The Ultimate Guide to Sexual Lubricants

Welcome to the wet, wild, and wonderful world of sexual lubricants.

In this ultimate guide, you’re going to learn the secrets of the slippery solution that should live on every bedside table.

Lube isn’t just for quickies and dryness issues. Lube is the literal oil that turns the gears of great sex.

Just think about it. When it comes to pleasure for him or for her, WETTER is always BETTER.

Lube increases the wetness, slickness, and sensation of both partners.

If you’re not using it, you’re limiting your sexual satisfaction. And believe us, your partner can tell the difference between sex with someone who lubes up and sex with someone who doesn’t.

Lube really is that important!

This is why we’re going to tell you all about it in this guide to sex lube. By the time you finish reading, you will know:

• How to lube can up your game in bed
• Why lube is so important
• How to find your lube’s pH level (SUPER IMPORTANT)
• The various types of lube
• How to choose the right lube for your sex life
• Our favorite lubes for masturbation, sex, anal, and more.

Let’s dive into the world of sexual lubricants….

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What is Sex Lube?

Sexual lubricant is a liquid gel solution that reduces friction during sex and masturbation. Basically, it makes it easier to move in, out, up, down, and in any other direction that makes you feel good.

Lube is made of several different ingredients, all of which have their own benefits. There are lubes made for different types of sex and different levels of pleasure.

There are lubes for vaginal sex, lubes for anal, and lubes for masturbation.

There are lubes that make you feel more sensation and lubes that reduce sensation so you can last longer.

There are oily lubes, thick lubes, hot lubes, and icy lubes.

Using the right lube will increase your pleasure and unlock new kinks in your sex life.

Using the wrong one may break your condom or cause irritation. Nobody wants that.

Luckily, we’re going to tell you exactly which lube is right for you.

Is Lube Even Important?

YES!

While lube isn’t a crucial ingredient for sex, it is a crucial ingredient for GOOD sex.

You may be thinking, “Well, I’ve had plenty of good sex without lube.” That may be true. But was it good for your partner? Could it have been better?

If you’re a man, you might not notice when your partner starts to feel uncomfortable. Many women can lose their natural lubrication for many reasons before or during sex. During anal sex, penetration can get quite uncomfortable for the receiver without some extra lube.

Additionally, lubricant is necessary for solo play with adult toys (yes, even for men). Some toys like Tenga Egg Masturbators even come with lubricant included.

So yes, lube is important!

But many people don’t mention when they start to feel uncomfortable because they want to please their partners.

This results in one-sided sex, which isn’t very healthy.

Lube ensures that each partner feels comfortable for the duration of sex. Comfortable sex is more fun, pleasurable, and satisfying for everyone involved.

Lube also increases the sensation you feel by making all your sensitive parts wetter and slicker. This makes it easier to move in the ways that you and your partner love.

So, is lube important? If you want to have good sex (and care about your partner’s pleasure), then YES.

When should you use lube? Always. Yep, we went there. You should always use lube. Why? Because lube makes sex BETTER and SAFER.

Lube isn’t just for women who have trouble getting wet or guys whose condoms slip off. Lube ensures that each partner enjoys maximum comfort and pleasure during sex.

Lube makes it easier to let loose and feels good. And it makes it more fun to explore each other’s bodies. Want to try something new? Feet? Tits? Anal? Toys? Just lube up, and you’re ready to go.

Prepping for shower sex? Check out our list of best lube for shower sex possible.

And when it comes to masturbation, lube makes hands and toys feel way better. Plus, it keeps your skin soft and nourished. Nobody likes chafing and rashes down there!

Don’t forget to lube up with a condom, too! Many people think that lube and condoms don’t mix, but you should always lube up with water or silicone-based lube when using a condom. It makes condoms feel more comfortable and natural.

You should lube up every time you want to get off, but you can’t just use any lube. You need to choose the right lube for your body and the type of sex play you enjoy.

Let’s take a look at the different types of lube and what they’re used for.

Types of Sexual Lubricants

There are so many lubes out there that it’s impossible to count them all. So, we’ve broken down this lube guide into standard lubes and specialty lubes. Then, we’ll tell you how to choose a lubricant for your specific sexual needs.

Water-Based Lube

Water-based lubricant is the lube that everyone NEEDS to keep a bottle of. Why? Because water-based lube is the most versatile of all the lubes.

It can be used for all types of sexual play—vaginal, anal, masturbation, toys, hands, feet—whatever you’re into.

It can be used with all sex toys, including silicone and all condom types, latex and non-latex.

Water-based lube is also the cleanest lube. It washes off with water, it doesn’t stain, and it dries clean without leaving you sticky and crusty. It’s also easy on your skin.

