No matter your gender or sexuality, there's one sexual enhancement we all need--lube! However, with all the different brands and types, which sexual lubricants are the best? This all depends on what activities you'll be doing, if you have any skin sensitivities or allergies, and your personal preferences. Here are some basic guidelines for each type of lube: advantages, disadvantages, recommended uses, and recommended brands from a certified Sexologist.**
Water-Based Lubes
The most commonly known and used sexual lubricant is water-based lube. These can range in texture and consistency from lightweight and watery to sticky, thick gels. The advantages of high-quality, water-based lubes are the natural feel, condom compatibility, and the fact that they don't require any special clean up after use. However, to many connoisseurs, the cons outweigh the pros.
The greatest disadvantage of water-based lubes is that they absorb into the skin, evaporating quickly. This means that you will need to reapply the lube, causing interruptions in your intimacy time, and ultimately using up the product more quickly. Low-end, water-based lubes also become tacky as they dry, and can leave behind an uncomfortable residue (this is the top complaint from using products such as KY Jelly and Trojan brands). Due to their lower viscosity, water-based lubes are also not recommended for anal sex.
The recommended use for water-based lubes is for individuals who want a natural lubrication feel (for vaginal sex), not wanting to clean up lube after sex, and those with silicone sensitivities. However, you must choose a higher-quality water-based lube to get these results. Some brands that provide a smooth glide with minimal amount of tackiness are Liquid Silk, Wet Original, Good Clean Love, Wicked Aqua, Sliquid, and Pjur Medical grade lubes.
Silicone Lubes
The most popular “all-around” lube is silicone-based. Similarly to water-based, silicone lubes can vary in viscosity from silky smooth to thick. Silicone lube is the longest lasting of all sexual lubricants. It won’t evaporate, so it retains its glide-ability over a longer period of time. This means that you can use less product and have longer sex without interruptions. Like water-based, silicone lube is also condom safe. However, the disadvantages of silicone lube are also its strengths.
Silicone lube is so good at sticking around that it requires extra clean up once you’re done (unless you like a slippery feeling on your intimate areas). This is also what has led most sexuality professionals and toy manufacturers to say that silicone lubes are incompatible with silicone toys—which is false. The truth is that you can use silicone lubricants with high-quality, body-safe silicone toys, but you must wash these intimacy devices thoroughly with soap and water after using them with a silicone lube. Any remaining residue will break down the silicone exterior of the toy over time and destroy it.
Because of its waterproof, conditioning, and slippery properties, silicone lubes are ideal for anal sex (due to the rectum’s inability to self-moisturize), body massage, skin moisturizer, and sexual activities in water. Some examples of high-quality silicone lubes are Überlube, Pjur Silicone, Wicked Ultra, and Loob Lube Premium Silk.
Hybrid Lubes
The next kind of lube is a hybrid between water and silicone. As you can guess, it has mixed properties from each of its two components, and shares both of their pros and cons. Hybrid lube lasts longer than water-based, but dissipates more quickly than silicone. It’s less messy than silicone, but a little tackier than water-based. Hybrid lubricants are recommended when you need some extra glide-ability without the extended clean up from a full silicone lube. Both Wicked and Sliquid Silk brands produce nice hybrid lubes.
Warming/Cooling Lubes
Additionally, there are specialty lubes, such as those with warming and cooling effects. Most lubricants with additives are water-based, so they carry all of the properties of these lubes plus the additional characteristics of the extra ingredients. Cooling lubes typically contain peppermint, menthol, herbal extracts, or other chemicals that add a chilly effect to erogenous zones. Warming lubricants can include glycerol, capsaicin, herbal extracts, or other alcohols that cause a tingling/hot sensation. The advantages of specialty lubes are their stimulating properties. Many people find the tingling sensations arousing and can heighten sensitivity during sex. The disadvantages of these lubes are that they can cause skin irritations and have unpleasant tastes. Due to this, these lubes are not recommended for people with sensitive skin or for oral sex. Some of the best brands that offer cooling and/or warming lubricants are KY Touch Massage, Wicked Aqua Chill, Wicked Aqua Heat, and Trojan’s Yours+Mine lubes.
Flavored Lubes
Another type of specialty lube is flavored lubricant. Once again, these are typically water-based. Quality, flavored lubes have little to no aftertaste, are sugar free (critical to prevent yeast infections!), are colorless/non-staining, and of course taste delicious. Some brands do have an aftertaste, so it’s always advisable to purchase sample-sizes packages or visit a store that lets you “taste-test” prior to purchase. Due to the synthetic nature of these lubes, some flavors also have a more chemical taste. Fruity and sweet flavors (like peach, strawberry, and caramel) tend to taste better than ones with bitter undertones (chocolate or coffee). Obviously, these lubricants are recommended for oral sex and any mouthy sensual play. Wet brand carries a reliable line of flavored lubes, as does Wicked.
Fertility Lubes
There are also product lines specifically produced to assist with fertility. Fertility lubes are specially pH balanced and include ingredients that protect sperm on their journey. Other lubes damage sperm cells, which can inhibit their lifespan. However, this does NOT make them a reliable form of birth control; it merely makes deliberate conception more challenging, particularly for individuals who might already have fertility difficulties. Fertility lubes should be the only lubes used by couples who are intentionally trying to conceive. Some brands include Pre-Seed, ConceivEasy, Yes Baby, Conceive Plus, and Zestica Fertility.
Coconut Oil
The last main type of lubricant that’s widely recognized is coconut oil. Many individuals prefer coconut oil-based lubricants because they are all-natural, vegan, and have a pleasant aroma and taste. They also tend to be thicker than water-based lubes, so they last longer. However, the biggest disadvantage of coconut oil is perhaps the worst of all—it is not condom safe. Coconut oil degrades latex and causes them to break, tear, or leak. Although there are many companies that produce coconut oil lube, one of the best is WOO More Play, which offers a variety of coconut-oil based intimacy products.
If you’ve gotten this far, you might be asking, “What about oil-based lubes other than coconut?” Other oil-based items commonly used as lubricants (such as baby oil, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, or hand creams) are not FDA recommended for use as sexual lubricants. Many people use these products because they have them on hand or because they are inexpensive. This should never be a reason to put your physical and sexual health at risk. These products degrade latex condoms, can cause skin irritation and micro tears/abrasions, and can throw off the body’s natural pH balance and culture, increasing the likelihood of bacterial infections, yeast infections, and the spread of STIs. This is why informed sexuality professionals do not recommend any of these items.
If you’re going to have fun, do it safely! Thank your body for the pleasure it provides you by being kind and investing in quality lubricants that will only enhance your intimate relationships. Build your own sexual tool box with various lubricants and devices to enhance your intimacy. You don’t have to be a boy scout to always be prepared! You don’t want to be caught unequipped with your pants down
** As a general disclaimer, this is not an exhaustive list of all lubricants. With hundreds of lubricant brands on the market, there is no way to include them all. This is a recommended list by ACS-certified Sexologist William Lynch**