Why Is Glycerin Used In Lube?
Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is a type of sugar alcohol that is viscous, clear, odorless and has a slightly sweet taste.
It can be found in many applications from foods to cosmetics, e-cigarettes, and beyond — including personal lubricants (most often those that are water-based).
Glycerin may be listed on an ingredient label as:
- Glycol
- Glycerol
- Glycerine
- Sugar alcohols
Naturally derived from both plant and animal sources, glycerin is a very adaptable chemical.
You might encounter the same ingredient in your lotion, gummy bears, and vape juice as you go about your day.
One reason you’ll often find glycerin in lube — besides its slick viscosity — is because it is a high-osmolality humectant.
A humectant pulls moisture from one side of a membrane to another and osmolarity measures a water-based solution’s ability to do that.
To put it simply, glycerin in lube not only acts as its own sexy WD-40 but draws out your own natural moisture at the same time.
Glycerin is a plentiful, flexible, and stable ingredient that can be helpful in a number of ways, but not so much when it comes to a sex lube.