ARE GLYCERIN-BASED INTIMATE LUBRICANTS DANGEROUS?

The glycerin used in the majority of intimate lubricants as a cosmetic agent is in the sights of bloggers. Bashing deserved? This is the question of the day: is glycerin dangerous? Is it necessary at all costs exclude it from the composition of our intimate lubricating gels? Infections, fungal infections, irritations, STI transmissions are serious alerts that are very often found on the Internet concerning this ingredient with multiple origins and virtues. What is it really ?

Let's get closer first of the scientific field And let's try to find out a little more about this controversial asset that is taking quite a spanking on Instagram right now. This article that we propose to share with you resonates with our glycerin-free algae lubricant, but the purpose of the problem is quite different. The objective is to dispel these erroneous myths and inaccurate information very quickly and to discern the true from the false concerning glycerin, this almost omnipresent component in the composition of intimate lubricants.

GLYCERIN, DEFINITION AND ORIGIN

What is glycerin?

Glycerin is a cosmetic active ingredient which comes in the form of a colorless, odorless liquid with a viscous appearance . It is also one of the most used ingredients in cosmetics and intimate lubricants , whether conventional or organic. Glycerin, contrary to popular belief, is an alcohol and not a sugar!

Formula : C3H8O3
IUPAC name : propane-1,2,3-triol
Molar mass : 92.09382 g/mol
INN : Glycerol

Where does glycerin come from, how is it extracted?

She may be :

of synthetic origin , from petrochemical derivatives.
of animal origin , by saponification of animal fats.
of vegetable origin , by saponification of vegetable oils.

Natural glycerin is obtained during a saponification reaction when fatty acids are separated from oil or fat, glycerin being the residue. From this reaction, many types of glycerin are born on the market with their own specificity, made from animal fat or vegetable oil. Only ultra-pure, medical-grade vegan glycerin should be used to make personal lubricants.

This is where things get let's say…sticky! In most intimate gels, there is glycerin or glycols and there is no way of knowing what type of glycerin is involved. Manufacturers of products for adults inform very little if not never consumers where their ingredients come from and how they are made and processed. Probably comfortable choice but quite confusing. In an ecological, proactive and responsible approach, we at YESforLOV always favor the use of glycerin of vegetable origin and if possible organic. However, you are aware that glycerin can have various origins. The controversy over glycerin does not come from elsewhere: the glaring absence of information on the origin of each type of glycerin is inevitably the driving force!

Does my product contain glycerine or glycerine derivatives?

To find out if your product contains glycerin or glycerin derivatives, look at the INCI list: Glycerin, Trimethylene glycol, propanediol, propylene glycol ... are in the game. Do not panic however, no cold sweats to have, vegetable glycerin is not the enemy of your mucous membranes .

GLYCERIN: FOCUS ON ITS ROLE IN INTIMATE LUBRICANTS

The truth is, high-quality vegetable-derived glycerin is an excellent water-based lubricant . It lasts longer and does not dry out: excellent texture, no sticky residue and the most natural feeling you can get, close to feminine secretions: quality vegetable glycerin is discreet and knows how to be forgotten .

What are the benefits of glycerin in intimate lubricants?

Here are three good reasons to use vegetable glycerin in our intimate lubricants . And we did say "vegetable and in respectable concentration rates".

Glycerin hydrates the intimate mucous membrane : glycerin is able to retain water, it will thus help to maintain perfect hydration in the skin. Obviously , the recommended dosages must be respected, otherwise the opposite effect will occur.
Glycerin softens and protects : glycerin is an excellent emollient, it will thus help to soften, soften and protect the skin from external aggressions.
Glycerin lubricates durably : glycerin offers a long-lasting glide , it makes romantic relationships all the more pleasant and lasting.

Glycerin is also a solvent for the extraction of vegetable plants . No wonder it's ubiquitous everywhere! It also acts as a preservative , promoting a certain stability in cosmetics .

What could we blame glycerin for?

In the United States, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), glycerin is "generally recognized as safe when used in accordance with good manufacturing practices ". can cause irritation and small allergies . Again, it is important to mention that it all depends on the origin of the glycerin and its concentration in the finished product. Our explanations in detail in the paragraph below:

Glycerin dramatically impacts product osmolarity which is, in short, the measure of how much moisture a substance pulls from one side of a membrane to the other. If you want to know more about osmolarity, it's here but to put it simply in case of bad dosage, the lubricant can dry out your membranes , cause irritation and trigger many discomforts caused by osmotic stress which will probably also create a disturbance of the pH (more info on the importance of pH in this article According to one study, 86% of the lubricants listed in the WHO study have osmolarity levels well above the “LOVE WITHOUT RISK” limit.

Also in case of bad dosage, glycerin would be likely to increase the proliferation of a fungus Candida albicans , the main cause of vaginal mycoses . The so-called poorly dosed glygerine-based lubricants are probably not unrelated to possible mycotic episodes which are therefore not to be excluded since this fungus is naturally present in the vagina.

