The Lubricant List – An Easy Guide to Finding the Right Lube
We know it can be quite confusing if you’re new to using lubricant. Finding the right lubricant for your body and toy is important but also often difficult with all the different varieties and options available both online and in shops.
Using lubricant can help make sex more enjoyable, and add a whole new level of pleasure to your sexual experience, especially when sensation/flavoured lube is bought into the equation. To simplify your search, we’ve created this simple guide to all the different types of lubes we provide, so you can choose the right one for you.
What are lubes?
Before we dive straight into the long list of lubricants, knowing what they are and why they are useful is important.
A lubricant is any substance that helps to reduce friction. Simple. Unlike what you might use to stop a door or bike chain from squeaking, sexual lubricants are tailor-made for the body, to increase pleasure and reduce discomfort during sex.
As we all know, people’s sexual desires are as varied as their music collections, so naturally, people are going to want different things from their lube, which is why there is such a vast selection to choose from.
Some will just need to increase vaginal moisture, others will want to apply some to their sex toy (s). Some will want to make their bits taste a certain flavour, improving oral sex for both giver and the receiver. For others it’s a prerequisite, if you’re going to partake in anal-sex lubrication is much more than an accessory, it’s a necessity.
The Lube List
If you’re looking into a certain type of lube, click one of our lube types below to go straight to its section.
- Water-based lubricant.
- Silicone-based lubricant.
- Oil-based lubricant.
- Flavoured lubricant.
- Sensation lubricant.
- Anal lubricant.
Water-based Lubricant
Water-based lubrication is the most common type of lubricant and for a good reason. Because it’s water-based, any remaining lube-residue is easy to clean up and as water is one of nature’s most natural ingredients, it’s compatible with every type of adult toy available – silicone, all varieties of rubber (inc. TPR, skin-like/cyber/real-feel material), jelly, glass, metal etc.
Water-based lubes can also be used with condoms without causing the condom to rip or tear, making it ideal for those who want a lube suitable for any situation.
Our favourite Water-based Lubricants: Love Lube Sensual Water-based Lubricant, Cobeco Bio Natural Lubricant, Fist It – Extra Thick Water-based Lubricant.
Silicone-based Lubricant
Silicone is a material which is made from alternative chains of silicon and oxygen atoms, coming in many different forms including rubber, resin and oil. Its liquid form is especially effective when used as the main ingredient in a lubricant, hence why it is now a popular form of lube.
Why is it so great? Silicone lubes move more freely than water-based lubes as it has a thinner consistency. Because of this, many people prefer it as it glides more smoothly over intimate areas.
Many users of silicone-based lube also say its best feature is it lasts longer than most water-based lubricants, meaning you’ll need to reapply less often during sex or masturbation.
Silicone is also hypoallergenic so it’s ideal for users who have sensitive skin or allergies. The only downside to silicone-based lube is that it’s not compatible with sex toys made from the following materials: silicone and certain types of rubber (TPR, skin-like/cyber/real-feel). If you use silicone-based lube with a toy made of these materials, it can cause your toy to start deteriorating quite rapidly, even the expensive luxury toys.
Our favourite Silicone-based Lubricants: Love Lube Premium Silicone Lubricant, Fist It – Hybrid Lubricant, Kalma CBD Hybrid Lube.
Oil-based Lubricant
Petroleum (or petrolatum) based, oil-based lubes are often used because they are long-lasting.
Although this lube has many uses for those wanting something thicker than water-based and silicone-based lubricants, it’s not recommended for vaginal intercourse as it can mess with the chemistry down there.
Sadly, oil-based lubes are also incompatible with condoms, so using it for anal sex is only possible if it is bareback (ie. without a condom). If you choose to try out this type of lube, always read the instructions on the bottle or tub to ensure you won’t risk using it incorrectly.
Our favourite Oil-based Lubricants: Fist It- Butter Lubricant, Lubricanting Butter Fists.
Flavoured Lubricants
Mint, strawberry, tropical passion, and cherry are just some of the mouth-watering flavours available in lubes.
If you want water-based flavoured lubes, ours are water-based, so you can use them with your toys (regardless of the toy’s material) and also use them for oral to add an extra tasty sensation for the giver.
Flavoured lubes are great for spicing up oral sex; apply some (a few drops) to your partner’s intimate areas for a delicious sensation that both partners are sure to enjoy.
Our favourite Flavoured Lubricants: Love Lube Strawberry Flavoured Water-Based Lubricant, Love Lube Mint Flavoured Water-Based Lubricant, Love Lube Cherry Flavoured Water-Based Lubricant.
Sensation Lubricants
Sensation lubricants are any lubes which provide an extra form of stimulation in their formula. Some have cooling, heating, or tingling effects to make sex and masturbation more pleasurable.
One popular example of sensation lubricant is tingle lubes, designed to enhance stimulation when applied to your body’s most sensitive areas (basically your intimate bits), these lubes produce a tingly sensation others don’t produce.
If you’re trying a sensation lube for the first time it’s a wise idea to just apply one or two drops, if you feel the sensation is too intense for you then don’t apply anymore and wash off what lube you’ve already applied.
Our favourite Sensation Lubricants: Love Lube Tingle Sensation Water-Based Lubricant, Love Lube Warming Sensation Water-Based Lubricant, Love Lube Stronger Tingle Sensation Water-Based Lubricant.
Anal Lubricants
Although some anal lubricants are water-based, we don’t class them as water-based lubricants in this guide because of their unique formula. Because anal sex can be uncomfortable for some, this lubricant also provides an anal relaxant to make insertion easier for the receiver.
We always recommend using lube, especially during anal sex. Attempting to have anal sex without lube will not only cause the receiver (the person being penetrated) acute discomfort but also risk damaging their anal tissue due to the anus being incapable of producing natural lubrication, unlike the vagina. Hence, lube is a necessity.
Our favourite Anal Lubricants: Love Lube Anal Water-based Lubricant, Fist It – Anal Relaxer with Pump, MALE Anal Relax Lubricant.