Sexual Health The 7 Best Lubes of 2022 Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube is free of parabens and other chemicals By Isis Briones Isis Briones Twitter Isis is a freelance writer for sites like Forbes, Travel + Leisure, and Teen Vogue. She has a dual degree in communications and Spanish from Wake Forest University. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 18, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Rochelle Collins, DO Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO LinkedIn Rochelle Collins, DO, is board-certified in family medicine. She is an assistant clinical professor of family medicine at Quinnipiac University and works in private practice in Hartford, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Using lube is the simplest way to reduce injury and make a sexual experience more enjoyable, especially for people experiencing dryness due to shifting hormones or menopause. To use, rub it together in your hands to warm it up, says Jen Cowe, health educator from Planned Parenthood. Reviewed & Approved Free of parabens, petroleum, and glycerin, the Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube won't irritate sensitive skin and acts as a lubricant during sexual intercourse. LOLA's Personal Lubricant is a water-based and hypoallergenic option. When shopping for lube, you’re going to find all sorts of options out there: natural, organic, flavored, water-based, and warming to name a few. There are also three different types: water, silicone, and oil-based lubricants. If you have sensitive skin, water-based lubes may be the safer choice, as they won't irritate the skin. We researched dozens of lubricants and evaluated them based on their ingredients, purpose, and how well they work with the vagina's sensitive pH levels. Each of the products chosen in this article was determined to be the best of their individual category. Here are some of the best lubes on the market today. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube at Amazon Jump to Review Best Organic: Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant at Thrive Market Jump to Review Best Water Based: LOLA Personal Lubricant at Mylola.com Jump to Review Best For Sensitive Skin: Uberlube Luxury Lubricant at Amazon Jump to Review Best Silicone: Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant at Amazon Jump to Review Best Flavored: WET Flavored Popp’n Cherry Edible Lube at Amazon Jump to Review Best Heating: K-Y Warming Jelly Personal Lube Tube at Amazon Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look For Lube Ingredients to Avoid Why Trust Verywell Health Best Overall: Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube 4.9 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On CVS View On Thrive Market We chose the Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube as our top pick because it's free of parabens, petroleum, phenoxyethanol, glycerin, and other chemicals and comes in a variety of flavors. In addition to it being safe for your body, it helps to reduce painful intercourse and menopause dryness. All in all, it’s a two-in-one deal as it acts as a personal lubricant and a vaginal moisturizer. Bonus: It’s edible, and rubber and plastic-friendly, so it won’t damage any of your sex toys. Because it contains some vitamin E oil, you may want to exercise caution in pairing it with latex condoms. The 8 Best Condoms of 2022 for Ultimate Protection and Feel Best Organic: Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant Courtesy of Thrive Market View On Thrive Market View On Walgreens Get ready, the water base behind the Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant will leave you feeling almost naked. It’s highly recommended by gynecologists and is free from petrochemicals, parabens, and glycerin. The formula is long-lasting and easy to clean up. You won’t have to worry about it leaving behind any bothersome stains. It’s infused with light lemon and vanilla scents without irritating chemical additives making it ideal for anyone with sensitive skin. Best Water Based: LOLA Personal Lubricant Courtesy of Lola. View On Mylola.com Remember, you can never go wrong with a water-based lube. The LOLA Personal Lubricant features a simple, one-click pump that makes application a breeze and saves you from unnecessary messes. It’s completely hypoallergenic and is made up of only six ingredients. The aloe leaf juice, vanilla, and lemon are all organic. There are no fragrances or synthetic flavors to complicate the moment, you’ll just be left with safe, sexual fun. Additionally, it has a pH-balanced formula to support better vaginal health. Best For Sensitive Skin: Uberlube Luxury Lubricant Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Urban Outfitters View On Walgreens If you’ve ever had issues with lube before, you won't need to worry once you try the Uberlube Luxury Lubricant. It’s colorless, odorless, tasteless, and won’t leave behind any sticky, stain-prone residue. On top of that, it’s free of animal products, parabens, alcohol, gluten, and glycerin, proving it’s made for sensitive skin and won’t harm healthy bacteria or affect pH levels. Furthermore, a little goes a long way with Uberlube, which certainly justifies its higher price tag. It has a single hand pump that will give you the perfect amount every time. 6 Best Over-the-Counter Yeast Infection Medicines of 2022 Best Silicone: Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon When being intimate, the last thing you should be thinking about is harmful chemicals in your body. Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant’s silicone and water-based formula is free of any unwanted additives. This lube is botanically infused and vegan, and the 12% silicone blend makes it longer lasting and perfect for sensual massages. If you apply it to your skin, the Aloe Vera in the formula acts as a natural moisturizer and alongside it, there’s vitamin E, green tea, and hibiscus within the lubricant. This combination is special and will result in the most unforgettable, invigorating sensations. Best Flavored: WET Flavored Popp’n Cherry Edible Lube Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon If you have a sexy sweet tooth, you won’t want to miss the Wet Flavored Popp’n Cherry Edible Lube that’s perfectly safe to eat. You may choose from five luscious flavors that are all sweeter than ever. Surprisingly, the lube is sugar and gluten-free, but it will still taste like the real flavors without an artificial aftertaste. This product is made for foreplay, so if you’re looking for a sweet way to spice of your sex life (literally), this is it. The 11 Best Period Underwear of 2022 Best Heating: K-Y Warming Jelly Personal Lube Tube Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On CVS View On Pharmapacks.com From the second you play around with the K-Y Warming Jelly Personal Lube Tube, you’ll feel a warm sensation. You can trust K-Y with your needs as it’s a popular brand recommended by doctors. Adding heat to your intimate moments can heighten your senses and enhance intimacy with your partner. You can opt for it in liquid or jelly form. If you prefer the item to stay in place, the jelly is your best choice. Note, however, that K-Y Warming Jelly contains propylene glycol and may be irritating. The 8 Best Birth Control Delivery Services Final Verdict Lube can be the key to an all-around better sex life. It’s guaranteed to make the moments safer and more pleasurable, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it. If you’re nervous about it causing an irritation, stick with the unproblematic Uberlube Luxury Lubricant. It may be pricer, but it won’t leave behind any residue as it’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless. How We Rated Lubes 4.8 to 5 stars: These are the best lubes we reviewed. We recommend them without reservation.4.5 to 4.7 stars: These lubes are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.4.0 to 4.5 stars: We think these are great lubes, but others are better.3.5 to 3.9 stars: These lubes are just average.3.4 and below: We don't recommend lubes with this rating; you won't find any on our list. What to Look for in a Lube Natural Ingredients Similar to most products, it’s beneficial to have all-natural labels. The Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube is a go-to that’s gentle to the skin and features aloe vera, one of nature’s common moisturizers. The Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant is another that boasts natural components including vitamin E, green tea, and hibiscus, which combined provide healthy, invigorating results. Water If all else fails, pick a water-based lube. It’s a safe choice that won’t harm your body. The LOLA Personal Lubricant is a water-based fan favorite that’s safe, easy to apply, and a pH-balanced formula that’s great for your vaginal health. The gynecologist-recommended Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant should also be on your radar as it’s water-based without any chemical additives allowing it to work on all skin types. Multipurpose The lube you choose has to fit all your needs. If you’re hoping to get pregnant, that’s what the Pre-Seed Fertility Friendly Lubricant is for. For those interested in something different and new, try the K-Y Warming Jelly Personal Lube Tube, a product that turns to heat to intensify the senses. In short, whatever your need may be, the perfect formula is out there waiting. Lube Ingredients to Avoid Lubes can contain a range of ingredients—some of which you may want to avoid. A few worth looking out for: Glycerin Glycerin is a clear, odorless compound that acts as a humectant, which means it seals in moisture. Because of this, it’s often used to make lubes last longer. Some research has suggested