A while back SensitiveMan asked for recommendations for best sex toys in various categories. So far we’ve looked at the best vibrators and the best toys especially for men. Now let’s turn our attention to lube, a product that in my humble opinion should be included in the go-to sex kit for everyone who has sex — whether that sex is with a partner or solo.
I’ve heard way too many people say that only older women or the tragically unaroused need lube. Nothing could be further from the truth. Read on for some of the best lubes on the market today:
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Must Have: Pjur Original Bodyglide: I’ve raved about this lube more times than I can count, and for good reason. It’s super-slippery, doesn’t ever gum up and it’s perfect for any kind of sex you can possibly imagine (and no doubt a few kinds you couldn’t imagine). I wouldn’t have buttsex without it.
And look! Seems like Babeland now has a silicone lube of their own. Cool.
The only problem with silicone lubes is that they cannot, in general, be used with silicone toys; however, Tantus products seem to be completely impervious to the effects of silicone lube. Using any other kind of silicone toy? Read on below.
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For Silicone Toys: Sliquid: While it’s certainly not as long-lasting or crazy-slippery as a silicone lube, Sliquid’s water-based lubes are great alternatives for use with silicone toys. The company offers lots of different flavors (I’m partial to cherry and green apple) as well as a line of organics which I’ve yet to try.
I’m a tough judge on the flavors used in non-food items (oh-emm-gee I’ve tasted some nasty-ass lubes) and I can honestly say that Sliquid is not gross at all. In fact it’s right nice.
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An Excellent Organic and Vegan Option: Yes Organic Lube from the Sensual Vegan: The very kind Furry Girl sent me a bottle of this thick, luscious lube; my partner and I eagerly tried it out for, well, everything. For me the ultimate tests of a lube are fisting and buttsex; Yes performed well on both counts.
Some swear by Hathor Aphrodisia Lube, which is also organic and vegan, but I found the taste absolutely intolerable. If you don’t plan on licking your lube or anything your lube has been on (such as your partner), give this one a try.
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Use With Caution and a Great Deal of Skepticism: Anything that promises miraculous stimulating properties. Most of these contain menthol; some will feel this as a pleasant cooling sensation, others a lovely warm feeling, and an unlucky few as hideous dancing flames. If you must, try a tiny drop first, okay?
Also, no cream or creme or gel or elixir or potion is going to make your clit burst into song. They might make you feel good because of the temperature change and because you have to rub them in. Do not expect miracles.
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Avoid, Avoid, Avoid: KY in any form whatsoever: Honestly, I’d almost rather not have sex than use KY. It gums up in an instant and the teevee commercials for it are frankly appalling. I wouldn’t oil a squeaky hinge with this shite. AVOID.
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As usual, I’d love to hear additional suggestions in the comments below.
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Due to antidepressants, I have serious lubrication issues. I tried Pjur, Sliquid, and a couple of other of the high-end ones. Nothing. Finally, at Wal-Mart one day (yes, I know, but I’m a college student, cheap is important right now), I idly grabbed a bottle of Astroglide X. It has two ingredients: Cyclomethicone and Cyclopentasiloxane. I don’t know what those are. What I do know is that it’s amazing. No yeast-y problems (and I tend to have those), only needs to be applied once, don’t need much, not sticky, etc, etc. I can ONLY find it at Wal-Mart (or online), not Target or the grocery store or CVS.
So awesome. Haven’t touched my other (more expensive) lubes since I found it. While looking for the ingredients online so I didn’t have to try to copy them from the bottle and not typo, I noticed that Astroglide will send you a free sample. I didn’t check if you need to subscribe to some sort of lube mailing list or anything, but if not, I cannot recommend it enough. I don’t know if it is compatible with silicone, though. So check that out before use.
The ingredients in astroglide X are just cheap(er) silicones. It is pure silicone lube, but not the highest quality stuff.
Silicone lubes should not react with your body as the molecules are inert. The molecules are too large to be absorbed by the skin or through mucous membranes. This is why silicone lube does not ’soak in’ like other lubes. Nor is it known to cause skin reactions in healthy people. It’s also widely used in medical applications (For prostheses, wound dressing etc.
I suppose introducing a lot of it vaginally could alter PH or something similar, but it should not provoke the growth of either bacteria or fungus so you should be OK on that front.
(Rite Aid has big bottles of cheap silicone lubes if you have that chain near you).
Hmm, I don’t know why using high-end silicone wasn’t helpful but this cheap stuff is. Bodies are weird. But hey, cheap is good.
Silicone lube does however, work well for squeaky hinges. Actually we put together an entire futon from the unnamed European furniture giant with a bottle of id-glide when the parts kept getting stuck.
For non silicone lube I heartily recommend hydra~smooth. I have lots of skin allergies and this one is the longest lasting and least irritating of all the water based lubes I’ve tried.
How does it taste?
Hydrasmooth?
Well that’s a good question, I don’t really taste my lube: the partner says, “Well, I wouldn’t have it on a cracker”.
Ok, having tasted it, it’s a little sweet and a little chemical tasting, but mostly I don’t taste lube so I don’t know how it measures up. I don’t really want to taste anything but my partner, but we don’t have a problem since we don’t usually lick the toys or lubed up body parts.
Clearly I’m doin’ something wrong. :)
Heh, from your posts, I don’t think you’re ‘doin it wrong’.
Mostly it’s that we only need to use lube for anal, while some people get a kick out of licking those things, I am definitely not one of them.
i LOVE pjur lubes. i think i first got a bottle based on your recommendation! and i’ve never had a problem with pjur lube and my tantus plug – ever.
can anyone confirm the stories i’ve heard about using silicone lube for shaving?
Oh yes. It’s lovely.
Also:
Leather Couch Shiner
Hair Conditioner
Vinyl Shiner
Skin Smoother
etc
etc
etc
PS–I still see Garfield in your icon. :)
You forgot to mention Pam. It is edible and comes in Olive Oil too, if you have a taste for Italian.
Haaaaaaa
Add a lil basil, some garlic…
…and subtract the condom (in case anyone reading this doesn’t realize you should not mix oils and latex amidst the joking).
BTW, a solution to “gummy” water based lubes is to simply replenish the water. (It’s simply evaporated, leaving too much glycerin behind.)
Who’s got time to replenish the water? :)
I’m a huge fan of Liquid Silk… the Pjur sounds like it’s worth a try however…
I’d agree on Liquid Silk – water-based rather than silicone, I believe – but we’ve never managed to get it to dry up, the same way KY does as soon as it comes out the tube…
Lyle, that is quite a picture! :)
[Been so busy these days that I haven't had the chance to come by... So glad you are continuing the series, AAG...]
AAG, didn’t you once have a post on lubes where you talked about some ingredients you would mix up yourself. I seem to recall you being very positive about the performance of this product, and also about its relative frugality. Do I recall correctly? Could you remind me of the details?
Thanks so much for doing this series, AAG- your original posts, and the following comments give such a rich collection of useful info.
I’m a bit geeky, so I’m printing each page and keeping them all in a notebook. (well, I’m also doing the electronic equivalent.)
Nope, not me! But check out A BETTER J-Lube FAQ.