The New Intimacy

PABA, Parabins, Formaldahyde, Glycerine. HELP...you're makin' me CRAZY. Are ANY lubes SAFE?????

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Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Okay, for fifty years I used my Jellies without ONE SECOND of trouble. I start reading the material safety stuff here on EF and TOSS a thousand vibes and toys in the trash (number probably closer to real then inflated!!!!!!!).

I used to use KY warming gel. Loved it. Would get a bit pickier about Anal lube...just so it was THICK and smooth for a long time.
NOW, thanks to EF, I again am all worried with warnings of health issues about Parabins and Formaldehyde in lubes, except NOW, upon shopping carefully, I see ALL THE HIGH END (five star rated) lubes have these chemicals in them!!!!??????

SO....HELP, PLEASE. 1. What is a good Vaginal Lube without ANY of the "harmful" stuff in it. (I prefer a thicker gel, rather then a thinner fluid).
2. What is a good ANAL lube, without ANY of the "harmful" stuff in it? Again, a THICK gel works better for us then a fluid. ALSO, it MUST, MUST, MUST be water based. We accidentally destroyed a few toys with a great Gel that turned out to be SILICONE, due to the SMALL lettering on the bottle we missed.

ALL help appreciated. I am going NUTS over this. I am scared to use 99% of what we USED to enjoy!!!!
11/24/2011
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Contributor: AndroAngel AndroAngel
Ride H20. Works for all of that.
11/24/2011
Contributor: Cherrylane Cherrylane
Yes water and silicone based are great. Nothing icky in them, feel lovely, work, all that. Unfortunately, not sold here.
11/24/2011
Contributor: AndroAngel AndroAngel
Ingredient list: Purified Water, Plant Cellulose, Polyquat 007, DMDM Hydantoin

link

Go with lubes from Sliquid.
11/24/2011
Contributor: potstickers potstickers
There are search options in the lubes section that you can use to exclude certain chemicals. Read the ingredients and make sure there are no silicone compounds in a prospective lube. Pretty much just read the reviews?
11/24/2011
Contributor: Eucaly Eucaly
There are, and I've got reviews written on two very natural lubes:

link

link
11/25/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by AndroAngel
Ingredient list: Purified Water, Plant Cellulose, Polyquat 007, DMDM Hydantoin

link

Go with lubes from Sliquid.
I appreciate it, but look up with DMDM Hydantoin is. That scares me more then ALL the rest. It is MADE to release Formaldehyde!!!!
11/25/2011
Contributor: Missmarc Missmarc
Yep there are 100% natural and organic lubes out there, like this one:

link

Hope that helps!
11/25/2011
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
I like Sliquid Organics Natural.
11/25/2011
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
I appreciate it, but look up with DMDM Hydantoin is. That scares me more then ALL the rest. It is MADE to release Formaldehyde!!!!
From what I looked up earlier, it seems that, unless you have a formaldehyde allergy, DMDM Hydantoin has such a low amount of it as to be safe for most people.
11/25/2011
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
I only use Sliquid lubes. I love them. I especially like Sassy Booty for anal. Although, I only use lube for anal and I have a range of their lubes that work well for me.
11/25/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by AndroAngel
Ingredient list: Purified Water, Plant Cellulose, Polyquat 007, DMDM Hydantoin

link

Go with lubes from Sliquid.
Sliquid is always good.
11/25/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
Okay, for fifty years I used my Jellies without ONE SECOND of trouble. I start reading the material safety stuff here on EF and TOSS a thousand vibes and toys in the trash (number probably closer to real then inflated!!!!!!!).

I used to use KY ... more
read the reviews and use the search features.
11/25/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
I appreciate it, but look up with DMDM Hydantoin is. That scares me more then ALL the rest. It is MADE to release Formaldehyde!!!!
Only in certain situations AND on the rare occasion it is formed it happens in minute quantities! If you look at the fungus and bacteria that can grow in a bottle of lube, you would prefer the DMDM Hydantoin to these pathogens.

The amount of possible formaldehyde "released" and the fact that in most cases it ISN'T released by this chemical, the risk is almost nil.

Bacteria and fungi and yeasts can do really bad things to you through lube usage, so you need something to protect the lube that is in the bottle.

I am very careful about chemicals, and have absolutely NO reservations about DMDM Hydantoin at all.

