Types of Lubricant and Safe Application

Note: BoneDexter is not a doctor nor a replacement for a doctor. The below information is not medical advice and should not be taken as the final say on any of the below topics. This page is only meant to be a starting point for self education and a basis for starting personal research on the topics discussed. Every body is different and some people can have allergic reactions to otherwise safe materials. Read and research for yourself before coming to your own conclusions on whether the stated information is true and if the risks associated with these products are worth it for you.

Lubricants are a necessary component of safe play whether its oral, anal or vaginal. The tighter the fit, the more potential for friction there is, the more demand there is for adequate lubrication to avoid abrasions, perforations and splits. This page is dedicated to listing out the base types of lubricants available, their potential applications, and what to watch out for when using them. Some lubricants are not suitable for certain body safe materials and will require extra attention and testing before use.

Types of Lubricant

This section is dedicated to identifying the common active ingredients used in personal lubricants, or the stuff that makes it slippery, as many lubricants share the same base material with minor alterations for aesthetics, texture or longevity.

Polyethylene Oxide

Polyethylene Oxide (PEO), also known as Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is a long chain polymer with no cross chain linkage. That means it forms long strands that slide past each other freely, making it an ideal lubricant. It dissolves in water making it a common ingredient in water based lubricants.

Polyethylene Oxide is considered biologically inert by the FDA (source? The wikipedia page says it but no citation). It's used in a variety of medication and is a popular delivery vehicle for slow release or biologically sensitive drugs. There is growing evidence of PEG allergic responses growing in the population, but those appear to be limited to medical uses. It should continue to be safe for anal and vaginal lubrication.

The low reactivity of Polyethylene Oxide also makes it compatible with a wide variety of materials. It's safe to use with platinum-cure silicone, glass and stainless steel. The polymer is also commonly sold in powdered form, allowing for the mixing of custom ratios to tailor make liquid lubricant to the viscosity required by the user and application. This also makes it easy to mix with and incorporate additives for custom textures and aesthetics for the finished lubricant. Due to these properties, water based lubricants with polyethylene oxide as the active ingredient are among the most popular and widely suggested options in the community.

The below list is not exhaustive, but does try to cover the most commonly mentioned options.

J-Lube

J-Lube is produced by Jorgensen Laboratories for veterinarian use and lists its ingredients as 25% Polyethylene Polymer and 75% Dispersing Agent. The dispersing agent is identified as 'sugars' in the material safety data sheet for J-lube. These sugars enable the lubricant to absorb water faster, but also act as a vector for bacterial and fungal growth. Due to this, J-Lube is considered unsafe for vaginal use and potentially unsafe for oral use. Restricting lubricant made with J-Lube to just anal use is advised.

Due to the likelihood of J-Lube developing microbial growth after mixing with water, it is advised to keep batches of lube small to ensure that it used up quickly, or to discard unused lube after a day or two. If this is not possible, then consider using a different product for lubrication.

K-Lube

K-Lube is produced by M&K Products Limited and uses PEO as its primary active ingredient. While the exact mixture is not disclosed, it does not contain the dextrose dispersant that J-Lube contains and is advertised as having preservatives added to the mixture for longevity. This should in theory make it safer for vaginal applications, but without knowing what exactly is in the recipe it's impossible to know how safe it is exactly. This goes double for oral applications, as there is no way to tell how the human body will react to the preservatives if swallowed.

Due to the slow rate at which K-Lube absorbs water it is suggested that it be thoroughly mixed ahead of time. A shake-able container is suggested for easier mixing between periods of letting the lube rest. It's ready when there is no more powder visible and the liquid has a consistent texture throughout.

XLube

XLube is produced and sold by the XLube Company out of Germany, which is owned and operated by Areoz Limited Liability Company in Berlin. XLube advertises itself as being specially refined to better absorb water without additives. The bottle lists the ingredients as 100% Polyethylene Oxide with no additives or preservatives. In theory, being 100% polymer with no additive should make this the safest option available regardless of application.

Additives

If you search around long enough, you're sure to come across a DIY recipe for lubricant with the goal of either reproducing a popular look or improving the texture, feel and durability of an existing lubricant. The below lists are not exhaustive but tries to address the most common suggestions and recipes.

Water Based Lubricant Additives

Titanium Oxide

Titanium Oxide, or more correctly Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is an FDA approved food colorant. It is available for purchase in the form of a grey-white powder in various packaging. Titanium Oxide imparts an opaque white color when mixed with water that becomes clearer the shallower the pool becomes. This makes it ideal for mixing with water based lubricants to make a thick and sticky slime that mimics the color and texture of semen.

Solid Fats

Whether it's vegetable shortenings such as Crisco or the solid at room temperature Coconut Oil, there are a number of recipes floating around the internet that suggests adding plant based solid fats to water based lubricants and emulsifying them together, often with other additives as well. This results in a lotion like consistency, a desirable texture and a lubricant that takes longer to dry out. Depending on the oil and additives used it can also have a hydrating effect on the skin similar to common lotions.

It is important to use plant based solid fats and not animal based solid fats. Animal based solid fats break down quicker, causing rancidification and foul odors. Vegetable based solid fats will break down, too, but over a much longer time frame and generally will lose texture instead of producing a smell.