Is Lube Safe: Ingredients To Avoid And Everything You Need To Know

Is Lube Safe?

In general and as a concept, personal lubricant is very safe for people to use as long as the ingredients are nontoxic and the lube’s formula matches the activity you plan to use it for.

That being said, not all lubes are right for everyone, equally.

As we’ll discuss later on, some personal lubricants aren’t made with the safest ingredients — even if they are widely available for purchase.

Additionally, lubricants can be made from generally safe ingredients that you (or your partners) may be allergic or sensitive to, which makes them an unsafe choice.

The final consideration is that a personal lubricant may not be the right formulation for the kind of sex you want to have.

All of these factors come into play when considering any lube’s safety — or lack thereof.

Which Lube Ingredients Are Safest?

Many personal lubricant ingredients are perfectly safe — but not all of them are — so it’s important to understand which ones to look for on the label before selecting a product for yourself.

Safe personal lubricant ingredients may include:

• Water
• Aloe vera gel or juice
• Vitamin E oil
• Plant-based oils
• Hydroxyethylcellulose
• Propylene Glycol
• Body-safe silicones

Ingredient safety aside, some of the ingredients above may be potential allergens for some.

If you or your partners have allergies or sensitivities to specific ingredients, always check the product label before using it.

Water

You can’t have water-based lubricant without water.

As you’ve likely noticed, it’s a main ingredient in many things we use on a daily basis, especially products that touch your skin.

Not only is water necessary to sustain life, but it’s also a universal solvent that absorbs and extracts the compounds of other ingredients in your lube.

Basically, it needs to be there to make all the other ingredients work.

Ironically, however, water is not a safe lube alternative on its own because it doesn’t provide enough lubrication to reduce friction during penetration.

Aloe Vera Gel Or Juice

Aloe vera can be used as a lube on its own and that makes it a safe ingredient in the formulation of lubricants, as well.

Aloe is primarily made of water which is extremely safe for your skin.

It’s also an antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antifungal ingredient.

One word of caution, however.

If you have a latex allergy, you’ll generally need to avoid aloe vera gel as an ingredient because the aloe plant contains natural latex.

Aloe can be harvested to avoid the latex-like rind — Aloe Cadabra, for instance, ensures this — but those who are allergic may still find it irritating.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E oil is made up of fat-soluble compounds with antioxidant properties.

It can be used alone on the skin as a moisturizer and is gentle enough to be included in personal lubricant, since it’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores.

Some people even use vitamin E oil on its own as a lube.

It carries a low risk of irritation for most people.

However, low risk doesn’t mean no risk.

Some people may still experience irritation with vitamin E oil.

Plant-Based Oils

Plant-based oils, like coconut oil, shea butter, or avocado oil, are often found in formulated oil-based lubes — including those we recommend highly.

Safe plant-based oils may include:

• Coconut oil (virgin, unrefined)
• Olive oil (extra virgin)
• Avocado oil
• Cocoa butter
• Vitamin E oil
• Almond oil (or sweet almond oil)
• CBD oil
• Evening primrose oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Sunflower seed oil
• Shea butter

Plant-based oils offer the thick consistency and luxurious slip you want in a lube, plus they’re also natural ingredients that carry less risk of harm to most people.

In fact, many plant-based oils are safe to use as a lube alternative on their own if they’re non-comedogenic and non-toxic.

That said, plant-based oils are derived from nuts, seeds, or flowers — which are potential allergens for some.

If you’re selecting an oil-based lubricant and you (or your partners) have known allergies or sensitivities, always check the label thoroughly.

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Hydroxyethylcellulose is a thickening agent derived from plant cellulose and it’s a perfectly safe ingredient for lubricants.

You may see it listed in a variety of ways such as: 2-Hydroxyethyl Ether Cellulose, Cellulose Hydroxyethylate, Cellulose, 2-Hydroxyethyl Ether, Cellulose, 2hydroxyethyl Ether, H. E. Cellulose.

Hydroxyethylcellulose is a non-toxic ingredient that won’t cause cancer or disrupt reproduction and it also carries a low risk for irritation and allergic reactions.

Additionally, Mayo Clinic recommends lubricants with hydroxyethylcellulose when trying to conceive because they won’t hinder sperm motility or function.

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol is a popular ingredient in many skin care products, not just lube.

It’s a type of skin-safe alcohol used in lubricants as a skin-conditioning ingredient that keeps your delicate skin soft and supple.

It’s a generally safe ingredient for most people, however, it can cause irritation and allergic reactions in some people.

Body-Safe Silicones

Silicones can be used as a lubricant and as a conditioning agent, but some are much safer than others.

Body-safe silicones in personal lubricants may include:

• Cyclomethicone
• Cyclopentasiloxane
• Dimethicone
• Dimethicone crosspolymer
• Dimethiconol
• Phenyl trimethicone

Silicones don’t penetrate the skin but rather sit on top of it — which is what makes them so long-lasting compared to other lubricants that “dry up” or absorb into the skin over time.

Silicones in general have a low risk of causing irritation (allergies to silicones are rare).

Additionally, the body-safe silicone ingredients we listed above are not known to have cancer-causing properties or disrupt development or reproduction.

Unsafe Lube Ingredients You Should Avoid

There are many lubricant ingredients you should actively avoid regardless of whether you’re selecting a water-based, silicone-based, or oil-based product.

