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To Lube or Not to Lube, that is the question. But we must say, a good lube is an invaluable item to have available. It can be used for masturbation, both male and female. It is good for playing with toys, fingers and yes even intercourse! But with all the different lubes on the market how do I know what to get? That's a very good question. So let's take a moment and explore the different kinds of lubes and just what makes them desireable. Water Based lubes are not only the most popular, they are cheap and readily available. In fact many are available at the corner drugstore or even the neighborhood grocery store. They are easily washed away for quick cleanup and are not likely to stain your clothes, the sheets or your couch. They are compatible with most condoms and can contain ingredients to add a bit of a tingle or warming to the activities or even prolong a male erection. That's quite a bit of good stuff, but there are a few items on the downside. If your activities will take you to the shower or a hot tub, a water based lube will not get the job done. It will easily wash away in the water. Not so good for the delicate bits. It also has a tendency to dry up quickly leaving behind a safe but somewhat tacky residue. It can be resurrected to a degree with a little water but the last thing you want to do in the heat of the moment is stop and add water or more lubricant. One more thing, water based lubricants containing glycerin (and quite a few do) may promote yeast infections in ladies who are prone to them. There are a few that do not contain glycerin such as Liquid Silk and Play. Other popular water based lubricants are KY Jelly, Slippery Stuff, ID Lube, Probe, Maximus, Astrogel, and the most popular Astroglide. Silicone Based lubes are the newest type and quickly becoming very popular. They are extremely slippery and do not absorb into the skin so they stay slippery for a long time. A good thing when things are heating up. They do not wash away which makes them a number one choice for water based frolicking. Of course these too have a bit of a downside. Most are not latex compatible. That means do not use them with latex clothing or latex condoms. Check the manufactures literature to be on the safe side. One of the benefits was that they do not absorb into the skin and therefore stay slippery. Alas this is also the reason why they are a bit difficult to wash off. And they may stain clothing or sheets. They are not for use with silicone toys. They will degrade the surface material of these toys and make them sticky. One more thing, they may irritate the delicate parts of some ladies if not washed thoroughly after use. So be careful with that. Some popular Silicone based lubes are Wet Platinum, Eros and ID Millenium. Petroleum Based lubricants are just a bad idea. They can harbor bacteria so it is not wise to use in the anus or the vagina. That could lead to an uncomfortable infection. It will break down a latex condom and will destroy any sex toy which is made of rubber. Bottom line; just stay away from these, they are not worth it. Natural Oil Based lubes are in the same category as petroleum based lubricants. Although they do last the longest they are difficult to wash off and may promote infections. They will stain your sheets, your clothes and many other materials with which they may come in contact. Anything made of latex, such as clothing, condoms or latex sex toys will be damaged as they break down the latex. It is best to stay away from these as well. Anal lubes are lubes specifically designed to be thicker and longer lasting. The anus produces no natural lubricants so it is important to bring your own if you want to be invited back A few popular anal lubricants are: Anal Lube Natural and Titanman Relax. Flavored lubes. Now why weren't these thought of earlier. They are water based lubes that are designed with oral sex in mind. They will add a little flavor to your taste buds and leave some lubricant behind for the main event. Stick to the more expensive types as the less expensive ones tend to have a bit of a metallic taste. Be careful as they may promote some yeast infection so wash thoroughly after use. Ok, so what do we recommend? Water based lubes lead the pack here. They are compatible with almost all toys, do not stain and work quite well. The only real downside is they need to be reapplied more frequently. A small price to pay we think. And if you like to get frisky in the shower or tub on occasion, why not keep a bottle of silicone lube around for those times. You will thank each other later!
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