The best lube for most people is a good water-based one: it's safe with every toy material and with condoms, it keeps every part you touch slick, and it washes off with water. Reach for silicone lube when you want a glide that keeps going through a long session, works in the shower, or needs only a few drops.
That's the short answer to what's the best lube for sex. The long one is below: the 8 best personal lubricants we stock, one job each, from an everyday water-based bottle to two silicones, a try-size, two made for anal, one that warms and one that starts cool. Then the questions people actually type at midnight: silicone vs water-based, which lube is safe with which toys and condoms, how much to use, what size bottle to buy, and what never to use.
Lube isn't a backup plan for when something's wrong. It's how fingers, cocks, toys, strokers, pussies and asses get the glide they deserve, solo or with anyone you like. Want to browse first? Here's all our lube in one place.
What’s in this guide
- Quick comparison
- How we chose
- Types of lube
- The 8 best lubes
- Silicone vs water-based lube
- Lube and sex toys
- Lube and condoms
- Lube for anal
- Warming and cooling lube
- Lube for masturbation, strokers and sleeves
- How much lube to use (and how)
- Which bottle size?
- Storing lube and cleaning up
- Lube FAQ
- More guides
Quick comparison
| Pick | Best for | Type | Toys | Condoms | Shower | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JO H2O | Most people, every day | Water-based | Every material, silicone included | Latex | Washes away | From $12.95 |
| JO Premium | Long sessions and shower sex | Silicone | Non-silicone toys only | Latex | Yes, water-resistant | From $24.95 |
| Pjur Original Bodyglide | A long glide from a few drops | Silicone, concentrated | Not listed: patch-test silicone toys | Latex, polyurethane, polyisoprene | Not listed | $31.95 |
| Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx | Trying lube on a small bottle | Water-based | Most toys | Condom-safe | Washes away | From $6.95 |
| JO Anal H2O | Anal, water-based | Water-based, thicker | Every material, silicone included | Latex | Washes away | From $12.95 |
| Pjur Backdoor | Anal, silicone | Silicone, with jojoba | Not listed: patch-test silicone toys | Latex, polyisoprene, polyurethane | Not listed | $25.95 |
| JO Premium Warming | A warm glide | Silicone, warming | Not listed: patch-test silicone toys | Latex | Not listed | $24.95 |
| Sliquid Spark | Cool first, then warm | Silicone, with menthol | Plastic; patch-test silicone toys | Latex-friendly | Waterproof | $34.95 |
How we chose
In stock today. Every bottle here had stock to spare on the day we wrote this guide. No teasing you with something you can't get.
Facts from each product page only. The base, the toy and condom notes, the water claims and the sizes all come from each lube's own listing, in our words. Where a listing doesn't say something, the table says "not listed" and we fall back on the plain lube rules in this guide.
One job each. Eight slots, eight different reasons to buy: an everyday bottle, a long-lasting silicone, a few-drops silicone, a try-size, two for anal, one that warms and one that cools.
A spread of types and prices. Three water-based lubes and five silicone ones, from $6.95 to $61.95.
What we carry, said plainly. We stock water-based and silicone lubes, including warming and cooling ones. We don't carry oil-based or hybrid lube, so neither is on this list, but the next section explains both so you can choose with the whole picture.
Pleasure, not medicine. Lube makes things slippery. That's the whole job. Dryness or pain that keeps coming back is a question for your doctor.
Types of lube
Every lube is built on one of four bases: water, silicone, a blend of the two (hybrid), or oil. The base decides how it feels, how long it lasts, what it's safe with and how it comes off.
| Type | Feel | How long it lasts | Toys | Condoms | Cleanup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water-based | Wet, light, slippery | Shortest; reapply as it dries | Every material | Every type | Rinses off with water |
| Silicone | Silky and slick; a thin layer goes far | Long; doesn't wash away in water | Glass, steel, ABS; patch-test silicone toys | Latex, polyurethane, polyisoprene | Soap and warm water |
| Hybrid | Creamy, somewhere in between | Longer than water-based | Patch-test silicone toys (it contains silicone) | Usually latex-friendly; check the bottle | Water, plus soap |
| Oil-based | Thick and rich | Long; it doesn't dry | Glass, steel, ABS; skip soft toys | Not latex or polyisoprene | Soap, and it can stain |
Water-based is the everyday answer and the base of three picks. It plays nicely with every toy material and every condom, and you're one rinse from clean. The trade-off: it dries as you go, so you add more. Thicker water-based gels, like JO Anal H2O, give a more cushioned glide.
