9 Natural Lubes for All Kinds of Sex
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No matter what kind of sex you're having—solo or with a partner; vaginal or anal—lube will make it oh so much better. But not all lubes are created equal. Some personal lubricants contain ingredients that may be "questionable," explains Michael Ingber, MD, a urologist and urogynecologist at Garden State Urology.
“Alcohols—ingredients ending in ‘-ol’ are often alcohol-based—can feel ‘cool’ during sexual activity or masturbation, but they can cause drying out of mucosal surfaces,” he says. That’s why you want to steer clear from having vaginal or anal sex with lubes that contain alcohol. “Glycerin, which is a byproduct from sugar, can often serve as a breeding ground for yeast and bacteria [in the vagina].” So that’s another thing you likely want to steer clear from if you’re having vaginal sex.
“Using natural lubricants can be an excellent way to get the experience of slipperiness without the side effects that can arise from using commercially-available lubes with these chemicals,” Ingber adds.
So, here are the 9 best body-safe natural lubricants to use during your next sex session. We've included some expert-recommended organic products, like coconut oil and aloe vera, as well as commercially-available lubes that only have natural ingredients. (Note: A lot of the organic products are oil or petroleum-based, which can degrade condoms and cause them to break. We recommend using oils only when you're have condom-less sex with a partner you trust.)
Coconut Oil
"The benefit of coconut oil is that it doesn't contain any [alcohols or glycerins] and is generally safe," Ingber says. "Many of my patients end up trying it and actually feel the consistency is more pleasurable than the water-based or silicone-based lubricants which can be purchased over the counter."
The only downside is that coconut oil has a higher pH level than the vagina. "So we always caution patients to do some trial and error. If they notice a malodorous discharge after sex, or increased incidence of yeast infections, or bacterial vaginosis (overgrowth of vaginal bacteria), coconut oil may not be the best idea," Ingber says. Here's everything to know about using coconut oil as lube.
Peanut Oil
"Peanut oil tends to be a less viscous oil than some of the others out there, and studies show [that] when heated to body temperature, it actually becomes less viscous," Ingber says. "Some folks like this, as it may be more similar to the natural lubricant provided by physiologic sexual secretions."
Don't worry—it doesn't smell like peanuts. But make sure your partner doesn't have an allergy before you use it.
Vitamin E oil
Some people keep their medicine cabinets stocked with Vitamin E oil to use as a moisturizer for the skin—and they also turn to the substance when looking for a natural, lube alternative, Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in New York, told Women's Health.
Aloe Vera
Unlike the other organic lubes on this list, you can use aloe vera with latex condoms. The perks of aloe vera gel are that it's slippery, soothing, and can even help prevent yeast infections as opposed to increase the likelihood of getting one. The only thing (and we can't stress this enough) is that it needs to be 100% pure aloe vera. Jennifer Wider, M.D., previously told Women's Health that many aloe veras contain artificial ingredients that can irritate vaginas.
Vaseline
"Petroleum jelly is an emollient, which means it softens skin and helps it heal," Ingber says. "It's completely safe to use on the vulva and inside the vagina. The downside is that it does 'hang around' for a while. So sometimes after sex, it can be difficult to wipe off, and people may feel a bit 'greasy' down there."
If you're looking for a lube you can buy that has all-natural ingredients, you should try out Sliquid. "I love Sliquid lubricants," says Megan Stubbs, EdD, certified sexologist. "They are mindful of their ingredients and don't use common irritants like glycerin or parabens," she says.
"This is a great commercially-available lubricant which can be purchased online," Ingber says. "It’s all-natural, water-based, and doesn’t contain alcohols, parabens, or glyecerin. Their tag-line is that their lube mimics your body’s own vaginal lubrication system."
Uberlube is one of the most expensive lubes on the market, but it's really high-quality. "While we don’t always recommend silicone-based lubricants, sometimes the water-based ones aren’t good enough for our patients," Ingber says. "Uberlube has silicone, and does not contain alcohol, parabens, glycerin, or any gluten. It’s also compatible with latex-condom use."
"This brand is all-natural and contains aloe-leaf juice," Ingber says. "It’s also pH-balanced for the vagina," so it's less likely to cause bacterial infections or UTIs.
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