It is clear that an environment unbalanced by osmotic stress and imbalance of vaginal pH is a breeding ground for all kinds of disorders. However, glycerin is not a sugar per se and does not promote insulin secretion, so the risk of glycerin causing yeast infections is quite low . To date, no study has shown that properly used glycerin could cause fungal infections.

Yeast infections are rather caused by several factors including antibiotics that modify the flora of the genitourinary tract, stress, fatigue, lack of hygiene during sexual intercourse or even wearing a swimsuit for too long. wet: putting sugar in your vagina can cause a yeast infection, we remind you once again, glycerin is not a sugar but an alcohol!

How are YESforLOV glycerin-based intimate lubricants tested?

More than 300,000 intimate lubricants from our range of glycerin-based cosmetics are sold each year at YESforLOV and have been for more than 16 beautiful long years. Our products have never encountered any difficulties with its users, no complaints on anything, both on the phenomenon of mycoses and on that of irritation of the mucous membranes. To date, none of our lubricants have been withdrawn from the market. To prove the harmlessness of our intimate lubricating gels , we carry out 2 tests . Practical case at your disposal with the moisturizing mixed lubricant , the bestseller and the best of intimate lubricants.

1st test: An evaluation of the tolerance and irritant potential of the product on vaginal epithelia

According to a clinical study conducted by an independent laboratory on the moisturizing mixed lubricant, no observations were recorded during this test. The average Irritation Index is 0. Moisturizing Unisex Lubricant is also rated as non-irritating . The cell death rate is also zero for a contact time of more than 3 hours. The cytotoxicity of the natural moisturizing lubricant, ie its properties to be toxic for the cells until they destroy them, is judged to be low even after 24 hours of exposure.

2nd test: A gynecological test which evaluates the clinical and gynecological tolerance and the acceptability of the product

The volunteers evaluated the product on its properties after use over a period of 21 days. According to this test, the overall satisfaction is 100% , with all participants wishing to continue using the product. Here are the results of the usage test relating to the effectiveness of the product (positive responses ≥ 75%*):

- The product delivers a feeling of freshness

- The product brings a feeling of well-being

- The product provides a feeling of comfort

- The product moisturizes the external genital mucosa

- The product nourishes the external genital mucosa

- The product is gentle on the skin of the intimate area

- The product has a lubricating effect on the skin of the intimate area

- The product does not give a feeling of discomfort

- The product does not irritate the intimate area

- The external genital mucosa is flexible

- The external genital mucosa is soft

- The product is suitable for the intimate area

- The product respects the intimate area

The conclusion of the report is that the product offers excellent gynecological tolerance , according to the scale adopted, on the external genital area and excellent cosmetic acceptability, with 100% favorable opinions.

In the same way, we have also tested on reconstituted mucous membranes our gourmet oils which contain 95% glycerin and also sugar. According to these irritation tests, gourmet oils are neither irritating nor toxic . On the skin, the irritation index is 0.09, which is very very low . On the mucous membrane, it can only become so if the product is in contact with the mucous membrane for more than 24 hours.

DISCOVER OUR RANGE OF LUBRICANTS

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Which lubricants to choose in case of allergy to glycols?

I am sensitive and allergic to glycerin , what advice can you give me and what lubricant should I use?

Test our natural lubricant with certified organic algae without glycerin and iso-osmotic without further delay.
Beware of lubricants that use glycerine derivatives to hide the presence of glycol .
Avoid lubes that contain sugar like aspartame or sucrose .
Opt for 100% non-comedogenic silicone lubricants , there is very little risk of allergies .
Ask the brand and its product managers to find out the glycol concentration and the origin of the ingredient .

Although most decisions and opinions remain personal, often based on past experience, we have no published or known data to definitively link the use of glycerin lubricants to vaginal infections that we know may be caused in several circumstances. Glycerin is a common ingredient in personal lubricants and great if used properly. It prolongs the feeling of humidity and slipperiness. Cheap and singularly unpure glycerin is the major problem and it is endemic.

The sad reality is that most intimate lubricants are of very poor quality. Glycerin has become a risky product due to its obvious lack of transparency in its overall journey, from its often dubious origin to its integration into the lubricant, in an approximate dosage which is not without danger. It is high time to put an end to this polemic which has no reason to be: what we need is not to consider glycerin as the enemy of well-being but to have the possibility, the certainty of offering consumers high quality lubricants. So, without hypocrisy, absolute transparency obliges, I believe that what we need is transparency on the origin of the ingredients, it is to give everyone the information they need to make decisions. knowledge about his own body without resorting to scare tactics.

Want to learn more about lubricants and find the right one for you? Do the YESforLOV diagnosis to find your ideal lubricant .