Silicone doesn't soak into skin or dissolve in water, so it stays slick for a long time and keeps working in the shower. You need less of it, it makes a great hand job and massage glide, and it needs soap to wash off. The catch is silicone toys: silicone lube can damage some of them, so you patch-test first or use water-based. More on that in lube and sex toys.
Hybrid lube mixes water and silicone for a creamy feel that lasts longer than water alone. Because it contains silicone, be just as careful with silicone toys. We don't stock it.
Oil-based lube, and kitchen oils like coconut and olive, feel rich and are lovely for massage on skin. They also break down latex condoms and cling to toys and sheets, and kitchen oils were never made for sex. We don't stock oil-based lube. For a massage that turns into sex, our erotic massage guide explains which glide to use where.
What not to use as lube
- Spit. It dries fast. Fine for a second, useless for a session.
- Lotion. Not made for sex, it soaks in and goes tacky, and many lotions contain oils that break down latex.
- Petroleum jelly. Not made for sex either, it breaks down latex, and it's greasy and hard to wash off.
- Coconut, olive or baby oil. Breaks down latex condoms and clings to everything. Keep it for massage.
- Soap, shampoo, conditioner or body wash. Made to clean you, not to go inside you.
- Homemade recipes. Kitchen mixes aren't made for sex, and there's no telling how they'll behave with your toys or condoms. A small bottle of real lube is the easier call.
The 8 best lubes
1. JO H2O: best lube for most people
If you only keep one bottle in the nightstand, make it this one. JO H2O is water-based but glides the way people wish water-based lube did: silky, slick and long-lasting, without going sticky or tacky halfway through. Its listing calls it safe with every toy material, silicone toys included, and compatible with latex condoms.
It rinses off with water, it doesn't stain, and it has no odor or fragrance, so it suits solo nights, hand jobs, toys and condom sex alike. You can buy it in 2, 4, 8 or 16 oz bottles: $12.95 for 2 oz, $18.95 for 4 oz, $26.95 for 8 oz and $41.95 for 16 oz. If someone asks you "what's the best lube?", this is the bottle to hand them.
2. JO Premium: best silicone lube
When water-based lube keeps running out before you do, switch to this. JO Premium is a silicone lube with a long-lasting glide, and its listing calls it water-resistant and a fit for the shower, which is exactly where water-based lube gives up. It dries down to a silky, soft finish instead of anything sticky, it has no odor, it won't stain the sheets, and it contains no preservatives.
One rule matters more than the rest: keep it away from silicone toys. Its own listing says never to use it with them, because it bonds to the surface. Use it on skin, in the shower, with latex condoms, and with glass, steel or ABS toys. From $24.95 for 2 oz to $61.95 for 16 oz.
Get the JO Premium Silicone here.
3. Pjur Original Bodyglide: best concentrated silicone lube
This is silicone in concentrated form. A few drops of Pjur Original Bodyglide give you a long-lasting glide, and it stays slick without turning sticky or drying out partway through. It doubles as a massage gel, so a back rub can slide straight into a hand job without anyone reaching for a second bottle.
There are no fats, no fragrance, no parabens, no preservatives and no water in it, and its smell is neutral. It has the widest condom list on this page, shared with Pjur Backdoor: latex, polyurethane and polyisoprene, all named on its listing. Its page doesn't mention toys, so handle it like any silicone lube: patch-test a silicone toy first, or keep it for skin, glass and steel. $31.95 for a 100 ml bottle.
Get the Pjur Original Bodyglide here.
4. Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx: best try-size water-based lube
Still figuring out what you like? Start small. Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx comes in a 24 ml bottle for $6.95, the smallest bottle on this page, so you can find out how a water-based glide feels on you before you commit to the big one.
Its listing promises a slick, long-lasting glide that leaves nothing sticky behind, and it's unscented, with no artificial fragrance. Its page says it works with most toys and with condoms, and it rinses away with water. The directions are our favorite kind: pour freely and top up whenever you need to. Once you know you love it, it also comes in 2.4 oz ($14.95), 8.5 oz ($29.95) and 16 oz ($45.95).
Get the Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx here.
5. JO Anal H2O: best water-based lube for anal
Your ass makes no lube of its own, so it wants a thicker one that stays put. JO Anal H2O is the JO H2O idea made thicker for anal play: higher viscosity, a more cushioned glide, and still fully water-based, with no oil, wax or silicone in the bottle.
It has no numbing agents, so you can still feel everything your body is telling you, which is the whole point back there. It's long-lasting, odor-free and non-staining, it rinses off with water, and its listing covers every sex toy material, silicone too, plus latex condoms. That makes it the easy match for a silicone butt plug. From $12.95 for 2 oz to $27.95 for 8 oz.
6. Pjur Backdoor: best silicone lube for anal
Pjur Backdoor is a silicone lube made for anal, with jojoba in the formula and a glide that lasts, so you can take things as slowly as you like. You need only a few drops, and it stays slick instead of going tacky halfway through.
Its listing says it works for anal, vaginal and penile use, and it names latex, polyisoprene and polyurethane condoms as compatible. There's no fat, fragrance, paraben or preservative in it. Like any silicone lube, it isn't the one for a silicone plug unless you patch-test first, but it's lovely with a glass or steel toy. $25.95.
7. JO Premium Warming: best warming lube
This one heats up the moment it touches you. JO Premium Warming is a silicone lube with a warming agent made from chili peppers (capsicum), and its listing says the warmth switches on when it meets mucous membranes, the moist, thin tissue in and around the vagina, the anus and other body openings. Under the heat, it's a silky, long-lasting glide that doesn't go sticky or tacky.
It also works as a massage glide, it's latex-safe, and the push-top bottle keeps pouring tidy. Patch-test it on your skin before it goes anywhere sensitive (the warming and cooling section has the steps), and handle silicone toys the usual way: patch-test or skip. $24.95.
Get the JO Premium Warming here.
8. Sliquid Spark: best cooling lube
Sliquid Spark starts cool and ends warm. It's a silicone lube with menthol, so it feels cool when it goes on and then warms gently as the friction builds, a sensation that keeps changing as you move. It's ultra-concentrated, a few drops last for hours, and its listing calls it waterproof.
It's slick enough to double as a massage glide. Cleanup is soap and water, but its listing warns it can mark some sheets and clothing, so put a towel down first. Its page calls it latex, rubber and plastic friendly, but it's still a silicone lube: patch-test silicone toys first, and use water-based in strokers and sleeves. $34.95 for 4.2 oz.
Silicone vs water-based lube
Water-based lube is the no-worry default. Silicone lube is the better performer for long, wet or hands-on sessions. If you use lube a lot, owning one of each isn't indecision, it's a well-stocked nightstand.
| Water-based | Silicone | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Wet and light; thicker gels feel cushioned | Silky and slick; a thin layer covers a lot |
| How long it lasts | Dries as you go; reapply | Long-lasting; doesn't soak in |
| Shower or bath | Washes away | Stays slick in water |
| Silicone toys | Yes | Patch-test or skip |
| Glass, steel and ABS toys | Yes | Yes |
| Latex condoms | Yes | Yes |
| Cleanup | Water | Soap and warm water |
| Sheets | Rinses out | JO Premium won't stain; Sliquid Spark can mark some fabrics |
| Massage | Dries too fast | Several picks double as a massage glide |
When water-based wins
- You use silicone toys. Water-based lube is safe with every toy material, no patch test needed.
- You want zero thinking. It's fine with every condom type and every toy, which makes it the best lube for couples who use both.
- You hate cleanup. It rinses off skin, toys and sheets with water.
