Lubricant Buying Guide

Finding the Right Lubricants for You™

With all of the lubricants on the market, it may be difficult to choose one that works for you.   Experiment until you find a few that you like; many people have several favorites in each category.  In fact, some women with tender tissues like to use a silicone lubricant as a base coat, with a water-based lube on top.  Everyone's body is different, so pay attention to how your own body reacts, and discontinue use of any lubricant which causes discomfort, pain, burning, itching, stinging, swelling or redness.   Remember: no commercially-available lubricant is perfect.  The most important thing is finding a product that makes sex more enjoyable for you. 

Basic Lubricants

Water-Based Lubricant

The lubes most commonly sold in supermarkets and drug stores are water-based.  

• Pros:  Easy to find; inexpensive; generally does not stain fabrics unless color has been added; safe to use with latex condoms; compatible with most sex toys; usually edible; reconstitutes easily with added water, saliva, or additional lube; cleans up easily with water; some contain aloe which can help heal irritated skin.
• Cons: Dries out quickly and must be reactivated with water, saliva or lube; sometimes turns sticky or tacky; not useful for sex under water (tub, pool).  Some water-based lubricants contain ingredients which can irritate mucous membranes, though generally the concentration of these ingredients is low enough that most people tolerate them well: glycerin, propylene glycol/propanediol, antimicrobials (both naturally and chemically-derived), EDTA (which may retard healing of tissues which have been previously irritated but is otherwise safe), or a higher concentration of salts/sugars than the cells of the vagina and anus [a.k.a. hyper-osmotic lubricants]).
• Examples:  Better Sex® Gel Lubricant, Slippery Stuff Gel, Sinclair's Satiny Smooth Personal Lubricant, Better Sex Essentials® Liquid Lubricant, Better Sex Essentials® Gel Lubricant, Probe Thick and Rich, Aloe Cadabra Organic Lube, Sliquid Organics Natural

Silicone Lubricant

Silicone lubricant coats the surface of the skin and does not dry out like a water-based lube, so it stays slick longer than any other option, even under water.  Silicone is the preferred lubricant for anal sex as long as you aren't using toys which are incompatible.

• Pros:  A little goes a long way, so the bottle will last a long time; always slippery and never tacky; does not need reactivating; good for most sensitive skin; safe to use with latex condoms; recommended for both vaginal and anal sex; won't change pH levels; stays on underwater; good for massage as well as sex; odorless; coats and protects skin; does not feed bacteria or yeast; available in formulations which can be thin (similar to vaginal fluids) or a texture with a higher viscosity for anal sex.
• Cons:  More expensive than other varieties of lube; should not use with most silicone, CyberSkin® or other realistic-skin sex toys; can stain sheets; makes surfaces (like floors, showers) slippery until cleaned; must be washed off with a good deal of soap and water; may take longer to be flushed from or absorbed into the vagina than plant oils or water-based lubes. Cyclopentasiloxane, one ingredient in some silicone lubricants, can be a skin irritant for some very sensitive individuals.
• Examples: Better Sex Essentials® Silicone Lubricant, Anal Glide, Wet Platinum, Wet Naturals Silky Supreme, System JO Anal Silicone Lube, ID Millennium

Water/Silicone Hybrid Lubricant

A few lubricants contain both water and silicone ingredients.  These combine the properties of both varieties; the silicone makes the lubes last longer but clean-up is easier.

• Pros:  Generally does not stain fabrics unless color has been added; safe to use with latex condoms; reconstitutes easily with added water, saliva, or additional lube; needs to be reconstituted less often than water-based lubes; cleans up easily with soap and water; some contain aloe which can help heal irritated skin.
• Cons: May contain ingredients which can irritate mucous membranes (see silicone and water-based lubricants above).
• Examples: Wet Synergy Basic Lube

Petroleum-Based Lubricant

These are some of the most common lubricants for male masturbation because they are easily available.  Most sexual health professionals do not recommend them for vaginal use, but they may be used for massage. 

• Pros: Good for external massage and male masturbation; inexpensive and easily accessible; coats and protects the skin; does not dry out.
• Cons:  DESTROYS LATEX and polyisoprene (a non-allergenic "latex-free" material) and therefore cannot be used with most condoms; stains fabric; must be washed off with a good deal of soap and water; not recommended for vaginal intercourse.
• Examples: Jack Jelly, Stroke 29, mineral oil, many baby oils, Vaseline and other petroleum jellies, many lotions

Plant Oil Lubricant

There's a common misconception that oil is not appropriate for intercourse, but plant-based oils are sometimes recommended by gynecologists if a couple is not using latex or polyisoprene condoms.  It is important to note, however, that oils are not tested for vaginal or rectal safety.   In addition, most oils are not as slick as commercial lubricants, and so some individuals prefer to use them as moisturizers rather than lubricants.  Some sexuality educators recommend coconut oil over others because of its silky texture and because it can remain at room temperature without going rancid.  If using oils as lubricants or moisturizers, in order to avoid pesticides we recommend organic, cold/expeller-pressed vegetable or nut oils, as long as neither partner is allergic.  Also note that soybean oil may contain estrogenic compounds.  If you choose oil, make sure to use pure oil rather than a lotion which contains other ingredients.

