients and formulation so this is another top product you can trust.
As a hybrid, you get the texture of a water-based lubricant and the longevity of silicone lube.
Although the silicone ratio is small, Sliquid advises that this product should not be used with silicone or Cyberskin sex toys, as it can degrade their material, so we’ll definitely take them at their word.
Only a few things keep this from being a 5-star cum lube.
Because Sliquid Silk isn’t edible, you’ll have to skip certain fellatio, facial, or blowjob addiction sex fantasies.
You’ll also want to avoid it if you’re trying to conceive.
The lack of a pump is almost always a downside because it limits how much control you have when getting the lube out of the bottle — especially if you’re loading it into a squirting dildo.
Without that control, you might end up with too much — or too little.
That being said, reviewers love it:
“Absolutely amazing product! Great longevity and definitely great for “life-like” results for use with ejaculating dildos. Definitely worth the purchase.”
Additionally, the product is fragrance-free and nonstaining, so you can explore your jizz and creampie fantasies without worrying about staining your sheets in the process.
→ Learn more* about Sliquid Silk or check pricing*.
Most Realistic: Spunk Lube Hybrid
Spunk Lube Hybrid
- The OG Of Cum Lubes; Looks And Feels Like Real Cum So Much It’s Often Used In Porn Videos
- Great For Messy Fun Because It’s Safe For Your Hair
- Fertility-Friendly If You’re Trying To Conceive
- Safe With All Condoms And Most Sex Toys
- Comes In A Lot Of Sizes — With A Pump
- Contains Parabens, Making It Less Safe
- Inedible So You Can’t Use It For Oral Play
- Hybrid Silicone Formula Means It Shouldn’t Be Used With Cyberskin Or Silicone Dildos
Spunk Lube is the OG of cum lubes, often used in professionally-filmed videos like those found on Adam & Eve Plus.
Those shots where the jizz just keeps cumming and cumming? Yeah, that was a whole lot of lube.
One look at Spunk Lube Hybrid, and it’s easy to see why this is a go-to product in porn videos:
We wish we could give this one a higher recommendation, but the ingredient list doesn’t meet our highest standards — and this one has parabens.
But we also know that some people don’t care about that — they care most about how their lube performs and how real it seems.
And this one definitely gets that job done.
One reviewer said:
“Most lubes get sticky or gummy after a few minutes but I found Spunk to remain smooth and slippery through a long session. The texture is nice — like real spunk — and easy to apply to either partner. It also easily cleaned off hands with just a towel.”
This one is loved by many, despite its less-than-perfect ingredient list.
Although it’s heavy on the silicone and shouldn’t be used with silicone or Cyberskin toys for this reason, it is an award-winning formula for cum shots seen around the world.
→ Learn more* about Spunk Lube Hybrid or check pricing*.
Flavored, Scented & Edible: Master Series Jizz Lube
Master Series Jizz Lube
- Smells And Tastes Like Semen So Oral Sex & Jizz Fantasies Seem All The More Real
- Edible So It Can Be Swallowed — Safely!
- Realistic Creamy, White Texture Looks And Feels Like The Real Thing
- Safe To Use With All Sex Toys And Condoms
- Safe To Use While You’re Trying To Conceive
- Contains Parabens And Glycerin
- Lack Of A Pump On The Bottle Makes It Hard To Control How Much You Use
Master Series Jizz Lube is one that we wish we could rate higher.
It offers everything you could want in a cum lube: a striking similarity to semen in every sense — its appearance, texture, scent, and taste.
The taste won’t be for everybody but to many people, Master Series Jizz Lube is very realistic:
Because this lube is completely edible, no cum-related fantasies are off the table, and in fact, it’s the only cum lube on our list that can play any way you’d like.
As a water-based lubricant, it’s safe to use with condoms and all sex toys.
You can’t use it in the shower, tub, or pool, but you can enjoy the full jizz effect anywhere on dry land.
This cum lube doesn’t stain and is easy to clean up — which isn’t always something you can say about actual semen!
Many reviewers really love it:
“This lube looks, tastes, and feels like the real thing. It is very slick and works great with toys. Easy to clean up, and doesn’t stain. Warm the bottle in a sink or bowl of hot water for the most realistic feel. Works great for facial photos!”
But, no matter how realistic this cum lube looks, feels, and tastes, parabens and glycerin aren’t necessarily the safest ingredients.
Thankfully, if you reject it for this reason, our top two picks are still available.
It’s just too bad they aren’t edible, too.
→ Learn more* about Jizz Lube or check pricing*.
Why Use Cum Lube Vs. Others
Cum lubes are more versatile than you realize.
Sure, their entire purpose is to mimic semen but that means there are a lot of ways to use them.
And because cum lube is formulated to copy a natural body fluid, it often has a thicker, creamier texture compared to other lubes.