- You're using a stroker or sleeve. Water-based is the one to use with them (more in the masturbation section).
When silicone wins
- Long sessions. It keeps its glide, so you stop to reapply far less.
- Shower and bath sex. Water doesn't rinse it away. JO Premium's listing says it stays slick in the shower.
- Hand jobs and massage. A few drops cover a lot of skin and keep sliding.
- Glass and steel toys. Hard, non-silicone toys take silicone lube happily.
Is silicone lube bad?
No. It's just picky about silicone toys, it needs soap to wash off, and it can make a shower floor slippery, so rinse the tile when you're done.
Want a silicone that feels lighter than JO Premium? JO Xtra Silky is an ultra-thin, long-lasting silicone with a barely-there feel, water-resistant, and its listing pairs it with ABS plastic, aluminum and glass toys and with latex condoms, from $15.95 for 1 oz. For more couples kit to pair with your new lube, see our couples sex toy guide.
Lube and sex toys
The best lube for sex toys is water-based, because it's safe with every material. That's the whole rule for when you're unsure. The rest is detail, and the detail is mostly about silicone.
Silicone lube on silicone toys. Silicone lube can damage some silicone toys, leaving the surface tacky, gummy or pitted. JO Premium's listing is blunt about it: never use it with silicone toys, because it bonds to the surface. Other silicone lubes don't always say, so test before you trust.
How to patch-test a silicone lube on a toy:
- Pick a hidden spot, like the base or the handle.
- Rub in a small dab of the silicone lube.
- Leave it overnight.
- Rinse it under warm water with a little soap, then let it dry.
- Touch and look. If the spot feels tacky, sticky or rough, or looks different, keep that lube away from that toy for good.
Glass, steel and ABS plastic. These hard, non-porous materials take any lube, water-based or silicone. They're the toys to pair with silicone lube.
Soft stroker and sleeve materials (TPE and similar). Stick with water-based. Stroker listings usually ask for water-based, oil can break down soft materials, and silicone lube can damage some of them.
If the toy's page names a lube, follow it. The maker knows its own material. Our guides to lube for vibrators and lube for dildos go deeper on both.
Here's the full compatibility chart, by type of lube. These are the general rules. If a bottle's listing is stricter, follow the listing; if a silicone bottle calls itself toy-safe, still patch-test silicone toys.
| Lube | Silicone toys | Glass, steel, ABS toys | TPE strokers and sleeves | Latex condoms | Polyurethane and polyisoprene condoms | Shower |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Washes away |
| Silicone | Patch-test or skip | Yes | Skip: use water-based | Yes | Yes | Stays slick |
| Hybrid | Patch-test or skip | Yes | Skip | Usually; check the bottle | Check the bottle | Lasts a while |
| Oil-based | Skip | Yes | Skip | No | Polyurethane yes, polyisoprene no | Stays on; slippery floor |
Lube and condoms
The best lube for condoms is water-based or silicone: both are fine with latex. Oil isn't. That's the rule that matters.
Seven of the eight picks name latex on their listings: JO H2O, JO Premium, Pjur Original Bodyglide, JO Anal H2O, Pjur Backdoor, JO Premium Warming and Sliquid Spark. Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx calls itself condom-safe. If you use condoms made of polyurethane or polyisoprene, Pjur Original Bodyglide and Pjur Backdoor are the ones whose listings name both.
Oil breaks down latex, so does petroleum jelly, and so can lotion. That covers coconut oil, baby oil and massage oil too. If a condom is involved, none of those are invited.
How to use lube with a condom:
- Roll the condom on first, then put lube on the outside of it.
- Add lube to the body it's going into, too.
- Keep lube mostly off the inside of the condom; too much in there can let it slide off.
- Reapply on the outside as you go, more for anal.
- Use a fresh condom whenever it moves from ass to anything else.
One thing lube never does: prevent pregnancy or STIs. Condoms on sex toys follow the same lube rules, and our guide to which condom and which lube covers when a toy needs one.
Lube for anal
The ass makes no lube of its own. So for anal, use more lube, use a thicker one, and reapply before it feels dry, not after.
