New to Lube? We’re here to glide you through the wild wet!
It's time to embrace your sexual wellness and leave behind any outdated stigmas. Personal lubricants are not just for those experiencing discomfort—they're a tool for enhancing pleasure, comfort, and connection in your intimate moments. Using a lubricant is a simple and effective way to ensure that sex remains enjoyable and pain-free, allowing you to fully engage in the experience without any distractions.
Let's debunk the myths: needing or choosing to use a lubricant does not mean there's something wrong with you. In fact, it's a smart, proactive choice for maintaining your sexual health and enhancing your intimate life.
Embrace the power of personal lubricants. They're a sign of taking control of your sexual health, prioritizing your comfort, and ensuring that your intimate moments are as satisfying as possible. Don't let stigma hold you back—celebrate your body's needs and pleasures with confidence and joy.
Whether it's penetrative, masturbation, oral, anal or clit play, personal lubricants make sex more comfortable and pleasurable by reducing friction, discomfort and by enhancing intimate kinetic sensation. The other bonuses of using lube is that they help lovemaking sessions last longer and help prevent condom breakage and safeguard against chaffing.
Quick facts:
Our bodies naturally change with age, and it's perfectly normal for lubrication to fluctuate. It also varies with alcohol consumption, hormones and medication to name just a few. While our vaginas can naturally lubricate when we get aroused, lube helps make things even more ‘wet’...and the wetter, the better. Personal lubricants can bridge this gap, providing the moisture needed to enjoy intimacy to the fullest.
Vulva skin, like oral tissue, is considered to be one of the most permeable parts of our body, with studies suggesting 7-10 times more so than exposed skin. Because chemicals are almost immediately absorbed into the bloodstream it is of paramount importance to read the ingredients and choose the right lube.
There are three basic types of lube, but a myriad of variations. Here’s Intimate Wellbeing’s Lube Guide 101:
Water-based: These lubes are the most widely used and versatile personal lubricant. With their thin and natural feeling consistency, they can be paired with most latex or non-latex condoms, and pleasure devices - plus they do not stain sheets or clothing. Water-based lubes are typically the least irritating, plus they are often paired with other natural moisturizing ingredients. Their one downside is that they dry out faster and you may need to reapply more often.
Silicone-based: These are "the silk sheets" of lubes. Silicone-based lubes are perfect for sex in the shower and often used for anal play. They are thicker, more slippery, and last longer than their water-based counterparts. They tend to be hypoallergenic and designed to stay on the skin’s surface, but oddly enough can also tend to affect those prone to skin irritations. Silicone is safe with condoms but cannot be used with silicone sex toys. They are waterproof, however, this can be a downside because they cannot be washed off with water. They also may linger in the vagina longer which can be problematic for those prone to yeast infections.
Oil-based: These kinds of lubes don't receive our highest recommendation in our guide to lube. We might even say they should be used as your last resort. The main shortcoming is that oils can go rancid easily. We also recommend that you stay away from using Baby Oil or Vaseline - these two products are known for staining, disrupting the vaginal pH, causing yeast infections, and degrading latex condoms, which can compromise your sexual safety.
Variations of lube
Anal: Where there is no natural lubrication acting in your favour, we recommend using a silicone-based lube. Anal lubes are specifically designed to be thicker in viscosity for a longer-lasting, comfortable glide.
Organic and Plant-Based: Organic and Plant-Based lubes are gaining in popularity - they are a chemical-free and a natural alternative to traditional choices. Whether you have sensitive skin or are very particular about what you apply down there, organic is a sensible choice. Because these are plant-based they tend to have additional moisturizing benefits to the skin.
Masturbation Cream For Men: These kinds of lubes are specifically designed for stroking and massage, and are not recommended for intercourse due to the oil-based composition.
Sex, Style & Sport: Versatile as they are sensual. As the name suggests, they can be used for sensual sexual experience, to calm frizzy hair, and to prevent chaffing in fitness activities.
Moisturizing: These are specifically designed for the midlife woman experiencing vaginal dryness.
Hybrid: These lubricants might be the best of both lube worlds. They are a combination of the base elements: water and silicone. They are typically super slick, but not as thick as silicone-based. They are longer lasting than water-based and potentially less irritating. Hybrid lubes can be used with all pleasure products.
The lowdown on lube: We suggest you steer clear of the following which may cause inflammation or irritation: endocrine disruptors, petrochemicals, parabens, glycerin, sugar, mineral oils, petroleum, propylene glycol, chlorhexidine gluconate, and synthetic fragrance, colour or flavour.
Lube vs Vaginal Moisturizer: Personal lubricants and vaginal moisturizers serve distinct purposes in sexual and vaginal health. Personal lubricants are primarily designed to reduce friction during sexual activity, enhancing comfort and pleasure. They are typically applied just before or during intercourse and can come in various formulations, including water-based, silicone-based, and oil-based. In contrast, vaginal moisturizers are formulated to provide long-term hydration and comfort to the vaginal tissue, addressing issues like chronic dryness and irritation. Unlike lubricants, moisturizers are often used regularly, much like a skin moisturizer, to maintain the health and elasticity of the vaginal lining. While lubricants offer temporary relief and enhancement during sexual activity, vaginal moisturizers aim to restore and maintain vaginal health over a longer period, providing continuous moisture and alleviating dryness symptoms unrelated to sexual activity.