subject: Choose The Right Sex Or Massage Lubricant For You [print this page] I've noticed that a lot of people who've placed orders through my site - and thank you for that! - have included a bottle of lubricant in the order with their new toys. Since there is so much demand for these products I thought I'd whip up a comparison article for you that might making picking the lube you need a little bit easier. Categorically speaking, there are 3 types of lube to choose from...
Water based lubes are the most versatile, in the sense that they are safe to use with any toy, and with condoms. They've had a reputation for not lasting very long, which is to say they dried out and ceased lubricating. I don't know whether this was due to evaporation or if they were simply being absorbed by the skin, or both. But that was what people were experiencing.
As time's gone on and formulations have evolved this problem's become much less common. I personally use "I Can't Believe It's Not Boy Butter" and haven't had any problems with its longevity, and I have it on good authority from a friend of mine that the Jo lube she's used feels as slick as massage oil for as long as she uses it. As an all-around choice it could be considered the most usable one and it's unlikely to disappoint.
Another choice is silicone based lube. Some silicone lubes are condom safe and some are not, so read the label before you buy it and find out the hard way. One constant to consider is that silicone lubes can't be used with silicone toys. Go figure! If you have a lot of silicone toys in your collection then this one probably isn't going to be your best choice. Of course you could choose to have some of each available and choose according to what you're playing with.
Fans of silicone lubes enjoy them for their smooth, rich and luxurious texture and long lasting lubricant capability.
Oil based lubricants, also known as petroleum based, are arguably the oldest type of lube available and include everything from Vaseline to modern liquid formulations. They absolutely cannot be used with latex condoms as I'm sure you've heard, but I'll point that out anyway because they will dissolve latex very quickly. If you wish to, you can use oil based lubes with polyurethane condoms.
I'd be reluctant to use it with rubber toys as well; although I've never seen a specific warning against it on a label, it just seems safer to not take that chance. And certainly don't use it with any toy containing or made of latex rubber. On the up side, oil based lubes are very long lasting, very smooth and very creamy - like motor oil with a nicer fragrance!
Within these 3 types of lube there are a few variations to try. Flavored lubes are popular for what should be obvious and enjoyable reasons, but they must be chosen carefully depending on their intended use. If a flavored lube's going to be used for vaginal lubrication it MUST be sugar free. That holds true for non-flavored lubes as well, but it's more likely to be an issue with flavored varieties.
Sugar may show up on the label as glycerin or glucose. I don't want to talk about yeast infections anymore than anyone wants to get one, so remember this! If you want to use your flavored lubes as external-only massage oil, go ahead regardless of their content but keep it "outside" if it doesn't say sugar/glycerin free on that label!
Warming or Tingling lubes offer their own set of sensations. Some warm on contact, some through massage action and others by being blown on. Some of the tingling varieties go from warm to cold or vise versa, others add a bit of menthol to create a tingle. Then there are combination formulas, warming and tingling and flavored for example, to give you a well rounded sensational experience. Just to reiterate, if you want to enjoy that warm tingling sensation inside, check the label to ensure it's sugar/glycerin/glucose free.
So there you have it. Be sure to consider how your lube or lubes are going to be used and you'll be able to pick the right one for any occasion. And remember, let's be slippery out there!
