Lubricants…what are my options?

We have so many choices now when it comes to lubricants, gone are the days when it was only Astroglide water-based lubricant. Now we have water based, silicone based, hybrid, which is a combination of water and silicone, oil based, warming and cooling available in water, hybrid or silicone based.  We also have Organic and flavored lubricants. And the newest lubricants are Defense Glides and lubricants with CBD and hemp seed oil. So we will go through what these lubricants are good for and what you may want to avoid. As with condoms, everyone has different preferences and a lot of times you have to give it a try before you decide it's not for you. And the great news is that a lot of these lubes come in smaller sizes so you can try them without hurting your pocketbook.

So first up would be the most popular, and most common lubricant which is your water-based lubricant. Water based lubricants are mainly made out of water, but they can contain glycerin and propylene Glycol, as well as sorbitol, which is a sugar alcohol. Also, many contain preservatives to prevent bacterial growth like potassium sorbate or citric acid.  Some of the water-based lubricants in the market today carry a lot of ingredients you may want to avoid if you are sensitive or prone to infection. Most people are familiar with water-based lubricants and feel comfortable using them but depending on why you are using a lubricant, you may want to explore your options. Many of the higher quality water-based lubricants now use aloe vera as a base which is more hydrating and tends to last longer than your regular water-based lubricants. One of the main benefits of Water based lubricants is that they can be used with any condom and pretty much all sex toys. They can also be fairly inexpensive and less irritating than heavier lubes. Some of the newer and higher quality water-based lubes today use coconut water as a base like Coconu, a water based lubricant that contains organic coconut water that is edible, and pH balanced. Another customer favorite is the Jo H20 lubricant which has a clean feeling and does not dry up quickly like some water-based lubricants. When purchasing a water-based lubricant you want to read the label to see what is actually in it, there are many alternatives nowadays so you may want to take a deeper look.  All of these lubes I have mentioned here are made in the USA. Many inexpensive, poor-quality water-based lubes are manufactured overseas, we recommend choosing ones that are made locally.

Next, we have silicone lubricants, these are mainly used for anal sex, massage or solo play as they never dry. I mean literally they never dry. This is the number one reason people use silicone-based lubricants. If your lubricant dries too quickly it could leave you with small tears that will allow for fluids to penetrate the skin, which could lead to HIV or STI’s, so you want to be sure to always use a condom and a lube to prevent this from happening. With silicone-based lubes there is no need to reapply, but I have seen a number of women complain about the fact that they do not wash off, which for some can lead to a UTI or other infections. So I usually only recommend silicone for massage or anal sex. Silicone lubes can also be a bit messy, so if you are a neat freak and like your sheets, maybe stay away from silicone. And yes, you can use a condom with silicone, but not with sex toys. 

 Pjur silicone lubricants have always been our most popular silicone lubricants: Back Door Anal Lubricant, Analyse Me anal lube, Pjur original, Pjur Med Premium Glide and the less expensive Pjur Basic SIlicone. Also worth mentioning is Gun Oil Silicone lubricant, the price point is very good. And with silicone lubes you only need a little bit, so even though they cost more than a water-based lubricant, they do last a lot longer. I always recommend trying the smaller sizes with all lubricants before investing in a larger size bottle. 

Next up is a combination of both water and silicone, which is the hybrid lubricant. The best of both worlds so to speak, easier to clean up and long lasting without having to reapply. I even see condom manufactures using the hybrid formula. But worth mentioning is that if you are sensitive down there, I would stay away from the hybrid formulas as well. The hybrid formula is used by many born females as they can use it both vaginally and anally. Some prefer the hybrid because it isn’t as slippery as the silicone. Remember if you are sensitive below, I recommend staying away from Silicone products and Hybrid products.

 A silicone water-based favorite is Liquid Silk, a longtime favorite that went off the market for a bit but is now once again available. Many of the lubricant manufacturers now have their own version of Silk hybrid lubricant.