- Water-based: JO Anal H2O (pick 5) is thicker than regular JO H2O and safe with every toy material, so it's the default with silicone plugs and dildos.
- Silicone: Pjur Backdoor (pick 6) is made for anal and needs only a few drops. For extra thickness in silicone, there's JO Anal Premium, with no numbing agents; its listing steers it toward toys made of glass, ceramic, metal or ABS, never silicone.
- Skip anything with numbing agents. You want to feel what's happening, because discomfort is your signal to slow down. JO Anal H2O's listing says it has none, and so does the thicker silicone above.
Then the rules that keep anal good: go slow, let the receiving partner set the pace, agree on a word that means stop, never force anything, and stop at sharp pain. Anything that goes in needs a flared base or a handle that stays outside. Never move a toy, finger or cock from the ass to a vagina or mouth without washing it or changing the condom. A bathroom trip and a shower beforehand are enough for most people; some like to rinse, and that's optional.
Both picks live in our anal lubes collection, and our best anal lube guide ranks six bottles for anal. For the full how-to, read choosing lube for anal in our anal training guide, the before you start checklist in our anal orgasm guide, and the best butt plugs to use all that lube on.
Warming and cooling lube
Warming and cooling lubes add a sensation on top of the glide. They're fun, they're not for everyone, and the first try should be a small one.
Warming: JO Premium Warming (pick 7) heats up on contact, thanks to a warming agent made from chili peppers. If you want warmth that starts with a massage, the JO All-in-One (a warming massage glide) is silicone-based, warms on contact, and works as both a massage glide and a personal lubricant. Its listing says one drop covers what ten or more drops of plain massage oil would, it works with latex condoms, and it calls itself safe to use with toys, but it's silicone, so patch-test a silicone toy first. $35.95.
Cooling, then warming: Sliquid Spark (pick 8) uses menthol. It goes on cool, then warms up with movement.
How to try them without regret:
- Patch-test on your skin first. Put a dab on your inner arm and leave it for a few hours. If it itches, burns or gets red, that bottle isn't for you.
- Ask before you pour. A surprise temperature change mid-scene is a lot. Say "want to try the warming one?" and wait for a real yes.
- Start with a little, on the outside. A small amount on the vulva, the clit or the shaft of a cock, before anything goes inside.
- Wipe it off if it stings. Use a damp cloth, then a little gentle soap and water on the outside only; these are silicone, so water alone won't shift them. If the sting doesn't settle, talk to your doctor.
- Think twice for anal. Many people skip warming and cooling lube for anal entirely. The FAQ has more.
Lube for masturbation, strokers and sleeves
The best lube for masturbation depends on what you're touching and what you're touching it with.
Hand jobs and solo play on a penis. Silicone shines here: a few drops of Pjur Original Bodyglide, or a little JO Premium, keep a hand sliding up and down a cock for a long time, with far less reapplying. Want easier cleanup? JO H2O gives a silky water-based glide and rinses off. Pay attention to the head and the frenulum just under it, where a lot of people with a penis are most sensitive, and use more lube there than you think.
Strokers, sleeves and pocket pussies. Water-based only, unless the stroker's own page says otherwise. Oil can break down soft sleeve materials, and silicone can damage some of them. Put lube inside the opening and on your shaft, stroke a few times to spread it, and add more as it dries. JO H2O and Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx are both water-based, so both fit the job.
Our best pocket pussies guide ranks the strokers, the whole range lives in pocket pussies and male strokers, and the cleaning and care section of our automatic strokers guide shows how to wash the lube out after.
Vulva play. With a dab of water-based lube on your fingertips, circling the clit and sliding along the lips gets smoother, so you can keep at it for as long as it feels good. With a silicone vibrator, use water-based. For long, slow sessions with fingers only, silicone lasts. Warm the bottle in your hand first; cold lube on a clit is a jump scare.
Mutual masturbation. Keep one bottle between you, and if one of you is on a stroker and the other on a silicone vibe, water-based works with both toys.
How much lube to use (and how)
Start with a little and add more before it feels dry. You can always add; you can't un-pour.
