As we’ve been removing plastic from periods since Ruby Cup’s launch over a decade ago, we’re now exploring ways to make other personal care products more eco-friendly. One simple and effective option is making your own homemade lube: a safe, water-based alternative to store-bought lubricants that often come in plastic tubes.
If you’ve been looking for a safe, simple, and eco-friendly homemade lube, this guide will walk you through how to make your own water-based lubricant using basic ingredients.
If you are new to menstrual cups, plastic-free periods, or penetrative experiences, you might want to have some homemade lube on hand the first time you insert your cup. You may need to adjust the cup a few times to find its proper placement in the lower part of your vaginal canal. A bit of moisture can make this easier. For a smooth first-time experience, simply apply a small amount of water-based homemade lube to the rim of the cup right before insertion.
Lubricant can also be beneficial during sex or masturbation, especially if you experience vaginal dryness. In other words, there are many situations where having some homemade lube handy can make things more comfortable.
Requirements for a good, homemade zero-waste lube
More than ready to make and test our own DIY lube, we were scrolling the internet for do’s and don’ts on the outlook for the perfect recipe.
- It had to consist of simple ingredients not wrapped in too much packaging
- It had to be pretty easy to make
- It had to be water-based
- It should (preferably) be cheap to make.
And yes, all of this is possible. Having browsed through various options, we’ve landed at a corn-starch and water-based lube recipe that (in different versions) seems to have already taken parts of the internet by storm. We are probably a bit late to the party. Nevertheless, you could be too, and the zero-waste lubricant could be your next DIY game changer.
Benefits of Homemade Lube:
- Not only is it cheap
- You’ll know exactly what natural ingredients you’ve put into it (and thus inside your vagina! No parabens, fragrances, other chemicals, etc.)
- And you’ll know that it doesn’t come in a plastic tube that you’ll afterwards have to discard.
Your homemade lube needs to be water-based
No matter if you go for our recipe below, or you want to try out another DIY lube, make sure that the version you choose is totally water-based and contains absolutely no oil. Just like any other product in medical grade silicone, you’ll want to keep your Ruby Cup away from oil-based lubricants or lotions in order to make it last its full lifespan of 10 years.
If you are not planning to use the lube with a menstrual cup but with condoms or sex toys, the case is the same. Water-based (and also silicone-based) lubes go with latex condoms, whereas oil can break down the latex. With sex toys you should also go for water-based lube, otherwise the toys can also start to break down. Medical News Today announces water-based lubes as “typically the safest option for intercourse and masturbation”. The medical news site also mentions a potential downside to bear in mind, though: “One disadvantage is that water-based lubes can dry out fairly quickly. However, someone can simply reapply more when needed.”
As long as you make sure to have enough lube handy for reapplication, the positives by far outweigh the negatives. Vaginal health comes first!
DIY homemade water-based lube recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of water
- 3 heaping teaspoons of cornstarch
Equipment:
- Small pot or saucepan
- Whisker/cooking spatula
- Stove
Preparation time:
5-8 minutes + 10 minutes for cooling down
Instructions:
-
Ensure all equipment is clean to prevent bacterial contamination.
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Heat the water in a saucepan until lukewarm or even a bit more.
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Remove from heat and dissolve the cornstarch thoroughly until it forms a smooth, milk-like liquid.
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Place the pan back on low heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens into your desired homemade lube consistency. Depending on how hot your pan is, this could take around 2-3 minutes (longer if your pan is less hot). Try not to get the mixture boiling, as this will potentially create lumps in the mix.
- Once thickened, remove from heat and continue stirring as it cools for about 10 minutes. The homemade lube will thicken slightly as it cools, so take it off the heat when you feel that “it’s almost exactly as it should be”.
The result:
Your very own, homemade DIY zero-waste water-based lubricant! It’s whitish, not clear as the store-bought ones. And it comes in the consistency you like (heat for a shorter time if you want it more liquid, for longer if you want it thicker).
Condom compatible | Sex toy compatible | Biocompatible (Body-friendly) | Menstrual cup compatible.
And safe: “Cornstarch and water is a generally safe, and well-tolerated, water-based lubricant option” - Caitlin V, Sexologist, researcher and coach.
Store your DIY lubricant at room temperature. Try to use it within a few days for it not to go bad (you’ll know it is starting to turn bad when it gets a yeasty smell to it).
If we have saliva available, do we need another zero waste lubricant?
At first glance, spit could seem to be the perfect zero waste lubricant. No packaging, no preparation needed, always at hand. And pretty water-based too, right? Kinda, yeah, but saliva also contains uric acid, enzymes, cholesterol and mucus-forming proteins. Several sources warn that saliva should not be used as a lubricant.
“The bacteria present in your saliva has the potential to cause a yeast infection by altering the vaginal microbiome” - India Times.
“Just like any other fluid, it has the tendency to spread infection” - Dr Niveditha Manokaran on Healthshots.
“There is a risk that someone could pass or receive a sexually transmitted infection” - Medical News Today.
Written By Valentina Carrara
Valentina has been part of the Ruby Cup team for many years and is our go-to expert on menstrual cups. With plenty of knowledge and experience, she’s passionate about helping people understand how menstrual cups work and why they’re a great option. If you have any questions or doubts, she’s always happy to help: Just drop her a message at hello@rubycup.com.
