Lube

What is lube?

Personal lubricant, or lube, is a gel or liquid that adds slip, so sex, toys and touch glide rather than drag. It's for solo play, partner sex, anal play, toys, condoms and massage. Bodies make some wetness of their own, and lube adds to it, so play can stay slick for as long as you like. Here: water-based, silicone, anal, warming and novelty lubes.

Water-based, silicone or oil?

Water-based lube suits every toy material and latex condoms, and plain water rinses it off; it may need a top-up. Silicone lube lasts longer, often stays slick in water and washes off with soap; with silicone toys, use water-based instead or patch-test a hidden spot first. Oils, like coconut oil, baby oil and petroleum jelly, break down latex condoms, and they can damage soft toy materials. They aren't made as sex lubes, and we don't sell them as lube. Buying dildos? Check the material.

Types of lube

Water-based lube

Start here. JO H2O feels silky, close to a silicone glide, yet it's water-based, so plain water washes it away and it won't go tacky. It's fragrance-free, odor-free and non-staining, safe with all toy materials including silicone, and latex-condom compatible, in 2, 4, 8 or 16 oz bottles, sold separately. JO Anal H2O is the thicker version for anal play, with no oil, wax or silicone. Both suit the silicone toys in sex toys for women.

Silicone lube

Silicone keeps its glide longer; the water-resistant ones hold up in the shower. JO Premium Silicone Lube is water-resistant and preservative-free, but never use it with silicone toys: it bonds to their surface. JO Xtra Silky is thin, light and water-resistant, and it pairs with most non-porous toys, including ABS plastic, aluminum and glass. Pjur Original is concentrated, so a few drops go a long way, with a neutral taste and odor. Glass and steel toys sit on flared base butt plugs and dildos.

Anal lube

Anal lube is about staying power. JO Anal Premium is a thicker silicone in a push-top bottle, latex-safe and made for extended sessions; pair it with glass, metal, ABS or ceramic, never silicone toys. Pjur Backdoor is a silicone anal lube enriched with jojoba, extra-long-lasting from a few drops, and it works for penile, vaginal and anal use. Neither JO anal lube contains numbing agents, and that matters: pain is your signal to slow down. Next, butt plugs.

Warming and cooling lube

JO Premium Warming warms on contact, using a warming agent derived from chili peppers (capsicum), with a silky, latex-safe glide. Sliquid Spark, a menthol silicone lube, goes on cool and warms with friction. It's waterproof, works from a few drops and gets along with latex, rubber and plastic, though it can mark some sheets and clothing. JO All In One is a silicone massage glide that doubles as personal lubricant, warms on contact and is latex-condom compatible. Patch-test all three first.

Novelty lube

The Unscented Jizz Lubricant is cum lube: a creamy, white, water-based body glide made to look like cum. It's unscented, non-staining and slippery enough for massage and body play; soap and water wash it off. Glycerin is in the formula, and it's not recommended for internal use: it stays on the outside of the body, and another lube on this page handles sex.

How to choose a lube

• Your toys. Silicone toys take water-based lube. Glass, steel and hard plastic take water-based or silicone, such as JO Xtra Silky.
• Condoms. The FAQ below matches each lube to condom types; never use oil with latex.
• The kind of sex. Anal: a thicker anal formula. Long sessions: silicone. Shower play: a water-resistant or waterproof silicone.
• Feel. Thin and light (JO Xtra Silky) or thicker (the two JO anal lubes).
• Sensation. Warming, cool then warm, or nothing extra. Patch-test the first two.
• Clean-up. Water-based lube rinses away with water; silicone takes soap.
• Strokers and sleeves. Soft, porous sleeves take water-based lube only. Pair a bottle with pocket pussies and male strokers.

How to use lube

1. Match the type to your toy, condom and kind of sex.
2. Start small: a little in your palm, warmed between your fingers. The concentrated silicones need just a few drops.
3. Apply it to the toy, the body, or the outside of a condom after it's rolled on. Never put lube inside a condom before it goes on.
4. Add more when the glide fades; water-based needs topping up more often.
5. For anal, use more, go thicker and reapply often. Go slowly, never force it, stop at sharp pain.
6. Patch-test warming and menthol lubes on a small area first.
7. Afterward, wash toys in warm water with mild soap, or foam them with JO Refresh.

Lube safety, storage and care

• Cap it and store it at room temperature, away from children; keep the Jizz glide upright.
• Check the date on the bottle, and replace any lube that has changed smell, color or texture.
• Mind the mess. Silicone lube makes floors and tubs slippery, and Sliquid Spark can mark some fabrics.
• Clean your toys after every use and dry them fully. With JO Refresh: pump foam over the toy, wait 60 seconds, rinse. A cleaner isn't sterilization, though.
• Stop if it stings. Wash it off, and talk to your doctor if it doesn't settle.

Lube FAQ

Can you use coconut oil as lube?

It's not a good choice. Coconut oil breaks down latex condoms, it can damage soft toy materials, and it isn't made as a sex lube. Pick one that is: water-based for condoms and every toy, or silicone when you want a glide that keeps going.

Can you use baby oil, Vaseline or Aquaphor as lube?

Better not. Baby oil and petroleum jelly, Vaseline and Aquaphor included, break down latex condoms and can harm soft toy materials. None is made as a sex lube, and they're hard to wash off toys. What can you use instead? A lube made for sex; water-based JO H2O is an easy start.

Does lube expire?

It can. There's no single shelf life for every formula, so check the bottle for a date. Replace any lube that has changed smell, color or texture, keep the cap closed between uses, and store it at room temperature.

Is water-based or silicone lube better?

Depends on the job: pick the one that fits your toy, condom and kind of sex. Water-based suits every toy material and latex condoms. Silicone keeps going longer and works in water; keep it off silicone toys or patch-test first.

Can you use silicone lube with silicone toys?

Not JO Premium or JO Anal Premium: both rule out silicone toys. The other silicone lubes here don't say either way, so follow the general rule: water-based with silicone toys, or patch-test a dab on a hidden spot. JO All In One is sold as toy-safe; test it anyway.

Which lubes are safe with condoms?

For latex condoms: JO H2O, JO Anal H2O, JO Premium, JO Anal Premium, JO Premium Warming, JO Xtra Silky and JO All In One. Pjur Backdoor and Pjur Original also suit polyisoprene and polyurethane condoms. Sliquid Spark is latex, rubber and plastic friendly. No oils with latex.

What is the best lube for anal?

A thicker formula, used generously, with no numbing agents; JO Anal H2O and JO Anal Premium both contain none. Pick silicone, like JO Anal Premium or Pjur Backdoor, for staying power with glass, metal or hard plastic toys, and water-based JO Anal H2O for silicone toys.

Where can I buy lube discreetly?

Here, at AdultLuxe. Every order leaves in a plain box, no branding on it, and any order of $75 or more ships free. Delivery is to US addresses only. We ship from multiple US warehouses, so items from one order can arrive separately.

Want our top picks?

Still choosing the toy? The 10 best butt plugs and best vibrators for beginners guides narrow the field. Every order ships discreetly from the US, free over $75.