Risk has to be weighed.
11/25/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Missmarc
Yep there are 100% natural and organic lubes out there, like this one:

link

Hope that helps!
The only problem is, this lube has silicone in it (Dimethicone) and the OP requires her lubes to be free of this chemical as it will react to silicone toys.
11/25/2011
Contributor: voenne voenne
I've heard you can use vitamin E as a lube in general, but I don't know with what type of sex toy material that would be safe with.
11/25/2011
Contributor: Selective Sensualist Selective Sensualist
I really like Sliquid Organics Gel. It is thick and rich.

I also really like Sliquid Sea.

I love Hathor Aphrodisia Pure. It is my very favorite lube. It also is very thick and rich--and very, very slippery!

All of the above are perfect for water-based vaginal lubrication, and none of them have the ingredients you wish to avoid.



The Forplay Lube Deluxe is a lube I've been planning to try for anal. It does have glycerine in it, but glycerine is only a concern for vaginal use if you are prone to glycerine-induced yeast infections. I am interested in this one because it doesn't have parabens.
11/25/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by voenne
I've heard you can use vitamin E as a lube in general, but I don't know with what type of sex toy material that would be safe with.
The only thing in, too much Vitamin E can be toxic, as it is a fat based vitamin and can build up in the body. It's also really sticky. Not only can it be absorbed from mucous membranes, but the way some people have sex, a lot could be ingested.

I would caution against using Vitamin E as a lubricant.
11/25/2011
Contributor: voenne voenne
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
The only thing in, too much Vitamin E can be toxic, as it is a fat based vitamin and can build up in the body. It's also really sticky. Not only can it be absorbed from mucous membranes, but the way some people have sex, a lot could be ingested. ... more
Ah, okay. Thanks for the heads up. I use it occasionally to moisturize, but it's never been sticky to me.
11/25/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by voenne
Ah, okay. Thanks for the heads up. I use it occasionally to moisturize, but it's never been sticky to me.
Just be careful, especially on broken or irritated skin. This causes increase absorption, and too much Vitamin E is very hard on the circulatory system and is linked to increases in some cancers in studies.

I'm a nurse and just want everyone to be safe.
11/25/2011
Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
Here is what I use. It has glycerin, but none of the nasty stuff. AloeLife
11/26/2011
Contributor: Gracie Gracie
Quote:
Originally posted by AndroAngel
Ride H20. Works for all of that.
This is my favorite too. It's the only one of the Sliquid line that I've used but they should all be okay from a safety stand point. Read their reviews to see if one might suit you. Listen to P'Gell. She sounds like a smart lady. And she explained it better than I could have.
11/26/2011
Contributor: Rawhide Rawhide
Another vote for Sliquid! They are awesome and based in Texas!
11/26/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Gracie
This is my favorite too. It's the only one of the Sliquid line that I've used but they should all be okay from a safety stand point. Read their reviews to see if one might suit you. Listen to P'Gell. She sounds like a smart lady. And ... more
P'Gell is indeed bright. Communicated with her before. My only concern with Sliquid is this FORMALDEHYDE thing..where I KNOW it is supposed to be "safe" in these small amounts, but isn't that the exact same argument made with PABA and Parabins...etc?????? In fact, I KNOW they warned the heck out of us to use respiratory and glove precautions with Formaldehyde because it was SO liver toxic and cancer causing. That is why I don't get the fact that everyone here is so dismissive of THAT chemical showing up in these "healthy" and "body safe" lubes. I am SO, frigging confused now.
11/27/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
Just be careful, especially on broken or irritated skin. This causes increase absorption, and too much Vitamin E is very hard on the circulatory system and is linked to increases in some cancers in studies.

I'm a nurse and just want ... more
I see as many "potential" toxins in these "body safe" lubes as I do in the "others". That is what worries the heck out of me now. Never had problems with ANY lubes....I think these EF threads are making me paranoid for nothing. I sincerely think the Parabins and PABA are far safer, from what I have read, then the FORMALDEHYDE which seems to lurk in all the "SAFE" stuff. SO WHO is right? WHO is watch-dogging these things (Answer...as YOU well know, being in medicine...is NO ONE).
11/27/2011
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
I see as many "potential" toxins in these "body safe" lubes as I do in the "others". That is what worries the heck out of me now. Never had problems with ANY lubes....I think these EF threads are making me paranoid for ... more
I think perhaps you're just being overly cautious. When you get down to it, anything is bad for you in high enough amounts, so to get so extremely worried over little amounts of formaldehyde that are widely recognized as safe for what they are might just be causing you undue stress.

