what is natural lube? everything you need to know about natural personal lubricants

Choosing the right lube for your sexual needs, lifestyle, and body is important to help improve comfort, intimacy, and pleasure between partners. You may have heard about water-based, silicone-based, hybrid, oil-based, and natural lubes. While it is great to have so many options, it can feel overwhelming when trying to find what’s right for you. Here at ONE® we’re passionate about lubricant education, and this blog dives into the benefits of lubricants made from naturally derived ingredients, what they are, and how they can be used! 

Key Takeaways (TL;DR) Natural Lubricant 101

• Natural lube is a personal lubricant that is made with naturally derived ingredients like aloe vera.

• This type of sexual lubricant is great for those looking for products with gentle ingredients that are soothing for sensitive skin, and pH-friendly. 

• However, it is important to note that some natural lubricants contain oils that are not compatible with latex condoms and can reduce the effectiveness of them by breaking down the latex and causing condom breakage. 

• Luckily, there are products like ONE® True® Water-based Lubricant that are made with naturally derived ingredients, and are gentle, glycerin-free, pH-friendly, and condom compatible! 

• Read on to discover everything you need to know about natural lubricants and how to decide if natural lube is right for you. 

What is Natural Lube? 

Natural lube is a type of sexual lubricant used to reduce friction and to increase comfort and pleasure. These lubricants are made with naturally derived ingredients like aloe vera. People often like these types of lubricants because of their gentle ingredients that are free from glycerin, propylene glycol, sulfates, parabens, gluten, dyes, and unnatural fragrances. 

What are the Benefits of Natural Lubricant?

When selecting a personal lubricant, identifying which benefits are important to you is a great first step. Below are some benefits of natural lubricants: 

Great for sensitive skin - Lubricants made with naturally derived ingredients can be great for sensitive skin as they are gentle, soft, and soothing. The ingredients more closely mimic your body’s natural moisture. Many natural lubricants are free from ingredients such as glycerin, propylene glycol, and fragrances. 

Formulated to be pH-friendly - Many natural lubes are designed with your pH in mind. When looking for lubricants, you may want to match your lubricant pH to your pH. Fun fact: the vagina and the anus have a different pH level. 

A vaginal pH is typically more acidic than an anal pH, meaning the vagina naturally has a lower pH level (around 3.8-4.5) compared to the anus which is more alkaline with a higher pH level (around 6.5–7.5). 

Using a pH-friendly lubricant can support natural flora, whereas a lubricant with a very low or high pH may increase risk of irritation or bacterial imbalance for some people. ONE® True® is specifically formulated with a pH of 4.0–4.6 (average 4.3) to mimic the vagina’s natural environment and maintain balance.

Mess-free - Water-based lubricants absorb into your skin easier, and are thus mess-free and easy to clean. They do not stain sheets, and are compatible with all sex toys (including toys made from silicone). 

Condom compatible - When using any type of lubricant, it’s important to check that it is compatible with the condom material you are using. Most external condoms are made from natural rubber latex. Non-latex condom alternatives include polyisoprene, polyurethane, and nitrile condoms. ONE® True® is a water-based formula that is compatible with condoms made from natural rubber latex, polyisoprene, and nitrile. Important note: Oil-based products (such as pure coconut oil, vitamin E oil, and lotions) are not compatible with latex condoms. Oil breaks down the latex molecules in latex condoms, and can cause the condom to break. What condom material your lubricant is compatible with should be listed right on the lubricant packaging. 

What is the Best Natural Lubricant? 

When it comes to lubricants, consider factors such as what type of sex you have, how often you want to reapply, whether there’s a certain thickness (viscosity) you prefer, and if you have any sensitivities to certain ingredients. The best natural lubricant is one that works for you, and incorporates all of the benefits that you are looking for in a personal lubricant. If you’re looking for a more naturally derived formula, one of the best options for natural lube would be a water-based lube enhanced with aloe vera.

Does Aloe Lube Expire? 

Yes, lubricants with aloe, like other types of personal lubricants, expire. It is dependent on the ingredients how long a natural lube will last. ONE® True® has a 3-year expiration date from the time of manufacture. Before using any lubricants, check the expiration date on the package to avoid using expired products.

Can You Use Aloe Lube With Condoms? 

As previously mentioned, many lubes without oil-based ingredients are compatible with latex condoms. Water-based lubricants that have aloe as an ingredient are typically compatible with latex condoms. When using condoms, first check the condom material you are using. Most condoms are made from natural rubber latex, but alternatives include polyurethane, polyisoprene, and nitrile condoms. The lubricant bottle should list what type of condom material it is compatible with. Making sure that the lubricant that you are using is condom compatible is incredibly important for ensuring your condom does not break, and thus reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. 