- Warm it first. Squeeze some into your palm and rub your hands together. Cold lube is a mood killer (Sliquid Spark's cool comes from its menthol, not a cold bottle).
- Start small. A coin-size dollop of water-based lube covers fingers, a toy or a cock to begin with. Silicone needs less: Pjur Original Bodyglide and Pjur Backdoor both list a few drops.
- Put it on both surfaces. Coat the toy, the fingers or the condom, and the body part it's meeting. Lube on only one side wears off fast.
- Reapply early. Add more when it starts to drag, not when it already hurts. A splash of water on your fingers can wake up water-based lube that's gone tacky.
- Use more for anal, toys, condoms and long sessions. All four eat lube.
- Keep the bottle in reach. On the nightstand, within arm's reach, so nobody has to stop to hunt for it.
Too much? Grab a towel. On skin and toys, too little is the bigger mistake; inside a condom, too much can make it slip. Spit dries fast, so it's no substitute for a real bottle.
Which bottle size?
Buy a small bottle to try a lube, and a big one once you know you love it. Here's what each pick comes in.
| Lube | Sizes | Prices |
|---|---|---|
| JO H2O | 2, 4, 8, 16 oz | $12.95, $18.95, $26.95, $41.95 |
| JO Premium | 2, 4, 8, 16 oz | $24.95, $36.95, $49.95, $61.95 |
| Pjur Original Bodyglide | 100 ml | $31.95 |
| Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx | 24 ml, 2.4 oz, 8.5 oz, 16 oz | $6.95, $14.95, $29.95, $45.95 |
| JO Anal H2O | 2, 4, 8 oz | $12.95, $18.95, $27.95 |
| Pjur Backdoor | One size | $25.95 |
| JO Premium Warming | One size | $24.95 |
| Sliquid Spark | 4.2 oz | $34.95 |
Trying something new? The smallest bottle is the smart move. You'll know after a night or two whether it's your lube.
Already know your lube? Go big. Running out mid-session is worse than running out of milk.
Using lube only now and then? Stay small, so you finish the bottle before its date.
Silicone goes further. A few drops do the work of a dollop, so a small bottle of silicone lasts longer than the same size of water-based.
Storing lube and cleaning up
Lube is low-maintenance, but it isn't immortal.
- Close the cap. Every time. Open bottles collect lint and dry out.
- Room temperature, away from heat. Not on a sunny windowsill, not in a hot car.
- Check the date. Most bottles have one printed on them. Past it, or if the smell or texture changes, replace it.
- Water-based cleanup. Warm water rinses it off skin, toys and sheets.
- Silicone cleanup. Soap and warm water for skin and hard toys. JO Premium's listing calls it non-staining, but Sliquid Spark's says it can mark some fabrics, so put a towel down.
- Rinse the shower floor. Silicone lube on tile is slippery for you and everyone after you.
- Clean your toys every time. A gentle soap with warm water, or JO Refresh, a foaming toy cleaner with no fragrance: pump it over the toy, wait a minute, rinse. Its listing says it's fine on silicone, latex, rubber and most other materials, and that cleaning isn't sterilizing. $15.95. For care by toy material, see the cleaning and storage section of our dildo guide.
Lube FAQ
What is the best lube?
For most people, the best lube is a water-based one like JO H2O: silky, long-lasting for a water-based formula, safe with every toy material and with latex condoms, and it rinses off with water. If you want a glide that keeps going through a long session or a shower, choose a silicone lube like JO Premium, and keep it away from silicone toys. For anal, choose something thicker, like JO Anal H2O.
Is water-based or silicone lube better?
Neither wins everywhere. Water-based lube is the better default: it works with every toy material and every condom type, and it washes off with water. Silicone lube is better for long sessions, hand jobs, massage and the shower, because it lasts and doesn't wash away, but it can damage silicone toys and needs soap to clean up. Plenty of people keep one of each.
Can you use silicone lube with silicone toys?
