Ultimate Guide for Choosing the Best Lube



When it comes to choosing the best lubricant for you needs, there are many different options to choose from. There are also many reasons why you would want to use a lubricant.

We’ll cover some reasons and the many options for lubricant below to help you make the perfect choice for you and your partner.

A great lubricant will be able to effectively replace or mimic the body’s mucus secretions, increasing both partners comfort and pleasure during penetration.

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Sexual Activities

The first thing you should consider when choosing a lubricant is what type of sexual activities you participate in. Do you enjoy long lovemaking sessions? Then you might require a lubricant that lasts longer.

Do you enjoy oral sex often? Then you might want to pay more attention to the ingredients in the lube, in case you ingest some.

Allergies

Another important factor to consider is whether a partner has any kind of allergies, whether systemic or skin related.

If your partner is sensitive to some personal or body care products, then it may be more likely they would have a reaction to ingredients in some lubricants. [1]

It’s a good idea to pay close attention to the ingredients in lubricants and make sure neither partner has any allergies to those ingredients. If one partner has sensitive skin or is sensitive to certain personal care products, they may be more likely to have a reaction to a lubricant.

It’s a good idea to buy a few lubricants and test them out on a small part of the skin before using them during sex. Look for any type of reaction, such as skin reddening, itching, tingling or numbness. Nowadays, there are hypoallergenic options for lube available.

Health

There are many reasons why a woman might have vaginal dryness. Her age, taking certain medications, stress, a lack of sleep, hormonal changes and other health issues can commonly cause this problem.

Vaginal dryness can make sexual intercourse quite uncomfortable, even painful. Using a good lubricant can remedy this problem and allow both partners to enjoy sex comfortably.

If your partner tends to get vaginal infections, then look for a glycerin-free brand, as glycerin has shown to increase risk for vaginal infections. [2]

You may also want to look for a paraben free lubricant, as this type of ingredient has shown to cause hormonal disruption in some studies.

Environmental Reasons

If you are concerned about the environment, there are some lubricants available that use organic and eco-friendly materials, both in the lubricant and in the packaging and processing of the lubricant.

You may also want to make sure the lubricant is free of petrochemicals, as you don’t want to be contributing to the often environmentally destructive oil or gas industry, which is responsible for petrochemicals.

Taste

flavored lubricantYes, taste can be a determining factor in which lube you choose. If, as a couple, you enjoy oral sex quite often, then choosing a lubricant that has a good flavor may be important to you.

If a lubricant doesn’t taste good, then it can certainly dampen the mood. There are even flavored lubricants available like chocolate, cherry, bubble gum, strawberry and others.

Types of Lube Available

divine 9 lubeWater BasedWater based lubes clean up very easily with water, and are less likely to make a mess on you or your bed sheets than other types of lubricants. One disadvantage is that lubricants that are water based can be quite slippery, therefore can sometimes need reapplication during sex.

Also, they may not last as long as other types of lubricants, so if you enjoy longer lovemaking sessions, you may have to stop and apply more lube, which can be a real turn-off. A water based lubricant is a good choice to use with a condom. Here are a couple of quality water based lubricants with high customer ratings:

pjur silicone based lubricantSilicone Based – Lubricants made of silicone can be used in watery environments like pools, hot tubs, showers or baths. This type also typically does not require re-application as much as the water based kind and don’t come off as easily.

One disadvantage is that silicone based lubricants are a bit more difficult to clean up, and you must use soap and water. Silicone based lubes are also incredibly slippery, so be careful not to get them on the bathroom floor or any place you walk, as you or someone else could easily slip and fall if you step on it.

Silicone based lubricants work well in conjunction with a condom. Here are some of the best silicone based lubricants available:

Oil Based – There are also oil based lubricants which are typically made of plant based oils and butters. Typical oils used in these include coconut or olive oil. They last a long time and have a pleasing satiny texture and feel.

Some brands even boast that they are good for the skin and can be left on, therefore eliminating the need for cleanup. Though, if you don’t wish to leave them on, they are more difficult to wash off than the water based kind. If you are using condoms, however, oil based lubricants are not a good choice. [3]

The oil can cause a condom to dislodge, break or tear. They may also cause vaginal yeast infections.

good clean lubricantAloe Vera and Aloe Based – There are also aloe based lubricant brands available. One such is a lubricant called Good Clean Love, which is vegan, organic and aloe vera based.

Or you might just go for 100% aloe vera gel. Aloe is a great, natural lubricant which is also very healing and soothing to the skin.

It is also less likely to cause any irritation or side effects. Be careful, however, to get 100% aloe vera gel. Many brands of aloe that can be bought at the store contain other ingredients to stabilize the gel, and these ingredients may cause yeast infections or other irritations if used internally as a lubricant.

One ideal option to get 100% aloe vera gel would be to get yourself an aloe plant. They are pretty easy to take care of and last a long time. Then when you need some aloe lubricant, break off one of the leaves and the gel will ooze out of it.

Each time you use a leaf, the plant will grow another, making it an endless source of natural lube.

References:

    1. https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/allergic-to-condom
    2. https://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-health/choosing-personal-lubricant.aspx
    3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8142525

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