Lube Basics – Kink 101

Lubes, lubricants, gels, and jellies – no matter what you call it – the slick stuff for sexy fun can come in handy for all sorts of reasons.

Namely, those reasons often include: addressing vaginal dryness problems, increasing vaginal/anal pleasure during sex, or maybe just because we might like to make a fun mess of things (absolutely no judgment here people). No matter what draws you to bring lube into your life – you need to know a little more about the various types.

Types of Lube

There are a lot of kinds of lube. A LOT. And more kinds of lube keep popping up over time too. It’s amazing and beautiful to watch the sexual pleasure market evolve, but also a little bit overwhelming. Especially if you’re new to the lube section of your local personal care aisle/sex toy store.

Here’s a basic rundown of each type:

Water-based lubes Silicone-based lubricants Oil-based lubes Organic variety lubes Hybrid

Some possible variations:

Cream style lubricants Numbing lubricants Tingling lubes Warming lubricants Flavored Anal

Okay, so that is eleven whole different types of lubricant just for sex – okay maybe ten – most anal lubes are just marketing directly to a specific pleasure because well… anal is pretty popular and it boosts sales.

As a general warning – I would always try to sample the lubricant you want to buy to check for allergic reactions. Some lube styles contain chemicals that may not agree with all skin temperments. There are vegan and hypoallergenic options available out there – so no worries!

Lube Variety Details – Basic Lube Breakdown

Which lube does what? Which lubes are better for silicone? Which lubes are okay with condoms? What about lube for sensitive skin types? These are all questions that come up when you bring lube into the bedroom – so let’s get into the details for each kind.

Water-based Lube

This lube is based on water-friendly ingredients that can easily wash away after a lovely and messy play session. It’s a little bit thinner than some of the other lubes on the list – but can still be incredibly effective. As a bonus – water-based lubricants are safe for every material of toy that is available as well as the most common condom materials.

Silicone Based Lubes

Silicone lubes are often better for any play sessions that involve water – as it doesn’t wash away as quickly. This style of lubricant is also known for it’s ‘extra-slick’ sensations, so if that is one of your favorite things – this may be ideal. **Please Note** Do not use silicone lubricants with real-feel or silicone based toys – it does not end well – always check the toy material before using silicone lubricant. However, most condoms and latex materials are okay when used with silicone lube.

Oil-based Lubes

Oil-based lubricants are not for use with latex condoms and can be difficult to clean up after a play session. With this in mind, the sensation of oil can be quite memorable and desirable. I mean – ever had a back rub with a nice body-safe oil? Now, times that by the pleasure that your nether bits bring you. Seriously.

Organic Lube

Another option in the lubrication aisle is to go for the organic and orgasmic route. A number of these are made from plant-based materials like aloe vera or coconut oil. You’ll need to check each bottle for any specific allergies because ingredients can vary between manufacturers. Organic lubes are often formed to be more soothing to your sensitive bits and to reduce the contact with unwanted chemicals.

Hybrid Lubricants

Hybrid lubricants are most often a balance between water-based and silicone-based lubricants. These are intended to bring the best of both worlds together (super long lasting and easier to wash away) – as well as an attempt to address the silicone/silicone break-down reaction. Now, some brands report that they have the silicone level so low that it won’t affect the integrity of your silicone toys – I have yet to find a long-term study or any proof that they’re right. (There may be an experiment in the making here…)

Lube Variations

Cream Style Lubes

Creams offer a bit of thicker feel – it’s more of a texture sort of thing. Think of a sort of lotion that is marketed as genital friendly. Now, in my perusal of a few variants of creamy lubricants for orgasmic fun – lubricant creams will have a variety of ingredient bases from the above list. Some are coconut oil, some are silicone based, and others still, seem like they’re just rebranded bottles of hand lotion. If you’re sensitive to ingredients, using condoms, or using silicone toys – you’ll want to check each container individually.

Numbing Lubes

Now, numbing lubricants are often marketed for anal penetration. In reality – you probably need to just slowly work up to the penetration size you want. If the experience is not pleasurable – it’s probably not something you should be doing.

Also, numbing gels can prevent you from being able to sense if something is amiss in the few inches of the internal anal area that transmits signals you notice. Now, since that area can have some particularly upsetting bacterias – you don’t want to rip/tear/bleed and allow it to get into the wrong areas. Infections are the least sexy thing ever on every possible level. Just be safe and opt for the slower, more pleasurable route with lots of lube. Pleasure is what this is all about after all!

Tingling Lubes

The tingling sensation is often caused by the addition of niacin, arginine, and menthol. These lubes can be fun to use for a new sensation, but be wary if you have recently shaved or are sensitive to the ingredients. Always test it out before using during intercourse, and if you can’t wait – you might want to have a shower ready nearby if the sensation becomes overwhelming.

Warming Lubes

Now, on the opposite hand, we also find warming lubricants on the spectrum of available lubes. These lubes can be based in peppermint extracts, mild citric acids, niacin, and more. Just like with the tingling lubes, you will need to check for personal sensitivity to any ingredients in each kind you try.

Flavored Lubricants

For those who want to bring a little more flavor to the bedroom – flavored lubes are a fun option. Sweet strawberry, tangy apple, bursting banana… the flavors don’t stop there. Be sure to avoid sugars being present in the ingredients to reduce the risks of unbalancing vaginal systems and developing infections.

Anal Lubes

Now, for the ass end of the article, we’ll finish with the anal lube variety. Now, while a lot of these are also numbing agents previously mentioned – many anal lubes are also designed specifically to be extra slick for everyone’s pleasure. More often than not – these will be silicone based – so check the label before using with your silicone toys. As with any anal play – always exercise caution to not literally tear things up.

Alright, so that pretty well covers just about every type of lubricant base and variety that is most commonly seen. I hope it helps you identify the main differences between each and what these slippery additives can do for the bedroom. Be sure to experiment and have fun with finding your favorites!