A lubricant is any substance used in order to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact. Personal lubricants share the same purpose as those for machines -- to reduce the friction! Less friction means more pleasurable sex and masturbation!
A 2013 study showed that 90% women felt positively about using lubricant among 2451 women aged between 18-68. As for men, lube not only boosts pleasure, but also prevents damage or abrasion to delicate tissues!
Why Should You Buy Lube?
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal Dryness can occur due to a variety of natural reasons such as lowered levels of estrogen, hormonal imbalances or simply natural biology. Proper lubrication is necessary to avoid pain and cuts during sexual activity.
More fun for oral sex.
Flavoured lubes are highly recommended for oral sex. Pleasant scents such as banana and vanilla improve the experience of oral sex considerably. Also, a good lube will not breach the balance of oral health. More info below: Osmolality graph.
Smoother sexual sailing while using sex toys
Using the right kind of lube with your sex toy means having an effortless experience. But this might not always be the case so watch out for compatibility issues between toys and lubes. For example, silicone lubes are not compatible with silicone toys. Refer to the Lube and Sex Toys Compatibility Table to find out more.
Extra joy: Warming/ cooling/ Tingling
Some lubricants have special features, such as warming, cooling and tingling. These lubes feel different when they come in contact with the skin. They can provide warm sensations, cool sensations or tingling sensations. Try one of these to experience slightly more than the standard lube.
Classification of lubes
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Types |
Water based |
Silicone |
Oil based |
Hybrid (Water & Silicone based) |
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Pros |
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Cons |
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Find a Lube That Fits Your Needs Best
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Purposes |
Vaginal Sex |
Oral |
Toys |
Male-Masturbation |
Massage/ Foreplay |
Anal |
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Lube type Recommended |
Water based/ Silicone |
Flavored Lube Water based Lube |
Water based |
Oil Lube |
Coconut Oil Oil Lube |
Silicone Lube Oil Lube |
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Features |
Prolonging Arousal Spermicidal Sperm-friendly   |
Flavored Nature Organic Edible |
Latex safe Silicone- friendly  |
Silky feel |
Arousal Warming Cooling Tingling Flavored |
Slippery |
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Products recommended |
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Note: Test before use!
- If your skin is sensitive, do a spot-test on your inner arm or high thigh in advance to make sure you don’t get allergic reaction.
- Apply some lube on your toy to make sure it’s toy-friendly. If the toys become sticky or gummy, you need to switch to another lube.
Lube and Sex Toy Compatibility
Things to Considered When Buying Lube
Ingredients
Here are three ingredients may cause irritating or even infections: Glycerin, Petroleum, Parabens. Check the ingredients list while purchasing.
Osmolality
Osmolality is a measurement of how much solid can be absorbed in water. Every lube formula has an osmolality. It’s good to know osmolality of the vagina, mouth, semen and anus as listing below, you can choose a lube with right osmolality that fit your purpose better.
Vaginal Mucus ~260-290 mOsm/kg
Colon Lining ~920 mOsm/kg
Human Semen ~260-380 mOsm/kg
Tap water ~3 mOsm/kg​
PH Balance
Same logic applies to pH balance. You will want a lube which its pH close to vagina’s pH balance because breaking the balance may cause bacterial or yeast infection. The pH scale ranges are from 0 to 14. Anything below 7 is acidic. A normal pH range for vagina is between 3.8 to 4.5 which is slightly acidic. However, it may fluctuate during menopause and pregnancy.
Ideal indexes for lube:
How to store your lube? Tightly close the bottle and store it in dry and cool place. Keep it out of direct light and heat. Oil-based lubes may become liquid at higher temperatures. Lubes can be stored in the fridge but not necessary. Using up lube within one year is highly recommended.Â