that glycerin can damage skin cells, potentially increasing the transmission of STIs. Petroleum Petroleum is a gooey, jelly-like compound found in some oil-based lubes to promote moisture. One small study found a link between petroleum jelly and an increased risk of bacterial vaginosis. Propylene Glycol Propylene glycol is a humectant added to lubes to make them last longer. One small study linked propylene glycol to the spread of STIs (specifically, herpes) in mice, but this effect does not seem to have been replicated in human-based research. Other research has linked propylene glycol to skin irritation—the American Contact Dermatitis Society went as far as naming the ingredient its "Allergen of the Year" for 2018. Chlorhexidine Gluconate Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antibacterial commonly used in mouthwashes and oral rinses. It’s also occasionally used in lube. Chlorhexidine gluconate may cause skin irritation. Poison Control also notes that chlorhexidine gluconate shouldn’t be orally consumed, so be sure to avoid it in any lubes you plan to use orally. Parabens Parabens are synthetic chemicals that act as preservatives in a number of products, lube included. Some experts have expressed concern that parabens could potentially disrupt the endocrine (or hormonal) system, but research has yet to clearly demonstrate this effect. Some research has suggested that single-exposure parabens consumed at recommended doses do not significantly affect the endocrine system. But that same review notes that most of us aren’t exposed to just one paraben at a time, so further research is needed. Put simply, the jury is still out on this one. Frequently Asked Questions How do you apply lube? Planned Parenthood health educator Jen Cowe believes there’s no right or wrong way to apply lube. “The great thing about lube is you apply it anywhere! Directly to your body, to your partner’s body, a toy, or even a condom itself. But I would say before you apply it, rub it together in your hands to warm it up.” Do lubes have side effects? Most lubricants are safe to use and won’t cause any serious side effects. If you are allergy-prone or have sensitive skin, pay attention to the ingredients. There are a few you may want to avoid because they may cause irritation or inflammation:GlycerinPropylene GlycolPetroleumChlorhexidine GluconateParabens Does lube decrease the chances of pregnancy? Many vaginal lubricants contain ingredients (including glycerin and parabens) that can decrease sperm's ability to “swim” toward the egg. Some lubes are even shown to damage sperm DNA. Both of these factors can significantly decrease your chances of getting pregnant. What type of lube is long lasting? Silicone-based lubes are the longest-lasting lubes available. They also have a much thicker consistency and tend to be more slippery than water-based lubricants. Why Trust Verywell Health As a seasoned health writer, Isis Briones knows the importance of finding products that work best for you and your conditions. You can count on her to always provide a variety of recommendations from licensed medical professionals because she has tested and reviewed tons of products over the years to know everyone is different. 8 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Food and Drug Administration. Gluten-free labeling of foods. Ayehunie S, Wang YY, Landry T, Bogojevic S, Cone RA. Hyperosmolal vaginal lubricants markedly reduce epithelial barrier properties in a three-dimensional vaginal epithelium model. Toxicol Rep. 2017;5:134‐140. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.12.011 Brown JM, Hess KL, Brown S, Murphy C, Waldman AL, Hezareh M. Intravaginal practices and risk of bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis infection among a cohort of women in the United States. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;121(4):773-80. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e31828786f8 Jacob SE, Scheman A, Mcgowan MA. Propylene glycol. Dermatitis. 2018;29(1):3-5. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000315 Poison Control. Chlorhexidine adverse effects. Karpuzoglu E, Holladay SD, Gogal RM. Parabens: potential impact of low-affinity estrogen receptor binding chemicals on human health. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2013;16(5):321-35. doi:10.1080/10937404.2013.809252 Ellington JE, Clifton GD. Gamete, fertilization and embryo compatible lubricants: The new FDA product code “PEB” updates the standard of care for trying-to-conceive couples. J Womens Health Issues Care. 2018;6(6). doi:10.4172/2325-9795.1000294 Sandhu RS, Wong TH, Kling CA, Chohan KR. In vitro effects of coital lubricants and synthetic and natural oils on sperm motility. Fertil Steril. 2014;101(4):941-944. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.12.024 Editorial Process Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit