Water-Based

Water based lubricant is the one that goes with everything: every toy material, every condom, skin, and the washing machine afterwards. It is the bottle to keep by the bed when you only want one. The differences between brands are real, though, and they come down to how long it lasts, what is in it, and how it feels on the way.

Why water based is the default

It is safe with silicone toys, which silicone lubricant is not. It is safe with latex and polyurethane condoms, which oil is not. It rinses off with water, does not stain sheets, and does not leave a film on the skin. The trade off is that it dries as the water evaporates, so it needs topping up or a drop of water or saliva to revive it. A good formula lasts a long time before that happens; a thin one is gone in minutes.

Thickness and feel

Thin, watery lubricants feel most like the body's own moisture and suit vaginal sex and clitoral toys. Thicker gels stay where they are put, cushion more, and are what you want for anal use and for large toys. Somewhere in between sits the everyday bottle. If a page describes a lubricant as long lasting or as a gel, it is on the thick side.

What to look for on the label

Glycerin gives slip and a slight sweetness; some people who get recurrent yeast infections do better without it. Parabens are a preservative many people prefer to avoid, and most modern formulas have dropped them. Propylene glycol is common and harmless for most, but can sting sensitive skin. Aloe and hyaluronic acid are added for moisture and feel, and hyaluronic in particular makes a formula last longer.

Osmolality is the number worth knowing: a lubricant close to the body's own value, under about 1200 mOsm/kg, is gentler on delicate tissue than the very sweet, very thick formulas that sit far above it. Manufacturers who publish this number are usually the ones worth buying from.

Fragrance, flavour and effects

Flavoured lubricants are for oral sex; they are usually thinner and sweeter, and not the bottle for anything else. Warming and tingling formulas use menthol or similar and are a taste some love and others find irritating; try a small bottle first. Unscented, unflavoured is the right choice for a first bottle and for anyone prone to irritation.

Which one for what

Solo with a toy: a medium water based gel, and a bottle with a pump if you use a lot. Vaginal sex: thin to medium, unscented. Anal: thick, or a dedicated anal water based gel, and twice as much as you think. With condoms: any water based, applied inside the tip as well as outside. In the shower or bath: water based washes away fast; a silicone lubricant does better there, but not with silicone toys.

Bottle size and shelf life

A 100 to 250 millilitre bottle lasts most couples months. Pump bottles are cleaner to use one handed; tubes travel better. Once opened, a water based lubricant keeps for about a year; sooner if it changes colour, smell or texture. Keep it out of the sun and away from heat.

Frequently asked questions