Have you ever considered using lube before? If you have a vagina, you might make plenty of your own natural lubrication, but using a personal lubricant can take intimacy up another notch.
Being open to new sexual experiences, no matter how long you’ve been with your partner, can help keep your sex life fresh and even a little spicy when you need it.
If you want to get back to getting busy like newlyweds, we’re here to help you find the best sex lube for your relationship’s needs and your dirtiest fantasies.
Why Lube Is Essential for Great Sex
No matter what your sexual preference or gender may be, lubrication is essential for great sex. If you were born into a body that makes its own lubrication (looking at you, vagina-owners), its primary purpose is to reduce friction during vaginal penetration.
While a bit of friction may be pleasurable for some people, too much can quickly become uncomfortable and even downright painful. No lubrication can feel like having sex with sandpaper — which doesn’t sound too sexy, does it?
Finding the best sex lube helps keep everything nice and slippery so that you can determine how long sex lasts without the aches and tears that come with vaginal dryness. This is especially important as it helps those with vaginas feel close to their partner without the signs of discomfort.
After all, why should you have to give up mind-blowing orgasms and increased intimacy in your relationship just because your body decides not to cooperate?
Personal lube is also an absolute non-negotiable factor for anal sex, as the anus doesn’t naturally make any of its own lubrication. Not using lube for backdoor-loving can be painful and even lead to tearing.
However, with the right type of lube, anal sex can be an amazing, liberating experience you share with your partner anytime you want – not just on their birthdays.
Factors To Consider When Choosing the Best Sex Lube
All warmed up and ready to go? Not so fast! Instead of grabbing the first lube you see at the drugstore, consider your body’s needs. Otherwise, you’ll throw your money away on the wrong lube instead of finding your perfect lube. Where’s the fun in that?
For instance, do you rely on latex condoms for birth control? Water-based and silicone lubricants play better with latex condoms than oil-based ones (which are our personal favorites).
If you love your oil-based lube, you’ll want to switch from latex condoms to condoms made from nitrile, lambskin, or polyurethane (not polyisoprene) to prevent a potential tear or break. While you can safely and comfortably use lubricants for vaginal or anal intercourse, others aren’t as versatile.
Water-based lube may be the closest in consistency to natural vaginal wetness. Still, it doesn’t have the staying power to help make anal sex comfortable and slippery. Stick with silicone or oil-based lubes for that.
In addition to condom status and sexual preferences, there are a few other things to consider:
- Hypoallergenic water-based lubes are great if you have extra sensitive skin.
- If you plan on using your lube with any silicone toys, stay away from silicone lube, which can break down the silicone material.
- If you plan to include oral sex in your foreplay, find a lube safe for oral consumption. Steer away from flavored options for reasons we’ll get into later.
Best Ingredients Used in Lube for Couples
Aloe Vera
If you’ve ever had a sunburn, you’ve likely used a product with aloe vera to help soothe it. Aloe vera-based sex lubes offer soothing and protective benefits. However, the drawback to aloe-based lubes is that they are thinner in consistency, which doesn’t make them an ideal choice for anal play.
It’s also crucial for people with latex allergies to know that these lubes may contain a small amount of natural latex derivative known as aloe sap (also called bitter yellow latex). While most of this sap is filtered out during the manufacturing process, people with latex allergies may still want to steer clear of any potential risk.
CBD
CBD is an excellent way to help reduce stress and tension, but did you know you can also use it as a primary ingredient in lube? CBD can help increase blood flow, physical arousal, and sexual pleasure when applied to erogenous areas of our bodies.
Our Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD is clean, meaning that it is never tested on animals and does not contain:
- Alcohol
- Petroleum-based ingredients
- Phthalates
- Glycerin
- Parabens
- Dyes
Those who use CBD are often incredibly concerned about what they put into their bodies (and why shouldn’t you be?), so why ignore what goes into lube?
In addition, our Relief Melts with CBD can also target discomfort associated with menstrual cycles and pelvic floor discomfort, so you finally find all-natural relief.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil also lands solidly on our list of the best lube ingredients. Coconut oil is especially beneficial for people dealing with vaginal dryness during menopause. The ingredient is naturally hydrating, so it helps to soothe and coat vaginal tissue, helping to reduce water loss and keep everything moist, wet, and resilient.
A drawback to using pure coconut oil as lube is that it can be incredibly messy and stain your bed sheets and clothes. Stick with coconut oil as an active ingredient in a lubricant, not a solo product.
Ingredients To Avoid in Lube
Just like choosing the right ingredients, there are a few ingredients we suggest avoiding when selecting the best sex lube for you and your partner.
- Glycerin is an ingredient often added to lube to help it retain moisture. It’s most commonly found in flavored lubes since glycerin is a sugar byproduct. Unfortunately, the added sugar can also trigger infections, especially for people already prone to yeast overgrowth.
- Parabens are artificial preservatives used in many personal care products. However, there has recently been some discussion on whether parabens can mimic estrogen, messing with the body’s natural hormone balance. Studies are ongoing, but buying paraben-free lubes is likely the safer option.
- Petroleum (yes, the same ingredient found in medicine cabinets across the country, aka Vaseline) should also be avoided. It’s just too sticky and can make the vagina less pH-balanced, leading to an increased risk of infections like bacterial vaginosis.
- Phthalates are manufactured chemicals used to make products more durable. The same discussion surrounding parabens is also happening with phthalates, so it’s best to avoid this ingredient.
Make Foria a Part of Your Intimacy
Once you’ve decided on the best sex lube for your situation, it’s time to bring it to the bedroom.
If you or your partner is a cisgender woman, we highly recommend trying our Awaken Arousal Oil with CBD. The combination of CBD and nine organic plant-based aphrodisiacs works to enhance pleasure and arousal even further.
Apply a few drops directly to the clitoris, vulva, inner labia, and just inside the vagina. Then, rub the oil (or have your partner rub it in as foreplay!) and get down to business.
If you or your partner enjoy deep penetration, you may also want to check out our Intimacy Melts. Just one of these small, easy-to-insert suppositories can help ease feelings of pleasure, increase relaxation, and enhance pleasure.
You can also safely use our Awaken Arousal Oil and Intimacy Sex Oil with silicone, glass, and other non-latex sex toys to get as kinky and playful as you want. Try these oils during masturbation, either as the main dish or as part of foreplay. Plus, our sex oils double as a massage oil to get you both relaxed, loosened up, and in the mood.
Takeaway
Just because you may not make enough natural lube doesn’t mean your sex life is doomed to fizzle out.
A healthy sex life is key to a long-lasting, successful relationship, so use all the tools at your disposal — you never know what you’ll discover about yourself or your partner, and isn’t growing together what true partnership is all about?
Finding your best sex lube can help reinvigorate your sexual wellness, bring you closer to your partner, and increase your odds of achieving orgasm!
Sources:
Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects | PMC
Parabens Factsheet | National Biomonitoring Program | CDC
What Is Menopause? | National Institute on Aging
Cannabidiol improves blood flow to brain's hippocampus | UCL News.
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