Even if you don’t want or need the jizz effect, you might enjoy how it feels — no matter how you use it.
Many people use cum lubes to explore semen-related fantasies, including creampies, cumshots, and bukkake — a sexual act that involves many people ejaculating onto one person at the same time.
“Some people may be willing to explore these fantasies, but don’t really love the idea of using actual semen,” said Dr. Susan Milstein, a human sexuality health educator on our medical review board.
“That’s where cum lubes can be helpful.”
Additionally, cum lubes can enable anyone to explore such fantasies alone during masturbation.
Cum lubricants also make it possible to simulate ejaculation when it is not possible due to erectile dysfunction or other medical conditions.
As a bodily fluid, semen is generally available in a limited supply.
However, with a bottle of cum lube in hand, you’re only limited by how well you’re supplied.
Pros And Cons Of Cum Lube
Nothing is perfect — certainly not even fake semen lube — so it won’t be right for everyone in all situations.
Before you buy a massive bottle of the stuff, make sure you understand the pros and cons of using it.
Cum Lube Pros:
- They can bring a whole new level of realism to any sexual fantasy that relates to semen, cumming inside, or multiple ejaculations — particularly if it involves loads of the stuff.
- You can explore a cum fetish whenever you desire — and without relying on a partner to ejaculate more than once.
- They can be used with ejaculating dildos and sex toys during solo or partnered sex play.
- They allow you to try new roleplay fantasies that involve facials, blowjobs, creampies, felching, and any other desire you have that involves someone blowing their load.
- When real ejaculation is difficult (or impossible) for one partner, semen lube can be used to simulate ejaculation during sex.
- Many cum lubricants are safe to use with sex toys and safe with condoms and other barriers.
- Some cum lubes are flavored and/or scented to add more realism during use, particularly during oral sex play.
Cum Lube Cons:
- Not all cum lubes are made from the safest ingredients and in fact, very few don’t contain glycerin or parabens. You’ll need to read the labels carefully.
- Some are edible, while many others are not, so you have to tailor your sexual experience based on whether the fake semen can be ingested if that’s what you’re looking to do.
- Depending on the formula and if it contains silicones or oils, they may stain your bedding and can be more difficult to clean up.
- Cum lubes can be a bit awkward to use for simulating ejaculation. You may need extra gear to accomplish this, and you may need to plan ahead to stay in a sexual headspace.
- Many cum lubes are silicone-based or hybrid silicone, which can degrade toys made from silicone or Cyberskin, limiting their use to squirting dildos made from compatible materials.
Should You Use A Silicone, Oil-Based, Or Water-Based Cum Lube?
There’s no single type of cum lube.
Many are hybrids — most often a combination of water and silicone.
When you’re ready to purchase one, you need to understand the differences between the types of lubricant and how you intend to use it.
If you’re not sure which is best for you (or your dildo of choice), it’s a good idea to start your lube search by thinking about what kinds of activities you would like to do with it.
Our lube comparison table can make this decision easy!
| Lube Type: | Water-Based | Silicone-Based | Oil-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Sex | Yes | Yes | Not usually |
| Vaginal Sex | ONLY if pH/Osmolality suitable | Yes | Yes |
| Anal Sex | ONLY if pH/Osmolality suitable | Yes | Yes |
| Condom Types | All | All | Polyurethane, nitrile and lambskin only |
| Sex Toy Types | All | All but silicone | All but latex |
| Bath/Shower Use | No | Yes | Yes |
| Does It Stain? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lube Type: |
|---|
| Oral Sex |
| Vaginal Sex |
| Anal Sex |
| Condom Types |
| Sex Toy Types |
| Bath/Shower Use |
| Does It Stain? |
Is Cum Lube Safe And What Should You Look For?
Understanding the ingredients used in cum lubes is just one factor to consider before purchasing and using one.
Although the performance of lube — especially cum lube — is important, it should always come AFTER ingredient, safety, and formulation considerations.
That being said, many cum lubes are created for performance before all else, meaning not all brands keep ingredient quality and safety at the forefront.
We know people looking for a good cum lube may not think about the safety.
Thankfully, our top two picks are made from ingredients that meet and exceed our criteria for safety.
Before you choose a cum lube, make sure you understand why the quality of ingredients matters.
All of the cum lubes we included in our list — the safest and the runners-up — are great at being fake semen.
But there’s a reason we strongly encourage you to care about the ingredients in your lube.
Is Cum Lube Safe?
When used as directed and barring any ingredient allergies or personal sensitivities, yes — cum lubes are safe.
Unfortunately, however, not all cum lubricants are made with the safest ingredients.
Most realistic semen lubricants are made with ingredients we don’t recommend — which is why our list of the best cum lubes is relatively short.
