How To Make Your Own Lubrication
Aiden van WykThis guide explores how to make a simple and safe DIY lubricant at home.
It covers why lubrication matters beyond intimacy, the difference between oil- and water-based formulas, and how to formulate safely for sensitive skin. You’ll learn what to include, what to avoid, and how to adjust texture, longevity, and pH - with two practical recipes to choose from.
It’s a bit awkward. I know.
But there’s honestly nothing worse than realising you need a bit of support - and watching what should’ve been a beautiful, intimate moment turn into something you just… endure.
Or worse, watching your partner quietly endure too.
The thing is, making your own lube is one of the easiest DIYs out there. And it turns out, lubrication is useful for far more than just intimacy.
Who Needs DIY Lubrication?
Lubrication isn’t as specific as people think.
Bodies change. You age. Your cycle shifts. You might be postpartum, perimenopausal, stressed, on medication - or just having an off week. Sometimes your body simply needs a little extra support.
That’s all this is.
At its core, lubrication exists to reduce friction - to increase comfort during moments that are meant to feel good, connective, or at the very least neutral. You don’t need added discomfort.
Comfort multiplies intimacy.
Discomfort makes intimacy unbearable.
And honestly? DIY lube can also be a great workaround if you feel shy buying lubricant in-store. I get it. As a former cashier - trust me – it's not a big deal. But as a buyer, it can feel like the entire world suddenly knows exactly all of your sins. Making your own neatly sidesteps all of that.
As mentioned earlier, lubrication is friction management. And that shows up in lots of unexpected ways:
- Inserting menstrual cups
- Using tampons, especially postpartum, during perimenopause, or low-oestrogen phases
- Medical uses like thermometers, suppositories or enemas
- Facial massages with tools like gua sha or rollers
- Shaving
- Reducing chafing
- Removing tight rings
While lubrication is great in intimate contexts, it’s also just a practical tool for reducing discomfort more generally.
Are Oil-Based Lubricants Bad?
Oil-based lubricants aren’t bad - they just have specific uses, mostly external.
What gives them a bad reputation is:
- They can degrade latex
- They can stain fabric (though easy workaround is using darker fabric)
- They’re harder to wash off
- Because oil-based products don’t cleanse away as easily as water-based ones, they tend to linger longer on internal tissue. For some people - especially those prone to vaginal imbalance - this can feel less compatible over time.
That doesn’t make them useless. Oil-based lubricants are water-resistant, long-lasting, and don’t dry out easily. This makes them excellent for massages - including massages that cross over into intimacy.
DIY oil-based lubricants are usually very simple: one stable oil, no essential oils, no fragrance, no preservatives.
Most common choices being:
These oils are stable, minimally scented, and less sticky than many culinary oils.
Where oil-based lubricants can be problematic is for people who are prone to yeast infections, use latex condoms, or want something suitable for repeated internal use.
DIY Water Based Lubrication – The Versatile Staple
Water based lubricants are the most common - and for good reason. They tend to be:
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Easy to clean
- Latex safe
- Less likely to stain fabrics
- Closer to the body’s natural moisture
The main problems with it being that they can dry out faster, may need reapplication, and require more attention to preservation and pH.
The upside is that water-based lubricants are generally suitable for internal use, including for people with sensitive skin or vaginal dryness.
Is DIY Lubrication Safe? Or Better Than Store Bought Lubes?
The honest answer is: yes and no?
You see, DIY lubrication can be a great option for people with very specific needs or sensitivities - whether that’s to flavourings, fragrances, or certain preservatives commonly used in commercial products. When you’re making your own lubricant, you control what goes in. That means you can keep things extremely plain and minimise the risk of irritation.
If you have sensitive skin, that simplicity can be a real advantage.
But that same freedom is also where the issues can creep in from.
Most of us have had the thought at some point:
What if I added just one drop of peppermint essential oil? Wouldn’t that be stimulating?
And that’s where a healthy product becomes a health hazard.
