I'm not an expert on this, but I do know that sugar alcohols are in tons of foods and I think you need to have quite a bit of them before it causes a laxative effect. The amount you would ingest using a lube probably isn't enough to have a laxative effect unless you are just outright eating the lube. If you've ever had sugar-free candy you've probably had sugar alcohol before.

I don't know whether or not they are irritating to more sensitive areas, but that's probably a trial and error thing.

Unfortunately it's just not realistic to avoid all chemicals. They are in there for a reason whether it's for texture, preservation, flavor, or whatever else it may be, but the chemicals are part of what makes the product work. You will just have to decide if the benefit is worth the risk. It might be a challenge to find a product that is both effective and does not have any chemicals in it

My thing was that it acts essentially as glycerin does. The laxative effect is because of the chemical irritating the tissues in the anal canal, at least that is what I thought.

I'm not avoiding glycerin-lube because it's a laxative. I'm avoiding it because of how irritating it is to my skin (and because it caused a bad yeast infection).

I was wondering and concerned if sorbitol and xylitol also irritate the heck out of the tissues anally and vaginally in the same way.

And it's not too much of a challenge to find lubes without these things in them, I'm just wondering why glycerin is so much more broadcast.

I'm just allergic to glycerin, however I'm not allergic to the others. My girlfriend is also- I think maybe it's just a common allergy where as the others aren't