Want to dive into lube but not sure where to start? 

You want to venture into the world of lube but don't know where to start? It can seem overwhelming to pick the right one for the right job. I felt the same way when I started shopping for my first bottle of lube. Do I go with water based or silicone? Was I going to use it with a partner? With what type of toy? Ugh!

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the right lube. Fundamentally, lube is a product that reduces friction by making surfaces smooth and slippery which can make your sexual encounter a lot more fun. 

Lube can be broken down into 4 main categories: water based, hybrid, silicone based, and oil based

Listed below are some of the basic components of each type and some great recommendations of lubes that you can find right in the Buzz Me In store. 

Water based

Water based lube can be used for all kinds of sexual play and is your safest and best choice when you don't know what, who, or where you’ll be using the lube. 

• Can be used for masturbation, penetrative sex,  and sex toys.
• Can be used with condoms and by people with sensitive skin.
• Water Based lube is easy to clean from clothing, sheets, and toys. Typically you can use a mild soap and water. Water based lube won't leave a stain either. 

Pros: Water Based lube is safe for condoms, toys and sensitive skin. 

Cons: Dries quickly and may need reapplied. Not great for waterplay or use in the shower as it tends to wash off fast. 

Recommendations of some water based lube:

Sliquid H2O 

Pjur Aqua Naked

Good Clean Love Almost Naked

Silicone Based

Silicone lube is slippery and long-lasting which makes it ideal for those long play sessions. It requires a lot less reapplication. 

• Great for use in the shower as it wont get washed away. Be careful though because it is very slippery!
• Do not use silicone lube with silicone toys. It can break down the material over time which means a potential place for bacteria to grow. It may also cause discoloration in silicone toys. 
• Can be used with glass, stone, and steel toys. 
• Silicone requires more laborious cleaning and it may stain clothes, sheets, and other porous surfaces like carpet, wooden tables and hardwood floors.

Pros: Long lasting for longer play time and doesn't wash off easily. It can be used with condoms but always check the packaging for safety recommendations to make sure. 

Cons: Not for use with silicone toys and can cause them to deteriorate over time. Requires more cleaning. Can stain porous surfaces and sheets.

Recommendations of some silicone based lube:

 

Hybrid lube

Hybrid lube has the slickness of silicone but the natural feeling of water based lube.

• Primarily water-based with a small amount of silicone which makes it longer-lasting than water-based. 
• Best middle option and is the best of both worlds (water and silicone)
• Can be used with some silicone toys and both latex and non latex condoms. Always spot test to make sure it won't discolor or degrade your toys. Check the packaging of condoms and barriers to make sure they are safe with hybrid lube. 

Pros: longer lasting than water based lube. Can be used with latex and non-latex barriers

Cons: Can be used with some sex toys. Can cause silicone toys to discolor. Needs extra clean up. 

Recommendations of hybrid lubes:

Oil based lube

Oil based lube has a slippery texture that is also ideal for longer sexual sessions. 

• Ideal for masturbation, massage, and penetrative sex.
• Should not be used with latex-condoms. Oil based lube will break them down and cause them to break.
• Not ideal for silicone toys because it will also break the material down and potentially leave room for bacteria to grow. 
• Can be used with some non-latex condoms/barriers, such as lambskin, nitrile, polyurethane. Please check the packaging to make sure your condom/barrier is compatible with oil based lube. 
• Oil based lubes can be difficult to clean off clothes, sheets and the body. They may leave lingering residue in the vagina and/or anus which may cause bacterial growth.
• Can potentially alter vaginal pH balance. 

Pros: long lasting for longer experiences. Doesn’t wash off in the shower

Cons: Not to be used with latex condoms/barriers. Not ideal for silicone toys. May be derived from nuts and should be avoided by those with nut allergies. Will stain clothes, sheets, and other porous materials. 

Recommendations for oil based lube:

Extra lube stuff to know

Anal play requires lube–the anus does not produce lubrication naturally so a personal lubricant is recommended. Using lube can make anal play safer and much more enjoyable. Without lube, anal penetration can cause tears and rips in the anus and the penis which can cause folks to be more susceptible to infections and STI’s. Typically anal lube has a thicker consistency and lasts longer then general use lube. 

Flavored lubes can be a wonderful fun time for oral sex! We recommend that you don’t use flavored lubes for penetrative sex since they contain sugar (glucose) which can cause yeast infections. Flavored lubes when used in penetrative sex have been linked to causing UTI’s as well as altering the vaginal pH balance. 

Moisturizing lube: Vaginal moisturizing lubes are a non-hormonal option designed to rehydrate your vaginal tissue and provide moisture using hydrating ingredients. Vaginal moisturizers can be used at anytime and not just during sexual encounters.  

Ingredients are important when choosing a lube as well as what and how you will be using the lube. Not all lubes are created equal and some ingredients may cause some issues for folks. Some ingredients to watch out for are:

• Glycerin or Glycol is what is used to make lube slippery. Some users have reported links to yeast infections and other issues.
• Parabens are used as a preservative, which may be linked to causing skin irritation.
• Warming/cooling & stimulating/intensifying lube: The ingredients in these lubes have been reported by some people to have caused itching, burning, and yeast infections. Please use caution when using these types of lubes. 
• Numbing/prolonging lubes are advertised as ideal for relaxing and/or numbing specific areas of the body (such as anus or throat). Typically these products work by hindering the body’s ability to feel anything. What these products do is suppress pain, which is the body’s warning system that something has gone wrong. This can potentially be very dangerous which is why you should use caution when using these types of lubes. 

We suggest trying out different brands and types of lubes to identify what works best for you and your partner(s). Just remember, play time that is slippery when wet can create a much more fun experience!