Lube is the best. In case you suppose you solely want it to assist with penetration, allow us to enlighten you: Lubricants could make every kind of intercourse and masturbation really feel even higher. You may attain for lube to make handjobs additional slippery, pair it with a intercourse toy, or use it throughout anal intercourse, since your anus doesn’t self-lubricate. To determine which lube to decide on, right here’s a fast rundown of some fabulous choices—in addition to professional picks.

What do you have to contemplate when looking for lube?

Select your lube primarily based on what you wish to use it for. Water-based lube is probably probably the most versatile method, because it’s nice for nearly all kinds of intercourse and is appropriate with most toys and condoms. It normally is available in a skinny, slippery liquid or gel type. One draw back is that water-based lube tends to get sticky because the water evaporates throughout use, so it wants frequent reapplication—you may treatment any tackiness by including a number of drops of water to refresh it. In case you’re particularly susceptible to yeast infections, ensure that your water-based lube doesn’t have glycerin in it. This ingredient is a byproduct of sugar, which can alter vaginal pH by producing an overgrowth of yeast—resulting in an infection.

In response to the specialists we spoke to, silicone-based lube is a wonderful selection for anal intercourse and handjobs as a result of it’s longer-lasting than water-based and fewer absorbent (requiring fewer reapplications). Crucially, nonetheless, this sort of lube ought to by no means be used with silicone intercourse toys or condoms as a result of it may possibly degrade their materials.

Lastly, there are oil-based lubes like coconut oil, child oil, and petroleum jelly, that are fashionable due to how simply accessible and low cost they’re. However oil may cause latex condoms to interrupt—and petroleum jelly can probably result in vaginal an infection, so should you do go for oil, use it with a latex-free condom like this selection from Skyn ($6).

The most effective lubes

Beneath, we’ve rounded up the perfect lubes in keeping with specialists and consumers.