Guide

Lube

Choosing the right lube

Lube is your friend! A person’s natural lubrication level isn’t an indication of how turned on they are. Plus, anuses don’t produce a whole lot of natural lubrication, so lube is key for reducing friction and increasing pleasure here, too.

Everybody (and every body!) is different, so lube can be essential, helpful or just good fun.

Lube is a crucial and often overlooked tool when it comes to pleasure and safety. Using the right lube can enhance pleasure and help to prevent condom or barrier breakage. This reduces the risk of passing on STIs and BBVs. In anal play, using the right lube will reduce the chances of small tears that leave someone more susceptible to contracting STIs.

Lube reduces friction and makes things nice and slippery. Not only does this tend to feel better, leading to more pleasure, but it also reduces the likelihood of your barriers (or sensitive areas) tearing. Some people find lube especially helpful if they’re on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or have increased skin dryness due to older age.

Lubes can be water, silicone or oil based.

Water-based lubes wash away easily, so they’re the easiest to clean up (but not great for any activities in water). You can get a range of consistencies from super thick to thin and watery. Some people’s genitals can be easily irritated by lube ingredients, so something water-based and glycerine-free without other additives is a great place to start.

Silicone-based lubes are less slippery and longer lasting than water-based lubes. These ones are best for anal play or sessions involving water (for example, in the bath or shower). Silicone lubes can be used with latex barriers but can cause silicone toys to degrade over time.

Oil-based lubes, including natural oils like olive or coconut, are best used for heavier penetration activities like fisting. They can break down latex barriers, so don’t use these with regular condoms or dams. Oils can also linger in some holes and cause infection, so washing carefully after using these is recommended.