I work in a sex toy store and the most stigmatized but important item that we sell is lube.
People seem to get offended when you ask if they have lube at home to go with their toy but there is no shame in using or enjoying lube. I would say it’s the most important thing I sell and everyone should have lube on their nightstand.
Even if you are really wet, lubricant helps cut down on friction. Which is not only healthier, but it makes everything feel better and more natural. The difference between using lube is like using lip gloss. Yea just licking your lips makes them wet, but using lip gloss keeps them wet. Using lube is a way to make sex safer! Too much friction can lead to risk of infection, but lube reduces friction. It also makes you less sore after sex. Sex in general lasts longer when you cut down on friction, it is also more pleasurable.
When you’re using sex toys it is especially important to use lubricant. Toys are not like skin to skin contact. Most materials have a drag to them when inserted in the body. Lube will cut down on friction and not cause rips or tears in the body. Anal toys are the most important toys to use lube with because the butt does not self lubricate. Anal sex should never hurt. If it hurts you probably need more lube. Check out some more tips here if you’re interested in anal.
Even using lube externally on toys for the clit is great.
This can create more sexual pleasure and an easier route to orgasm. Lubrication helps speed up foreplay and maximize the effects of sensations. In general lube helps enhance sensations and increase your pleasure. It can enhance sexual arousal by stimulating the flow of blood to the vulva, which encourages your body to create some of its own lube. If you’re experience vaginal dryness it can also help with that. There are lots of formulas with aloe, vitamin E, etc, that help keep vaginal skin soft and help maintain elasticity of vaginal walls.
There are also so many flavored lubes out there that can make oral sex more fun. Just be wary of glycerin. If things say sugar free a lot of times they still have glycerin. If they do don’t stress, just keep it on the outside of the body. Sugar is only bad inside of you, so use it to your hearts content on your skin.
There are so many different types of lubricants.
Something for everyone. There are a lot of different reasons to use different kinds of lube. There’s so many different types of textures, tastes, sensations. Just because you haven’t found the one for you doesn’t mean you should stop trying! Lube makes everything better. There are some basics kinds so you know the basic differences.
Water Based Lube
Water-based lubricants are the most common, with good reason. They’re easy to clean up (and to wash out of clothing or sheets). And of course since pure water is about the most natural ingredient out there, these lubes can also be very gentle and soothing to your skin. Ingrediants to avoid, glycerin, glycol and parabens. Glycerin is sugar, and sugar in the body not only feel yeast but can also create little rips and tears in the body that let in bacteria. Glycol, an ingredient also found in antifreeze, is very harsh on intimate skin. As well as parabens which are a known carcinogen.
- Most natural feeling option
- Moisturizing for skin
Silicone Lube
Silicone is a material made from alternate chains of silicon (a natural element) and oxygen atoms. Silicone is also hypoallergenic, so it’s a great choice for lube users with sensitive skin or allergies. And since these lubes contain mostly silicone instead of water, they often last longer and need to be reapplied less often. Something important to know is, do not use with silicone toys! Silicone loves silicone so much they bind together and make your fancy silicone toys melt
- Great for play in the water because it doesn’t just wash away
- Great for anal sex because it needs to be reapplied less
- Can double as massage oil
Hybrid Lube
Formulated from mostly water based, with a little bit of silicone in them to keep them slicker longer like silicone but won’t leave a mess or ruin silicone toys.
- Great silicone alternative if you’re using silicone toys
Oil Based Lube
Most important thing to know is that oil-based lubricants aren’t safe to use with latex condoms. They can make the latex rip and tear. Oils can also be hard to clean off of toys and skin. They can clog pores and provide an easy breeding ground for bacteria and infections. Massage oil shouldn’t be used as lube, most oils trap bacteria in the body.
