Chamois lubricants--what's "safe" & where?

[Natural Beauty]

I just looked online for the ingredient list of the Chamois Butt's you guys are swearing by and I can't use it.....any other options? Has to be chemical and glycerin free.

[VeloVT]

I just looked online for the ingredient list of the Chamois Butt's you guys are swearing by and I can't use it.....any other options? Has to be chemical and glycerin free.

Check out the ingredients for Assos chamois cream and Body Glide (though these both likely have some vegetable glycerin-like ingredients). Also, there are more and more chamois creams becoming available in the states (I'm assuming you're in the states?)... surf around sites like World Cycling Productions, etc, to see what they're carrying -- and do a google search for "chamois cream." A few products I've seen online but don't know anything about include creams by Ozon, Quoleum and Brave Soldier...

Other than that, how about pure cocoa butter, or some of the thicker cocoa butter cremes you can get in the drugstore (like Palmer's)?

Personally I am surprised that there are so many fans of KY jelly and Astroglide for this purpose -- I tried this once or twice and for me, once you start sweating this type of lube disintegrates almost immediately...

Edit: I read somewhere that Noxema used to be a common chamois lube as well...

[Grog]

It doesn't lube, but it does take care of raw skin: diaper ointment. There might be a "kinder" version out there that would work for you, but that would not lubricate though.

[OakLeaf]

Beljum Budder? (tested and approved by me, paraben free but not totally "natural")

Others have recommended, I haven't tried: Sportique Century Riding Cream (which, their website says "keep away from mucous membranes," ha ha, I guess it's for Men Only); and Nubutte.

[aicabsolut]

Edit: I read somewhere that Noxema used to be a common chamois lube as well...

Could that be from Dave Z's "main-taint-enance" blog years back?

I personally like a mix of Assos and Neosporin. Do not use Assos to close to certain parts. I will put some Neosporin on the outside of the labia, because of chafing that gets so bad it usually peels a couple days later. It is too sensitive to use Assos that close in enough quantity (because of the menthol). I may start trying adding a little of the glycerin free sensitive skin Astroglide to the mix, but only on the sensitive parts where maybe some would survive despite sweating. Assos is great not only in helping keep the whole area cool, infection and friction-free, but when you apply it directly to the chamois as directed, it helps keep the chamois softer. It doesn't wash out 100% with hand washings (only machine), but I don't think it's supposed to, necessarily. It certainly gets clean enough (no odors or anything), and they suggest applying the cream to wet shorts after washing. It's supposed to help keep it soft (though that's probably more applicable to a leather chamois) and clean. Usually I'm too lazy and I just put it on the shorts the the night before a ride or morning of in addition to putting some directly on my skin.

[Natural Beauty]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to have to do some research and give them a go. I will of course post results for those as sensitive as moi.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just use unscented hand cream for sensitive skin.

[alpinerabbit]

Why would you use an antibiotic ointment when you're not infected yet? As a Microbiologist, I have to insist this is not good practice, and you couldn't buy the product over here over the counter because antibiotics are much more tightly regulated than in the US. It's not good for the natural bacteria you have down there, and not good for developing resistant strains.

I use a cream that is used for wounds and burns. it is basically Lanolin, plus Vitamin A and cod liver oil (believe it or not). It is extremely fatty and does not "sweat away". I used it the first time after I'd gotten completely raw on my behind and it healed up in 2 days. Smells a bit but it also contains vanillin to cover up the smell. Have to machine wash shorts afterwards.