When it comes to sex, we all have this notion of what it is like in our minds. We envision this sensual, sometimes erotic, experience that is fun, heated, messy, and extremely pleasurable. But, in truth, sex can be awkward, uncoordinated, and uncomfortable due to the friction between you, your partner, or yourself. To help eliminate the minor pain that comes with the rubbing, grab a squirt or two of lubricant and apply generously. The wonders of lubricant are also important when using your favourite sex toys too. But before all of this, you have to actually choose a lube that works for you and it can be hard to determine which one that is since there are so many types! Let’s go over why lubes are important, what types there are, and narrow down how to choose one.

Why Add Lubricant to Your Sexual Activities?

For women in particular, lubricant is a great way to address moderate to severe vaginal dryness, as the vagina doesn’t always provide enough natural lubricant to prevent discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse. If you experience pain during sex, try adding a lubricant to the mix to see if it clears up the issue. If it doesn’t, seek out further advice from your doctor for vaginal pain during sex.  For men, adding lubricant to the penis, gives you a nice smooth and slippery texture to work off of, making hand-jobs and penetration easier.  Plus, if you are into sex toys, you can add compatible lube types to make them easier to handle, use, and enjoy. 

Why Is Lube for Sex Important?

There are many, many reasons!

1. It can provide you with a new sensation during sex, allowing you to explore yourself and your partner more deeply.

2. It can help offset your natural lubricant (women).

3. It can remove anxiety around discomfort during sex.

4. It can help make foreplay amazing.

5. It is fantastic for solo sex with your favourite sex toys and vibrators.

6. There is lubricant made for sensitive individuals.

Essentially, lubricants make sex and self pleasure more enjoyable and expands the horizons you can explore regardless of whether you are solo or with a partner.

6 Base Lube Options & How to Pick the Right One for You

1. Water Based Lubricants are a fantastic option for those who are just starting out with lube as they can be used for masturbation, penetrative sex, and can be used in tandem with condoms and adult toy play. They are inexpensive to pick up, can be used on individuals with sensitive skin, vaginal irritation, or vaginal dryness and they are easy to clean up. If you get some on your sheets or clothes, it washes out without staining. 

The drawbacks with water-based lubricants are they dry out quickly, meaning you will need to reapply generously and they can get a bit more sticky when compared to other types of lubricant.

2. Silicone Based Lubricants are hypoallergenic, absolving any worries about having your playtime interrupted by unwanted reactions. They are perfect for shower sex, as they do not react to water, and they are safe to use with condoms and glass or just about any other adult toys that aren’t made of silicone themselves (we’ll get to that in a bit). They do not need reapplication nearly as often and they last longer than other lubricants, making them perfect for long, intimate sessions.

Unfortunately, this lubricant’s longevity is both a blessing and a curse, and its repulsion to water makes it more difficult to wash off. Additionally, if you own any silicone sex toys, a silicone lubricant can damage the surface of them since silicone lubricant and silicone sex toys often times react negatively to each other. Funny that!

3. Anal Lubricants: are highly recommended for those who engage in anal sex, since the anal canal does not produce its own natural lubricant.  These types of personal lubes are designed to be thicker in viscosity and may also contain a weak numbing agent to make the experience more enjoyable. They are built to last as long as possible, can be both water and silicone-based, though silicone varieties are more common for their longevity. If an anal lubricant does contain a numbing agent, please ensure that you test it out at first and check to make sure you are not allergic to the numbing ingredient.

4. Natural Lubricants:  these are lubes that have most, if not all, of its ingredients naturally sourced. The biggest advantage that natural lubricants have is that they don’t contain synthetic ingredients, so anyone worried about using something potentially harmful can be at ease.

Inversely, the main drawback is that natural ingredients aren’t always hypoallergenic, so allergic reactions are certainly something to watch out for. Additionally, they tend to have a shorter shelf life and are among the most expensive on the market. If you’re planning on using a condom, avoid any oil-based natural lubricants, as oil can cause slippage and breakage since it can break down latex.

5. Arousal Lubricants: for the more adventurous types, arousal lubricants are designed to have various effects on the body, all for the purpose of increasing arousal and stimulation. These effects can range anywhere from increasing sexual desire, adding a tingling sensation, or adding a little bit of cooling to the applied area.

Since arousal lubricants can have all kinds of effects, you may need to try a few out first to find out what you like best. Just keep in mind that these will be made from the same base compositions of either oil, water, silicone, or natural ingredients.

6. Oil Based Lubricants are really good for giving you that slippery feeling and they last longer than water-based lubes. This type of lube is really good for unprotected penetrative sex, masturbation with toys or hands, and fantastic for water-play as well as sensual massages or foreplay.  However, they are only recommended for long-term couples or couples having unprotected sex, as oil-based lubricants break down anything latex, including condoms, diaphragms and sex toys.  They will also stain surfaces and are very difficult to clean up.

3 Lube Subtypes for Those Looking for Extra Fun!

1. Flavoured Lubricants: if you love to indulge in oral sex every time you hit the bedroom, consider purchasing some flavoured lubricants. Typically, these are water-based lubricants that add in flavouring like strawberry, salted caramel, mint, kiwi, chocolate, cinnamon, pina colada, and wild berry, to make oral taste great. The only drawback to these types of lubricants is that they can be quite sticky. Most of them also come with effects; some moisturise, others tingle, and others cool or warm the area.

2. Masturbation Lubricants: while masturbation lubricants can be almost any lubricant, there are some that are specifically made to go well with adult toys, male strokers or are easier on the hands. For instance, there are “hand job” options, “hole lotion” options, and serums for men who use water-based penis pumps. You will need to use some experimentation to figure out which one works best for you.

3. Prolonging Lubricants And Sprays: while quick sex can be exactly what you need, sometimes it’s fun to make a marathon out of it. For men who have sexual dysfunction or suffer from premature ejaculation, prolonging lubricants are a fantastic option to make the fun last. These types of lubes come as lotions, serums, sprays, creams, or gels and will reduce your sensitivity with the aim of delaying your orgasm to help you last longer.

When it comes to picking the right lubricant, make sure you choose one that suits your body best.  Pay attention to sensitivity levels, possible allergies, and whether you want to use sex toys, have shower sex, or want to use it in combination with a condom. Experimentation will be needed, but you’ll have tons of fun along the way!