Introducing ONE® True® Natural Lube: Your New Favorite ;) 

ONE® True® is an amazing natural lubricant option. Some customers told us they would like to see a formula that is mess-free like a water-based lubricant, but that does not have glycerin or propylene glycol. ONE® True® is the answer! True® is a water-based formula made with 99% naturally derived ingredients and has no glycerin or propylene glycol – but is still longer lasting than typical natural lubricants on the market.

• True® is gentle, dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, pH-friendly, vegan-verified, non-GMO, and soothing on skin. 

• No glycerin, propylene glycol parabens, sulfates, hormones, dyes, fragrances, oils, phthalates or gluten. 

• It is easy-to-clean and mess-free. 

• Condom and toy compatible. 

• Easy to use pump bottle. Available in 3.38oz and 8oz. 

Conclusion 

In summary, there are many options for lubricants, and selecting the best one for you can be difficult if you don’t have all the facts. With the growing popularity of natural lubricants, we wanted to share this guide to natural lube and the benefits associated with it. If you are interested in testing out ONE® True® for yourself, or any of our other lubricants, check them out on our website here.  

FAQs 

Can you use aloe vera as lube? 

Aloe vera is a great ingredient to seek out in sexual lubricant! Raw aloe has a pH of around 4.5, which is very close to the natural acidity of the vaginal environment. Aloe feels soothing and moisturizing on skin. Aloe can be incorporated into natural lubricants in two main ways: either the primary ingredient is aloe vera juice (Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice), making the formula aloe-based. On the other hand, lubricants can be water-based with added aloe vera extract. Natural lubricants using aloe as the base tend to be thicker, whereas water-based lubricants with aloe extract tend to be a bit thinner and more slippery, but less viscous. 

Is ONE® True® Natural Lubricant edible? 

We get this question a lot - typically from people who would like to use lubricant during oral sex. ONE® True® does not have a flavor to it, but it is generally edible.  ONE® products are made from high-quality, body safe ingredients. We have conducted biological testing for cytotoxicity on our lubricants, which came back negative. That means it’s generally safe to consume ONE® True®. However, we do not recommend ingesting lubricant in large quantities. In summary: Yes, you can use ONE® True® during oral sex.

What are the ingredients in ONE® True® and what do they do?

Purified Water

What it is: Water that has been ultra-filtered for purity.

Purpose: Acts as a clean base to dissolve and blend our active ingredients.

Propanediol (from Palm Oil)

What it is: A natural moisturizer made through fermentation.

Purpose: A hydration hero that draws moisture into the skin and keeps it there.

Xanthan Gum

What it is: A natural ferment (derived from Xanthomonas campestris) used to create texture. Made without additional preservatives, stabilizers, or processing aids.

Purpose: Our texture-maker that gives the formula its smooth, silky "glide."

Aloe Vera Leaf Extract

What it is: Pure extract from the Aloe Vera plant.

Purpose: A soothing botanical that calms and deeply hydrates.

Sodium Benzoate

What it is: An essential preservative.

Purpose: A safety guard that keeps the product free of bacteria.

Lactic Acid

What it is: Derived naturally from crops like corn and sugar cane.

Purpose: Adjusts the lubricant’s pH to help maintain an optimal vaginal balance, supporting the health of your natural lactobacilli.

Sodium Lactate

What is it: Derived naturally from corn and sugar beets.

Purpose: Buffering agent - stabilizes and maintains lubricant pH level, and helps keep your microbiome balanced.

Is water-based lube better? 

When choosing a lubricant that works for you, consider a few factors. If you want a lubricant that absorbs into your body like your natural moisture, is mess-free for easy clean-up, and compatible with condoms and toys, then try a water-based lubricant. If you’re looking for a super long-lasting lube that also works great for shower sex and is condom compatible, then try a silicone-based lubricant. Silicone lubricants are also water-free, so they don’t impact pH. Natural lubricants are made with naturally derived ingredients, are often pH-friendly, and can work great for people with sensitive skin. Lubricants come in a variety of pH levels, ingredients, viscosities, and even flavors. Trying different personal lubricants is a great way to see what works for your body and the type of sex you have. It is really up to you to decide depending on your use case, and no lube is inherently “better” than another. Research your options and select a lubricant that works for you!