While talking with a male friend of mine he revealed to me he has never owned a bottle of lube. This is concerning to me, because I would think as a sexually active person you would keep a bottle (or four) around “just in case” a situation arose when you actually needed it. Upon further discussion I realized maybe people out there don’t know which lubes to buy–after all, there’s a lot of brands out there. They all are made for the same general purpose in mind but what really meets your needs is entirely different.
SILICONE: Generally a long lasting lubricant that is less likely to get sticky feeling the way water-based lubes. Serious downsides include that it’s not safe for use with all adult sex toy materials, or condoms. Bummer unless you’re either flying solo or in a committed relationship. Or just living on the edge, I guess.
Pjur Woman – For a silicone based lubricant, this is exceptionally light. Perfect for those of you out there looking for something that doesn’t make you feel like someone popped a bottle of Vasilene out to use without getting sticky/drying out the way a water based lubricant would. Personally I think it’s lightness makes it ideal for solo or couples vaginal sex only. SKIP IT: If you’re looking for something good for the region even further south, I suggest you pick a slightly heavier lube.
Toko – I originally purchased this lube on a whim–it was affordable and came in a pretty decent sized bottle. I have to say overall I was pretty impressed by it. It’s a very slick lube but slightly more substantial than the Pjur Woman, making it far more ideal for any kind of rear entry. ;)
WATER-BASED: Ideal for use with most sex toys but more importantly it’s condom safe. However water based lubes have a tendency to not last as long and frequently wind up feeling “sticky” if you don’t add more to the mix sooner rather than later.
Pink Water – After hearing rave reviews of the silicone-based Pink lube, I thought I’d give their water-based version a shot. I am so glad I did–this stuff borders on magical, all things considered. It’s light but not too light, and doesn’t get sticky mid-use, which is usually my main complaint about water-based lubricants. They offer three different sized bottles, so it’s ideal for stashing in a bedside drawer (6.75 fl. oz.) or your purse if you grab the smallest size–a bargain buy at $7! What can I say, you never know when something like this will come in handy! Be careful, the cap is pretty easily knocked off and the curves of this bottle can make it slightly difficult to handle if your hands aren’t dry. This is officially one of my two must-have out of all the lubes I’ve tried.
Maximus – From my experience this lube is pretty decent considering a) it’s water based – meaning perfect for use with condoms, b) it’s cheap and c) you get a lot for your money. Plus the feel of this lube is not quite as “jelly”-like as some other water-based products I’ve found. While that essential lube dispersing pump is pretty handy in the heat of the moment, it’s sort of an eyesore to have near the bed. I wouldn’t advise laying the bottle on it’s side for storage in a bedside drawer, so hopefully everyone getting near your bed is already cruising for some action and won’t be put off by such a blatant display of desire to make t3h fuck.
KY – Okay, this is a dick thing to say and I accept that: I hate KY. I’ll use it to stretch my ears, but never any other orifices, mmkay? The consistency borders on medical feeling–which is fine if that’s what you’re into–but when I’m trying to feel sexy this just doesn’t cut it. Plus I’ve noticed once friction is added in KY gets sticky pretty quickly. Gentlemen: if you want a lady to stick around for some serious play, UPGRADE YOUR LUBE SELECTION!
OIL-BASED
Vulva Balm – Alright I admit I have precisely zero previous experience with oil-based lubes. I got this in “Rapturous Rose” and while it does have a pretty natural rose scent I think it’s a product really reserved for those concerned with the scent of their lady bits, as well as those who aren’t going to be asking someone to perform oral sex on them. I gave it a taste; I’m sure your lover would rather not. I will say that this was an incredibly hydrating treat for such delicate skin, might be good to keep on hand as summer approaches. You know, just in case you’re hitting the pool on a regular basis. This product is also not condom safe, and you need to be cautious of how much actually winds up being used internally–oil based products can lead to problems with thrush if not used properly.
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: I don’t know what it is, but I’ve heard some ridiculous ideas for what is suitable for use as lube out of household items. To date some of the best include lotion, conditioner, olive oil, milk, butter/Crisco, . Gentlemen, ladies–do not use these things as lubricant. I don’t care what your partner says about how they’ve “done it plenty of times”, there is no excuse not to be looking out for your genitals best interest. And I’m willing to bet it’s not going to be very fun to explain to your doctor what a moron you are when you get a sweet infection from using one of these items.
Long story short? Buy some lube. More specifically, buy some good lube that caters to your needs–and don’t cheap out, either.