Does Lube Expire: How To Tell If Your Sex Lubricant Is Old?

Good sex can be ramped up to great with a personal lubricant.

You already know that!

But, before you reach for that bottle of lube stacked on your bedside table (for God knows how long), you may want to know:

Does lube expire?

In this post, I’ll give you the answer to that all-important question and explain how to tell if your lube is old and it’s time to buy a new one.

Here’s what I’ll cover in this post:

• Do Personal Lubricants Expire?
• How To Tell If Your Lube Is Old?
• Why You Shouldn’t Use Expired Lube?
• Don’t Forget Your Lube
• What Is The Best Lube For You?

Do Personal Lubricants Expire?

Short answer: yes.

Like every product, personal lubricants also have a shelf life.

According to data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the shelf life of lube is around one to three years.

Some lubricants do have a sell-by date or expiry date on the packaging. Look out for a month/date format (for example, 05/23 would mean the product will expire by May 2023) on the tube or outer its packaging.

Many companies, however, don’t mention an expiry date.

In such cases, gynecologists and sex experts have a simple rule of thumb:

Once you open a tube or bottle of sex lube, use it within a year.

Also, ensure that your lubricant is stored in a cool, dry place and at room temperature (between 5 to 30-degree celsius).  The cap of the bottle or tube should also always be closed after use.

Coconu lubricants have a shelf life of 1 year, unopened.

Just make sure to store it at room temperature. Our lubricants are made with all-natural ingredients and no harmful preservatives. We recommend reordering a fresh supply within 6 months of opening.

Moreover, if you are into making your own personal lubes, use it within a few days. A mix of flaxseeds and oil can go rancid within a few days and can lead to allergic reactions.

See this article on Everything You Need To Know About Homemade Lube if you want some recipes for homemade lube.

Curious to know if coconut oil can be used as lube? Read my detailed post on Coconut Oil As Lube: Is It Safe? What Is The Alternative?

How To Tell If Your Lube Is Old?

If you aren’t sure when you last used lubrication or opened the lube bottle, check if the lube has:

• A funny odor,
• A consistency that is different from when you first started using it (for instance, the product has dried out),
• An unpleasant taste (especially if it is an edible lube)
• Any change in color (maybe it was translucent and is now opaque).

In case you notice anything different about your lube, discard it and buy a new one.

Just rely on your senses to make sure the lubricant is still the same that you know and love.

There’s no need to take the risk of using a lubricant that is old or has expired.

Your lube should be made from natural and organic ingredients, and it should also be safe to use on your delicate genital region. A personal lube should enhance the natural fluid in your vagina and aid in lubrication.

What’s more?

When using a sex barrier like flavoured condoms, it is even more essential that your lubricant should be in good condition. An expired or dried out lube can tear your durex flavoured condoms, increasing the chances of an STI (sexually transmitted infection).

Why You Shouldn’t Use Expired Lube?

While most of you may never experience any discomfort or allergic reaction on your genital skin from using an old lube, it is not worth the risk.

There are dangers to using expired lube.

When using a silicone lube or an oil-based lube, if the ingredients have expired, the product can cause allergies and even a yeast infection. Some ingredients are also linked with an increased risk of infections like bacterial vaginosis.

Another ingredient to look out for is glycerin. This is used in many flavored lubes and can be harmful if it goes bad due to improper storage of the lubricant.

Note: Some lubricants have ingredients like petroleum jelly that are harmful to the sensitive skin around your genitals even when the lube is brand new. These should be avoided at all costs. Other ingredients to avoid in your personal lubricant includes preservatives like paraben, spermicide, and petrochemicals like propylene glycol.

Some ingredients like benzocaine or lidocaine used in numbing lubes may sometimes cause tingling, irritation, skin itching, infection or burning sensations.

If you want to know whether or not a numbing lube is safe for your skin in your anal region, read my post on Is Numbing Lube Safe For Anal Sex? What Is The Alternative?

Remember: it's good practice NOT to use any product that has gone past its expiration date. (This holds even for an expired condom)

Water-based lubricants (like ky jelly or durex play lube) are usually safe as they don’t have any ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction or a skin infection. Check out my post on The Best Water Based Lube for 2023 (Plus How to Use Lubricants) for some great water based lube options.

Don’t Forget Your Lube

A personal lubricant eliminates dryness of the vagina and friction during penetration. It also enhances any sexual activity - be it solo, sex toy play, or good old-fashioned vaginal sex.

Even if you and your partner have sufficient natural lubrication, a personal lube adds to the excitement and fun of lovemaking.

So, don’t forget to use your lube every time you play hookey!

Want options for anal sex? Check out my post on The 5 Best Anal Lubes for 2023 (With Features & Pricing)

If you always wanted to know the pros and cons of opting for coconut oil as a lube, read my detailed article on Can You Use Coconut Oil as Anal Lube? (Pros, Cons & an Alternative)

A good way to ensure you’ll use a sex lube for all your erotic games is to pick the best of the lot.

What Is The Best Lube For You?

Choose a personal lubricant that uses safe, organic and natural ingredients to  enhance your erotic pleasures. Your lube should also be tested for compatibility with condoms and adult toys, and should not give you infections.

Want to know which lube is the best of all?

Coconu personal lubricants.

Coconu is available in two varieties - one using coconut water, and the other made from a coconut oil base.

If you want some more options for natural personal lubricants that are body-safe, check out my post on The 6 Best Natural Lubricants for 2023.

Coconu’s lubricants automatically stimulate your body’s natural lubrication so that you can enjoy intercourse or masturbation with abandonment. Coconu lubricants also ensure your vagina’s natural salt balance or osmolality remains intact.

You can even use Coconu lubes with your sex toys.

When using a condom made with latex (like durex condoms), opt for Coconu coconut water-based lubricant. This hypoallergenic coconut water-based lubricant is great for vaginal dryness and is also long-lasting - ideal for long steamy sessions! (It is better than lubes made from silicone, which although long-lasting can be challenging to wash off with water.)

If you are into oral sex, you can happily use Coconu’s water-based lube. Check out this post on Edible Lube: 10 Of The Best Oral Sex Lubes if you want more options for flavored lubes.

If you are looking for a lubricant that can double up as the perfect massage oil, go for Coconu coconut oil-based lube. This oil-based formula is USDA-certified organic and made with fully edible ingredients like coconut oil and cocoa butter.

Although it’s not compatible with a latex condom, it does work with polyurethane condoms.

Both Coconu natural lubricants are devoid of alcohol, parabens, petroleum oils (like vaseline), gluten, phylates, glycerin, fragrances and dyes. They are hypoallergenic and 100% body-safe.

With your lube worries taken care of, you can now focus on your nights of sensual pleasure!