Caring for your intimate areas can be straight-up confusing. Think about it this way: sometimes you wash with plain water and it’s not enough to rinse away annoying odors or clear up pesky ingrowns. Or your trusty bar of soap leaves your downstairs irritated as h*ck. Or maybe you do a quick post-workout cleanse with a fragrance-heavy wet wipe and, yup, you’re burning. 

That said, not *all* ways to wash down there should leave you in pain—especially when it comes to products like feminine intimacy wipes. There are brands out there (*cough* like Beia! *cough*) that design wipes with the chemical and biological makeup of your genitals top of mind. 

This way, you can experience the use of intimate wipes that do it all: cleansing, freshening, and healing painful bumps or redness. (And some of them are even great for carrying on-the-go.) The following is everything you need to know about using feminine intimacy wipes, according to sexual health and skincare experts. 

Remind me: what are feminine wipes actually used for?

Let's get this straight prior to jumping into all the wipe-related deets. Feminine wipes are for cleansing your downstairs when you’re feeling like you need a refresh—even if you don’t have a full-on shower at your disposal. For example, maybe you need to…. 

• Beat the anxiety sweats: Stash them in your tote as you head to make a killer presentation at an important work event. 

• Do a mid-flight cleanup: Sneak them into your carry-on for freshening up mid-flight in the privacy of an airplane bathroom, lol. 

• Make a quick exit post-workout: Pop them in your gym bag to wipe off salty post-sweat residue and feel clean, sans shower. 

• Be prepared for anything intimate: Tuck them into your coat pocket during dates so that you're ready for any ~possible intimacy~ and confident that you’re stink or sweat free. 

That said, these are all just suggestions when it comes to what feminine wipes are used for. You can use them in any way that works for you and your vagina, as long as you follow proper health and safety guidelines like… 

But first: here’s how to use feminine wipes. 

Before we get into the details about choosing a feminine intimacy wipe, it’s important that you note how to properly use one, first. Here’s what you should know…

• Always wipe front to back: If you haven’t learned this by now, listen up. Using a feminine wipe is similar to toilet paper. To avoid infection or spreading harmful bacteria around your vulva, always be sure to wipe front to back!

Now that you’re up-to-date on how to *actually use* a feminine intimacy wipe, you’re probably curious about how to best decide what kind of wipe works for you. Read on for answers….

Your guide to choosing a feminine intimacy wipe that’s best for women

For starters, when you’re going about choosing an intimacy wipe you want to make sure that you’re not picking just a “general” wet wipe, but rather one that’s designed specifically for the vagina. This will ensure that you’re getting the safest wipe for you, rather than one with formula mess with your precious pH. 

So, yup, this means that the most important thing to look for when choosing a feminine wipe is that ingredient list. Here’s what to look for and how it’ll impact your skin, according to Dr. Miriam Gonzalez, MD, a dermatologist based in Baltimore. 

• Aloe Vera: If you’re looking for ways to soothe redness and inflammation downstairs, aloe vera should be your go-to. It’ll basically just help our skin to calm TF down without causing further irritation.

Okay—now that you know what ingredients to look for in a feminine wipe, it’s time to mention the ingredients that should *absolutely not* be in your product, according to Dr. Janet Brito, PhD, founder of the Hawaii Center for Sexual and Relationship Health. 

• Glycerin: First up, it’s glycerin—AKA, a sugar alcohol and that can cause yeast overgrowth. (Which, FYI, can unbalance your vagina’s pH, causing odorous and itchy yeast infections.) 

• Petroleum: Unfortunately for you (and our environment) there is petroleum in a lot of beauty products—and it’s certainly not good for you or the planet. The ingredient can be a breeding ground for bacteria, and it’s linked to bacterial vaginosis. (Which has symptoms like itchiness, abnormal discharge, and odor.  

• Parabens: These are most commonly used as preservatives. But while it’s great for stopping the growth of harmful bacteria or mold in your products, they also can disrupt your hormones and cause painful skin irritation. Better to stay away.

Follow these suggestions and you should be safe when  it comes to picking not just a wipe, but a specifically-designed feminine intimacy wipe that works for you. Need some inspiration for your purchase? There is one that’s top of mind… 

Add this vagina-safe wipe to your shopping cart. 

When in doubt about the ingredients in vaginal wipes, try giving Beia’s Refresh Wipes a shot instead since they’re formulated with safe, ph-balanced, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic ingredients. (All of which pass the test on the list above!) 

Trust: Refresh Wipes are perfect for making you feel clean and comfortable—even when you’re playing dirty.