You may prefer a slicker oil-based or silicone-based lube for certain activities, but it’s always a good idea to keep a bottle of water-based lube around.

Top 3 Water-Based Lubricants

K-Y is one of the most trusted names in sexual lubricants. This water-based lube is simple and long-lasting. It’s the no-frills water-based lube that should be on every bedside table or medicine cabinet.

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Encounter Pure is one of the best water-based lubes for vaginal sex. The pH is balanced for a woman’s body, making it safer and more comfortable for her. The lube was formulated to mimic natural vaginal lubricant, making it extra cozy for him too.

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While Encounter Pure is water-based lube for her, Gun Oil is for him. This safe, odorless, and flavorless lube is long-lasting and super slick. Ingredients like ginseng and guarana enhance blood flow for harder erections and more sensation.

Oil-Based Lube

Oil-based lube is the slickest and the longest-lasting lube you can buy. With a single application, you’ll be lubed up and ready to go all night long.

You’ll never have to stop and reapply. For this reason, oil-based lube is popular for anal sex and anal play. Butts don’t produce natural lubrication like vaginas, so a lube that lasts longer is safer and more comfortable.

Another benefit of oil-based lube is that you don’t have to use very much of it. A small squeeze is all it takes, making this lube less messy in some ways.

However, oil-based lubes are known to stain sheets and clothing. So while you don’t need to use as much of it, you have to be careful about where it ends.

You should NOT use an oil-based lube with latex condoms. It can cause them to break. Oil-based lubes are typically not safe for vaginal sex, as the pH level is too high (more on pH levels later).

Top 3 Oil-Based Lubricants

Boy Butter is one of the original oil-based lubes for anal sex, though it can be used for male masturbation. Made from a coconut oil base, the lube is ultra-thick and smooth. It’s also a stain-free oil-based lube. We interviewed the creator of Boy Butter.

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With organic coconut oil and other hand-selected natural ingredients, this lube is a great choice.

This natural ingredients mixture takes care of not just your most sensitive skin but your entire body, as it is intended not just as a topical moisturizer for your intimate areas but all-over body skin conditioning.

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Spunk Natural is a vegan lube made from natural oils like avocado oil and coconut oil. It’s high in nourishing vitamins and good for the skin. Safe to use with all kinds of toys, this lube is recommended for anal play and masturbation.

Silicone-Based Lube

Silicone-based lubes offer the best of both worlds to those who want something between water-based (cleaner but doesn’t last as long) and oil-based (ultra-long lasting but messy).

Silicone is much longer-lasting than water-based lube, and it’s easier to clean than oil-based lube (though it can still stain sheets). It can also be used for all types of sex, including vaginal.

The biggest benefit of silicone is that it’s the most comfortable lube. It’s so silky soft that it feels amazing on anything. For this reason, it’s highly recommended for masturbation.

You can also use silicone-based lube with latex condoms, which is a big plus.

But you shouldn’t use it with silicone toys, as it can cause them to degrade. Another downside is that silicone lube is expensive.

Top 3 Silicone-Based Lubricants

Swiss Navy Silicone makes a great silicone lube for starters—it’s affordable, odor-free, and has the silky smooth feel that silicone is known for. It contains added vitamin E to keep your skin extra soft even as you go hard.

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A higher-end silicone lube. You’ll pay a bit more for ID Millennium lube, but it’s worth it. Made with medical-grade silicone, this lube lasts longer and delivers the ultimate in silky comfort. ID’s lube does not dry out—it stays slick when exposed to heat, air, and water.

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Pjur makes premium sexual lubricants, and their silicone blend is something you have to try. Pjur’s concentrated silicone is thick and smooth, and it never loses its consistency. It’s ideal for marathon sessions and long-lasting fun.

Hybrid Lube

Hybrid lubricants feature a mix of two different bases. For example, some hybrids contain water-based lube with oil or silicone to create a longer-lasting product.

If you use condoms during sex, you might want to use a water-silicone blend that’s latex safe. If an oil-based lube is irritating to your skin, you may get the same pleasure without irritating a water-oil hybrid.

Choosing a hybrid is often the sweet spot for cleanliness, comfort, and versatility.

Top 3 Hybrid Lubricants

Sliquid Silk is a water-silicone hybrid lube made for vaginal sex. The formula is irritant-free and pH optimized for a woman’s body. It’s also condom-friendly and non-staining. For PiV (penis-in-vagina) sex, this is an incredibly smooth lube with very few drawbacks.

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There's nothing softer than silk, and if you're looking for a long-lasting lubricant with an unbelievably soft texture, ID Silk lubricant hits the mark.

