Lube Ingredients: What’s Safe & What’s Not

We’re of the certain age when we really do need to think about what ingredients are in our skincare.  We absolutely don’t want anything that will cause irritation, break-outs or dryness on our face or décolletage. We seek out ingredients that work hard to keep our skin healthy and hydrated, but are natural. 

But when it comes to lubricant, something that’s literally going inside our bodies, most of us don’t give much consideration to the ingredients. We need to rethink that because our vaginal tissues are even more fragile and delicate than those on our faces. Plus this sensitive area is not only home to tender skin, but it’s a system that needs to be in balance. When it’s not, all sorts of conditions can develop.

Knowing what ingredients to avoid is key. What’s also important to know are the ingredients that are actually good for a woman’s body. Hot tip: bookmark this article and pull it up the next time you’re buying lubrication. 

Be Aware of Dangerous Ingredients 

Some lubes contain ingredients that are downright harmful to the body. They can cause irritation, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, allergic reactions, rashes, reproductive organ harm and cancer. Crazy, right? 

You’re probably asking yourself, “How can these even be sold?” Unfortunately, there are many of these products with hurtful ingredients being sold. You have to be your own advocate and look out for them. We’ve compiled a list of top ingredients for you to avoid.

AVOID Glycerine, Glycerol

Glycerine is a byproduct of sugar and can cause bacteria and yeast in the vagina to flourish, leading to yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Glycerine is most often used in water-based lubes.

AVOID Petroleums and Oil

Petroleum and oil-based products are sticky (think of the texture of Vaseline or coconut oil) which makes these products stick in a vagina longer than other products and can, ultimately, cause an infection. The vagina is self-cleaning, but it’s not optimized to clean out oil-based ingredients. 

AVOID Petrochemicalls, Propylene Glycol, Polyethylene Glycol.

These are made from petroleum and are commonly found in brake fluid and antifreeze. For real. 

AVOID Parabens (often called methylparaben and/or propylparaben)

These are preservatives that can cause painful allergic reactions on sensitive tissues. They can irritate vaginal mucous membranes, contribute to genital rashes, and potentially cause fertility problems and endocrine disruption. They may also be linked to endocrine cancers like testicular, breast, and ovarian cancer.

AVOID Chlorhexidine Gluconate

This is a disinfectant chemical that can kill strains of lactobacillus, which is a bacteria that is necessary for your healthy vagina

AVOID Benzocaine, Benzene, Benzoic Acid

These cause irritation and even allergic contact dermatitis.

AVOID Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane and Cyclotetrasiloxan

These are found in silicone-based lubricants and are linked to reproductive harm and uterine cancer in animal studies.

AVOID Nonoxynol-9

It’s a spermicide that can also kill good bacteria and lead to infection.

AVOID Flavors, Fragrances and Stimulating

Stay away from anything that includes flavor, fragrance, aroma, cooling, heating, or stimulating. These things are a mix of chemicals that can cause irritation and allergy.  Flavored lubes contain sugar that can cause vaginal infections.

Beloved’s Nourishing Ingredients

When we developed Beloved, we were obsessive about making sure it was good for your body and contained nothing that would harm or irritate it. Beloved is hypoallergenic and contains absolutely no estrogen, hormones, harsh chemicals, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, silicone, glycerine, formaldehyde, mineral oils, soy, gluten, fragrances, artificial flavors or colors. It’s also not tested on animals. 

Here’s what Beloved does contain and the properties of each ingredient. The ingredients are listed in order of predominance, with the ingredients used in the greatest amount first, followed in descending order by those in smaller amounts.

Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: binds moisture to the skin, softens skin, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, helps heal wounds.

We adore aloe because its texture perfectly mimics a woman’s natural lubrication so you won’t have to worry about it being too sticky or greasy like other lubricants. Aloe also doesn’t stain so it easily washes out of your high thread count sheets and lingerie.

Propanediol: emollient that retains moisture, dissolves ingredients, decreases viscosity, preservative booster, gives the product a light and non-sticky texture.

Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract: known as the "beauty" mushroom, contains high levels of vitamin D, hydrates, is an anti-oxidant, and reduces inflammation.

Gluconolactone: improves skin tone and texture, hydrates and is an antioxidant.

Sodium Hyaluronate: moisturizing, soothing, hydrates underlying skin layers.

Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract: emollient, skin conditioner.

Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract: also known as hemp seed oil, antioxidant, strengthens the skin's natural moisture barrier, minimizes the appearance of redness.

Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Extract: anti-aging, hydrating and soothing.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract: skin protector, increases blood flow to the skin, improves elasticity, hydrating.

Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, soothing.

Hydroxyethylcellulose: thickening agent that allows water to be added to the formula.

Xanthan Gum: thickening and binding agent.

Sodium Benzoate: antifungal and antibacterial agent.

Potassium Sorbate: antifungal and antimicrobial, an alternative ingredient to parabens.

Citric Acid: antioxidant, pH adjuster.

Beyond Ingredients - FDA Clearance

The ingredients, how they interact together, the packaging and the manufacturing are all factors that determine if a lube is safe—or not.

Lube is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Class II medical device. Lube products are required to have FDA 510(k) approval before being manufactured and sold.

This certification is expensive and takes months (even years) to get a lube approved by the FDA. The FDA is very rigorous down to the type of packaging that is used and the specific content that is printed on the packaging.

However, some companies don't get FDA clearance for their lubrication. Selling lubrication without clearance is illegal. Some companies take a chance (and risk your health) by selling lubes that aren’t approved and hope that they won’t be caught by the FDA.

Important Note: the FDA won’t approve lubrication that contains CBD or is made with oil. No oil-based or CBD lubrication is cleared by the FDA.

Be sure that any lube you buy has FDA approval and is manufactured in an FDA-approved facility. 

Bottom Line

The next time you are in the market for a new lube, skip the questionable and harmful ingredients and reach for the product that was developed to keep you safe and healthy. Your sensitive areas deserve the same care and quality you give your face and skin and that is Beloved.