All of the experts we spoke to discouraged the use of flavored or scented personal lubricants for anal, vaginal, and oral sex. What’s more, avoid glycerin in your lubes, as it contains sugar, and that can alter vaginal pH, SELF previously reported. Water-based lube is also the best lube for sensitive skin. According to Engle and Dr. Queen, you should also avoid petroleum-based lubricants, and anything with parabens or preservatives. Oh, and please don’t put Vaseline down there. If you use a lube with numbing agents that gives you “tingly” or desensitizing sensations for vaginal sex, Dr. Queen says to skip it for anal play. “Anal sex can be painful when it’s not done right, but you want to listen to those messages and respond accordingly,” she says. “Slow down, add lube, take a break, ask your partner to be more gentle, etc. You don’t want to ignore your body’s signals. If you’re numb, you won’t receive those signals clearly, which can put you at risk.” As saliva plays a part in oral sex, some people may assume it would be a good lube alternative. However, this could trigger an infection, while there is a risk that someone could pass or receive a sexually transmitted infection. Steer clear of desensitizing agents, such as lidocaine. Some lubes that are specifically branded for anal sex contain these but they could stop you from being able to feel the pain that indicates an injury so you won’t know to tell your partner to stop. (None of our recs contain numbing agents.) Many lubes contain glycerin, which is a byproduct of sugar; Some experts advise avoiding this ingredient, as sugar attracts yeast, which may lead to an infection. That said, many people are fine with glycerin in commercial lubes, so if it works for you, it's safe to use. If you’re not sure that having a smell is your jam, simply skip the essential oils and only use aloe vera gel with flaxseed oil. Chemotherapy, hormonal cancer treatments and radiotherapy to the pelvic area can have the side effect of vaginal dryness.

Aloe vera gel is a water based compound that people can extract from the leaves of the aloe vera plant. Aloe vera gel contains antioxidants and glycoproteins that benefit people’s health by: The cap is prone to leakage. It will leak (of course) if it isn’t closed all the way, but even when closing the cap, at least a small drop of lube will escape from the tip — which then runs down the side of the bottle. Vaseline’s creators did not design the product for sexual lubrication. According to the product’s health and safety warning, Vaseline is suitable for “external use only.” Its creators neither designed nor marketed Vaseline as a sexual lubricant. To make everything go smoother, we created a complete guide to choosing the best lube for anal sex. We know this can be intimidating, but we promise you’ll have a lot more fun if you learn to relax. Now, it might be tempting to use butter as an anal lube as it’s an oil, just like coconut butter, right?However, I found that rubbing the lube between my hands melted the oils and butters perfectly to give the product a smooth, pleasant, and very rich texture. Make sure you read the ingredients to be sure everything in your chosen lubricant is good for your body. There’s also a hybrid (part water, part silicone) toy-safe lubricant that increases the lubricity. We like this variety of lube because it offers enhanced lubrication and a slippery feeling in addition to the benefits mentioned above for traditional water-based lubes. Not all water-based lubes are created equal, however. Our team of medical experts recommends Flip Lube because it’s iso-osmolar, meaning it won’t dehydrate your cells, which reduces your risk of irritation, tearing, and ultimately, STD transmission. Where people are unable to obtain personal lubricants, they could use one of the following alternatives: Aloe vera The other thing to bear in mind is that Vaseline is really stubborn (it’s designed to be) so it often takes a long time to leave your body, especially if it’s deep inside your anus. Furthermore, it’s messy and greasy, ruining your clothes and bed sheets if you’re not careful. The greasy nature of Vaseline lube is not exactly a massive turn-on.

Even if you are in a fluid-bonded relationship, using condoms is especially important if you’re switching from anal to vaginal penetration. Otherwise, you risk moving bacteria from your anus to your vagina or urethra. Your anus is home to all kinds of bacteria your vagina and related parts aren’t used to—namely, gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria, like E. coli. When this bacteria reaches your vagina, it can cause vaginal infections, like bacterial vaginosis, which can lead to vaginal itching, burning during urination, a “fishy” vaginal odor, and gray, white, or green vaginal discharge, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can also spread to your urethra, where it can cause a urinary tract infection (UTI). According to the Mayo Clinic, this can cause symptoms like constantly needing to pee, then a burning sensation when you do, along with cloudy urine and pelvic pain. This is essentially a hybrid lube which uses aloe vera gel (water-based) and flaxseed oil (oil-based) to create a unique natural anal lube formula which is uniquely scented and stirs up erotic sensations within the body. Because it’s an unusual water-oil hybrid, you get to enjoy a consistency which is not typical of most anal lubes. THE REVIEW: As one person writes, "By far the best anal lube we’ve used to date. Water-based yet still viscous enough to use for longer running anal play. A little goes a long way."We know that shopping for the best lube for anal can be tough because there are so many different types of lubes. Today, you can buy vegan all-natural lubricants, silicone-based lube, oil-based lubes, water-based lube and even CBD-infused lubricants, and it can be hard for beginners to know where to start. You may be nervous to ask your friends for advice, and y ou probably don’t want to be browsing for the best anal lube on your lunch break. Avoid petroleum products like Vaseline, and skip natural oil-based lubricants like coconut oil, too, if you're using a condom.