Our top two selections are made from safe ingredients and when used as directed, they are entirely safe.
Even knowing the risks associated with a product that uses unsafe ingredients like glycerin or parabens, some people will grab the lube that looks and feels the most like jizz, regardless.
That’s why we included the best of those types of cum lubes in this list, too.
What Are The Safest Ingredients For A Cum Lube?
The majority of cum lubes are formulated to look, feel, and even taste and smell like semen.
They’re not always made with safety as the top concern, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find cum lubes made from safe ingredients.
Safe Ingredients In Cum Lubricants:
- Water
- Aloe vera gel or juice
- Vitamin E oil**
- Plant-based oils like coconut oil**
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Propylene Glycol
- Xanthan Gum (Or Vegetable Gum)
- Isopropyl Palmitate
- Dimethicone or Dimethiconal (silicone lubes)
- Cyclomethicone (silicone lubes)
**Naturally-derived oils may be included in trace amounts in some water-based lubricants. Barring allergies or personal sensitivities, they are generally safe for everyone.
Pure aloe vera moisturizes and nourishes the skin. If you know you have an allergy to it or latex, of course, you should avoid it.
However, if you’re not allergic, it’s a great ingredient for lube.
Propylene glycol is a nontoxic and noncarcinogenic alcohol that is used as a skin-conditioning agent in many products, including lubricants.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is derived from plants and is a common thickening ingredient in some of the best lubes. It’s also fertility-friendly, as we’ll discuss in a moment.
Additional thickeners include xanthan gum and isopropyl palmitate, which is a fatty acid ester that’s made from palm oil or animal fats.
You’ll only see dimethicone in silicone lubes or hybrids (water and silicone combined). Studies show it to be safe as an ingredient.
Cyclomethicone could potentially cause “endocrine-disrupting activity” in a person’s reproductive health. Silicone lubricants are not absorbed into the skin like other lubes so the real risk may be minuscule.
Additionally, it is approved by the FDA at concentrations under 10% and is considered safe for its intended use because its cyclical “structure limits its ability to penetrate through the dermis layer.”
Vitamin E oil and coconut oil are great lube alternatives to use on their own, which is why they can be a great addition to lubricants.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all of the safe ingredients to look for.
That’s why we put together lists like this, so you know whether a specific product is right for you without having to get your Ph.D. in chemistry first.
- Safety Of Cum Lubricant Ingredients When Trying To Conceive
Most personal lubricants are not the friendliest for conception.
They’re formulated in a way that slows down the movement of sperm — not intentionally, but that’s a common byproduct.
Fertility-friendly lubes exist, and they’re often formulated to be as safe as possible.
However, cum lubes are made for a very specific purpose, and conception isn’t necessarily one of them — although anyone can have a cum fetish, regardless of their desire to procreate.
Finding a fertility-friendly semen lube may take a bit of effort. Thankfully, most of the cum lubes on our list are safe to use for conception.
The best type of lube to use during conception is one with a hydroxyethylcellulose base.
How do you know if your cum lube has this?
One of the ingredients listed will read “hydroxyethylcellulose” — so read the label.
What Cum Lube Ingredients Should You Avoid?
There are several ingredients to avoid in cum lube.
Sometimes, however, these ingredients — like fragrances or flavors — may be necessary to create the most realistic effect, as you might find in a semen lube that smells and tastes like jizz, for example.
If you’re concerned about having a bad reaction to a cum lube, it’s often safer to refrain from using it.
Nothing kills the mood like itching, burning, or tingling on your genitals during sex.
For the safest experience with any lube, we generally advise avoiding all of the ingredients below.
However, because the entire purpose behind this type of lube is to play with fake jizz, you might choose to use a more realistic version that isn’t necessarily the safest.
Before you do that, make sure you understand why we caution against certain ingredients first, and then proceed with caution.
Ingredients You Should Avoid In Lubricants:
- Glycerin
- Parabens
- Colloidal Silver
- Petroleum jelly
- Added fragrances, flavors, or dyes
These potentially toxic or detrimental ingredients are best avoided, although some of the most popular cum lubes include some of them.
Some cum lubes contain colloidal silver, which is considered unsafe for internal use through ingestion (swallowing) but may have some antibacterial skin benefits in very small doses.
As the data is inclusive regarding colloidal silver’s safety in lube, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid this one as an ingredient.
Additionally, we recommend avoiding lubes containing petroleum jelly, the main ingredient in Vaseline.
While petroleum jelly can be safely used in other applications, using lube made with this ingredient could increase your risk of infection.
Additional Lube Ingredients To Avoid
Other ingredients to avoid in cum lubes include synthetic fragrances, flavors, and dyes, all of which can irritate the skin.
If you want an edible lube that looks, feels, and smells like real semen — or as close as possible — understand that you will be in contact with these types of ingredients.
