Water-based lubricant is water-soluble, feels natural, and rinses off easily. Silicone-based lubricant stays slippery longer, is water-repellent, and does not dry out quickly. The main difference lies in the ingredients: water-based lubricant contains water as its main ingredient, while silicone-based lubricant contains silicone oils.
Which option is best for each situation?
-
Water-based lubricant: ideal for everyday use, especially for penetration or with silicone sex toys. It dries out a little faster, but you can easily add a little water or more lubricant to make it slippery again. Perfect for short to medium-length sessions and suitable for use with latex condoms.
-
Silicone-based lubricant: suitable for extended sex, anal sex, or use in water (shower, bath, pool). It stays slippery an average of 3 to 5 times longer than water-based lubricant and feels silky smooth. It cannot be rinsed off with water alone, but is easy to remove with soap. Ideal when long-lasting lubrication is desired without reapplying.
How lubricant affects toys and condoms
Toys: always use water-based lubricant with silicone toys. Silicone-based lubricant can damage the surface of silicone toys, making them sticky and causing them to harbor bacteria. Toys made of glass, metal, ABS plastic, or stainless steel are safe to use with silicone-based lubricant.
Condoms: both water-based and silicone-based lubricants are safe to use with latex and polyurethane condoms. Avoid oil-based lubricants, as they damage latex and increase the risk of tearing.
What can go wrong when choosing lubricant?
When choosing lubricant, you could choose the wrong one because it may harm your skin or sex toy, or not have the desired effect.
If you choose a lubricant made primarily from artificial ingredients, your skin may react badly to it. Your sex toy could also be damaged if the ingredients start to break down the material.
Make sure your lubricant is hypoallergenic and water-based to minimize the risk of damage to your sex toy or your body. Ideally, choose a water-based lubricant made primarily from natural ingredients.
What natural lubricants can you use?
Natural lubricants such as saliva or aloe vera are an option, but they're often difficult to measure out. The easiest option is to choose a natural, water-based lubricant. Our lubricant comes in a cost-effective bulk package that gives you up to 50–100 doses.
What to look for when buying lubricant
When buying lubricant, there are a few things to consider and questions to ask yourself:
- Am I allergic to any ingredients, or does it contain unnatural substances?
- Is this lubricant suitable for my sex toy, or could it damage the material?
- Do I want my lubricant to provide extra stimulation, tingling, or numbing, or am I only looking for lubrication?
- What ingredients are in this lubricant? (Look for as many natural ingredients as possible.)
- Is it oil-based or water-based lubricant (water-based is best and safest)?
- How large is the lubricant package?
- What is the price per dose?
- How quickly does the lubricant dry out during use?
Many of the questions above depend on your personal situation, so it's important to think carefully about what's important to you. You can always try different lubricants to find out which one works best for you. Not all lubricants are the same, and it’s worth finding out which one gives you the most pleasure.