One of our most popular hybrid lubricants is the Jo coconut hybrid lube made with water and coconut oil, instead of silicone. It has a naturally pleasant fragrance and a delicate taste. It feels very natural and moisturizing, probably because of the coconut oil. It’s also glycerin and paraben free and made in the USA. Do not use latex condoms with hybrid oil-based lubricants. You can use a polyurethane condom, like Trojan Supra. Hybrid formulas are ok to use with toys.

This brings me to oil-based lubricants, I know that sounds weird but for some people, obviously not those who use latex or polyisoprene condoms, oil based is a great alternative. Pros, it is more natural than silicone and hybrid lubricants, doesn’t dry up quickly and it is easier to clean up what isn’t absorbed naturally by the skin. The oil-based lubricant is great for women going through menopause or for general vaginal dryness. Because estrogen drops during menopause some women will find an oil-based lubricant works very well and no need to reapply. Oil based lubricants form a protective barrier that helps retain natural moisture. Most oil-based lubes have fewer ingredients, reducing the risk of an allergic reaction.  This is also a natural, non hormonal alternative to enhance comfort.  Also the oil based lubricant is good for massage and or solo play.  Also worth mentioning again is that you cannot use an oil-based lubricant with a latex or polyisoprene condom. Only the polyurethane condom can sometimes be used with an oil-based lubricant. Check your polyurethane condom description before purchasing just to be sure.

Top sellers in this category are the On for her arousal oil, On Hemp Oil and the High Climax Female Stimulant lubricant, this lubricant is actually more like a cream designed to boost sensitivity and enhance orgasms. It is not a true oil-based lubricant because it does contain water, and it also contains hemp seed oil and CBD. You should never use an oil-based lubricant with a condom. And oil-based lubricants are best for solo play or massage.

Warming and cooling lubricants have been a hot topic amongst lubes for a while now. What is funny is that when we opened our doors in 1992 there were no warming lubricants. Manufacturers would call us and ask us what are your customers looking for and we would always tell them a warming lubricant that isn’t flavored and a flavored warming product  that can be used as a lubricant.(can’t mention the name of the manufacturer however they did create it and has made millions) Most of the warming products were sugary and sticky and had a weird after taste. So we have come a long way from Motion Lotion and emotion lotion. Flavored lubricants come in water based, silicone based and hybrid based. These are not for everybody, but the people who do use them would use nothing else. Seems you either love them or hate them. Warming and cooling lubricants are best used to enhance sexual sensation by stimulating nerve endings and increasing blood flow which can make touch, penetration, or oral more intense and pleasurable. The warming lubricant can help some people relax and feel more sensations than with other lubricants. Warming lubricants are good for solo play as well as they can help build anticipation. They feel like a soft glow or rush of heat, similar to slipping into a warm bath. The cooling effect adds more tingle and can help people become more sensitive to the touch, which helps turn them on and gets the juices flowing so to speak. The cooling lubricant has a refreshing sensation as well. Especially nice during hot weather or shower play. Again something you may want to try if your partner is having a hard time getting aroused or if you just want to try something different for a change. Top Sellers in this category include jo cooling and jo warming lubricants in water based, silicone and hybrid formulas. Warming and cooling lubricants can also be used with anal sex,  Jo lubricants seem to have it when it comes to warming and cooling lubricants. Also worth mentioning is the Swiss Navy warming lubricant in 1oz size. 

While a long time coming for those wanting organic. Organic lubricants are finally here and there are a lot of great options, organic being a lubricant made with high quality ingredients. Especially good for those with allergies or sensitive to other products. Organic lubricants are personal lubricants grown and processed without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers or genetic modification. They are Free from Harsh Chemicals, like Parabens, linked to hormone disruption and Artificial fragrances which can disrupt a person's natural ph balance. They are also free of Glycerin which has been known to disrupt vaginal flora. Organic lubricants avoid these, using plant-based, food-grade, or certified organic ingredients that are gentle on delicate tissue. Also, organic lubricants are usually ethically sourced and cruelty free.
They usually contain natural plant derived ingredients, like aloe vera, coconut water, some even contain botanical extracts and soothers like chamomile, calendula, and green tea extract. Pink Natural, Sliquid organics, Intimate Earth, Coconu are just a few of our more popular brands in this category.

