Smex Ed

Lube, the most underrated companion to your solo or partner play sessions. Lubricants are the best way to amplify spicy time and yet a lot of people don’t use them for one reason or another. Some people may be unsure of which type of lube to use for what type of play, others believe they don’t need them due to having natural lubrication, so we at Smex Ed Magazine, want to give lubricants the spotlight they deserve! 

Let’s chat types

We are going to discuss four different types of lubricants in this article: flavored, water based, silicone based, and oil based. Each one serves its own purpose when it comes to sex and masturbation and provides a little something extra to that time. We will go over what types of play you can use each lubricant for and the Pros and Cons of each style so that you can make an educated decision to which lubricant suits you needs. 

Flavored Lubricants

Flavored lubricants are most commonly used for oral sex. Typically most people use flavored lubricants if they are looking to spice up the taste of oral sex (with or without a condom) or if they are not a fan of the tastes that are associated with oral sex. 

Flavored lubricants come in a variety of flavors, anywhere from watermelon, strawberry, raspberry, you name it, there is a flavored lube in it (most likely.) If you are a fan of bringing food into your play time activities due to the tastes, flavored lubes are a great alternative. The flavor of the lubricant helps amplify or “mask” the taste of oral sex. 

Let’s be real here, some people just don’t like the taste of saliva mixed with bodily fluids and that is completely ok. Flavored lube was made to help make oral sex a bit more tolerable to those who may have an aversion to the taste. 

How to apply it

When performing oral sex on your partner, apply the flavored lubricant to their genitals. The amount of lube you use is completely up to your personal preferences. Start with a small amount at first and see how it tastes and if you need more, go right ahead and add it. Flavored lubes can also help with oral sex if you are someone who can’t produce enough saliva to the area, it assists on providing lubrication and decreasing the friction of oral sex to ensure your partner isn’t feeling any discomfort or pain. 

Pros:

• Enhances/masks the “flavors” of oral sex 
• Can add food flavors into the bedroom without the food
• Help add a natural glide to oral sex & alleviate friction 

Cons:

• Can irritate sensitive skin
• Allergies can be triggered (make sure you speak to your partner about their allergies before ever using flavored lubes) 

Flavored Lube & The Vagina

Here are ways to ensure that you are using flavored lube that won’t affect your vaginias natural PH levels. Look for 

• Glycerin Free – Glycerin is an ingredient found in many water-based lubricants which in high quantities may be harmful to vaginal tissues.
• Paraben Free – Parabens are preservatives that are thought to have adverse health effects such as hormone disruption and are generally best avoided.
• pH-Balanced – One of the most important factors for vaginal health. Lubricants that are not pH-balanced can disrupt the vaginal ecosystem resulting in a higher risk of Bacterial Vaginosis, UTIs, and other infections.
• Organic – Look for lubes that use natural or organic ingredients, not harsh chemicals.
• Doctor or Gynecologist Recommended – Use products that health experts trust. (Pulled from Flavored Lube Info) 

Water Based Lubricants 

Water based lubricants are the most widely used lubricants and are water soluble (so don’t use them during shower or bath play time.)  These style lubricants can be used both in solo play or with partner play. They are generally a fan favorite due to the longevity of the lubricant without the sticky/oily feel of other lubricants. They can come in a variety of styles such as tingling, warming, etc. They generally are the cheapest of the lubricant family as well, ranging from $3 for a tiny bottle to $20 for a larger one. 

How to apply it: 

When using lubricants you want to apply the lube to the area that it is being used on and the device that is being used. For example, if you are participating in anal sex, you want to make sure you lubricate the anus as well as the toy or penis that you are using for penetration. When applying lubricant, you want to make sure you are applying a good amount. When using a toy, you want the toy to be slippery, almost to the point of falling out of your hands. When using gentiles you want to make sure it’s enough where the area can be penetrated with no pain or discomfort. 

Pros:

• Great for sensitive skin
• Long lasting 
• Easy to clean up after use
• Won’t stain your sheets or clothes
• Condom safe
• Can use for multiple activities: oral, masturbation, penis in vagina sex, anal sex
• Safe to use on sex toys 

Cons: 

• Absorb quickly into body
• May need to reapply a few times during a session
• Will dissolve in water so can’t use in shower or bath time play 

Silicone Based Lubricants 

Silicone lubes are made from silicone oils meaning they are thicker and can be slipperier than your water based lubricants. The consistency makes it ideal for intense sex sessions and anal sex. They are waterproof which make them great for shower and bathtub sessions and are super long lasting, typically only need to apply the lube once during the session and it lasts the entire time. 

How to apply it:

Basically the same way you apply water based lubes HOWEVER, start with a quarter size amount first, then work your way up from there. Remember, it’s super sticky and slippery so you probably don’t need as much silicone lubricants as you do water based ones. 

Pros: 

• Slippery as fuuuuuck which helps decrease friction 
• Long lasting
• Great for anal sex 
• Can use in the shower & tub 
• Safe with condoms

Cons:

• Can stain clothes & sheets
• Not the best for vaginal sex (can trap bacteria into the vagina) 
• Not toy safe, will degrade your toys 
• More expensive than water based lubes 

Oil Based Lubes

Probably one of the lesser used lubes, oil based lubricants. Their biggest selling point, they last for freakin ever. They are going to be your longest lasting lubricants and can double as massage oil if you are looking to sensually touch your partner during play time or maybe for some foreplay. 

How to apply it:

Same way as you would apply water based and silicone based lubricants. 

Pros:

• Long lasting
• Great for shower & bathtub play
• Can double as massage oil 

Cons:

• Not condom safe: can increase the likelihood of the condom getting torn 
• Stains sheets & clothes
• associated with higher rates of Candida (a type of fungus that causes yeast infections) 
• Can feel very oily 
• Can clog pores in your skin 

How do I choose?

It depends on what you are looking for. In my personal opinion, I always go with water based lubricants because I tend to use lubes most with toys. I also like how it doesn’t stain anything or feel super sticky. However, I know people who swear by silicone lubricants. It really depends on what your needs are and how your partner feels about it as well. 

If your partner has a lot of allergies and is sensitive to yeast infections, water based lubricants are probably your best bet. If you are looking to experiment with anal the first time and you aren’t using a toy, silicone might be the better bet because of how long it lasts. What it comes down to is research, experimentation, and communication. 

Research which seems like the right choice. Experiment with it in the bedroom/solo play. Communicate with your partner to see how they liked it, if they want to try a different kind, what they didn’t like about it.