I just finished the entire history of lubricant.
It’s the best non friction book I’ve ever read!
So what is lube anyway?
The wetter the better. A lubricant is a liquid or gel substance meant to prevent friction. Specifically regarding sex, lubricants are meant to increase comfort during penetrative & anal sex as well as during masturbation. Depending on the type of lube, they can be safe to use with condoms and sex toys like vibrators, dildos, anal toys (butt plugs and anal beads), and masturbators.
OK, so what kind do I need?
Well, that depends on 2 factors. The number one factor is what you plan on lubricating (your body, a sex toy, a condom, etc.) The number two factor is what you like. Some people prefer a lubricant that is natural with organic ingredients while some people prefer the tingling or flavored varieties. Let’s break ‘em down to give you a better idea.
Water-Based Lubricant
As the name implies, the base of this lubricant is water rather than oil or silicone. The biggest selling point to water-based is that they are safe to use with condoms and sex toys. A silicone lubricant will break down latex condoms and affect the longevity of your silicone sex toys. Unlike oil based and silicone lubes, water-based ones won’t stain your sheets and it tends to wash off a lot easier from your skin. The biggest con to water-based lubricants is that they don’t always work well for people with sensitive skin.
Our Favorite Water-Based Lubricant: Pjur Woman Aqua
This one is hypo-allergenic, odorless, and tasteless- all indicators that it might be a good fit even if you do have sensitive skin. As always, do a test run of the product on a less sensitive body part and give it 10-15 minutes to see if there is any reaction before using it. There are no harsh chemicals or added flavors. Don’t let the name fool you- this lube works well for every gender, for latex condoms, vibrators, dildos, and anal toys.
Silicone-Based Lubricant
If you are worried about skin sensitivities, then silicone-based lubes are your best bet. Silicone lubricants tend to last longer and don’t need to be reapplied as often as water based. In simple science terms: water + friction = heat. Heat evaporates water and when the water is gone, the friction comes back. If you enjoy sexy time in the shower or bath, silicone-based lubes might be the way to go since it doesn’t wash off as easily as water-based. Silicone-based lubes also work just fine with condoms. The downfall: silicone-based lubes do not work with silicone based sex toys. It’s always important to look at the materials of a sex toy before you buy it make sure you buy a compatible lubricant. A good majority of vibrators and anal toys are made of silicone simply because of the velvety soft feeling. We definitely don’t want you to ruin your favorite vibe or butt plug by using the wrong lube.
Our Favorite Silicone-Based Lubricant: Jo Xtra Silky Ultra-thin
This one’s biggest selling point is that it is formulated with Vitamin E, which is great for moisturizing your skin. It’s super slick without becoming dry and tacky. It’s siloxane and preservative free with no added perfumes or flavors.
Oil- Based Lubricants
Oil based, also called mineral based lubricants, is kinda like silicone, but on steroids. Typically it doesn’t need to be reapplied so you can keep going, and going, and going. Oil based lubricants can also double as a massage oil and if one thing leads to another, there’s no need to dig around for another bottle in the heat of the moment. A MAJOR downfall: do not use oil-based lubricants with condoms as they can break them down which defeats the entire purpose of using them. Oil-based lubricants can stain so romping around in the sheets is not recommended, unless you’re looking for a reason to buy new sheets. I feel obligated to mention that oil-based lubricants have been scientifically linked to increased risk of a fungus that leads to yeast infections.
Our Favorite Oil-Based Lubricant: There isn’t one
The pros just don’t outweigh the cons and we simply aren’t in the business of recommending something that we wouldn’t use ourselves. And that’s that. Oil-based lubes are what we consider old school, before lubes were scientifically tested and formulated. We think they’re akin to using baby oil and coconut oil (which we also do not recommend) and seems very 70’s porno to me. We’re in the 21st century and we want you to use something from this modern era.
Natural Lubricants
Natural lubes are something relatively new. There’s a bit of debate as to what “natural” actually means. If what you’re using down there needs to be eco-friendly, vegan, or “green” then you might consider using this kind of lube. Aloe-based lubricants are becoming very popular. Always read the ingredient list and try to find a lube with a small number of ingredients. Some consider coconut oil as a natural lubricant and I can only advise you to re-read the two paragraphs above.
Our Favorite Natural Lube: Swiss Navy All Natural
This is still technically a water-based lubricant so I implore you to use caution and to do a skin test before using it if you have skin sensitivities. There are no parabens, glycerins or petroleum by-products. All of these are no-no ingredients that you should steer clear of and can lead to an increased risk of infections.
The Rest
Flavored lubricants are one of those things: you love them or you hate them. Most commonly, flavored lubes are water based with some (usually, but always) artificial flavorings. The newer ones advertise themselves as sugar free but will contain some form of cellulose or saccharin. Think of it like Diet Coke. While it's technically "sugar free," there's ~something~ in there making it sweet. Flavored lubes can be an interesting twist to sexy time and many people use these during oral sex. We tend to see an uptick in flavored lube sales during holidays. Red velvet flavor for Valentines day and gingerbread or peppermint flavors during Christmas. It's wild to see some of the novelty flavors. I'd die before we ever sold it, but I have seen a turkey gravy flavor. "Happy Thanksgiving, I want you to taste meaty and salty!" Can you imagine? ANYWAY!
Anal lubricants is more of a marketing term than a type of lubricant. 99% of the time, they are silicone based. The other 1%, they are oil based/ mineral based. And we already discussed our disapproval of oil based lubes. Sometimes, they will have menthol for a cooling/ tingling type of sensation. Sometimes, they have benzocaine (a numbing agent) that will numb what it comes into contact with. Benzocaine is the same stuff used in delay sprays or climax control condoms. The less you can feel, the longer it will take to orgasm. That can be a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about anal play.
Warming, cooling, and tingling lubricants are sensitizing rather than desensitizing. They create sensations rather than numb. Different ingredients are used to achieve different sensations. Menthol for cooling, capsaicin for warming, and a combination of those two (or similar compounds) for a tingling effect. It really is neat science when you look into it. Cooling lubes can be tricky for those with sensitive skin so do a patch test before putting it on your sensitive bits. A personal little tip: try using a tingling lube during temperature play. A cold toy on a tingly vulva is a whole new world.
