There are a lot of reasons why you might be intrigued by the idea of trying out a sexual lubricant.
For one thing, there’s the issue of vaginal dryness, a sandpaper-y feeling that can happen during different stages of a woman’s life: after having a baby, while breastfeeding, during the lead up to menopause and post menopause. All together, that’s a lot of years when some extra slippery-ness in the sack could be welcome!
“A woman can experience vaginal dryness at any point in her life — even young women experience this,” says Lauren Streicher, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and author of Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina.
“And even when dryness isn’t an issue, lube makes sex feel better and the whole thing more fun.” After all, regardless of who or what you’re into, the wet feeling of lubricants can make penetration of any kind way more pleasurable, and possibly, easier. But when you’re ready to buy a lube, the options can seem dizzying.
Dr. Streicher suggests people use silicone-based lubes (we discuss more about this later on in the story), but to keep you fully informed, here’s a quick look at the different types of lubricants you can buy.
Types of lubricants
Water: Made with water, are usually cheaper and thinner, so they dry out quicker. They can also be damaging to the
Silicone: Don’t contain any water or oils, last longer and are less likely to cause irritation. However, they are more expensive and aren’t ideal for lower-grade silicone sex toys.
Oil: Coconut, avocado and sunflower oils can be used, or they can be synthetic, like Vaseline. They are not recommended for use with a condom and can cause irritation.
Hybrid: These usually include a mix of water and silicone.
To help you navigate your choices, Good Housekeeping talked to health experts, like Dr. Streicher, and looked into current research to get the lowdown on lubricants, the various types of options out there and some of the best products available.
The water-based lubricants have a low osmolality count, meaning they shouldn’t dry out; the silicone-based group includes Dr. Streicher’s top recommendation and some others that are top sellers on Amazon. We did not include any oil-based recommendations.
Almost Naked Personal Lubricant
This is a product that Dr. Streicher points out has a low osmolality. The manufacturer states that it’s 95% organic, with no parabens or petrochemicals. Reviewers on Amazon mentioned that they like the consistency, though there were mixed views about the vanilla scent: Some people were fans (“like cake!”) and others felt the scent is too strong.
Personal Water-based Lubricant Gel
This water-based lubricant has impressive low osmolality numbers, and also comes in a larger pump bottle, which many people prefer for ease of use. It’s fragrance-free, made without glycerin (glycerin can lead to yeast infections), and Amazon reviewers found it super-slippery and easy to clean up.
System Jo H2O Lubricant
Another brand of water-based lube with low osmolality (and thus, vagina-friendly) is H2O Personal Lubricant by Jo. Almost 80% of buyers on Amazon gave it a 5-star rating, and many complimented the natural feel of it. One complaint that popped up a number of times: The bottle tends to leak.
Silky Smooth Personal Lubricant
This is the go-to lube that Dr. Streicher recommends to her patients. It’s easily accessible, smooth and natural-feeling and reviewers on Amazon rave that it works with only a few drops, is extremely slippery and is very effective.
Barely There Thin Silicone-Based Lubricant
A top-seller on Amazon, it’s made without parabens, gluten, glycerin or added sugars (sugars can trigger a vaginal yeast infection, as can glycerin). Reviewers liked the thin consistency and natural feel, but warned not to leave the bottle on its side to avoid leaks.
Überlube Silicone Lubricant
Uberlube is a silicone-based top seller on Amazon. (The manufacturer says you can also use it as a hair product, to tame frizz!) Unscented and flavorless, the maker says it’s non-sticky, with no parabens or glycerin and contains a bit of vitamin E. Reviewers appreciated the pump bottle, and that you only need to use a small amount (which makes the higher price worth it, they add).
Wet Platinum Silicone Based Lube
Wet Platinum is another popular brand with Amazon buyers. With this three-pack, each bottle is a travel-friendly 3-oz size. Reviewers called it slippery and long-lasting (though a few said the bottle can leak, so take care with it). The manufacturer calls it hypoallergenic, and says it’s glycerin and paraben free. Wet Platinum is gel-based.
What is the best lubricant for sex?
Dr. Streicher isn’t a fan of water-based lubricants. “Yes, they’re the cheapest kind out there and they’re easily accessible. But there’s no time when I would suggest that someone use a water-based lubricant. First, they don’t last very long and they have to be reapplied on a regular basis. They’re not particularly slippery. And they can get sticky over time,” she says. But the biggest issue with a water-based lube, she continues, “is that many of them are actually damaging to the vaginal tissue because they have a high osmolality from preservatives and other ingredients.” To explain the science simply, osmolality has to do with the concentration of molecules in a product.