It's the difference between smoking a cigarette and inhaling just a little smoke when you cook on the grill. If you're going to worry about that miniscule chance that you might get sick, then you're severely limiting yourself.

(Gah, if I'm making no sense, it's because I'm sleepy as all hell. Sorry about that.)
11/27/2011
Contributor: Selective Sensualist Selective Sensualist
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
P'Gell is indeed bright. Communicated with her before. My only concern with Sliquid is this FORMALDEHYDE thing..where I KNOW it is supposed to be "safe" in these small amounts, but isn't that the exact same argument made with PABA ... more
As far as I am aware, Ride is the only Sliquid product that contains DMDM hydantoin. That's why I linked you to the other Sliquid products above (the Sea and the Organics Gel). Neither the Organics Gel nor the Sea have any of the ingredients about which you are concerned.

In my review of Anal Lube, I discussed DMDM hydantoin since it was an ingredient in that particular product (scroll down to the section called Special Features and find DMDM hydantoin in bold). I also have links in that review to good sites for further research if you are interested.

Only minute quantities of formaldehyde releasers are allowed in cosmetics to serve as a preservative. For a product to be toxic/carcinogenic, it would have to be present in large enough quantities. The amount present in cosmetic items is so small that it would only cause contact irritation to those with an allergy to formaldehyde.

However, some people do eventually develop allergies and sensitivities to formaldehyde after being subjected to formaldehyde releasers in a plethora of products over a period of time. (Thousands of cosmetic items, including baby wipes, contain one formaldehyde releaser or another.) Therefore, choosing a product without any type of formaldehyde releaser any chance you get is a prudent move, in my opinion, but I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it if you happen to love a product that contains a very small quantity of formaldehyde releaser (unless you start developing skin irritation--and even then, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it, but would simply discontinue its use).
11/27/2011
Contributor: potstickers potstickers
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
I see as many "potential" toxins in these "body safe" lubes as I do in the "others". That is what worries the heck out of me now. Never had problems with ANY lubes....I think these EF threads are making me paranoid for ... more
You do realize that constantly capitalizing all those words makes your posts difficult to read?
11/27/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
I see as many "potential" toxins in these "body safe" lubes as I do in the "others". That is what worries the heck out of me now. Never had problems with ANY lubes....I think these EF threads are making me paranoid for ... more
The chemical that is in the Sliquid lubes may cause minute releases of formaldehyde. May. It also may not.

The thing is, some sort of preservative is needed in lubricants. Nasty things, nastier than "possible minute amounts of formaldehyde" things can grow silently in lubricants, and the DMDM will prevent most of those nasties from taking hold in your lube.

Parabens ARE definitely in some lubes, and are there in large quantities. The weak possibility that formaldehyde may be released by DMDM is small and not in the same risk category as Parabens etc. (And DMDM is also present in regular H20 Sliquid lube and the Booty Formula, also you asked for a lube that works well with anal sex, and from the reviews, neither the Sea lube nor the "Organic" doesn't seem to work well for anal. I haven't tried either, I'm just going on how long they last per reviews and what people say about them being used for anal sex and anal play.)

Life is full of risks, some are huge risks (like, for instance cigarettes smoking) and some are small and nearly non-existent (like for instance the remote possibility that minute quantities of formaldehyde may be released by a chemical in a lube that contains DMDM) It requires the ability to judge risks and the out comes, as in the fact that the stuff that DMDM prevents from growing in your lube is worse for you, and more common than the possibility of micro amounts of formaldehyde release.

It's hard to judge and choose risks, but life requires it.



You could go with the Sea or Organic Sliquid lubes. But, these may not protect enough, last long enough nor be thick enough for anal sex. Again, weighing what is most important to you is going to be the thing to rely on.
11/28/2011
Contributor: Love Perpetua Love Perpetua
Another vote for Sliquid Organics. If you want something thicker, more 'gel-like' you can go for the Sliquid Organics Gel. Same ingredients, thicker formulation.
12/08/2011