Lubricants are a quick and inexpensive way to enhance and improve your sex life.

Lube makes
condoms more effective. Lubricants are a must for making anal sex safer and more pleasurable. It’s
easier and safer to start with lube than it is to get into a sexual situation that becomes painful, unsafe
or simply doesn’t work (as when penis, dildo or finger insertion is unsuccessful because there’s too
much friction). After all, if you use too much you can always use less next time—or you can wipe
some off and keep on going, but if you don’t have enough to begin with, you might not be able to go at
it at all.
Many people think that arousal makes the vagina wet enough for sexual intercourse. That’s
simply not true for many people—but no problem, lubricants are here to help. And lube is always a
must for anal.

Did You Know?

Types of Lubricants
Arousal level doesn’t necessarily match someone’s degree of
Cherry flavored, Vanilla-Mint, self-heating, vaginal lubrication. Changes in hormone levels, pregnancy,
warm and tingly when you breathe on them… and menopause can alter levels of wetness. So do many
prescription and over-the-counter medications, not to mention
and even cinnamon sticks! Do you ever think
“social drugs” like alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana.
you should serve lube on the dessert bar instead
of in the bedroom?
Let us break down the menu:

Water-based
These lubricants are usually fairly thin, and many do a pretty good job of mimicking the feel of
vaginal lubrication. Great for vaginal intercourse and manual play, especially on the vulva. As for
penis-centered hand jobs, water-based lube dries out rather quickly when exposed to air. Safe with
latex and toys.

Water-based Gel
These are much like the above, but thicker. They get slippery during play, so if you use them for
vaginal sex they won’t feel too viscous—but they may be even better for anal insertion, where their
extra thickness can help cushion things a bit. You can re-wet gels with a sprinkle of water or your
saliva. Safe with latex and toys.

Water-based Cream
Cream lubricant looks and feels like lotion, so it allows for more friction—great for hand jobs, and
many people like it for vaginal intercourse. These lubes may last longer than the other water-based
products, though they have a tendency to be absorbed by the skin in a lotion-like way. They may not
be best to use before oral sex, as some brands have a flavor that is not neutral and some people do
not like the taste. This does vary from brand to brand, though, so if you like a cream lube for other sex
acts, give it a lick and see what you think. Safe with latex and toys, with this caveat—as we will note
in more detail below, silicone is present in many cream lubricants, and some silicone lubes and toys
are not compatible with each other. Most cream lubricants contain only small amounts of silicone, but
this varies (as does the quality of silicone toys), so we recommend that you do a patch test on your
toy’s base to make sure your chosen lubricant works with it.
Note about water-based lubricants: Almost all of them have a preservative, and some people
find they are sensitive to that or other lube ingredients. Some people choose organic lubricants and
some folks have told us they simply go for the lube with the fewest number of ingredients. The bottom
line is, if you find that a lubricant has an uncomfortable feel, makes you itchy or causes some other
reaction that suggests you have an intolerance to it—switch to something else! These products are
supposed to make sex more comfortable, not less.

Silicone
This is extremely slick, usually fairly thin, and many people like it for vaginal, anal, and manual play.
Its plus and its minus is that it stays and stays—which means it can be more difficult to wash away
than water-based products. That can be annoying after sex if you’re wiping and washing, wiping and
washing, and it still won’t go away. On the other hand, some love this feeling on their genitals after
sex—everything is smooth and slick. It can feel luxurious and moisturizing. And of course if you want
to have rub-a-dub sex in water, the staying power of silicone is perfect. As said above, follow
warnings about using silicone lube with silicone toys. Try it on a small part of the toy (like the base
of the dildo) before slathering up the whole thing. Be careful to do this, because if incompatible with
the lube, the toy becomes tacky and gets an odd bumpy surface; it will never return to its prior texture
again, no matter how much you wash it. These lubricants are safe to use with condoms and all latex.

Hybrid Lubricant
Roses, cars and now even lubricants can be “hybrids.” What does that mean? Simply that it is a mix,
in this case of a silicone and a water-based lubricant. Some cream lubricants are, in fact, hybrids,
because silicone is one of their ingredients. These are used for vaginal, anal and manual sex. Again,
consider whether or not to use these lubes on toys—use a tiny sample area before the big slather.
Usually, if a manufacturer’s silicone products do not work with any silicone lubricants they will
include this information in their user booklets. If it isn’t specifically mentioned we recommend only
using water-based lubricants or testing out the sample area. Better safe than sorry. Hybrids are
condom- and latex-safe.

Oil-based
Not recommended for most people for vaginal intercourse, although we’ve spoken to some who like
coconut oil or shea butter oil for this purpose. Never use mineral oil-based products such as
Vaseline, baby oil, Albolene, etc. for insertive sex—they dry the mucosa, the wet tissues of vagina
and anus. Remember, oils and oil-based lubes are never safe with latex condoms. If a person chooses
to use a vegetable or nut oil for insertion and needs a condom, a non-latex (poly/plastic) type can be
used. Vegetable and nut oils, if you are not allergic to the product they derive from, can be used for
hand jobs and sensual massage. Some people like them for anal sex, especially products like
vegetable shortening—the kind you’d use in pie crust—which are thicker and “cushier.” Remember
that if you are having any type of sex using a latex condom, dam, or gloves, oil-based lubes are not
for you.
Some cottage businesses offer wonderful emollient oils and lubricants helpful for people who
don’t need condoms and are sensitive to other lubes. Also some people love using sensual massage
bars, candles and oils.

