An essential product for any nightstand or bedside drawer, lubricant is an amazing way to enhance any sexual activity, whether you're alone or with a partner. With its friction-reducing and sensation-inducing formula, lube really is a must-have product that will works wonders in your sex life. While it's ideal for sex and foreplay, you'll definitely want to ensure you have a bottle of lube on you at all times if you're introducing sex toys into your sex life. This will help you avoid any potential pain or discomfort you may feel, and will generally make everything feel that little bit better!
Essentially, lubricant is considered any substance used during sex, foreplay, or masturbation that helps to reduce friction and get things a little wetter. While women produce natural lubrication to some extent, some produce more than others, and this can be dramatically affected by hormone levels and other factors.
If you're a newcomer to the world of lubricant, let's take a look at the three main types that you'll likely come across: water-based, silicone-based, and oil-based.
Water-based lubes are the most common variety, with their gentle formulas and easy clean-up. Generally, these lubricants are great for use with all condoms and sex toys, with no complications!
Silicone-based lubes are ideal if you're after a silky-smooth sensation with a longer-lasting formula. While these lubricants are compatible with latex, they cannot be used with silicone toys, as they will break down the rubber over time. They are however great for your glass toys!
Oil-based lubes include common household products such as Vaseline or coconut oil, but the proper lubes can be ideal to get that long-lasting luxurious feel! The down-side of oil-based lubricants is that they are not compatible with latex condoms, so avoid these if you regularly use condoms in your sex life!
It may seem like there's a lot of factors to consider when you're trying to find the perfect lubricant, but it's really quite simple! In terms of using lube with sex toys, the ideal choice to look out for is a water-based lubricant, given its compatibility with toys and condoms (safety first!).
Using lubricant with your favourite sex toys is as simple as squeezing some out of the bottle and lathering it on! Whether you're opting for a butt plug, vibrator, or cock ring, lube can be added to anything for an added sensation.
If you're unsure where to start, you can't go wrong with a popular best-seller! These lubricants are tried and tested, so you'll be investing your money well with one of these options.
An Australian-made classic, Wet Stuff Gold is an extra long-lasting water-based lubricant, with a fabulous warming sensation on contact. Wet Stuff is free from perfumes, colourings and oils; therefore, it won't harm or stain clothes or fabrics. Its silky texture, low irritant formula and incredibly affordable price makes this a great option for your sex toys!
Featured here is the top-selling, smaller bottle (great for testing it out first!) but this product is also available in a range of sizes and flavours if you're looking to try something a little different.
Modelled to feel exactly like a silky silicone lubricant, the JO H20 is a luxurious water-based lube made from only the finest pharmaceutical grade ingredients available. Boasting a super long lasting, non-sticky formula, this lube will enhance all of your sensual pleasures. Plant-based glycerine also ensures zero irritation or disruption to the body's natural pH.
If you're after a bit more of a luxury feel for your toys, then this lube is the one for you!
The Moist lube mimics the body's natural lubricant, with a crystal clear, non-staining and fragrance-free formula. This lubricant features a dispenser top for easy and hassle-free application, or when you need to add a little more.
The Moist lubricant comes in a range of flavours and sizes, including travel-friendly minis, so this is great for on-the-go fun with your favourite toys!
If you have some non-silicone toys in your collection (such as a glass dildo), then you might like to invest in a silicone lubricant as well, for its silky smooth, non-sticky formula. Silicone-based lubes are also known to last longer than other types, so you'll be doing less re-applying and more enjoying with this one!
The Perfect Glide by Durex is silicone based lubricant with a smooth texture, and can last up to three times longer than other lubes without drying out! This is the ideal lube for any glass or stainless-steel toys, and is also compatible with latex condoms.
Lube is commonly known as an enabler for more comfortable vaginal or anal sex. Generally, it helps penetration feel a lot more comfortable, ensuring body safety. It's further used to provide additional sensations during sex, where partners can better sensations through warming, cooling or tingling lube. However, there are plenty of other situations and certain sex toys that need lube to be applied in a specific way to get rid of any unwanted friction.
The difference between clitoral and g-spot vibrators for example is that clitoral vibrators may not need to be inserted. Therefore, many forget that it may be necessary to apply some lubricant to the head of the toy before playing with it. The clitoris is super sensitive, so this is especially important if it hasn't been stimulated beforehand. This situation commonly comes up when couples share a vibrator. In the midst of pleasurable passion, you might not think or bother to apply a dash of lubricant to a vibrator. However, it only takes a second and will ensure that sex goes smoothly going forward. It might not be necessary, but this will rule out any possibility of it being uncomfortable. The vibrator may also drag on other parts of skin which won't feel nice, specifically if it's an erogenous zone.
In this case I'm referring to vibrators that can be worn during penetration. Vibrators such as the We-Vibe Sync or Lelo Noa are becoming increasingly popular. They provide g-spot and clitoral stimulation with penetration from your partner, it's no wonder they're so popular! However, some couples note experiencing a little bit of discomfort with the use of their orgasmic catalyst. Even if they remembered to apply lubricant for clitoral stimulation and penetration, they forgot to apply it to the entire spine of these toys. This is important because this area may come into contact with his shaft, causing an uncomfortable dry friction. Remember that genital skin is rather delicate, to ensure body safety, more lubricant is always better than less!
A common complaint about cock rings is that they are "so uncomfortable to put on!" This happens because of various reasons. Putting a cock ring on while you are fully erect, an inadequate amount of manscaping has taken place or not lubricating your cock ring(s)! Applying a bit of lube to your cock ring will help heaps! It's going to make any contact with the skin smoother and will generally make it more comfortable once put on. Especially if wearing a cock ring that loops around the testicles! Another thing some lubricant will help with is if you have to negotiate some pubic hair, not having to worry about hair pulling stops any random readjustments.
It's common knowledge that anal toys require lubricant. However, many people might jump into anal play without realising that lube may need to be reapplied at some point! Even though lube can last for a very long time, it may not have as much longevity as your desire. Therefore, take a regular check as to how things are feeling back there and apply some more lube. This is not the sort of thing you don't want to learn from experience, as getting an anal toy stuck would be very uncomfortable and has led to many people making an embarrassing trip to the emergency department. Silicone lubricant is often used for anal play because it lasts so long. Water based lube such as Wet Stuff Gold is also very long lasting!