It is latex, condom, and sex toy safe, and great for masturbation or any other sexual activity.

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Spunk Lube Hybrid is a water-based silicone lubricant that resembles the look and feel of natural body lubrication (ie: cum).

Its non-staining, hypoallergenic formula cleans up very easily. It's white, creamy, and fun to use.

Spunk Lube Hybrid is not sticky, tacky, or greasy. It's perfect for anal, vaginal, masturbation, solo, sex, toys, condoms & more.

Natural/Organic Lube

Natural and organic lubricants are made with natural ingredients. They are often easier on the skin, full of vitamins, and less likely to irritate.

Most are made from natural vegan ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, aloe, and avocado oil. Natural lube is free from artificial ingredients like parabens and glycerin, leading to infection, especially in women.

But natural lubes aren’t always the right way to go. Any oil-based lube can cause condoms to break, and that includes coconut oil. Oils often have a pH level that is too high for use inside the vagina. Natural ingredients can also stain or feel sticky.

Top Natural/Organic Lubricants

Sliquid Organics Natural is just as slick and creamy as their standard lube. But instead of water and silicone, the lube is formulated with water and aloe. This lube is fragrance-free, stain-free, and easy to wash off with water.

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Pink Natural lube contains a blend of water, aloe, ginseng, and guarana. Water and aloe provide gentle yet long-lasting lubrication. Ginseng and guarana increase blood flow for enhanced sensation.

Specialty Lube

Specialty lube contains extra ingredients that deliver tantalizing sensations. Tingling, cooling, warming, and sensitivity-enhancing effects can push your pleasure to the next level.

WARNING: Specialty lubes are not always pH-balanced for anal and vaginal sex, meaning they can cause irritation or infection. Always check a lube’s pH level before giving it a try. Find out how below in the “How to Find the Right Lube” section of this article.

Warming Lube

Warming lube is made with menthol or chili extract to provide a warming, tingling sensation upon contact. Warm and wet sensations boost levels of pleasure for both partners, but the warming effect is especially stimulating for him. It can also increase blood flow for harder erections and increased sensitivity.

Our favorite warming lubricants are:

• Sliquid 'Sizzle' Warming Lubricant
• Hot Pink Warming
• Swiss Navy Warming

Cooling Lube

Cooling lube adds an icy sensation with ingredients like mint and menthol. While warming lubes tend to be more popular, turning the temperature down can be fun on hot days. Icy sensations are also a turn-on when applied to the most sensitive areas like the clit and head of the penis.

Our favorite cooling lubricants are:

• Wet "Cool Tingle"
• Sliquid Spark (silicone-based with menthol)
• ID Pleasure Tingling (water-based)

Tingling Lube

Tingling lube contains special ingredients that add a tingling sensation anywhere it's applied. The effect feels electric and can turn a normal night into an adventure. We especially recommend using it on erogenous zones like the nipples and perineum during foreplay.

Our favorite tingling lubricants are:

• Ride Bodyworx Rise Stimulating Gel
• ID Pleasure Tingling Sensation Personal Lubricant
• Sliquid Organics Sensation Simulating
  
  

Desensitizing Lube

Desensitizing lube is for when you want to feel a little bit less stimulation. This can be helpful for men who want to last longer in bed and for women who are very sensitive to clitoral stimulation. It’s also popular for use on the rectum during anal play.

Our favorite desensitizing lubricants are:

• Boy Butter Extreme Desensitizing (oil-based)
• Anal-Ese "Anal Blu" Desensitizing Cream
• Pjur Analyze Me! Comfort Glide
  
  

Flavored Lube

Flavored lube contains flavored ingredients that taste like fruit, mint, vanilla, chocolate, and more. If you worry about your taste or just want to add another sensation to your sex life, then flavored lube can help.

Our favorite flavored lubes are:

• Sliquid Naturals Swirl Strawberry Pomegranate (water-based)
• Swiss Navy Flavors H2O Very Wild Cherry (water-based)
• Whipped Cream Flavored Lube by WET (organic)
  
  

Spermicidal Lube

Spermicidal lube is a bit different from the others. This lube contains an ingredient that kills sperm cells to help prevent unwanted pregnancy. The woman puts this lube inside her vagina 15 minutes before sex. It’s about 70% effective, so we recommend wearing a condom as well.

How to Find the Right Lube (in 3 Easy Steps)

As we saw above, there’s A LOT of lube to choose from. It just goes to show you all the ways that lube can enhance your sex life. But to get the best results in bed, you have to choose the right lube for your body and the type of sex you’re having.

Here’s how to do it.

Pick your Pleasure

Every lube has a job to do. Some lubes are for vaginal sex, some are for anal, and some are for masturbation. Others can be used for all three and everything in between.

