At Pelva, we believe all companies who produce vaginal products should be 100% transparent about ingredients because you should now exactly what is touching, going into, and interacting with your body.
In Pelva’s HydroSlix™ Liners, each ingredient has a job. We spent over 2 years perfecting our formulation and pride ourselves on simple ingredients that each have a true function with none of the fluff. We also make every single product in-house, which means we are involved first-hand in every part of the process and know exactly what is going into each liner at all times.
So, what’s inside?
First, a quick overview: each hydrogel liner is made of a 90% water base and structured by plant-derived ingredients. (Not sure what a hydrogel is? Lots of everyday products use a hydrogel material, like contact lenses and gel face masks!) For HydroSlix™, the hydrogel composition is balanced for pH and is naturally very slick, designed to mimic natural vaginal moisture and provide cushion.
Now, let's go through the ingredients one-by-one.
1. Water
What it is: Distilled water. This is the primary component that makes up 90% of HydroSlix™.
Why it’s here: The water-based composition provides slick lube-loving glide, mimics natural vaginal moisture, and forms the base structure of the hydrogel. It also keeps the liner soft, cool, and natural-feeling.
2. Konjac Gum
What it is: A plant-derived polysaccharide from the konjac root. Also known as elephant yam (and strangely phallic, which feels appropriate somehow?), it is commonly used in food, medicine, and skincare in many Asian countries.
Why it’s here: The texture of the konjac gum adds flexibility, creates additional structure, and contributes to the soft, cushion-like feel of the hydrogel. It helps the liner move and flex with your body instead of feeling rigid or sticky.
3. Carrageenan
What it is: A seaweed-derived polysaccharide.
Why it’s here: Provides structure and stability, helps form the gel network, and contributes to the hydrogel’s smooth texture.
4. Potassium Chloride
What it is: A mineral salt.
Why it’s here: This helps maintain proper osmotic* balance, supports hydrogel stability and contributes to compatibility with vaginal tissue
*Not sure what osmotic means? Osmolality measures the concentration of particles in a solution and determines water movement across cell membranes – aka it’s the water exchange from the vaginal product to your cells and vice versa.
Healthy vaginal tissues and secretions have an osmolality of ~260–380 mOsm/kg. Ideally, the vaginal water-based products you use should match this closely to avoid tissue disruption.
Although Pelva’s liners are not liquid, they are still water-based! This allows us to control the osmolality in the liner. We are proud to share that our HydroSlix™ Liner’s osmolality targets ~270 mOsm/kg (right in the iso-osmolar range) with variation typically under 400 mOsm/kg.
5. Phenoxyethanol
What it is: A preservative that has been tested to not irritate mucosal membranes at recommended concentrations below 1% (ours is well below this). This preservative is also used by other brands PT’s trust like Slippery Stuff and Ah!
Why it’s here: Prevents bacterial growth and ensures product safety and longevity during storage and use. We spent a LONG time testing and deciding on which preservative systems to use.
6. Ethylhexylglycerin
What it is: A preservative booster (also not a mucosal irritant). And as is often asked – yes, it is chemically different from glycerin.
Why it’s here: This ingredient enhances the effectiveness of the preservatives, allows for a lower concentration of phenoxyethanol to be used, and adds mild conditioning properties.
7. Citric Acid
What it is: A naturally occurring acid found in citrus fruits.
Why it’s here: Helps adjust and stabilize pH and helps maintain vaginal-friendly acidity. It is so important to us that our products fall within the typical pH range for the vagina. We know that an imbalance can cause bacterial growth, yeast infections, BV, and many other issues, so we do everything we can to make sure that our products stay well within the appropriate range.
The bottom line for us is that safety and comfort are everything. They’re not just marketing claims for us, they’re responsibilities – you deserve to know and understand what you’re putting in your body! We are proud that we can say with confidence that our ingredients are tested and safe.