What Are Better Lube Alternatives To Neosporin?
Instead of Neosporin, we highly recommend using a formulated personal lubricant that is made from body-safe ingredients.
Luckily, there are plenty of personal lubricant options available, including:
Here’s a cheat sheet for selecting the best lube based on how you intend to use it:
Lube Type: |
Oral Sex |
Vaginal Sex |
Anal Sex |
Condom Types |
Sex Toy Types |
Bath/Shower Use |
Does It Stain? |
There is a personal lubricant for every preference and sexual situation, but if you’re not sure which one to reach for, make sure to read through our lube guide or take our lube quiz.
Let’s take a closer look at the four main lubricant categories you might consider.
Water-based lubricants are popular because they typically resemble your body’s natural lubrication and they’re safe for every type of condom, diaphragm, dental dam, and sex toy material so compatibility is never an issue.
They are not always long-lasting, however, and will rinse away easily if used in the bath or shower.
We heavily researched, tested, and reviewed the safest and best water-based personal lubricants if these sound like the best choice for your personal needs.
- Silicone-Based Lubricants
Silicone-based lubes are among the longest-lasting and are also safe to use with all STI and pregnancy barriers.
That said, silicone lube cannot be used with silicone sex toys, as they’ll degrade their material.
If you’re trying to decide between water-based and silicone-based lubes, the choice depends on how you want to use your lube.
Many people prefer the thicker, silk-like texture of silicone lube, however, it is very different when compared to natural vaginal lubrication.
Because of this, however, they’re often selected for anal sex and, being waterproof, they’re perfect for sex in the bath or shower.
Our review of the best silicone lubes includes our tested and reviewed recommendations of the safest products available.
An oil-based lubricant is made from natural (or organic) body-safe oils, but many ingredients used in them are plant-based — and potential allergens.
Oil-based lube’s texture resembles silicone in many ways, making it a good choice for anal sex.
As wonderful as they can be, oil-based lubricants are not compatible with latex or polyisoprene STI and pregnancy barriers, as they’ll degrade the material, making them ineffective.
Unsafe for latex dental dams, as well, most oil-based lubes are too thick to be used during oral sex, presenting a choking hazard if swallowed.
We deeply researched, tested, and reviewed the best oil-based personal lubricants if you’re interested in exploring them for yourself.
- Natural And Organic Lubricants
Natural and organic personal lubricants may be water-based or oil-based, depending on the formula.
Many such products are made using ingredients that may be allergens, including aloe vera gel or oils that are derived from nuts, seeds, or flowers, so always read the label thoroughly if these are a concern.
After our independent research, we tested and reviewed the best and safest natural and organic lubricants available.
Are There Any Safe Home Lube Alternatives?
If you need a safe lube alternative that can be found at home, there are a few options you might have on hand that are much safer than Neosporin, including:
Although the above lube alternatives are generally safe in many circumstances, oil-based lube alternatives should never be used with latex or polyisoprene barriers against STIs or pregnancy.
It’s also smart to do a patch test on a small area of skin of any potential lube alternative to make sure you won’t experience a reaction, such as a rash, itching, burning, stinging, or hives.