Sexual wellness: A guide to personal lubricants.

Eating well is critical for your physical and nutritional health and helps you feel confident, healthy, and energetic enough for your sexual endeavors. Similarly, exercise is important, not just because it strengthens your body, but also for your stamina and flexibility.

Meanwhile, a poor sleeping schedule, a bad diet, excessive drinking, and smoking are just some of the things that can be detrimental to your physical health and negatively affect your sexual wellness, too.

To a certain extent, even your social life and your surroundings can affect your sexual wellness. For example, if you are dealing with bullying or discrimination, a poor work environment, or a situation at home that isn’t healthy, you may notice a diminished interest in sexual activities.

If your home life and your social circle aren’t thriving, it’s difficult to enjoy a thriving sex life.

It should go without saying that the state of your mental health is a huge factor in sexual wellness. For example, if you’re a stressed or anxious person, whether it’s due to financial strain, relationship problems, etc., the reality is you may not have a high sex drive as a result.

Meanwhile, a person in a good mental and emotional state is often more responsive toward sex. Keep in mind that both your physical health and your social health can also affect your mental/emotional state. It’s all connected!

Finally, another key factor that can significantly impact your sexual wellness is your level of sexual satisfaction. There are many factors that lead to sexual satisfaction, including the ones we’ve mentioned already.

However, things like consent, safety, and boundaries are also important for your sexual satisfaction, along with the freedom to try new things without being judged, and the use of toys and tools or aids, like lubricants, to help you enjoy sex even more.

Aloe vera has been used in self-care and medicine for centuries. It’s beneficial for your skin and it’s especially great for sunburns. Many natural lubricant products use aloe vera in their formulas.

Just make sure there’s no alcohol in the mix because harsh ingredients like alcohol can cause pain and burning.

Oils are a common household item many are open to trying as a natural lubricant. Some of the most popular –– and safest –– natural oils to use are coconut oil — but also olive oil and sweet almond oil too.

Oil-based lubricant can provide easy glide and allow for comfortable movement. However, oils and oil-based products can also be damaging to a latex condom so be careful! (And learn more about different condom types here!)

To avoid broken condoms, avoid latex condoms altogether if you plan on using any kind of oil-based lube.

Glycerin is a by-product of sugar and a common ingredient in commercial lubricants. However, sugar aids in the development of yeast, which means glycerin can make you more vulnerable to a yeast infection.

Parabens––although a common ingredient in many cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and even food products––is actually classified as an endocrine disruptor. That means that parabens can disrupt the natural functioning of your endocrine or hormonal system, resulting in serious health problems.

Petroleum jelly is oil-based. Since oils can damage a latex condom and cause breakage, it’s probably wiser to use something else for your lubricant. Additionally, petroleum jelly is kind of sticky, which means it stays around longer and puts you at an increased risk for bacterial infections.

Perfumes and scented products –– when applied to the skin –– can cause an allergic reaction in many people with sensitive skin. Similarly, lubricants that have added scents or perfumes can be unsafe for vaginal or anal use, triggering irritation and rashes.

Surprisingly, yogurt is sometimes used as a natural lubricant. While it’s definitely considered safe because it’s a natural product and you can eat it––not to mention it’s sometimes used to treat yeast infections––there is no real medical research that’s been done regarding it’s safety or efficiency.

Refined cooking oils include those like vegetable oil and canola oil. These oils are manufactured using heavy processing and hydrogenation tactics. The process includes chemical treatments, bleaching, heating, and more, which basically means the oils are not really natural any longer.

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