We’re all about making our lives a little easier these days. And there’s one thing that can help make sex a lot easier, whether it’s with a partner or solo: The best natural lube. “I use a lubricant for the simple reason of making sex better,” says Cindy Barshop, founder of VSPOT, a sexual health spa. “Even when your mind, body and soul are completely in tune, feeling the cool extra moisture can be arousing and can cause your body to produce even more lubrication. Needless to say, it can also be a lifesaver for those times when your body just isn’t doing what your mind wants it to.”
It’s important to remember that not all lubes are created equal. When you think about where you’re applying it, it’s best to steer clear of any icky or questionable ingredients. “The best part about using a clean lube is that you can be guilt-free without the paranoia that you are causing any harm to yourself,” Barshop says. “Being able to focus on just enjoying the sex is absolutely the best part.”
If you’re anything like us, purchasing something like lube can a be little unnerving. Nobody wants to ask a store clerk at CVS a question, and if you’re shopping online, product descriptions can be hardly helpful at best. For that reason, we consulted Barshop to get her expert advice. For answers to our most frequently asked questions, as well as some of our top picks for the best natural lube, take a look below.
How do you know if lube is right for you?
“Knowing if lube is right for you depends on the reason you want to use it,” Barshop says. “If the reason you are looking for a lubricant is that you or your partner’s body isn’t naturally producing enough lubrication regularly, then the first thing you should do is see a doctor. Birth control and other hormonal changes can affect your body’s ability to produce lubrication at the rate you may be used to.”
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However, as Barshop points out, there are more mundane reasons for wanting to try the best natural lube. “If the reason you want to try a lube is for occasional dryness, or to enhance the great sex you’re already having, the right one is probably an organic water-based lube, something with natural ingredients that works with and not against a woman’s pH balance.”
What is the best way to use lube?
“The best way to use an organic water-based lube is however you want,” Barshop says. “One that is safe and clean is good to go however you want to use it. A little or a lot applied directly to the vulva, toy, anus and/or penis before or during intercourse is safe and effective.”
And it’s not that Barshop (or SPY, for that matter) is inherently opposed to silicone or oil-based lubes. But rather that they come with more constraints. “I don’t want to snub oil- and silicone-based lubes because there are some great ones out there,” she says. “Oil- and silicone-based lubes can be fun, but you have to make sure you aren’t using a toy or latex condoms because those substances can cause them to degrade. Oil-based lubes also have the potential to throw off the vagina’s natural pH, leading to infections.”
What should you consider when shopping for natural lube?
“What I look for in a lube is a natural feel and texture that isn’t too sticky,” Barshop says. “I rub it on my fingertips first and try out the slip. If it feels smooth and not too slippery, then I might have a winner. Next, I would see how it dries to make sure there is no residue or stickiness and to make sure that it doesn’t dry too quickly. Last but not least is taste. If it’s an organic, clean lube it should be edible, it should taste . . . well, good.”
But while getting through the checklist outlined above will you do just fine, Barshop has a few more worthwhile qualities to consider in the best natural lube. “Other things come into play too, like how convenient the bottle is. A big squeeze bottle is quick, efficient and my personal go-to. Some people prefer a pump but sometimes a pump can get slippery. And I would avoid a jar at all costs.”
What natural ingredients should you look for in a lube?
“The first ingredient that should be in your water-based lube is aloe,” Barshop says. “Aloe vera is an amazing plant that has endless uses. The aloe found inside has antibacterial properties and is naturally water-based. It provides an organic feeling and slip, and should be the main ingredient. When it comes to an oil-based lube, look for an organic coconut oil base. [Look for other] organic ingredients like quinoa, hemp, flax, green tea and oat extracts.”
Which ingredients should be avoided?
“I want to make sure that the lube I choose is made without parabens, glycerin and petrochemicals right off the bat,” Barshop says. “Synthetic dyes and fragrances are also a no for me because those ingredients can irritate the vagina’s natural systems and cause infections.”
If you’re ready to give the best natural lube a try, start with one of the options below!
1. Unbound Jelly
This is Barshop’s top pick for good reason. “I like the bottle, the consistency, the taste and the ingredients,” she says. The vegan, water-based lube has an organic aloe base with a vanilla and lemon scent and flavor, plus it’s free of glycerin, glycol, parabens and petrochemicals. Designed to be used with condoms and toys, it’s completely safe and goes easy on intimate areas.
2. Good Clean Love Almost Naked Personal Lubricant
One of the best natural lubes out there, this is the other go-to for Barshop since it has a water-based aloe vera formula and is certified 95% organic. “It’s made by a female-run company that really puts emphasis on feminine health and making healthy products that work,” she says. Recommended by gynecologists, it is formulated to a woman’s natural pH and safe to use with latex condoms and silicone toys. Free of petrochemicals, parabens and glycerin, it’s made to last and a cinch to clean up — there’s no need to worry about stains.
3. WLDKAT Prebiotic & pH Balanced Sex Serum
WLDKAT is known for their clean, carefully formulated products and their lube is no exception. The water-based serum contains 200 mg of CBD for an extra boost. True to its name, it’s pH-balanced to keep intimate areas in check. The super gentle formula is safe for daily use and with condoms. All about making sex comfortable, whether during solo play or with a partner, it helps decrease tension and dryness.
4. Dame Alu Aloe Lube
“This company has great ingredients and great products,” Barshop says of the women-owned Dame. Super silky and slippery, this natural aloe vera-based lube is safe for toys and most condoms. A roster of all-star natural ingredients includes organic aloe leaf juice, mushroom extract, quinoa seed extra, hemp seed extract, linseed extract, green tea extract and oat kernel extract. One of the best natural lubes, it’s free of no-no’s like glycerin, parabens, hormones and sugars. The long-lasting formula delivers extra moisture and safeguards dry, stressed and sensitive skin.
5. Lola Personal Lubricant
Another of Barshop’s picks, this water-based lube is all about natural ingredients, such as 100% organic aloe leaf juice. The gynecologist-approved formula is hypoallergenic and pH-balanced to optimize vaginal health. It’ll keep things smooth in the bedroom, and to cut down on that awkward moment, it has an easy one-click pump to avoid interruptions.
6. Foria Intimacy Natural Lubricant with CBD
It doesn’t get any more natural than Foria’s Intimacy Natural Lubricant with CBD, since it only has two ingredients: Organic MCT coconut oil and 200 mg of active CBD from USDA organic-certified, regeneratively-grown USA hemp. One of the best natural lubes, it was developed to provide natural moisture to simultaneously soothe while boosting arousal. Never tested on animals, it is pH-balanced and has other perks outside of the bedroom, including benefits for vaginismus, vulvodynia, interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, other pelvic and genital pain conditions, and relief from symptoms of menopause.
7. Uncle Bud’s Personal Lubricant With Hemp Seed Oil
To make everything feel even silkier, this lube works with your body’s natural lubrication. The all-natural water-based formula is infused with organic hemp seed oil, which is chock full of Omega-3, Omega-6, antioxidants, and vitamins A, D and E to deeply hydrate skin and reduce friction to boost pleasure. Compatible with most toys and latex, polyurethane and polyisoprene condoms, it’s easy to clean and simply washes off with water. Bonus: It has a tangerine scent.
8. Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lubricant
With its impressively clean formula, this is one of the best natural lubes. Made with organic food-grade edible organic aloe vera gel as its base, the formula is completely vegan and edible, complete with a Tahitian vanilla flavor. Recommended by doctors to ease pain from intercourse and help with menopause dryness, this lube is water-based, making it safe for sex toys as well as latex and polyisoprene condoms.
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