9 Toxic Ingredients to Stay Away From in Lube
You’ve probably heard the old adage:
“You are what you eat.”
Well, I think that saying is incorrect.
I think it should be more like:
“You are what you eat, drink, apply topically to your skin, or insert into your body.”
There must be a more holistic approach to health since things out there are damaging our bodies.
Conventional sex lubes are one of those things damaging women’s bodies.
This guide shares which ingredients to avoid (and why) so that you can be the healthiest you possibly can.
Table of Contents
- Why Do the Ingredients in Lube Matter?
- 9 Personal Lubricant Ingredients to Avoid
- Chiavaye: Safe, Organic, All-Natural Lube
Why Do the Ingredients in Lube Matter?
Food ingredients matter, right?
They matter because your body digests the food you eat, which can have profound consequences (either positive or negative) on your health.
The same goes with lube ingredients, too.
Your vagina is highly absorbent. So absorbent that medical researchers are looking into administering drugs through the vaginal canal since the medicine will be absorbed quicker than through oral intake.
So, whether the ingredients in your lube are good or bad, your vagina is absorbing those ingredients into your bloodstream.
Therefore, you must be extremely careful which ingredients are in your sex lube.
9 Personal Lubricant Ingredients to Avoid
#1: Glycerin
Glycerin is a sugar alcohol.
It was first used to make dynamite, actually.
You can think of it as a kind of syrupy liquid that doesn’t really have any smell to it but tastes relatively sweet.
Why Is Glycerin Bad in Lube?
Glycerin isn’t always bad. It’s often in foods you eat, whether you know it or not.
But, SYNTHETIC glycerin is really commonly used.
And, honestly, there has been zero research on synthetic glycerin and the potentially harmful effects when inserted into the vagina.
One thing we do know:
Too much sugar alcohol (aka glycerin) can lead to bacterial growth, potential yeast infections, and potential UTIs.
#2: Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol is an ACTIVE ingredient in antifreeze.
But what is it exactly?
It’s a chemical compound that is relatively similar to glycerin. It’s basically odorless and colorless. It’s more oily than syrupy.
Why Is Propylene Glycol Bad in Lube?
Propylene glycol can potentially cause negative neurological symptoms.
The US Food and Drug Administration has identified Propylene glycol as being “generally recognized as safe”. Comforting, right?
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs has recognized Propylene glycol as a potential toxicant for over 20 years based on studies that have linked Propylene glycol to CNS disturbances in children, such as depression and seizures.
Studies have also linked Propylene glycol to several health issues in adults, including:
- Hypotension
- Renal dysfunction
- Multi-organ failure
- And more
#3: Benzocaine
Benzocaine is a local anesthetic.
Basically, it’s a numbing medication.
Now, why on earth would you want a numbing medication in your sex lube? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of enjoying sex?
Well, for women that deal with painful sex, this is a common solution. For couples who are having anal sex, this is also a common solution.
Why Is Benzocaine Bad in Lube?
A recent study came out that said:
So, it’s best if you avoid it.
4. Silicone
Silicones are heat-resistant, rubber-like synthetic compounds. They’re found in everything from cooking utensils to sealants to lubricants.
Why Is Silicone Bad in Lube?
Really, you should try to avoid silicone in more than just your sex lube.
A study tested how much silicone was leached through nipples and bakeware into baby formula.
After six hours, no siloxanes (the harmful stuff) were showing up in the baby formula.
Great, right?
Well, after 72 hours, a TON of siloxanes were detected.
And these siloxanes are potential endocrine disruptors, which have been linked to cancer.
How do you think this interacts with your highly absorbent vaginal skin? Probably not the best idea to find out.
#5: Petroleum
You deal with forms of petroleum every day.
Gasoline. Kerosine. Wax.
And also, lubricants like petroleum jelly, more commonly known as Vaseline.
You’ve used vaseline as a moisturizer for your skin and face. So, why can’t you put it “down there” also? Read the answer below.
Why Is Petroleum Bad in Lube?
Petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, is great for chapped lips. But vaginas? Not so much.
Petroleum jelly can disrupt the pH of the vagina and lead to bacterial growth. One study found women who use petroleum jelly as lube are 2.2 times more likely to get a bacterial infection in their vagina than women who avoid using petroleum jelly as lube.
#6: Parabens
Parabens are synthetic chemicals that are found in everything from food to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
And what are they supposed to do?
Basically, they ensure longer shelf life.
Why Are Parabens Bad in Lube?
You’ve probably seen “paraben-free” plastered on labels for candles, deodorants, sunscreens, lubes, etc. And for good reason.
Parabens have been found to be endocrine disruptors that can potentially cause dysfunctions in the body.
#7: Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide is used in manufacturing. It’s a co-product of the chemical chlorine.
Why Is Sodium Hydroxide Bad in Lube?
After looking into Sodium Hydroxide, I got a little scared.
Everything out there says that it’s super corrosive and irritating.
If you get it on your skin, eyes, or body, you should seek medical attention immediately.
The fact that there are some sex lubes created with this ingredient in it is a shame and extremely scary.
#8: Artificial Fragrances
Everything that smells, whether natural or artificial, is due to chemicals.
It’s WHERE the chemicals come from that is the issue.
Natural smells have chemicals that are derived from plants or animals.
Artificial smells come from chemical processes using synthetic materials derived from petroleum and other products.
Why Are Artificial Fragrances Bad in Lube?
There hasn’t been any research on artificial fragrances and how it affects the vagina.
But, we do know that synthetic fragrances can expose you to hundreds of chemicals.
It’s really not worth the risk.
#9: Artificial Flavors
Artificial flavors are very similar to artificial fragrances.
Everything that has a flavor, whether natural or artificial, does because of the chemical compounds.
It’s just that artificial flavors get their chemical compounds from synthetic materials through potentially harmful chemical processes.
Why Are Artificial Flavors Bad in Lube?
Some artificial flavors are fine — others are not.
The issue is you don’t really know with lube. The ingredients don’t share enough information.
So, be careful.
Click here for more information on why you should avoid flavored lubes.
Chiavaye: Safe, Organic, All-Natural Lube
Your sex lube doesn’t need 40 ingredients.
The safest and best lubricants often have minimal, intentional ingredients.
That’s the whole reason why I created Chiavaye.
Chiavaye is 100% safe, all-natural, vegan-free, chemical-free, sex lube that contains just six ingredients:
- Organic coconut oil
- Almond oil
- Vitamin E
- Grapeseed oil
- Sunflower seed oil
- Evening primrose oil
Click here to shop Chiavaye.
