A Guide to Natural Lubricants
If you find yourself in a bind and need a lubricant in a pinch, look no further than things you might have in your own home.
Instead of just wondering, “what can I use as lube?”, read below to find out what you can grab from the kitchen or bathroom to take care of business.
A plus is that most of these are going to be far more natural and clean than a lot of lubricants on the market.
To find the right DIY lube, read below and see what is going to work best for you. A quick (hopefully obvious) note on allergies; if you’re allergic to avocados, don’t use avocado oil, the same goes for anything else on here.
Need some more tips? Check out Role Playing Ideas for Couples
Safe, Natural Lubricants from Home
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is an excellent natural lubricant. It’s gentle and natural, and if you live anywhere like me, it might be growing in your backyard! As a common ingredient in store-bought lubes, you know it’s safe for you to use.
Soothing and hydrating, it has great benefits too.
Just be sure you’re not grabbing the bottled green aloe vera you reach for when you have a sunburn. Alcohol and other chemicals should not be near genitals.
- What you might have: bottled aloe vera gel or an aloe vera plant
- Condom safe: Yes
- Vaginal or anal safe: Yes
- Oral friendly: Yes, but you might not like the taste
- Silicone toy safe: Yes
Almond Oil
Sweet almond oil is another terrific choice on-the-fly. In addition to leaving your skin soft and supple, it has lasting power! Sweet almond oil will stick around longer than coconut oil or aloe vera.
The irritation factor is low as sweet almond oil is ordinarily used to treat skin conditions and widely used in cosmetics.
Even better, it’s chemically stable and will not go rancid on your skin like olive oil would. It smells pretty good, too!
One strong word of warning here, oil-based lubricants like almond oil will break down condoms. You shouldn’t be using almond oil on condoms unless you’re not worried about pregnancy or STI’s.
If you have a nut allergy, you and your partner are going to have to avoid this.
- What you probably have: Sweet Almond Oil (for moisturizer)
- Condom safe: No
- Vaginal or anal safe: Yes
- Oral friendly: Yes
- Silicone toy safe: No
Avocado oil
Avocado oil is a perfectly acceptable lubricant but should never be your first choice if you have anything else on this list. Compared to some others on this list, avocado oil does leave a residue that feels sticky. Also, even though some say avocado oil is odorless, I think it still smells like you’re sauteing vegetables.
It does have a high smoke point though, so feel free to burn up your sheets 😉
Remember that oils, like avocado oil, will cause tears or breaks in condoms. Beware!
Like any oil, it will also stain fabrics like your sheets. To protect your sheets or couch against your lube (or anything else), consider a blanket like the popular Liberator Moisture-Proof Throw.
- What you probably have: Pure Avocado Oil
- Condom safe: No
- Vaginal or anal safe: Yes
- Oral friendly: Yes, but you might not like the taste
- Silicone toy safe: No
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a pretty reliable lube, whether you’re in a pinch or not. It’s also convenient as it will melt when you put it on your skin. Make sure you’re using unrefined or unprocessed coconut oil, commonly labeled as “virgin” coconut oil.
The taste is excellent if you like coconuts, and the consistency has a nice feel. Eventually, it absorbs into your skin, and you’ll finish with moisturized skin too.
As an oil, it will break down condoms, so beware. One quick note on oil and condoms, the breakdown happens even after a minute, so don’t try it!
- What you probably have: Virgin Coconut Oil
- Condom safe: No
- Vaginal or anal safe: Yes
- Oral friendly: Yes
- Silicone toy safe: No
Egg Whites
Sit down and buckle up, because you’re going to have to go with me on this one.
Egg whites can be lube. There, I said it. It’s strange, but using egg whites as lube when you’re trying to get pregnant is an old wives’ tale.
If you can’t get over the gross factor, this isn’t going to be for you.
- What you probably have: Eggs (pasteurized egg whites for dessert-making is even better)
- Condom safe: Yes
- Vaginal or anal safe: Yes
- Oral friendly: If you’re brave
- Silicone toy safe: Yes
Ghee
If you were wondering, “is lube a carb?” then you are in for a treat with ghee. Although it’s undoubtedly one of the weirder lube choices I’ve seen, it can do the job.
Ghee is clarified butter, and if you’re on a low-carbohydrate diet such as the ketogenic diet or are paleo, chances are you have this on hand.
Clarified butter means that they have melted butter and removed the milk solids and water. It’s still a perishable food, so keep it topical only to avoid infection.
- What you probably have: Ghee in your pantry
- Condom safe: No
- Vaginal or anal safe: No
- Oral friendly: Yes
- Silicone toy safe: No
Grapeseed Oil
Another conventional lube-safe oil you might have in your home is grapeseed oil. If you like to cook or make your own beauty products, you’re like to have it on hand.
Grapeseed oil is beneficial for your skin and has no odor or taste. Feel free to slather it everywhere; the consistency is silky too.
This one also spells trouble for condoms and sex toys, so it should be avoided.
- What you probably have: Grapeseed oil
- Condom safe: No
- Vaginal or anal safe: Yes
- Oral friendly: Yes
- Silicone toy safe: No
Sesame Oil
Common in massage, sesame oil is also an above par lube. Your skin will feel nourished and supple after using it.
This oil feels smooth on and absorbs into the skin. Depending on the oil you have at home, there might be a slightly nutty flavor, or a barely detectable one.
You will not be left with a sticky residue after this one just absorbs into the body.
Like the other, it will break down condoms and can damage sex toys.
- What you probably have: Refined Sesame Oil
- Condom safe: No
- Vaginal or anal safe: Yes
- Oral friendly: Yes
- Silicone toy safe: No
Household items you should never use as lube:
Petroleum Jelly
In addition to being linked to bacterial infections in your nethers, petroleum jelly is sticky and won’t do a thing to reduce friction.
Baby Oil
Another petroleum-based product, baby oil is also linked to vaginal infections. It’s difficult to wash out since it’s an oil and doesn’t absorb into your skin.
Honey or Agave Nectar
Since honey and agave nectar have sugar in them, they should not be used as lube. Sugar in your vagina is a one-way ticket to an infection. Even if that wasn’t the case, it’s still sticky instead of slick and would make for an uncomfortable experience.
Lotion
Don’t reach for that hand lotion when you’re looking for lube. Hand lotion is full of perfumes and chemicals that don’t belong anywhere near your genitals.
A quick note here: water and spit is not lube. The goal of lube is to reduce friction, and neither here are slick enough to get the job done.