How do I pick a lube?
Personal Lubricants make sex better. But how do you know which one to buy? Not everything works for everyone and some will work better with your body than others. How do you choose what will be right for you?
If you have had sensitivity to lubes in the past, pick a lube with the fewest ingredients possible. Many people report itching from lubes and more often than not the ingredient that causes that is glycerin which can be found in all types of lube. Glycerin is a thickening agent use to make lubes last longer, thicken up and not be so watery.
Water Based Lubes
A water-based lubricant is the best place to start. Since our bodies are made of mostly water, a water-based lubricant will likely be a great option for you. Your body will assimilate the lube slowly and usually without issues. These lubes are safe to use with toys, condoms, your partner, and all by yourself. They are especially great for people with sensitive skin.
There are a huge variety of water-based lubes on the market, some with scents and flavoring, and some are fragrance and flavor free. Water based lubes vary in thickness and ingredients, but since your body absorbs lubrication during use, a water-based lube is usually best.
Another reason people love water-based lubes is because they are non-staining making it easy to remove from clothes and sheets. Depending on the lube you choose, it may last awhile without having to reapply frequently or it can dry up easily and need constant reapplication. The differences between these will be the other ingredients the lube is mixed with. These other ingredients are the things that make the lube thicker, flavored, scented and can cause irritation for some people. Also, the other ingredients added to the lube can cause the lubricant to become sticky. Not all water-based lubes are created equal and can vary substantially from product to product. There are great water-based lubes that last for a long time and are not sticky but of course it depends on the ingredients. I recommend trying a few so you can see the differences between them. The best water-based lubes are PH-balanced to make sure irritation and infections don’t become an issue.
Silicone Lubricants
Silicone lubes are great for long lasting action. The silicone base provides an extra slippery sensation which is great for anal play, masturbation and marathon sex. This lube will last a very long-time during sex without the need for reapplying frequently. This ensures one bottle will last a lot longer than a water based lube. Another great thing about silicone lube is you can use this lubricant for water play. Have you ever tried to have sex in the water? It starts out fun, then the friction gets so uncomfortable it takes all the sexiness away. Use a little silicone lube for sexy waterplay and make those water play desires a reality.
However, silicone lubes do have some downsides. First, silicone lubes and silicone toys do not play nice together. This lube will actually breakdown the silicone in toys and therefore is not compatible with silicone toy play. Many toys are made from silicone now because of the velvety and smooth texture, the non-porous material also makes it easier to clean. You don’t want to ruin your expensive toy by using silicone lube with it. You can still use this lubricant with toys made from metal, glass, and hard plastic.
Also silicone lube is much harder to clean up because it doesn’t break down with water. A good toy cleaner will cut the slip and make clean up a breeze. Try to avoid spilling silicone lube on the floors and that spot will remain slippery for a long time. Silicone does also stain clothing and sheets.
Oil Based Lubricants
Oil Based lubes are still a thing but are becoming less popular as there are better options available. Oil based lubes break down condoms, diaphragms, and latex toys. These lubes are hard to clean and also stain clothing/ sheets. People have been using things like olive oil and petroleum jelly as a lubricant for years. Oil lubes take several days for you body to work it’s way out and can trap bacteria in it’s tacky texture. These trapped bacteria makes it more likely for infections like Bacterial Vaginosis.
Coconut oil is a popular oil-based lubricant and is not necessarily a good option. Some people will swear by using coconut oil as a natural lubricant and as much as I would love for this to be a great solution, it’s actually not good for you. Coconut oil is antifungal and antibacterial which sound great but can actually disturb the good bacteria in your vagina. When you kill the good bacteria, you disrupt your natural ph balance and get a yeast infection. Also, the oil coats your vaginal walls making it difficult for your body to self-clean. And of course the oil breaks down condoms and some toys as well.
Lubes for trying to conceive.
If you are trying to get pregnant, there are just a few lube options for you. Because most lubes will slow down sperm, you will need to chose a lube that is sperm friendly. Even a regular water based lube will slow down sperm. These specialized lubes are very watery and will need constant reapplication. Talk with your doctor to get a recommendation on sperm friendly lube. Silicone and oil lubes are not an option if you are trying to conceive.
What do you think?