• Pros: Good for massage and intercourse; moisturizes and lubricates tissues; edible; inexpensive and easily accessible at a natural food store.
• Cons: DESTROYS LATEX and polyisoprene, so cannot be used with most condoms; breaks down some additional materials used in sex toys, so oil may not be the best choice when using sex toys; stains fabric; can go rancid; can easily be confused with petroleum-based lubricants; since oils are absorbed into the skin you may sometimes need to add more oil; can be messy and somewhat sticky; can cause allergic reactions (especially nut oils) in individuals with food allergies; may feed microbes which may contribute to infection; the viscosity of most oils are thicker and less slippery than commercial lubricants. 
• Special Note: Though oil is not compatible with most condoms, it is safe to use with polyurethane and nitrile.
• Examples: corn, canola, avocado, peanut, olive, and coconut oils; Crisco and other vegetable shortenings for anal sex

Specialty Lubricants

New varieties of specialty lubricants are being introduced into the market all the time, including lubricants which claim to contain relaxing agents, tightening agents, or agents suggested to fight sexually transmitted infections (a claim not currently supported by research).  We suggest reviewing an ingredient list with your doctor before using any lubricant, and especially one which suggests a medical use.

Flavored Lubricant

Flavored Lubricants are water-based and often used for oral sex.

• Pros: Adds flavor and fun to oral sex; adds additional sensory stimulation; doesn't stain unless color has been added; safe to use with latex condoms; compatible with virtually all sex toys; reconstitutes easily with added water, saliva, or additional lube; edible; cleans up easily with water.
• Cons: Dries out quickly, sometimes turns sticky or tacky; may contain ingredients which can irritate mucous membranes and/or contribute to infection (see water-based lubricants).
• Examples:  System JO H20 Flavored Lube, Wet Fun Flavors, ID Juicy Flavored Lubes

Stimulating Lubricant

Warming and cooling lubricants are designed to add tingle and zing to genital massage and masturbation, especially when blown or rubbed lightly.  They may be used for intercourse, but some individuals may experience an uncomfortable or excessive warming sensation.  Be especially careful about using stimulating lubricants with vibrating sex toys; you may experience more sensation than is comfortable.   Typical stimulating ingredients include glycerin and propylene glycol, which evoke mild warming sensations in low concentrations and more acute sensations at higher doses.  Sometimes other stimulating ingredients are added, including menthol and mint oils which can irritate and dry out mucous membranes; camphor, a central nervous system toxin which can be absorbed through mucous membranes; and L-arginine which may aggravate symptoms of herpes and possibly contribute to its transmission.  Depending on the concentrations of ingredients which create the stimulating sensations, you may want to avoid these lubricants if you have sensitive, irritated, or dry tissues.  Most people, however, tolerate them quite well.

• Pros:  Fun for genital massage and external masturbation; condom and toy compatible; doesn't stain unless color has been added; easy to clean up.
• Cons: May contain potential irritants; not recommended for those with sensitive, irritated or dry tissues.
• Examples:  Wet Synergy Cool Tingle; System JO Premium Warming Lube; Wet Together

Desensitizing Lubricant

Lubricants containing numbing agents such as benzocaine are sometimes recommended for men who want their erections to last longer.   If using these lubricants for intercourse, the man should wear a condom, with the numbing agent on the inside so that it does not numb his partner's skin, as well. 

Sometimes lubricants containing numbing agents are also marketed for anal sex, but we strongly recommend not using them for this purpose.  The anal lining is very thin and can tear easily.   With anal sex, pain is an important warning signal; if you feel pain you should back off and relax the area, not numb it.

• Pros:  Decrease sensation for men who want to prolong erections before ejaculating.
• Cons:  Numbing agents will numb any skin it contacts; can irritate mucous membranes (vagina, anus, opening of the penis); not recommended for anal desensitization; need to use a condom for intercourse.
• Examples: Stay Hard Lubricant

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Resources

"About Herbs, Botanicals, and Other Products," Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa, "Atrophic Vaginitis" 

Joannides, Paul, Psy.D.  Guide to Getting it On: 6th edition.  Oregon, USA: Goofy Foot Press, 2009. 

Joannides, Paul, Psy.D. "Sex Lubes without Chemicals," As You Like It: Psychology Today, 8 November, 2010. 

Krueger, Robert, Ph.D.  Department of Pharmacognosy, Ferris State University.  Personal correspondence, Mar 2011.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institute of Health.

Neal, Brent, Ph.D. (chemist and polymer physicist).  Personal correspondence, 2011,

Stapleford, Amy, M.Ed. "Using Plant Oils as Sexual Lubricants," Embodied Sexuality, 25 August, 2008. 

Stapleford, Amy, M.Ed., "Osmolality and Safety of Sexual Lubricants: A Compilation of Research," 3 April 2011.  

Copyright 2011 by Sinclair Institute®

Updated 7/21/11