Can You Use Olive Oil As Lube For Anal Or Vaginal Sex? Is It Safe?
Although it is technically safe to use as a personal lubricant, incorporating olive oil into your sex life will generally lead to more problems than it solves.
If you do decide to use olive oil as lube, it’s best to use the extra virgin variety — however, with so many safer lube options available, we recommend choosing something better, for many reasons.
In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about using olive oil as a personal lubricant, including:
- Is It Safe To Use Olive Oil As Lube?
- Can You Use Olive Oil As Anal Lube?
- Why Using Olive Oil As Lube Isn’t The Best Choice
- What Are Better Lube Alternatives To Olive Oil?
Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Lube Alternatives and Everything Lube hubs, in-depth and evolving resources that comprehensively explore 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.
Can You Use Olive Oil As Lube?
At its base, olive oil is “safe” and it is a cooking oil that can be used as a personal lube — but it isn’t a great choice for several reasons.
Like oil-based personal lubricants, olive oil can cause latex condoms to break, potentially leading to unwanted pregnancy or STDs and STIs.
Additionally, using oil as a lube during vaginal penetration may increase your risk of infection, including yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.
If you’re pregnant, hormonal shifts put you at higher risk for yeast infections, so it’s best to skip olive oil as lube during pregnancy.
Although olive oil as an external personal lube for a little solo action may be somewhat safe, there are some pretty compelling downsides like the potential for skin irritation or infection, as we’ll talk about in just a bit.
Long story short, if you’re in the mood to get erotic with olive oil, it’s best to use it for a sexy massage — as long as you don’t have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
If you do, save the olive oil for cooking only.
Can You Use Olive Oil As Anal Lube?
Unfortunately, you’ll come across the same issues when using olive oil as anal lube: condom breakage and potential skin irritation or infection.
This is especially worrisome in terms of the potential transmission of STDs and STIs — including HIV.
Oils meant for cooking, such as olive oil, can degrade a latex or polyisoprene condom when used as lube, increasing your risk of infection.
Even if you’re using an oil-friendly condom, such as one made from polyurethane or lambskin, olive oil can irritate the delicate skin of your anus and rectum, making it more prone to infection.
For this reason, you should also avoid using olive oil as an anal lube alternative when playing with sex toys or while pegging, as well.
It’s better to choose a body-safe anal lube for any backdoor play.
Why Using Olive Oil As Lube Isn’t The Best Choice
First and foremost, oil breaks down latex, which can cause a latex dental dam to deteriorate during oral sex and open the floodgates to unwanted STDs or STIs.
Likewise, using olive oil for lube can also lead to condom breakage, potentially leading to unwanted pregnancy or an STD or STI.
Polyurethane or lambskin condoms won’t break down when used with oil-based lubricants, but olive oil still isn’t an ideal choice for other reasons.
Human skin does not easily absorb olive oil, which means that it can clog your pores — leading to unsightly breakouts and uncomfortable irritation.
In the worst cases, the oil can trap bacteria within your pores and cause a skin infection around or near your vagina or anus if you use olive oil as sex lube.
Additionally, olive oil is a type of cooking oil whose purity is not regulated.
That may come as a surprise — one that’s likely unnoticeable when you’re cooking with it — but it’s true, even if you’re using extra virgin olive oil as lube.
Olive oil is often diluted with other oils to varying degrees depending on the product, so you won’t really know what ingredients are in your “olive” oil — or whether they’re safe when used as a lube.
It’s just not a risk worth taking, especially when used internally during penetrative sex. It’s always best to know that what you’re using as lube is 100% safe.
Last but not least, olive oil lube makes a mess wherever it goes. It’s hard to wash off of your skin since it isn’t water-soluble and it can permanently stain your sheets and clothing.
There are much easier and safer lubes you can choose from.
What Are Better Lube Alternatives To Olive Oil?
Instead of the olive oil in your kitchen cabinet, there are plenty of natural and organic lubes to choose from — as well as others made from water, silicone, or oil — that use safe ingredients you can trust.
Here’s a cheat sheet for selecting the best lube based on how you intend to use it:
| 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? |
It’s important to note that natural and organic lubes can be water-based or oil-based, so if you intend to have sex while using a condom, you’ll generally want to steer clear of oil-based products unless your condom is compatible with them.
If you’re not sure what material your condom is made from, we highly recommend silicone-based lubricant, which works well with all condom types.
If you’re in a pinch and rifling through your kitchen cabinets in search of a good lube alternative to use right now, we suggest extra virgin coconut oil or vitamin E oil — as long as you’re not using a condom, dental dam, or diaphragm since they generally don’t fare well with oils.
Aloe vera is also safe to use as lube and works with all condom types, dental dams, and diaphragms, but it’s important to make sure that you’re using 100% pure aloe vera without additives.
