How to Choose the Best Lube for Your Sex Life

 Both lubricants and cons exist. Water-based products work well on delicate skin. While they stay longer, silicone and oil-based ones can harm toys and condoms. Although they have advantages, natural choices like olive oil can sometimes have drawbacks.

Whatever your preference, there's generally a consensus when it comes to sex: the wetter, the better. When it comes to lubrication, this reasoning flows naturally because you exactly grow wetter.

Additionally, you should think outside the box if you exclusively equate lubrication with dry vagina. Instead, regardless of gender, age, or stage of life, imagine less friction, smoother skin, and better sex.

Participants in a 2009 study conducted by Indiana University with 2,453 women claimed that lubricant increased the pleasure and enjoyment of sex more than 70% of the time.

"Needing a lubricant does not mean that you're not interested in your partner," affirms New York City sex and relationship therapist Carli Blau, LMSW.

Therefore, stop believing that lubrication is the only sign of excitement and start taking our partner's word for it.

Consider lubricant as a time-saver because you were meant to be out the door five minutes ago or as motivation for your bits. This is the before-play for lubricating foreplay.

What is lube, anyway?

A liquid or gel known as personal lubricant, or simply "lube," is used during sexual intercourse to reduce unwelcome friction.

It can be used for both penetrative and anal sex as well as masturbation, among other forms of sex. Certain kinds can be used with toys without risk.

What type should you buy?

When selecting the finest lubricant, you should consider the various varieties available. There are several bases for lubes:

• water
• silicone
• oil
• hybrid (combining a few of the above)

Water and silicone are frequently combined to create hybrid lubricants. There are numerous formulas available to meet your demands precisely.

How we chose

• Price. There are several affordable, secure lubricant solutions available. To best suit your budget, we've included a range of solutions at different pricing points.
• Base. Every lubricant begins with a base, such as silicone, water, or oil. To allow you to select the base that best suits your needs, we made sure to include a variety of bases.
• Customer rating. Although selecting a lube is a personal choice, we nonetheless went with products that received positive customer feedback.

How to lube up the right way

We're kidding because there's no "right" way to use lubricant.

Do you need it to sulk? Are you in the mood, but your body isn't telling you to lubricate yet? Feel free to spread it widely.

The 26-year-old Jenny is unable to generate enough lubricant naturally for intercourse. She applies lubricant to her partner's genitalia during foreplay and adds more if necessary if she begins to feel uneasy during sexual intercourse.

Account manager Kate, 27, claims that she uses lube seventy-five percent of the time—either for masturbating or when she's with a partner.

Kate remarks, "It's nice to have that little extra help, even if I am wet."

Apply as much as necessary to the vagina, penis, or anus, depending on your needs.

Preheat it in your palms once you've determined which lubricant works best for you. Although it's not required, skipping this step may result in somewhat cold lube. Remember to lubricate the outside of the condom with a lubricant that isn't based on oil if you're using one.

Regardless of whether you use dental dams, diaphragms, or condoms, lubrication can lessen friction and increase the enjoyment of intercourse.

How to choose

Your intimate life can benefit greatly from personal lubrication, but there are a tonne of options available. Most people use lubrication to reduce friction and promote comfort and pleasure, so figuring out what works best for you is personal.

It would help if you thought about how to utilize the lube before buying it. You must choose a suitable alternative if you plan to use silicone sex toys or a condom.

Water-based lubes can be a terrific place to start because they are perfect for persons with sensitive skin and may be used for all purposes. On the other hand, silicone-based alternatives survive longer but potentially harm silicone-based toys due to the gradual degradation of the substance.

Finally, lubes with an oil base have a longer shelf life. However, as they may cause them to rupture or shatter, avoid using them with latex condoms.

What to avoid at all costs

When shopping, many alternatives are available for lubrication: flavored, natural, warming, and tingling. These lubes can be entertaining, but be cautious when examining the contents, and use litmus strips to measure the pH of over-the-counter products (just like in science class).

The ideal pH range for a healthy vagina is between 3.5 and 4.5. Therefore, the lubricant you use should likewise be within that range. It could be challenging to confirm, though, as many lubes don't disclose the pH level on the container.

Observe the materials mentioned at all times. Indeed, some of these would be best avoided as they could irritate or inflame your skin:

• glycerin
• nonoxynol-9
• petroleum
• propylene glycol
• chlorhexidine gluconate

Blau advises minimizing the chance of infections by locating one devoid of petroleum, glycerin, and parabens. Choose a lubricant that is latex, rubber, and plastic friendly if you use condoms and toys.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use coconut oil as lube?

In general, coconut oil is a safe, natural lubricant. It helps reduce dry vagina and friction.

You should be aware, nevertheless, that unprocessed coconut oil undergoes less bleaching and processing. To keep things as clean as possible, you should also get a brand-new jar intended explicitly for sexual activity.

What can I use instead of lube?

Several everyday objects can be used as lubricant substitutes. These consist of aloe vera, peanuts, coconut, and olive oil. However, some can raise your chance of developing yeast infections. They can tear condoms, so you might want to get one from our list instead.

Can you use baby oil for lube?

It is not advised. Although using baby oil as a moisturizer is fine, avoid using it as a lubricant. Mineral oil-based products, such as baby oil, can degrade latex condoms and raise your risk of vaginal infection.

What is lube used for?

Personal lubricant is used during sexual activity to lessen friction and irritation. It can be used for both masturbating and having intercourse with someone. The market offers a wide range of secure solutions depending on your needs.

Takeaway

Whatever your motivation for utilizing lubrication, keep in mind that it's an easy and enjoyable approach to advance your sexual life. So proceed and become lubricated!