DIY lubrication is only as safe as the choices you make. Unlike a face cream or body oil, this is a product designed for very sensitive tissue - so it’s not the place for experimentation or “active” ingredients.
A few non-negotiables:
- Sterilise everything.
Your equipment, containers, utensils, gloves - anything that will touch the product. - Don’t add actives. At all.
No essential oils, no caffeine, no niacinamide (what are you trying to brighten exactly?) , no exfoliants, no “stimulating” ingredients. When you're creating lube your designing it to do one thing and do it well (lubricate) - it's not the time for experimentation or 'added benefits/properties'. - Always check your pH.
Test it when you make the product, then recheck it every few weeks. Water-based formulas can drift over time.
When kept simple, clean, and well-tested, DIY lube can be a thoughtful, practical option. When over-engineered, it becomes a risk. In this case, less really is more.
Guide To Making A Water-Based Lubricant
So, making a lubricant at first seems easy:
Step 1: Get water
Step 2: Add a gelling agent
Step 3: Bottle up
But, it’s not that simple.
When making a lubricant, there is three main factors to consider -
- Texture
- Drying rate
- pH
How To Give Your Lubricant The Right Texture
The “perfect” lubricant isn’t just one gel.
Using xanthan gum alone tends to create a gel that’s stringy and slimy, without enough structure. It moves around rather than spreading smoothly.
Hydroxyethyl cellulose, on the other hand, gives great body - but not quite enough slip.
When you combine the two, you get the best of both worlds: structure and glide.
That’s what I did initially - water, gums, and a bit of vegetable glycerine. The texture was lovely… until I noticed how quickly it absorbed.
Great for skincare.
Not ideal for lubrication.
Preventing Your Lubricant From Drying Out
One of the big advantages of oil-based lubricants is longevity.
Using that same logic, I experimented with solubilising a small amount of MCT oil into the water-based formula using OliveM 300.
The result? Oh my days, it was perfect.
And with the oil percentage being so low – the damage it would do to latex would be significantly reduced.
It lasted longer, wasn’t sticky, and felt comfortable on the skin. It was milky, but practically perfect - texture-wise.
But that brings us to the chemistry side of things.
Is Vegetable Glycerine A Problem In Lubricants?
For anal use, vegetable glycerine generally isn’t a major concern. That context is mostly about reducing friction, and the microbiome there isn’t as sensitive.
For vaginal use, things are different.
The vagina has a self-regulating microbiome and is very sensitive to pH and hydration. Frequent use of high-percentage glycerine (above 15%) - especially for people prone to yeast infections - can be irritating.
At higher levels, glycerine can pull water out of cells rather than hydrating them. That irritation can make tissue more vulnerable to imbalance.
The takeaway isn’t to avoid glycerine entirely - it’s to keep the percentage low, just as we do in most cosmetic formulations.
Lubricant pH Matters – Especially For Women
The ideal pH range for vaginal lubricants is 3.8–4.5, with many aiming for around 4.0–4.2.
This is because the vagina is naturally acidic – which helps support the microbiome and discourages certain yeasts from overgrowing.
That said, bodies change:
- Premenopausal pH Needs: ~3.8–4.5
- Postmenopausal pH Needs: often higher (5.0–7.0)
Citric acid is normally used in formulations to adjust pH, but lactic acid is often a better choice here, as it’s naturally present in the vaginal environment. Sodium lactate can also help with buffering.
Avoid pH adjusters like vinegar or lemon juice - they’re too harsh and inconsistent.
What Else Can You Add To A DIY Lubricant?
Once you’ve handled texture, longevity, and pH, there’s room for small customisations.
Some thoughtful additions include:
- Aloe vera liquid gel for soothing irritation
- Gentle antioxidant extracts like rooibos, marshmallow root, or liquorice root
- Mild flavouring using teas or food-safe infusions (keeping sensitivity in mind)
As with all DIYs: patch test, keep it simple, and listen to your body.