Only after a patch test, and sometimes not at all. Silicone lube can damage some silicone toys, and JO Premium's listing says never to use it with them because it bonds to the surface. To check a different silicone lube, rub a dab on the toy's base, leave it overnight, then wash it off.
If the spot feels tacky or looks different, keep that lube away from that toy. Water-based lube is always fine.
Is lube safe with condoms?
Water-based and silicone lubes are safe with latex condoms; oil-based lubes are not. Seven of our eight picks name latex on their listings, and Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx calls itself condom-safe. Pjur Original Bodyglide and Pjur Backdoor also name polyurethane and polyisoprene condoms. Oil and petroleum jelly break down latex, many lotions can too, and lube doesn't prevent pregnancy or STIs.
What is the best lube for anal?
A lube made for anal, with a glide that lasts. JO Anal H2O is the water-based choice: thicker than regular JO H2O, with no numbing agents, and safe with silicone toys. Pjur Backdoor is the silicone choice: made for anal, long-lasting, and a few drops go far. Whichever you pick, use more than you think, reapply often, go slow, and use only toys with a flared base or a handle.
Can you use coconut oil as lube?
Coconut oil is a massage oil, not a good sex lube. It and other kitchen oils, like olive oil, break down latex condoms (polyisoprene ones too), they're hard to wash off toys, skin and sheets, and they were never made for sex. Keep coconut oil for a massage on skin.
If you want a glide that goes from massage to sex, use a silicone lube or massage glide that's condom-friendly instead. We don't sell oil-based lube.
Can you use lotion or Vaseline as lube?
No. Lotion and petroleum jelly (Vaseline) aren't made for sex: petroleum jelly breaks down latex condoms, and many lotions can too. Lotion soaks into your skin and goes tacky fast, and petroleum jelly is greasy and hard to wash off. For a hand job, a few drops of a silicone lube like Pjur Original Bodyglide keep sliding for a long time and come off with soap and water.
Does lube expire?
Yes. Most bottles have a date printed on them; once lube is past that date, or if its smell or texture changes, replace it. Keep the cap closed and store the bottle at room temperature, away from heat and sunlight. If you only reach for lube now and then, buy a smaller bottle so you finish it while it's fresh.
How much lube should I use?
Start with a little and add more before it feels dry. A coin-size dollop of water-based lube is a good start for fingers, a toy or sex; silicone needs less, and Pjur Original Bodyglide and Pjur Backdoor both list a few drops. Use more for anal, for toys and over condoms. Warm it in your hand first, put it on both surfaces, and reapply as you go.
What is the best lube for sex toys?
Water-based lube, because it's safe with every toy material. JO H2O's listing covers every toy material, silicone included, and JO Anal H2O does the same for anal toys. Silicone lube works well on glass, steel and ABS toys, but it can damage silicone ones, so patch-test first or stay with water-based. If the toy's own page names a lube, follow it.
What is the best lube for masturbation?
It depends on what you're touching. For hand jobs and solo play on a penis, a silicone lube like Pjur Original Bodyglide keeps a hand sliding for a long time from a few drops. For strokers and sleeves, use water-based, like JO H2O or Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx, because silicone and oil can damage soft sleeve materials. For a vulva and a vibrator, water-based is the easy choice.
Can you use warming lube for anal?
You can, but many people skip it. The skin in and around the anus is sensitive, and warming or cooling lube can feel much stronger there than you expect. If you want to try, patch-test on your arm first, use a tiny amount on the outside only, and wipe it off if it stings. For the anal play itself, a thicker lube with no numbing agents, like JO Anal H2O, is the better call.
More guides
The best lube is the one that matches your body, your toys and your condoms: water-based for everything, silicone for long and wet, thick for anal, and a warming or cooling bottle when you want a twist. Pick one, put it on the nightstand, and use more than you think. Then go put it to work:
- The 10 Best Sex Toys for Couples: wearables, cock rings and long-distance toys that all love a little lube.
- How to Use a Vibrator: your first time, every type, solo and with a partner.
- Mutual Masturbation 101: how to do it, six positions, and why lube belongs within reach.
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Maya Sterling, AdultLuxe editorial. Read our editorial standards.