Squeezing out of a tube is not a violation of Shabbat; meiruach (spreading or smoothing the cream) is. As a further precaution one can squeeze the closed tube before Shabbat so that the pressure will expel the cream when the cap is removed on Shabbat, without any need to squeeze more, but this is not essential.

There are other products on the market, such as Replens, that claim to have results lasting for days and thus would not produce any question. A lubricant that is truly liquid, with no thickness, would also be permitted for use on Shabbat.