Everything you need to know about lube.
Before selecting a lubricant from eBay, Amazon or pleasurejardin.com, you need to understand what you are buying, more importantly, what you are putting in or on your body.
We have narrowed down the questions you should be asking.
What is lube?
Why do “I” need lube?
- Natural Lubrication
- Should I be worried if my vagina is not wet enough?
What is the best lube for you?
What are the different types of lube, and what are they good for?
What is Lube?
Lube enhances your sexual experience by making things (for lack of a better word) “slippery” for a longer time than usually possible.
Dryness typically occurs when things get “too hot too quickly” and you aren’t able to get wet, so having a bottle/sachet of lube on hand is essential for those dry moments. Lube is also essential when having anal sex, as the anus does not naturally produce lubrication.
Experiencing dryness or using lube should not be something to be embarrassed about. Vaginal dryness can be caused by hormones during menopause, pre-existing medical conditions or the most common; your partner not taking the time to stimulate your body and mind. Lube is a must-have when it comes to things that go in your sexual pleasure chest.
Why do "I" need lube?
Everyone hates those awkward moments when everything stops because you’ve hit a dry moment. Whilst vaginal dryness becomes more common during menopause due to estrogen levels dropping, 17% of pre-menopausal women experience dryness. Here’s why – the most common reason is that you are not sufficiently aroused, or your sexual experiences are lacking foreplay & build-up. Occasionally its because you are not in the mood or your mind is preoccupied (stressed) about something else.
External factors that contribute to dryness are harsh soaps, feminine sprays, hot tub or pool chemicals, some washing powders, condoms and drugs such as allergy cold medications, antidepressants or birth control. Lube is a simple, easy and cheap fix. Lube in no way takes away from the pleasure if anything it opens up new doors to pleasure.
What is Natural Lubrication?
Natural lubrication is a form of lubricant produced by the body when you feel sexually stimulated.
When a person becomes aroused their penis/vagina naturally produces lubricant.
The vagina secretes lubricant from the Bartholin glands, these are tiny glands found just behind either side of the lips. The lubrication secreted helps the penis and other phallic like objects enter the vagina smoothly and without pain.
The Penis also produces natural lubrication called pre-cum, which is a type of pre-ejaculate that lubricates the area between the head of the penis and the foreskin.
Another commonly asked question is, does pre-cum contain sperm. The answer is yes, there is a high percentage chance that pre-cum (pre-ejaculate) contains sperm. This is because pre-cum and sperm both travel through the urethra and if there is sperm left over it will come out with the pre-cum.
Should I be worried if my Vagina is not getting wet enough?
NO!! You should not be worried if your vagina is not producing enough natural lubricant, this is not detrimental to your health and therefore should not be a major concern.
There are reasons why your vagina may not be moist enough to make sex comfortable. It can happen to any woman, you should refer to what we have listed above about the most common reasons why your vagina is not producing enough lubricant.
To avoid all future worry and hesitation we suggest popping a handy sachet into your bag. A sachet that fits snuggly in your wallet along with your emergency stash of condoms.
What Lube Is Best For You?
Water-based Lube
Water-based lube is highly rated for its versatility, it is easy to apply and is fairly manageable. To remove the lube, all you need to do is run over it with water and it will slide off your body.
Water-based is the most commonly stocked lubricant, as it is inexpensive, safe and has multiple uses. Water-based lube is ideal for people that have irritable or sensitive skin, always remember to check the contents of the lube you are buying. It is a great choice for those that want a solution to vaginal dryness or those that are just starting off in lubricated pleasure.
Lubricated pleasure is using lube, oils or gels to enhance your sexual experiences. Most people pair lube play and sex toys, you can use it with anything from silicone to glass to latex as water-based lube works with everything. You can be sure with water-based lube that it won’t damage your latex condoms or your silicone toys. Also since it is water-based it won’t leave a stain on your clothes or sheets either!
Water-based lube may sound like the answer to all your prayers, however, it has its downsides. It does not work for water-play (any sexual activity that includes water), it will just rinse off of your body. Also, it tends to get sticky after extended use. This is due to the chemical structure within the lubricant being used up through use. If you encounter your water-based lube getting sticky, do not add additional lube!!! This will just get you into a slipperier stickier mess, we suggest you add a bit of water and the lube will return to its original slippery state.
Oil-based Lube
Oil-based lubes are brilliant for a longer sexual experience. It is not as common as water-based lubes and does have a few drawbacks, but what it offers is a different sexual experience to water-based lube.
Oil-based lubes are perfect for masturbation (Mutual/solo) with or without toys, water-play and unprotected sex. We highly recommend using oil-based lube if you are planning to embark on any sexual marathon. Due to the chemical composite of oil-based lubes they won’t run dry on you. You can also rest assured that oil-based won’t come off when having sex in the shower or masturbating in the bath because oil has a lower density than water and the two won’t mix or interfere with each other.
We have specifically referenced unprotected sex for use of oil-based lube because oil-based products have a tendency to dissolve condoms which causes them to break/tear.
You can also use “natural oils” (unprocessed) such as coconut oil, olive oil (the not so extra virgin type) because these are plant-based they won’t have any negative effects on your body.
Things you should remember when using oil-based lubes:
If you are cracking open a bottle of oil-based lube in the bedroom, it is probably best you put a sheet on that you don’t care too much for. Oil is notorious for staining anything it touches, since it won’t come off with water and the washing machine won’t do you much good. So take care.
However, removing it from your body is as easy as stepping into the shower and giving yourself a good wash with soap and a sponge.
Silicone-based Lube
Silicone-based lube is very similar to oil-based lube. The subtle differences are that silicone-based lube will keep anything it touches lubricated for a very, very, very long time. One of my good friends spilt a bit on her slatted flooring and that spot has been a tripping hazard for the last 6 months. To avoid any accidental spillage we suggest you look out for silicone-based gel which will stay in the area you apply it to. Non the less silicone-based lube is great for vaginal dryness and anal lubrication.
Silicone-based lube is a lot safer than oil-based lube because silicone is a hypoallergenic (unlikely to cause an allergic reaction), you won’t experience any issues of bacterial infections or any irritations within the anal/vaginal cavity.
“You can’t use silicone lube on silicone sex toys”. What the statement is actually referring to is lower grade silicone sex toys, sex toys that are sold as Silicone TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber). These lower grade sex toys will deteriorate and cause micro pockets to form on your sex toy and most likely store bacteria… rule of thumb should be don’t use silicone lube on your silicone sex toys, instead use water-based lubes.
Different types of lube and what they are good for!
CBD lube has become increasingly popular as well. According to some women, CBD lube heightens sensation in your vagina during pleasure and results in better orgasms. It is said to increase blood flow and relax muscles so for those who experience painful sex this may be worth a try. Others say this increases arousal and sensitivity to touch.
Coconut Oil is well known for its moisturising qualities. We suggest looking for unrefined Coconut oil/gel. Find one that works as a great moisturizer on your skin then if you feel comfortable try it as a lubricant.
If menopause, ageing or medication has been causing you constant dryness this is definitely the lube for you.
There are a few things to be aware of, it is an oil so not advisable to use with condoms or sex toys and being an oil it will stain literally anything.
