Lubricant guide – choose the right lube
Lubricants help things feel nicer, no matter which one you choose. With partner, partners, or on your own. Warming, wet or silky. We help you choose your absolute favorite here.
For those looking for heightened pleasure, a lubricant can add that little extra to maximize your experience. Using a lubricant is often an “a-ha” experience – it’s not until you’ve tried it that you understand what you’ve been missing. Wetness and moistness are important for penetrative sex to be sexy, pleasant and wonderful. A good lube can also make using a sex toy more comfortable, whether you’re on your own or with someone else.
And for women with dry mucous membranes, lubricants can be a way of helping nature while you’re “on-the-go”, so that sex can be as wet and slippery as you want for it to feel good. The body often produces its own lubrication, but sometimes you don’t get wet even though you’re horny! For example, it could be because you are breastfeeding, stressed or menopausal. At such times, lube can be handy.
Dry mucous membranes? Read more here
There’s a whole jungle of lubes out there, but essentially there are three types, depending on what they're based on.
Silicone-based lubricants
provide a silky feel and plenty of protective lubrication. Silicone-based lubricants feel less wet than water-based ones, they’re smoother and offer longer-lasting lubrication. Which feeling you like best is down to the individual, but some may find a silicone-only lube too slippery. Silicone-based lubricants work well with both latex and plastic condoms. However, you should be careful when using a silicone-based lubricant with sex toys made of silicone or so-called cyberskin, for example, because it can damage the material.
Water-based lubricants
Water-based lubricants provide both a good sliding effect and also a feeling of hydration. Water-based lubricants can be used with condoms and with all types of sex toys without damaging any sensitive surface. With a water-based lubricant, you maintain a natural friction, but the lube effect doesn’t last as long as when using a silicone-based lubricant. At times, some need to use more after a while.
Water- and silicone-based lubricants
Hybrid or Cream Gel lubricants
Hybrid or Cream Gel lubricants are a mix of water and silicone. This type provides the same long-lasting lubrication as a silicone-based lube, while moisturizing like a water-based one. The feeling is a combination of smoothness and hydration. The combination of water and silicone has nurturing properties and is recommended for those of you who experience fragile and dry mucous membranes. For many, this hybrid is also a favorite when using anal sex toys. You don’t risk damaging silicone material and at the same time you get a better lubricating effect compared to a water-based lubricant.
It is good to choose the lubricant that is best suited for the type of sex you are having.
Lubricant for vaginal sex
For vaginal sex, you can use any lubricant, but remember not to use a lubricant based on vegetable oil if you’re using a condom. It can dissolve and damage the condom.
Sex with sex toys
When you’re using sex toys you should always use a water-based lubricant because silicone-based lubricants can sometimes damage sensitive surfaces of toys that are made of silicone and so-called cyberskin.
Lubricants for anal sex
For oral sex
Lubricants for MASSAGE AND FOREPLAY
The first product many people usually try is a so-called massage lube. This is often a water-based gel that works both as a massage gel and as a lubricant. Many also have extra properties such as heat, taste or fragrance.
Choose lube according to the feeling you are after
Many people clearly prefer a certain type of lube that provides the right feeling for them. Here it’s important to try out things for yourself.
- Water based lubes provide both a good lubricating effect and a feeling of hydration. Many believe that a water-based lubricant allows them to retain some natural friction.
- Silicone based lubricants provide a silky feel and plenty of protective moisture – although some people find that a lubricant with only silicone gives it too much. So it might be good to try using a combination product first, before buying one that is entirely based on silicone.
- A combined water and silicone-based lubricant provides the same long-lasting lubrication as a silicone-based one, while moisturizing like a water-based lubricant. The feeling is a combination of smoothness and hydration. Many say it’s the best of both worlds.
Heat, scent and taste – lubricants with a little extra!
Why choose a lubricant from RFSU?
All RFSU lubricants contain carefully selected ingredients and are dermatologically and gynecologically tested to be safe to use. Our products are also sold in pharmacies, which shows that they have met high standards in both safety and quality.
And last but not least, when you choose a lubricant from RFSU, you are also contributing to making the world a little better. All our profits go to RFSU’s non-profit work for equality and sexual health, both here in Sweden and around the world. Read more about our work For The Freedom Of Every Body, here!
