You may have read my last blog on lube, Slippery When Wet , but when I read it again recently, I realized I have more to say now. Lube makes everything better, simply because it makes things more slippery. That being said, not all lubes are equal. How does one choose? There is a wide range of lube types and qualities. Some lubes are better suited for vaginal use, rectal use, or use with toys or condoms. The ingredients in your lube can help or harm your tissues, affecting your health in various ways.
The main categories of lube are water-based, silicone-based, and oils. Aloe vera has also been popping up as a popular base in natural lubes. All lubes are intended for short term use during sexual activities. Personal moisturizers, on the other hand, keep moisture in the genitals for greater than 60 minutes.
We will look at some personal moisturizers along with lubes. Water-based lubes are generally cheap and easy to find. They are easy to clean up, but can dry out quickly. Silicone-based lubes are longer lasting and harder to wash off, which also means they are great for playing in the shower. Oils may be natural, like coconut or olive oil, or synthetic, like mineral oil.
Natural oils are long lasting and safe for oral play. They also might foster yeast infections in some women. Synthetic oils are more irritating and harder to clean off. Aloe vera is safe for the body. The only drawbacks are that it has a shorter shelf life and can be more pricey. If you will be using a condom, avoid oil-based lube. Silicone and oil lubes are also not safe for most toys. To evaluate a water-based lube, look at pH a measure of how acidic it is. And for all lubes, look at osmolality a measure of how concentrated it is and the ingredient list for irritating additives.
A pH much lower than recommended makes us vulnerable to infections, such as bacterial vaginosis. Similarly, a high osmolality also damages tissues and allows infection to grow. Silicone-, Plant-, and Oil-based lubes are also less likely to irritate tissues, but their pH cannot be measured. When I see words in any ingredient list that I do not recognize and have lots of letters, I become suspicious.
