Silicone-Based

Silicone lubricant is the one that does not quit. A few drops last an entire session, it does not dry out, it does not wash away in water, and it feels smoother than anything water based. The trade off is a short list of things it must not touch, and a film that needs soap to remove. This guide explains when silicone is the right bottle and when it is the wrong one.

What silicone does well

It stays slippery for as long as you need it, with no topping up. It works in the shower, the bath and the sea, where water based lubricant vanishes in seconds. It is hypoallergenic for almost everyone: no water, no glycerin, no preservatives, usually just two or three silicone compounds. And it is the lubricant of choice for anal sex and for anything long, because it cushions and lasts.

What it must not touch

Silicone toys. Silicone lubricant slowly softens a silicone surface, leaves it tacky and eventually ruins it. That covers most good vibrators, dildos and plugs, so check the toy's material before opening the bottle. Glass, steel, aluminium, ABS plastic and hard coatings are fine. It is safe with latex and polyurethane condoms.

It is also harder to clean: it does not rinse off with water alone and needs soap, and it can leave a mark on silk or satin sheets. A towel underneath solves most of that.

Thin or thick

Silicone lubricants range from a thin, almost dry feeling oil to a thicker gel. Thin formulas suit sex and hand use and feel most natural. Thicker gels stay put better and are the anal choice. Both last far longer than any water based product, so a small bottle goes a long way; 50 to 100 millilitres is a sensible first size.

Reading the label

The ingredients are usually dimethicone, dimethiconol and cyclomethicone in some combination, and that is all you want to see. A silicone lubricant with added water or glycerin is a hybrid, which behaves differently. Fragrance and flavour do not belong in silicone; if you want those, choose a water based product.

Hybrids

Hybrid lubricants mix a water base with a small amount of silicone. They last longer than water based, wash off more easily than pure silicone, and most are safe with silicone toys; the product page says so if they are. A hybrid is the answer for anyone who wants one bottle for toys and for sex.

Care and shelf life

Silicone lubricant does not go off the way water based does; a bottle kept closed and out of the sun lasts for years. Wipe the nozzle after use, because the residue attracts dust. It is not a stain on skin, but on fabric it is, so keep it off clothes.

Frequently asked questions