Lube for Sensitive Skin

Why Some Lubes Irritate

Lube should make things more comfortable, not less. If you have ever felt burning, itching or redness after using one, you are not alone. Intimate skin is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body, and some common ingredients do not agree with everyone.

The good news: gentler formulas are easy to find once you know what to look for.

Shop: Natural & Organic Lubricants · Glycerin & Paraben Free

Ingredients Sensitive Skin Often Skips

• Glycerin. A common sweetener and moisturizer in water-based lube. Some people prone to yeast infections find glycerin-free formulas more comfortable.
• Parabens. Preservatives that keep lube fresh. Many people prefer paraben-free products.
• Fragrance and flavor. Added scents and sweeteners are frequent irritants for sensitive skin.
• Warming, cooling and tingling agents. Menthol and similar ingredients are designed to create a feeling, which sensitive skin may read as burning.
• Numbing agents. Benzocaine and lidocaine can irritate some people and hide discomfort.
• Nonoxynol-9. A spermicide found in some lubes and condoms. It can irritate delicate tissue, so skip it unless you specifically need a spermicide.

What "pH-Balanced" Means

The vagina is naturally slightly acidic, usually around pH 3.8 to 4.5. That acidity helps keep healthy bacteria in balance. Lubes labeled pH-balanced are made to sit close to that range, so they are less likely to throw things off.

If a lube is mainly for vaginal use, pH-balanced is a smart feature to look for.

Two Great Choices for Sensitive Skin

Gentle water-based formulas. Look for water-based lubes made without glycerin or parabens. Many use aloe or plant-based thickeners instead. Good places to start in our Natural & Organic collection are Sliquid Organics Gel, Sliquid Naturals Sea, Wicked Aqua Sensitive and Pink Natural. Check each label for the ingredients you want to skip.

Pure silicone. Many silicone lubes contain only a few ingredients, with no water, glycerin or preservatives. Many people with sensitive skin find them very gentle. Try Pjur Original or ID Millennium. Remember to spot test silicone lube before using it with silicone toys.

How to Find Your Gentle Lube

1. Read the label. The shorter the ingredient list, the easier it is to spot what bothers you.
2. Patch test. Put a little on your inner arm and wait 15 minutes before using it intimately.
3. Change one thing at a time. If you switch lube and condoms at once, you will not know which caused a reaction.
4. Keep what works. Once you find a formula your body likes, note the name and stick with it.

When to See a Doctor

If burning, itching or unusual discharge continues after you stop using a product, or keeps coming back, talk to a doctor. Irritation can have causes that have nothing to do with lube, and those deserve proper care.

Quick Recap

• Skip glycerin, parabens, fragrance, flavor and sensation agents if you are sensitive.
• Choose pH-balanced water-based lube for vaginal use, or a pure silicone.
• Patch test, then stick with what works.

The right lube should feel like nothing at all, just smooth and comfortable. With a gentle formula, it can.