Finding good lubes is hard. It shouldn’t be, but it is. So many of the products on the market – not just those sold in chemists and supermarkets, but also those sold by specialist sex shops – are full of gross ingredients that can make lubricants anything from unpleasant to downright toxic to use. There are a very small number of lubes I totally trust at this point, and my vulva has experienced first-hand the effects of just grabbing whichever one is nearest. That’s why I tend to take my own when I go on sexy dates or to play parties. So when I read the ingredients list of Vibeology’s Pure Organic Water-Based Lube, I was excited to try it.
Vibeology Pure Organic Water-Based Lube: What’s In It?
At first glance, nothing in this lube’s ingredients list gave me any concerns. Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside:
- Purified water
- Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) leaf juice: A powerful skin-friendly ingredient which has hydrating, soothing, and irritation-reducing properties.
- Hydroxyethyl cellulose: A plant-derived gelling and thickening agent that is thought not to hinder sperm motility. One source I read indicated that this ingredient might increase the risk of yeast infections in some users. However, I could not find a definitive scientific source to back this up.
- Sodium benzoate: A food-grade preservative that is used in tiny quantities in lube and unlikely to be harmful.
- Potassium sorbate: Another food-grade preservative likely to be harmless in these small quantities.
- Citric acid: A preservative that also helps to balance the pH of a lubricant and is broadly considered harmless in small quantities.
- Carrageenan: A common food additive extracted from red seaweed. It is somewhat controversial in food but I could not find any evidence to suggest it is harmful in a lubricant. Interestingly, there is some evidence that carrageenan may play a role in reducing transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV). Obviously you shouldn’t rely on this alone and should also practice safer sex! It is also unclear whether the tiny amount of carrageenan present in lubes like Vibeology Pure is sufficient to have this effect.
- Hyaluronic acid: Occuring naturally in the body, hyaluronic acid has been highly prized in skincare for many years due to its ability to hydrate by binding with water. Research indicates that it is safe to use and can be an effective intervention for vaginal dryness.
- Sodium ascorbyl phosphate: A stabilised form of vitamin C which acts as an antioxidant and helps with skin elasticity. Widely believed to be safe.
Overall, this is an excellent ingredient profile for a lube. Unless you’re allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients, you should be able to use Vibeology Pure Organic Water-Based Lube free from worry.
Vibeology Pure is vegan, cruelty-free, certified organic, and hypoallergenic. It is also dermatologist-tested and manufactured in an FDA-approved facility in the US. This lube is compatible with both latex and non-latex condoms and safe to use with all sex toy materials including silicone.
Sensory Properties and Performance
When it comes to selecting a lube, the ingredients are the most important piece of the puzzle but not the whole story. The product’s feel, texture, smell, taste, and consistency – as well as what residue it leaves behind, if any – are almost as important.
The first thing I noticed when I squeezed Vibeology Pure lube out of the bottle was how thick it is. Unusually for a water-based product, it’s not particularly runny. It’s really bordering on being more of a gel than a liquid. In practice, I found this meant I needed less of it than I would need of a runnier lube. I also found it lasted a little longer and I needed to reapply it less often. Some people find that gel-like lubes are preferable for anal play, in particular.
Vibeology Pure Organic Water-Based Lube is also the closest to a genuinely taste-free water-based lubricant I have ever tried. Even when I licked a huge glob of it off my hand (not the recommended way to use lube, but the things I do for my readers!), I could taste virtually nothing. It does have a slight scent, but it’s a mild and not-unpleasant tang that likely comes from the aloe.
Vibeology Pure is non-sticky, and did not leave behind any residue on either my skin or my sheets. Once it dried on my skin, only the very slight lingering scent gave any indication it had ever been there. I really like the way it feels, which is super smooth and glide-y. It does not irritate my sometimes-finnicky vulva. It also washes away quickly without a trace with soap and water after use.
Verdict
This is an excellent lube! Body-safe, silky smooth, taste-free, and filled with nourishing ingredients. I can heartily recommend Vibeology Pure Water-Based Lube if you’re looking for a gentle and body-friendly lubricant that won’t break the bank, irritate your bits, or stain your sheets! It’s a particularly good choice if you’re looking for something a bit thicker than the more typical runny consistency of water-based lubes.
A 4 fl.oz bottle of Vibeology Pure Organic Water-Based Lube retails for $19 (£15) from Shevibe.
Thanks to Shevibe for sending me this lube to test and review! All views and experiences are, as always, my own. Affiliate links appear in this post and shopping with them sends me a small commission at no additional cost to you.