Here’s how to pick the right lube for every kind of pleasure:

Lube for vaginal sex

The easiest way to choose a lube for vaginal sex is to choose a lube made for women. This helps to ensure that the ingredients won’t cause irritation or infection inside the vagina. We recommend:

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Lube for anal sex

Anal sex lube needs to be extra slick and long-lasting, so we have to recommend oil-based lubes like Boy Butter Original above all. For easier cleanup, Pjur Backdoor Comfort is an excellent water-based anal lube.

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Lube for masturbation

When lubing up for solo play, it’s all about your pleasure. For men, we recommend silicone lube for an ultra-soft and silky feel.

Try Spunk Lube Hybrid, an affordable silicone-water hybrid made for men. For women, water-based lube is the best way to avoid irritation. Encounter Lasting is made just for women.

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Lube for foreplay

You can go a little wilder during foreplay, especially when lubing up non-invasive areas like the breasts, balls, perineum (taint), and mons pubis.

This is the perfect time to break out some specialty lubes like Wet WOW "Max O" Clitoral Arousal Gel warming and tingling lubricants or some flavored lube like Sliquid Naturals Swirl Pina Colada. Yum.

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Check the pH level

This is VERY IMPORTANT. If you don’t use lube with the right pH balance, you can end up with some pretty uncomfortable consequences. For women, they include yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis (both are pretty nasty infections that could land you at the doctor’s office).

For men and women engaging in anal sex, lube with the wrong pH can damage anal tissue and increase the risk of STI infection.

What is pH anyway? And how can you find it when you’re shopping for lube?

PH is a measure of acidity. To be healthy, you want to have a proper pH balance in your body. But different parts of your body have different healthy pH levels, making things a bit complicated.

For example, the normal pH balance of a vagina is between 3.8-4.5. So, you want to pick a lube with the same pH level for vaginal sex. If your lube has a higher or lower pH, things will start to go haywire.

The proper pH of the interior of a butt is around 5.5-7. That means your lube should have the same pH level for anal play.

To find the right pH, simply check the label of your preferred lube. If you can’t find it, contact the company. If you still can’t find it, something shady is going on, and you should choose another lube!

Here are some tips for choosing a lube with a healthy pH balance:

• Lube for vaginal sex and female masturbation should have a pH of 3.8-4.5
• Lube for anal sex should have a pH of 5.5-7.5
• Most water-based and silicone lube has a pH ideal for vaginal sex
• Oil-based lube has a higher pH and is ideal for anal sex
• Flavored and specialty lubricants are more likely to have unsafe pH levels
• Vaginal pH rises post-menopause, so women may need to change lubricants
  

Check the ingredients

pH isn’t all you need to know to find the best sexual lubricant. You also need to be aware of the ingredients in your lube. Do you really want to slather something all over your junk (or inside your body) without knowing what’s in it?

We know the ingredient lists on lube can be pretty confusing and contain lots of strange words. So, we’ll tell you which ones are good to glide and which ones to steer clear from.

Lube for vaginal sex should not contain chemicals that can upset the delicate ecosystem that is the vagina. These include:

• Parabens: These preservatives can cause vaginal irritation (aka not good sex).
• Glycerin: Glycerin is a by-product of sugar that can cause yeast levels to skyrocket.
• Chlorhexidine Gluconate: This disinfectant can do more harm than good by killing off healthy bacteria in the vagina.
• Cyclomethicone: Some evidence suggests that this ingredient may cause cancer. Look out for it in some silicone-based lubricants.

These ingredients are NOT harmful for male masturbation and anal sex, but it’s a good idea to avoid them anyway.

It’s also important to look for specific ingredients when buying flavored lube. If the ingredients on the package simply say “flavoring” or “aroma,” then something fishy is going on.

Your best bet is to buy an organic flavored lube like those made by Sliquid Naturals Cherry Vanilla Flavored Lubricant.

Sexual Lube is Wetter and Better at Condomania

Now that you’re an astute lube guru, you’re ready to stock your bedside table and experience a wetter and wilder sex life.

Remember, you need to choose different lubes for different types of sex. It’s essential to keep separate lubes on hand for vaginal and anal play (if you engage in both).

Condomania has one of the largest lube emporiums on the web. We’ve carefully chosen lubricants in every category and from top brands so you can be sure you’re getting the slipperiest and safest lube on the market.

We have dozens of water-based, oil, silicone, hybrid, organic, and specialty lubes, as well as a few kinky secrets in stock that you don’t want to miss.

Buy your lube now at Condomania and get fast discreet shipping directly to your door. You could be enjoying better sex in days!