Saliva
Almost always available, saliva can be applied liberally or in small amounts as wanted or needed.

Glycerine a.k.a. Glycerin or Glycerol

Glycerin is chemically related to sugar, and it does not seem to agree with everyone’s vaginal flora—
for some, it seems to irritate, or to encourage yeast infections. Others use it without problems. There
are enough people who have reactions, though, that many water-based lubes today have stopped
including glycerine. Silicone and oil-based preparations generally don’t include it.

Extras on the Menu

The varieties of specialty lubricants listed below are often given out at bachelor parties, as part of a
Valentine’s Day gift basket, or when couples are trying “to spice things up a little.” When buying any
novelty lubes, check the dates to be sure they aren’t expired, stick with samples or smaller sizes
unless you already know you like the brand, and remember we do not recommend using them
internally. Keep your regular lube at the ready—flavored or warming lubes are not replacements.
Rather, they’re a fun way to spark experimenting and conversation: “Did you like that?” or “Did it
work? Can you feel it?” They are also good for bringing attention to a body part that you might want
to get noticed. Are you wanting your nipples licked more? Need your toes heated? Want to pretend
your lover is a lollypop? Here you go!

Flavored
Many people enjoy these for oral sex, and they’re a great way to get the conversation and/or action
going downtown. Here’s the insider scoop: In the past we strongly recommended not using these for
inserting anything in the vagina or anus because of the chemical mix which would come in contact
with mucous membranes. But some quality brands of flavored lubricants are recommended for all
types of use. Some companies make flavored lubricants without sugar, using small amounts of
aspartame or another substitute, so vaginal irritation isn’t a potential problem, as it sometimes is with
a sugary lubricant. If you want to experiment with a flavored lubricant, make sure you like the taste,
but if you’re going to insert it, try a small amount first to make sure there’s no reaction. Ask which
brands are for the outside of the body and which are safe for the inside. Our main reservation about
this kind of product is a user’s potential sensitivity to ingredients. This is especially true if you are
allergic to the flavor in question when it’s in food: Do strawberries give you hives? Watch out for
strawberry-flavored lubes. Of course, some flavoring agents are completely artificial and have no
relationship to any actual strawberry!

Heating
These frequently use an extra big dose of glycerin to achieve the advertised effect (see our callout
above for more on that ingredient). Again, they’re not recommended for insertion as much as for
external vulva/penile use, and some people don’t tolerate glycerin well when it’s rubbed onto
mucosal tissues. Some people like the sensation these warming lubes give the clitoris, penis, nipples
or other areas; others don’t. We always recommend starting with a tiny amount and then once you
gauge the intensity of that particular product, you can add more if desired. These work best with
friction (like hand jobs) or by amplifying the warmth of one’s breath. That’s breath as in heavy
breathing, not blowing. Blowing often cools them down instead of heating them up. You might want to
be cautious about how much of these products you actually ingest! Some natural heating lubricants use
menthol for minty goodness and sensory play.

Extra sensation
These are often not really lubricants—they are sensation creams or gels. If you are curious about
these, please try them on a small area first to see if they are right for you. We have some cautions here
that everyone should read in case any apply to you. The instructions on these frequently tell you to
apply to the clitoris and rub in for a few minutes, which will result in arousal. Here’s the insider
scoop—actually more of an open secret—you can do that with ANY slippery liquid—regular
lubricant, coconut oil, or your own saliva—and achieve arousal! Save your money, at least until you
have tried that simple tactic first.
Some of these products contain the amino acid L-arginine, which encourages blood flow just
like rubbing with a lubricant does. Unlike lube, however, these creams might be problematic for users
who have herpes. Natural medicine practitioners suggest keeping an eye on your intake of foods
containing L-arginine if you have herpes, since some feel they might be associated with more frequent
outbreaks. This might not be true of topical use, but to our knowledge no one has studied it, so we
suggest caution until we have more clear data.
Some of these also contain mint oils or other sensation-packed botanicals. Sound like fun? They
are, until you’ve had enough and can’t wash it off. Peppermint and cinnamon are powerful sensory
agents. Oils are definitely a challenge to “turn off” when you’re ready to end the intense feeling, since
they can’t be immediately removed from your body. We love experimenting, so that’s why we say try
a tiny dab first—more romantic than hopping madly to the bathtub to wash off a burning clit or dick!

The Five Stages of Lube: The Span of an Adult Sex Life in Lube
by Shar Rednour

1) The Desperate Houseluber You’re young and/or you don’t know better—you
grab what’s handy. This is the slippery, slidey stuff that’s on hand when you need
it—lotion, Vaseline, shampoo, cooking oils—also known as pervertible
lubricant, since none of this stuff was invented to be used as a sexual lubricant at
all. These goos are the very thing sexologists, safer sex activists, or Good
Vibrations staffers say not to use. Wow, did you and yours have a laugh about
this later. Scary. But luckily you grew up and moved on!