Vaseline has a lot of great uses, including getting your chapped lips back into kissable shape and treating dry skin.
However, Vaseline as lube isn’t its ideal job. You have so many other options out there that you don’t ever have to use this jelly as a personal lubricant. In fact, using Vaseline as a lube can lead to all sorts of problems you don’t need.
Because it isn’t designed to be used for intimacy, it contains ingredients that can irritate you. This doesn’t just apply to women, either; men who use it as a lube can also have problems.
What Is Vaseline?
Vaseline is a thick petroleum jelly made up of mineral oils and waxes. It creates a great barrier when you want to hold moisture in, and it’s cool for giving you protection for minor scrapes and cuts. A lot of people love it for its beauty uses, but when it comes to an intimate lubricant, it’s not your best choice.
5 Key Reasons Why You Should Avoid Using Vaseline as a Lubricant
Since Vaseline can be so awesome for treating dry skin and chapped lips, why shouldn’t you use Vaseline petroleum jelly as lube? There are some very important reasons, and many of them have to do with keeping you safe and healthy.
- It’s not as slippery as lube
Vaseline is super thick, which most people already know. It’s simply not designed for the job of lubricating your private parts. A woman’s natural moisture is much thinner and slicker than petroleum jelly. Vaseline doesn’t even come close to your body’s real moisture, so trying to use it won’t give you a pleasurable, natural-feeling experience at all.
Although it may feel slippery at first, it’s eventually going to feel thick and sticky. Then, you’ll probably have to reapply it as it dries up, and that’s just going to make things even stickier. Do yourself a favor and skip Vaseline for this task that it really isn’t cut out for.
- It could cause irritation and infection in private parts
No one wants to have problems in her private area. You have a lot of good bacteria that keeps the vagina healthy and the whole area perfectly well-balanced.
Getting infections can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, not to mention costly when you consider the medications you have to take to treat them. That’s why you should only use products designed to be used down there.
Vaseline’s petroleum base isn’t made for intimacy, and women who use it are “more than twice as likely as non-users to have bacterial vaginosis,” according to Women’s Health. There are other infections you could get, too, such as yeast infections.
Instead of taking the risk, stick to lubricants that don’t contain questionable ingredients, especially if you already know you’re prone to getting infections.
- It’s a threat for sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin, you know you have to be careful about the products you use. Getting irritated skin anywhere is a pain, so think how much more uncomfortable it will be to get irritated in your private parts. Because Vaseline isn’t formulated to be pH-balanced for your intimate areas, it may contain ingredients that just don’t work for you down there.
When looking for lubricants, it’s always a good idea to shop for products designed for sensitive skin users; that way, you know you’re steering clear of bad ingredients that can lead to all sorts of discomfort.
- It’s messy, sticky and gummy
Besides the fact that Vaseline does a poor job of feeling like real moisture, it’s just messy. It’s thick and gummy, which most people find uncomfortable and plain yucky when thinking about sexual activity.
There are much better products out there that will give you the slippery, slick feel you want when being intimate.
And you won’t have to immediately wash your sheets or other items to get an actual lube out, as you would with petroleum jelly. It can stain bed sheets, furniture and clothing, so why bother using it?
- Vaseline can break down latex condoms
If you use condoms with a lubricant, you should know not all lubes are created equal. Latex condoms can break if you use products that are incompatible with latex. That’s the last thing you want to happen! When looking at lubes, make sure you buy those that are latex condom-compatible so that you won’t have to worry about them breaking.
Nothing can ruin the moment more quickly than facing fears about an unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. Plenty of personal lubes are made to be used with all types of condoms, so you have many choices that will keep you safe.
Top 3 alternative lubricant comparison chart
  |   |   |
|---|---|---|
| Shibari Premium | Aloe Cadabra | Intimate by Penchant |
| Water based | Water based | Silicone based |
| Best water based lube | best silicone based lube | Best organic lube |
| best for vaginal sex | Best for sensitive skin | Best for vaginal & anal |
| 4.5 out of 5 | 4.7 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 |
| View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Top 3 Alternative Personal Lubricant Reviews
Instead of messing around with messy Vaseline as your lubricant, why not try some of these actual lubes instead?
I have reviewed a few and laid out what makes them better choices when you’re looking for great lubes for your intimate needs.
From water-based products that make cleanup easy to silicone-based lubes which provide excellent slickness when you want it, you have affordable choices that do a fantastic job of enhancing sexual activity safely and neatly.
Our impression
Right off, I noticed the attractive, clean packaging. The 8-ounce bottle is beautiful and clear so you can instantly see what you’re getting. This is an affordable product, especially when you consider that it’s a premium-quality lubricant.