“These ingredients cause water to actually be drawn out of the vagina, which dehydrates the tissue and causes a breakdown in that tissue. This not only causes irritation and discomfort — it also increases the likelihood of acquiring a sexually-transmitted infection because of the breaks in the skin.”
So in general, Dr. Streicher feels that water-based lubricants can be really problematic, though there’s more awareness of this among the companies, “and there are a few that are very careful about low osmolality and pH balance in order to preserve the microbiome and avoid this breakdown.” The osmolality number you should look for, says Dr. Streicher: “You’re looking for as close to 300 as possible.” With some of the best-selling brands, alas, that number is as high as 1200.
With silicone lubricants, says Dr. Streicher, a little goes a long way — so even if the price is lower for water-based lubes you may not be saving money. “With silicone lubricants, you don’t need to reapply it as often. They’re far more slippery and last longer, and they don’t have osmolality or pH issues. Yes, they’re more expensive, and that’s a downside. Another is if you like having sex in the shower you have to be careful, because if it gets on the floor you can slip and fall. And silicone lube is harder to get out when it gets all over the sheets.” You might have heard that you can’t use silicone lube with a silicone sex toy — that’s not necessarily true, says Dr. Streicher. “If the toy you’re using is made from a high-grade medical silicone, you can use a silicone lube with it. If the toy is made from cheap silicone, though, a silicone lube will destroy it. One workaround is that you can put a condom on the sex toy and then use whatever lube you want. And then when you’re done, just take the condom off and throw it out. No mess!”
How to use lubricant
Dr. Streicher isn’t surprised at how often people aren’t sure how to use a lube. “I realize that people buy a tube of lubricant, and then, have no idea where to put it and what to do with it. The package doesn’t have directions.” (Here’s a fun fact around packaging, according to Dr. Streicher. “The companies don’t say ‘for intercourse’ because as soon as the package says that it’ll go in the vagina, they’re supposed to do studies, because then it’s for internal use.”)
Here’s how to use a lube, says Dr. Streicher: “The time to apply lubricant is before you attempt intercourse. You squeeze it on your fingers, and if there’s a penis involved, you apply it liberally to the penis, and to the opening of the vagina [or anus].” It’s important to warm the lube first, she adds: “If you put cold lube on an erection, he might lose it.”
The best way to warm it? “You have options,” she says.” The first is to just fill your sink with warm water and float the bottle in there—that takes a little advance planning. Or you can get a lube warmer—you fill it with lube, it warms it up, and then you squirt it out.” Some massage-oil warmers can work as well.
What’s better, water-based or silicone-based lube?
Dr. Streicher isn’t a fan of water-based lubricants. “Yes, they’re the cheapest kind out there and they’re easily accessible. But there’s no time when I would suggest that someone use a water-based lubricant. First of all, they don’t last very long and they have to be reapplied on a regular basis. They’re not particularly slippery. And they can get sticky over time,” she says.But the biggest issue with a water-based lube, she continues, “is that many of them are actually damaging to the vaginal tissue because they have a high osmolality from preservatives and other ingredients.” (To explain the science simply, osmolality has to do with the concentration of molecules in a product. )”These ingredients cause water to actually be drawn out of the vagina, which dehydrates the tissue and causes a breakdown in that tissue. This not only causes irritation and discomfort — it also increases the likelihood of acquiring a sexually-transmitted infection because of the breaks in the skin.”
So in general, Dr. Streicher feels that water-based lubricants can be really problematic, though there’s more awareness of this among the companies, “and there are a few that are very careful about low osmolality and pH balance in order to preserve the microbiome and avoid this breakdown.” The osmolality number you should look for, says Dr. Streicher: “You’re looking for as close to 300 as possible.” With some of the best-selling brands, alas, that number is as high as 1200.With silicone lubricants, says Dr. Streicher, a little goes a long way — so even if the price is lower for water-based lubes “you may not be saving money. With silicone lubricants, you don’t need to reapply it as often. They’re far more slippery and last longer, and they don’t have osmolality or pH issues. Yes, they’re more expensive, and that’s a downside.
Another is if you like having sex in the shower you have to be careful, because if it gets on the floor you can slip and fall. And silicone lube is harder to get out when it gets all over the sheets.”You might have heard that you can’t use silicone lube with a silicone sex toy — that’s not necessarily true, says Dr. Streicher. “If the toy you’re using is made from a high grade medical silicone, you can use a silicone lube with it. If the toy is made from cheap silicone, though, a silicone lube will destroy it. One workaround is that you can put a condom on the sex toy and then use whatever lube you want. And then when you’re done, just take the condom off and throw it out. No mess!”
