This will round up our trilogy of Valentine’s Day posts. If you’ve been keeping up, you know that in Phase I we covered the perfect pucker and in Phase II the intoxicating massage. In order that you don’t get caught high and dry so to speak, let’s go where no natural skin care blog has gone before—personal lubricants.

Phase III: Sliding Home

There’s more going on in the world of personal lubricants than you ever imagined–

An experimental sex lubricant designed by Australian researchers could help block both HIV and genital herpes, a study suggests.

Tests on lab animals have shown that the microbicide gel, called Viva Gel, inactivates the HIV virus and another responsible for genital herpes, News.com.au reports.

What’s most important for you to know is that many brands of lubricants contain chemicals you don’t want anywhere near your body such as parabens. I’ve ranted about parabens before, but it bears repeating. Parabens are synthetic chemical preservatives used in personal care products—methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben and benzylparaben.

Paraben additives are used to inhibit the growth of fungus and bacteria. This is a legitimate concern considering the ways we use lubricant, but parabens can cause allergic reactions. Studies have also found parabens in breast tumors.

While the FDA says parabens are safe for consumers, a number of studies have shown that parabens may be linked to high rates of breast cancer, and reproductive problems in women and decreased sperm counts, prostate and testicular cancer in men. Just remember to read labels carefully so you’re sure of the type of lubricant you are purchasing.