Like many other personal products, lubricants contain many toxic substances — potential or proven — that can be easily absorbed by the very permeable vaginal mucous membrane, causing allergic reactions or even vaginal yeast or mycosis. It is therefore important to check the list of ingredients — and once again, the fewer ingredients, the better. Most natural lubricants are made of organic coconut oil, aloe vera or vitamin E.
Healthy alternatives
Fragrance-free
| Brand name | Product description |
| Aloe Cadabra | Natural Aloe (Unscented) |
| Sliquid Organics | Natural gel |
| Maude | Shine Organic |
DIY
If none of the lubricants available on the market suits you, you can prepare you own.
Here is a super simple recipe to make a condom-compatible lubricant:
Boil 2 glasses of water with 2 teaspoons of flaxseeds for 20 minutes.
Let it cool.
Strain the flaxseeds and pour the remaining liquid in a jar. This homemade lubricant can be kept for a week in the fridge.
Another recipe with cocoa butter base (not compatible with condoms) is available on this site Les Trappeuses (in French only).
Avoid the following chemicals in regular products
Chlorhexidine gluconate: irritant, may be toxic for some women
Glycerin: may cause mycosis, irritant to mucous membrane, suspected to reduce fertility by slowing down spermatozoids
Perfumes: allergens
Parabens: endocrine disruptors
Phenoxyethanol: irritant, allergen
Propylene glycol: allergen, irritant
Polyethylene glycol: possible carcinogen (may contain ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxade), irritant to skin, eyes and respiratory tract
Synthetic flavours: toxic