Lube ingredients that should be avoided include:

• Glycerin
• Parabens
• Capsaicin
• Benzocaine
• Lidocaine
• Oils derived from crude oil (such as mineral oil or petroleum)
• Added fragrances, unsafe flavorings, or dyes
• Any specific ingredients that you are allergic to or sensitive to

It is best to avoid these ingredients in favor of a personal lubricant made from safe ingredients you can trust.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a naturally occurring alcohol compound and a common ingredient found in water-based lubricants.

While it may not be harmful to everyone, it is a common cause of yeast infections.

Glycerin comes from sugar, which Candida microbes use as a fuel source to grow.

Glycerin in the vagina or anus can become a breeding ground for yeast and bacteria as a result.

For this reason, it’s always a good rule to keep sugar and sugar byproducts like glycerin away from your genitals.

Parabens

Parabens is a catch-all term for several chemical preservatives often found in products that come in contact with your skin — from lube to moisturizers.

Studies suggest that parabens may be an endocrine disruptor and cause reproductive harm.

Parabens may also cause harm to the environment — what we wash off our bodies enters water supplies.

Low levels of butylparaben may kill coral, according to lab testing, and parabens have also been found in surface waters, sediment, and even fish.

Capsaicin

What makes chili peppers hot and spicy?

It’s the capsaicin they contain.

Imagine the familiar burning sensation from chili peppers on your tongue but move it to your genitals, instead.

Capsaicin can sometimes be found in warming lubes, meant to add sensation to your sexy fun.

In fact, it’s a common skin irritant that should be avoided.

Instead of “warming” your genitals, capsaicin might make you feel the burn instead, and the sensation may not stop immediately once you wash it off.

Warming lubes can be safe — our top picks are — but only when they are not heated by capsaicin.

Benzocaine

Benzocaine has its place in helping reduce pain and itchiness.

But that place shouldn’t be in your lubricant.

Unfortunately, it’s a common ingredient in many desensitizing lubes — especially anal lubes.

Why is it a bad idea?

Pain is a signal to your brain that something is wrong.

When you turn off the ability to feel it during penetrative sex, especially anal, you may be injured and not be aware of it until it’s too late.

Penetrative sex shouldn’t hurt, and if it does, that’s a sign to stop or slow down, not to plow through after numbing the area.

Lidocaine

Lidocaine is commonly used to dull pain sensations (or numb them completely) and when used on the genitals externally and in small amounts, is unlikely to be harmful.

That said, it is absorbed through the skin and can be toxic if used in large amounts.

Additionally, numbing agents such as Lidocaine can increase the risk of vaginal or anal injury during penetration because they dull your ability to sense pain — a signal that something is wrong.

For this reason, we do not recommend using lubricants that include lidocaine as an ingredient.

Oils Derived From Crude Oil

The two most common oils that are a byproduct of crude oil are mineral oil and petroleum jelly.

Both create a barrier against the skin and can be extremely difficult to remove later.

This means that bacteria and yeast have a place to grow and call home.

At the same time, while both are often used externally on the skin, that doesn’t make them safe for the delicate skin of your vagina or anus.

In fact, they can both cause irritation that could lead to infection later on.

Additionally, studies have shown that crude oil products like mineral oil will degrade a latex condom in less than a minute — putting you and your partners at risk for STI transmission or unintended pregnancy.

While some people use Vaseline as a lube, even the brand doesn’t recommend it for internal use. (Neither do we!)

Added Fragrances, Dyes, Or Unsafe Flavorings

As we discussed earlier, the best and safest lubricants mimic the conditions of the vagina or anus they’re used in.

Unless you have lavender-scented, strawberry-flavored, or bright green genitals, added fragrances, dyes, and unsafe flavorings aren’t helping you.

These ingredients are common irritants leading to burning, itching, red, and tender skin.

Flavorings tend to be sweetened with sugar, which can cause yeast infections, but not all flavored edible lubes are unsafe.

In fact, we tested and reviewed sweet personal lubricants that are entirely vagina-friendly and body-safe.

Known Allergens

One person’s perfectly safe lubricant is another person’s, “Get this away from me before it sends me to the hospital!” 

If you know you have an allergy to certain ingredients — especially nuts, seeds, or flowers — you’ll need to avoid lubricants that contain them.

As we mentioned earlier, anyone with a latex allergy will be safest avoiding lubes that are made with aloe, although some manufacturers like Aloe Cadabra ensure that their aloe is latex-free.

And if something has caused irritation in the past, even in another product, assume it will do the same in your lube.

Always read the ingredient list before purchasing any lube and be leery of products that don’t share their ingredients.

If you’re not sure about a product, do a patch test on a small area of the skin, such as your inner elbow, by applying a dab of lube to it.

Leave the lubricant on your skin for a while and monitor for signs of irritation before applying it to your genitals.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re at all unsure about personal lubricants, we’ll address some of the most common questions you may have regarding their safety and use.

In Conclusion

Personal lubricants, as a general concept, are perfectly safe to use during whatever kind of sex you have.

We wish people would use lube more often — you’d be surprised at how much better sex can feel.

That being said, not all lubes are made with safe ingredients.

The wrong ingredients can lead to irritation, burning, itching, redness, infections, and even potentially worse things over the long term.

For this reason, it’s important to understand what’s in your lubricant before it’s on your genitals.

All of our best recommended personal lubricants are made from body-safe ingredients you can trust implicitly, so if you’re searching for a lubricant for any type of sex, we’ve got you covered.