Defense lubricants or barrier protecting Glides are very similar to the organic lubricants, although they tend to have a thicker consistency. They are designed to reduce friction, strengthen or support vaginal or anal tissue, provide long lasting glide and mimic the body's natural moisture. They too often use natural organic and botanical ingredients but with ingredients specifically designed to help prevent microtears, irritation or infection. These lubricants are designed with added benefits to protect one from rips and tears which may leave us vulnerable to infection. Some are designed to help prevent vaginal infections and yeast infections. Some glides contain anti-bacterial properties. They too are usually made with botanicals and natural ingredients, like guava bark extract or alfalfa.  Some of our more popular defense glides are Intimate Earth Defense Glide, Pjur Med Hydro Glide, or Sliquid Organics Oceanics. The Sliquid organics is both organic and a defense lubricant, this lubricant specifically has carrageenan which is a seaweed-derived thickener and lubricating agent, amongst other natural organic ingredients. These lubricants are usually free from glycerin, parabens, PEG’s, sulfates and hypoallergenic. So definitely a good choice for just about anyone but especially for those that may be at high risk of infection or having difficulty staying lubricated.

This brings me to the most popular lubricant with the younger generations … that would be the flavored lubricants. They make for a fun gift on Valentine's Day or for those getting married. The great thing about flavored lubes is that they add more options to foreplay in a playful manner. Many of the flavored lubes warm up and heat up more when you blow on them. For some this helps with arousal as it is warming, relaxing and smells good. The fun part of course with the flavored lubes is licking it off. Some taste better than others and they have come a long way since Motion Lotion. Some of our most popular choices include the Jo flavored lubricants like Jo green apple, watermelon or peach just to name a few. ID Frutopia flavored lubricants are also a tasty treat and come in convenient 1oz size bottle. Most of the flavored lubes are water based so of course they are ok to use with all condoms, latex, polyisoprene or polyurethane. They can also be used with latex and polyisoprene dental dams. You want to stay away from flavored lubes that contain a lot of sugar as this does not mix well with our body's natural fluids. They can be sticky if they have a lot of sugar and that makes for a mess which is not very sexy at all. You also want to stay away from the ones with a lot of artificial ingredients. Probably a good idea as well is to buy MADE in The USA flavored lubricants.

Now the newest lubricant on the block and the ones getting a lot of attention is the CBD enhanced lubricants. Some say CBD, but really it is hemp seed oil, which is good in itself, but you will know the difference if you read the label, the lubricants with real CBD tend to be a bit pricy. But definitely worth it. CBD is a natural addition to lubricants used for sexual intimacy. Some of the positives with CBD lubricants is that CBD is anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce inflammation or irritation, making it very appealing to those with vaginal dryness, sensitivity or discomfort during sex. CBD also aids in muscle relaxation. It has been known to help relax the pelvic muscles, which can improve comfort especially for those who experience pain during intercourse. And if that wasn’t enough CBD also has been known to increase blood flow, which means more sensitivity and arousal by enhancing circulation. And yet another positive point is that because many of these CBD lubricants have hemp seed oil, they do tend to last a lot longer. When using CBD or hemp seed lubricants you must be aware that many times, they are oil based and you cannot use a latex or polyisoprene condom, you must use a polyurethane condom. We do sell water-based CBD lubricants like GOLOVE, Privy Peach and Hemptation by Wet lubricants. Our most popular overall is 420 Health CBD lubricant which contains both CBD, hemp seed oil and silicone. It is also very reasonably priced. And lastly when using CBD based lubricants you will want to apply them 10-20 minutes in advance if using for sensitivity or pain relief.

Hope this helps give you a better idea on what is available in Lubricants. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have at info@condom-usa.com.