It’s a water-based personal lube that’s easy to wash off. It’s also hypoallergenic, so it’s perfect for anyone with sensitive skin. How does it feel? It’s not as slick or thin as silicone, but it does feel good. It’s definitely not a thick gel, but it’s more like a liquidy jelly.
Some lubes can smell unpleasant, almost chemical-like, but this one has a nice, light scent which reminds me of something sweet. It’s not overpowering, though, so don’t worry that your bedroom is going to smell like a candy factory afterwards.
One downside is that it contains glycerin, which isn’t the best ingredient for women who are prone to yeast infections as it can increase your likelihood of getting them. That’s usually the price you pay for water-based lubes, so it’s worth keeping that in mind.
- Hypoallergenic, so good for sensitive skin users
- Water-based makes it easy to clean up
- Affordable
- Packaging is attractive
- Light, pleasant scent
- Non-staining formula
- May have to reapply during use
- Contains glycerin, which some women should avoid
Final verdict
For the price, I think this lubricant is a very good value, especially because it does the job, it doesn’t stain and it washes off easily. It’s a good, water-based lube for sensitive skin users, too.
Our impression
I like the clean, discreet packaging on this small 2.5-ounce tube. It almost resembles a beauty product. This is a great choice for sensitive skin users because this lubricant is pH-balanced for your private parts.
There are no harmful ingredients in it that could irritate you or lead to infection; it's free of glycerin, parabens, petroleum, fragrances and dyes. It’s also full of organic ingredients that won’t harm you, like aloe vera gel and Vitamin E. I really like the fact that this one is specially designed to keep your intimate area healthy.
And it’s 100% vegan and edible, so you don’t have to worry if you get this lube in your mouth. This is water-based and safe for using with silicone and rubber toys. It’s also compatible with latex and polyisprene condoms; that's a big plus because so many lubes are only latex-friendly.
Bonus points for this one because it doubles as a daily moisturizer, so you don’t have to save it just for sexual activity. You can use to relieve any dryness or itching in intimate areas anytime you want. The feel of it is very smooth and natural, much like a woman’s own moisture.
- Doubles as a daily moisturizer
- Contains no glycerin, parabens or other harsh ingredients
- FDA-approved
- pH-balanced to help maintain healthy private areas
- Latex and polyisprene condom-compatible
- Water-based for easy cleanup
- Safe for use with most toys
- One of the pricier options
- Some users find it too runny
Final verdict
Even though it’s a bit pricier, this lubricant does so much, including promoting vaginal health and doubling as a daily moisturizer. Plus, it’s full of natural ingredients and it’s great for sensitive skin.
Our impression
This is another lubricant featuring handsome packaging. With its leaves motif, I think of health and nature. The 4-ounce bottle is clear and so is the lube. It’s silicone-based, so it’s slicker and thinner than water-based products. I found it smooth and silky.
This is another great option for anyone with sensitive skin because it has no parabens or glycerin in it. Instead, it’s a hypoallergenic formula that shouldn’t irritate. For a silicone product, it’s pretty easy to clean up, although you still might find water-based lubes easier to wash off. It also won’t be compatible with your silicone toys, so keep that in mind.
Using silicone lubricants with silicone toys often leads to a residue buildup. But feel free to apply it to your rubber toys. I wasn’t crazy about the cap, either, because it’s not as easy to control how much lube comes out of the bottle due to its construction.
I think you get more control when dealing with a tube. However, once you use it a few times, you'll know how much pressure to apply to the bottle so that too much product doesn't come squirting out. Also, this one is waterproof, which water-based lubes aren't, so you can use it in the shower or underwater if you feel so inclined.
- Feels very slick and natural
- Good for sensitive skin
- Long-lasting
- No odor
- Non-staining
- Waterproof, so it can be used underwater
- Condom-compatible
- Not as easy to wash off as water-based lube
- Dispenser-type cap makes it harder to control amount of product you dispense
Final verdict
This is another good lubricant for sensitive skin. Although it’s not all-natural, it’s still hypoallergenic and free of some of the ingredients you want to avoid in a lube, like parabens.
Conclusion
So, can you use Vaseline as lube? Sure, you can, but why would you when you know you’re putting yourself at risk for infections and irritation?
Instead, consider any of my reviewed lubricants, which are specifically designed to enhance sexual activity while being perfectly safe. Plus, they're great for people with sensitive skin.
You won’t have to worry about damaging condoms or cleaning up a sticky mess. And, you'll avoid the problems that can develop when you use products that shouldn't be used for sexual activity.
You’ll just have an enjoyable time using lubes that do the job they’re meant to do.
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