Aloe has antifungal and antimicrobial properties that make it a safe personal lubricant for most people.
The aloe plant contains natural latex, however, potentially making it unsafe for people with a latex allergy if the leaf was not thoroughly removed from the gel during the manufacturing process.
There is a personal lubricant designed for every situation, so if you’re not sure which to choose, you can read through our in-depth lube guide or take our lube quiz to find your perfect match.
Our Top Lube Recommendations
After researching hundreds of personal lubricants — and personally testing dozens of them ourselves — we have found the very best lubes of each type, vetted by our team and recommended for their safety and performance.
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Best Overall Lube
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Top Pick: Water-Based
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Top Pick: Silicone-Based
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Top Pick: Oil-Based
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$11.95 (2.5 oz)
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$12.99 (4 oz)
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$21.95 (8.5 oz)
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$21.99 (4.7 oz)
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Description: Bottom Line: The best personal lubricants offer a completely natural texture that mimics your body’s own lubrication while being compatible with all condom types, sex toys, and sexual activities. Aloe Cadabra is our best overall lube because it is easy to use, lightweight, highly versatile, and made with 95% food-grade NSF Certified organic aloe — a soothing ingredient that is perfect for those with sensitive skin — plus it’s available in 12+ flavors to sweeten oral sex safely. [Full Review + Video] |
Description: Bottom Line: Water-based personal lubricants are the go-to choice for many people because they are compatible with every sex toy material and condom type, making them incredibly popular among lube enthusiasts. Almost Naked is our top lube in this category because it is made with 95% organic ingredients while offering a long-lasting, gel-like formula that mimics your body's natural lubrication with a delicious vanilla scent and no sweet flavor during oral sex. [Full Review + Video] |
Description: Bottom Line: This is our team's favorite silicone-based lubricant because a little goes a very long way and it feels incredibly silky and smooth to the touch. The need for reapplication is minimal and like most lubes of this nature, holds up well when used in the water. One thing we really loved about Valm is the smart bottle design, which not only features a sleek pump, but a smart locking mechanism that prevents accidental spills or leakage — and it can be activated with just one hand. [Full Review + Video] |
Description: Bottom Line: While often overlooked, oil-based lubricants are as long-lasting as those made from silicone while being equally waterproof, moisturizing, and suited to anal sex. They are not compatible with latex or polyisoprene condoms and shouldn't be used with latex or rubber sex toys. Made with the best ingredients, AH! YES OB is a certified 99% organic lubricant that doubles as a sensual massage oil. Formulated to soothe and condition skin, it doesn’t need to be washed off. [Read Full Review] |
Bottom Line: The best personal lubricants offer a completely natural texture that mimics your body’s own lubrication while being compatible with all condom types, sex toys, and sexual activities. Aloe Cadabra is our best overall lube because it is easy to use, lightweight, highly versatile, and made with 95% food-grade NSF Certified organic aloe — a soothing ingredient that is perfect for those with sensitive skin — plus it’s available in 12+ flavors to sweeten oral sex safely. [Full Review + Video]
Bottom Line: Water-based personal lubricants are the go-to choice for many people because they are compatible with every sex toy material and condom type, making them incredibly popular among lube enthusiasts. Almost Naked is our top lube in this category because it is made with 95% organic ingredients while offering a long-lasting, gel-like formula that mimics your body's natural lubrication with a delicious vanilla scent and no sweet flavor during oral sex. [Full Review + Video]
Bottom Line: This is our team's favorite silicone-based lubricant because a little goes a very long way and it feels incredibly silky and smooth to the touch. The need for reapplication is minimal and like most lubes of this nature, holds up well when used in the water. One thing we really loved about Valm is the smart bottle design, which not only features a sleek pump, but a smart locking mechanism that prevents accidental spills or leakage — and it can be activated with just one hand. [Full Review + Video]
Bottom Line: While often overlooked, oil-based lubricants are as long-lasting as those made from silicone while being equally waterproof, moisturizing, and suited to anal sex. They are not compatible with latex or polyisoprene condoms and shouldn't be used with latex or rubber sex toys. Made with the best ingredients, AH! YES OB is a certified 99% organic lubricant that doubles as a sensual massage oil. Formulated to soothe and condition skin, it doesn’t need to be washed off. [Read Full Review]
Editor's Note: When you purchase a product via an affiliate link (*) on our site, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. On behalf of our entire team, thank you in advance for your support!
Bottom Line:
Although it’s tempting to reach for olive oil during some sexy time, especially since it’s so readily available in most homes, it’s best to leave the olive oil where it belongs: in the kitchen, not the bedroom.
Luckily there are plenty of safe personal lubricants to choose from, no matter where your sexual adventures might take you.
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