If you choose a lube with potentially unsafe ingredients, make sure to do a patch test on your skin first.
This won’t catch every adverse reaction, as genitals are most sensitive than other parts of your body.
But if your arm turns red, you know it’ll be worse for your most private parts.
Why You Need A Glycerin-Free Cum Lube
Glycerin is known to interfere with the good bacteria in the vagina, which may lead to yeast infections.
If you know you’re prone to yeast infections, you want to doubly avoid this ingredient.
Why You Need A Paraben-Free Cum Lube
Parabens are often used as preservatives in lubricants.
You won’t usually find them in silicone lubes, but they make appearances in water-based lubricants and hybrid lubes.
Parabens may be an endocrine disruptor, although, according to the CDC, the effects of exposure on a person’s health are unknown.
FDA Approval Of Cum Lubricants
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies personal lubricants as “Class II medical devices.”
This means manufacturers of these products are supposed to register their products for 510(k) clearance — or be exempt from the requirement.
Lubricants can only be made available in the United States after receiving FDA clearance or being exempted from needing a clearance.
Products exempted from 510(k) clearance aren’t necessarily lubes you need to avoid. Lubricants labeled as a “personal moisturizer” instead of a “personal lubricant,” don’t need to be registered as Class II medical devices.
The FDA ultimately decides whether a product is exempt or not. Regardless of the FDA’s decision, lubes you purchase are approved for sale in the U.S.
The FDA provides a searchable database for personal lubes if you ever want to check yourself. All of our recommendations either have a 501(k) clearance at the time of this writing or received an exemption.
The Texture, Consistency, And Performance Of Cum Lubes
Cum lubes differ from standard personal lubricants in look, feel, and even smell.
All lubes should have a slick, smooth, slippery texture.
Fake semen, however, tends to have a little something extra to bulk up the texture.
Cum lube generally has a thicker, more jelly-like consistency.
When you put it on your hand and move your fingers, it’s almost stringy and clings to every surface.
The best cum lubes look like semen, with a milky, off-white color and a texture that’s a bit “gloopy,” for lack of a better word.
Some cum lubes kick things up a notch and offer a realistic flavor or texture, as well.
To enhance the realism during use, you may want to invest in a lube or lotion warmer to warm up the bottle before you apply it.
That way your cum lube feels more like jizz straight from a penis.
How cum lubes perform based on their formulation:
- Water-based cum lubes dry up over time so you’ll need to add more if using them for actual lubrication, and they cannot be used in the bath or shower.
- Silicone cum lubes stay slippery for a long time, reducing the need for re-application, and they are waterproof during sex in water.
- Oil-based cum lubes can work into the skin over time so they feel less like a lubricant but remain effective. These are long-lasting but may require reapplication, and they are waterproof, as well.
- Hybrid cum lubes combine the best of both water and silicone-based lubricants, however, they may not be waterproof if the ratio of silicone to water isn’t high enough.
What cum lubes should provide during sex is a level of realism and control over quantity.
If your partner can only ejaculate a small amount (or not at all), and you want your face or breasts covered in jizz, you can use fake semen instead.
When you want to experience swallowing your partner’s load but they don’t ejaculate semen, edible cum lube allows you to explore blowjobs in that way.
Dr. Susan Milstein, the medical review board member we spoke with earlier, added:
“Using a cum lube for oral sex helps reduce the chances of STI transmission, so it’s a great way to simulate the act of swallowing while keeping risk low.”
How well a cum lube performs ultimately depends on how you intend to use it and if it’s made for what you have in mind.
Alternatives To Cum Lubricants
Cum lubes are pretty unique in terms of formulation and there are not many viable alternatives available if what they provide is what you’re looking for.
Two things separate cum lube from other lubricants:
- A semen-like appearance, consistency, and texture
- The smell and taste of semen, in some products
Frankly, there are no safe lube alternatives that will look, smell, and taste like jizz.
As for the texture, though, simply look for thicker lube alternatives.
Oils like canola oil or coconut oil may be an option.
Aloe vera gel — with its jelly-like texture – can be used as an all-natural alternative for the texture.
However, none of these will look, taste, or smell like semen.
- If you are thinking about using something else, read through our complete list of lube alternatives first.
In Conclusion
Choosing the right cum lube means figuring out how you want to use it, checking the ingredients, and making sure it’s designed for the sex you want to have.
Most importantly, since fake semen comes in contact with your entire body, not just your genitals, make sure it’s made with ingredients that are safe for you.
While not every cum product is free from glycerin or parabens, our recommendations are the best of what’s available for the most realistic — and safe — experience possible.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Everything Lube hub, an in-depth and evolving resource that comprehensively explores all aspects of personal lubricants from the different types and how to use them, to ingredients and safety — created to help you achieve the sexual pleasure you deserve.
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