Besides the base ingredients of oil, water, or silicone, lubes often have other ingredients to enhance their function. Aloe vera is a common one that provides natural lubrication and moisturization. Vitamin E is another commonly added ingredient with similar benefits to aloe vera. In addition, Vaseline states that it is for external use only, so it is likely not suitable for penetrative or oral intercourse.

The vagina’s natural lubrication levels can be influenced by a wide variety of factors, including hormonal levels during the monthly cycle, pregnancy or menopause, but it can also be affected by things such as contraception and breastfeeding. To help enhance arousal and your experience, apply as much or as little lube as you like to the vulva before and during sex or solo play to best fit your needs. The most common petroleum-based lubes are petroleum jelly, baby oil, and mineral oil. Formed from complex hydrocarbons (at least 25 carbons per molecule) during the oil refinement, they may be solid or liquid at room temperature. Petroleum jelly melts just slightly above body temperature.Clean-up usually requires dish soap designed to cut grease. Keep a bottle of Dawn® inside your shower and near your sink. They shared the pros and cons of different types of lubes, who would benefit from using lube, the best lube for different intentions, and ingredients to seek out or avoid. They also shed light on whether lube affects your risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The ingredients are naturally hydrating so your skin will feel silky smooth when you’re done. It has a mild vanilla scent thanks to the vanilla flavor added, but nothing too strong. It’s even safe to swallow! Like lipid-based lubes, silicone is hydrophobic (it repels water), and the slipperiness is due to how the molecules interact with each other. Safety and Sanitation

Oil-based lubricants offer a lot of ‘slip and slide,’” Charlene explains. “You can also use them when having sex in the shower. But they aren’t suitable for sex toys or latex condoms, as they can cause them to tear or become weaker.”Oil: Coconut, avocado and sunflower oils can be used, or they can be synthetic, like Vaseline. They are not recommended for use with a condom and can cause irritation. However, they can tend to dry out mid-way through due to air exposure or the water in the lube being absorbed by your body. Oil-based lubricant Condoms are usually lubricated, but with long-lasting sex, they can dry out and lube can help reduce the chance of the condom tearing. You can use any type of lubricant with polyurethane condoms that are not made of latex. However, if you’re using latex or polyisoprene condoms, avoid using oil-based lubricants as they can cause them to tear.

With dental dams: Dental dams are soft plastic latex or polyurethane square, which is used to cover the female genital area, or anus, during oral sex to prevent STIs being transmitted. Using these with lube on the vulva/anus-touching side will make the experience much more pleasurable. Make sure to use a water-based lube to avoid breakage. As olive oil is an oil-based lube, it is not advisable to use it with latex condoms or other latex barrier contraception methods as it can cause them to break. By far the most versatile (thanks to their match with adult toys), water-based lubes are thin, slippery and easy to rinse off when the fun ends. Air drying and being safely absorbed by the body does make them more prone to drying out mid-action.You may be wondering about lubricant options beyond the usual drugstore brands. Some lube substitutes are definitely better for your sexy parts than others. And you might be surprised which ones make the cut. Chow, E. P. F., et al. (2016). Saliva use as a lubricant for anal sex is a risk factor for rectal gonorrhoea among men who have sex with men, a new public health message: A cross-sectional survey. One study, which looked at intercourse between males, suggests that those who use saliva as a lubricant could spread gonorrhea. An older study also highlights saliva in oral sex might cause vaginal yeast infections. Baby oil If you’re someone who can’t be bothered to keep reapplying when you get going, then an oil-based lube is the gift that keeps on giving. Some lotions and soaps contain perfumes and preservatives, such as parabens. These can irritate the genitals and lead to infection.