​This Time It’s Personal: The Need for a Non-Toxic Lubricant

It’s no secret that Authentic Skin Remedies is fueled by passion. As a lover of beauty products and a cancer survivor, it’s my mission to develop skin care products that are free of toxic chemicals. I want you to look and feel beautiful while protecting your health. And this got me thinking: if you’re choosing non-toxic products for your skin, why not do the same for all products that go into your body? 

Yes, this time it’s personal. But the word authentic wouldn’t be in our name if we weren’t willing to go there. It’s time to look at what’s in your lube. 

Why the ingredients in your lubricant matter
Like most of your skin care products, the ingredients in your personal lubricant are not regulated by the FDA. That means many of the same toxins will pop up in most lubricants too. Why does this matter?

The first thing to remember, if you’re born biologically female, is that the vagina is a mucous membrane with thin, permeable walls. Chemicals are easily absorbed there. So, what are the chemicals commonly found in lubricants? For starters:

• Parabens – These ingredients bind to the same cell receptors as estrogen and can interfere with your body’s hormonal balance. These are called endocrine disruptersand have been shown to spur the growth of breast cancer cells.
• Glycerin – This chemical often causes yeast infections and irritates women enough that they think they are having allergic reactions to their lube.
• Propylene Glycol – This is also an ingredient in your anti-freeze. Enough said?

What is a safe, non-toxic personal lubricant?
According to none other than the World Health Organization, a couple of things are really important in a lubricant. First, it should mimic your body’s pH levels. Conventional lubricants disrupt your pH levels which can lead to bacterial overgrowth. And it should have what they call “osmolality levels below 1200,”which is the scientific way of saying the lubricant should only add moisture – not block your body’s ability to make it in the first place!

Okay, you might be thinking, how do I make sure of that? We’ve been thinking about that here at Authentic Skin Remedies, too. 

One thing we do know is that if something is nourishing and safe to eat, it’s safe to apply to your body. What’s more, a truly nourishing and organic ingredient will embrace your body’s natural processes. We see that the same principles we’ve applied to our beauty products can apply to your personal lubricant. It is possible to use toxin-free, cruelty-free, paraben-free ingredients and reap amazing results. 

In fact, you could say we’re pretty passionate about it.

Announcing Authentic Skin Remedies’ Glide 
I’m so excited to announce we are making a safe, non-toxic personal lubricant available later this month. Glide relies on a blend of essential oils to enhance your body’s own natural lubrication. Protecting your health while ensuring you enjoy yourself? That’s authentically sexy. And I can’t wait to tell you more – so stay tuned! 

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