Water-Based vs. Oil-Based Lube

by Foria .
Feb 03, 2026

When to Use Our Sex Oil and Juicy Pure™ Lube

We love lube at Foria and want everyone to experience it for themselves. Each type of lube has its own superpowers, and knowing which aligns best with your needs is crucial.

Think of it like an artist’s paints — watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints can all make a beautiful painting; it just depends on the type of art you’re trying to create.

We just launched our NEW Juicy Pure™ organic water-based lube, and you might be wondering, “If I already use Sex Oil, do I need this?”

The answer is not a simple “yes” or “no.” If you have (and love) our cult-favorite Sex Oil, you might not need our Juicy Pure™ Lube. However, we formulated our Juicy Pure™ aloe vera lubricant after years of requests to create a lube that was condom-compatible. So, if you use Sex Oil for solo play and have been looking for a toy-safe water-based lube to use with your partner that you use condoms with — you should absolutely add Juicy Pure™ to your nightstand!

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First, let’s refresh ourselves on the different types of lube.

What Are the Different Types of Lube?

There are three different types of lubricants — oil-based lubricants, water-based lubricants, and silicone-based lubricants. We’ll give you the basics and a few of our favorite pros and cons.

Oil-Based

We’ll start with oil-based lubes because we know them the best — oil-based lubes are what we have been doing for over a decade at Foria! If you’re looking for the longest-lasting lube, oil-based is gonna be your best bet.

Pros and Cons

Pro: All-natural
Pro: Super slippery
Pro: Extremely long-lasting, making them great for marathon sex sessions
Pro: Don’t dissolve easily in water so that you can take your fun into the shower or hot tub
Pro: Good for all types of sex — penetrative (anal or vaginal sex), self-love, hand jobs, etc.
Con: Can be difficult to get out of bedding (pro tip: put a towel down first)
Con: Can contribute to latex condom breakage (safe to use with nitrile and polyurethane condoms, though!)

Water-Based

People often try water-based lubes because they tend to be more readily available at the grocery store. These lubes are formulated with water as their primary ingredient and most have no taste.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Good for people with sensitive skin
Pro: Latex condom-safe
Pro: Some contain moisturizing agents, like aloe vera (our long-lasting water-based lube is made with aloe vera!)
Con: Washes away quickly during tub or shower sex
Con: Not very long-lasting, so needs to be reapplied frequently
Con: Tends to get sticky as they dry out
Con: May contain glycerin, trigger yeast infections (our water-based lube is a glycerin-free lube!)
Silicone-Based

And finally, we have silicone-based lubes. Unlike water-based lubes, silicone-based lubes don’t contain any water.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Also very long-lasting, so less reapplication is needed
Pro: Very slippery and don’t dissolve in water (so they’re also great for sexy shower time)
Con: Harder to wash off
Con: Can’t be used with silicone sex toys, as they can cause the material to break down more quickly
Con: Can stain sheets and hardwood floors
Con: Artificial, whereas other options are all-natural

Which Lube Is Best?

There’s no one “best lube” for vaginal dryness, sex, or intimacy because it depends on your body and how you plan to use it. As we mentioned above, you might want to have different lubes on hand for different types of sex. However, we have a few pointers to help guide you in the right direction for which lube(s) are right for you.

Oil-based lube may be right for you if:

Are in a monogamous relationship and don’t depend on condoms for birth control or STI prevention
Like involving sex toys in your bedroom sessions
Enjoy anal sex
Have sex in the shower frequently
Plan to use your lube for masturbation or foreplay (try combining it with Awaken Arousal Oil with CBD for even more fun)
Safe to use with oral sex
Want a lube that can double as a massage oil
Are looking for additional vaginal lubrication

Water-based lube may be right for you if:

Don’t mind reapplying frequently
Want a lube for sensitive skin
Use latex condoms for birth control or STI prevention
Have regular penis-in-vagina intercourse
Don’t plan on having shower or tub sex
Like using lube on sex toys

Silicone-based lube may be right for you if:

Have penis-in-vagina penetrative sex
Want a hypoallergenic lubricant
Want your sex to last for hours
Love banging in the shower
Don’t plan on using lube on your sex toys
Don’t have sensitive skin
Don’t mind artificial ingredients

Another thing to remember when talking about lube is the recent uptick in the popularity of natural personal lubricants. Instead of relying on store-based lubes, people try other options like coconut oil, petroleum jelly (Vaseline), or baby oil.

While we totally understand the impulse, it’s best to stick with lube designed specifically for sexual contact. Using products outside their intended use can cause unwanted side effects, including vaginal irritation or infection.

Sex Oil vs. Juicy Pure™

So, beyond Sex Oil being oil-based and Juicy Pure™ being water-based, are there any other differences? Here’s a cheat sheet:

Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD:

Formulated to enhance moisture + glide during sexual intimacy
Keeps everything slippery, juicy and extra-fun
Use generously anywhere and anytime you like
Oral-safe and pH-balanced lube
Just two all-natural ingredients
Not compatible with condoms
100% organic
Made with broad-spectrum CBD
Glycerin and paraben-free lubricant

When to use Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD:

For solo self-love sessions with 100% silicone sex toys (or your hands!)
For partnered sex without condoms
For shower sex
For anal sex
For oral-sex, finger sex, or hand sex
Glycerin and paraben-free lubricant

Juicy Pure™ Lube

Formulated to enhance moisture + glide during sexual intimacy
Keeps everything slippery, juicy, and extra-fun
Use generously anywhere and anytime you like
Oral-safe and pH-balanced lube
Water-based aloe hydration for a natural-feeling glide
Condom and toy compatible
95% organic
CBD-free formula

When to use Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD:

For solo self-love sessions with all kinds of sex toys
For partnered sex with condoms (or without condoms!)
For oral-sex, finger sex, or hand sex

We love our Sex Oil. It’s one of our bestselling formulas and it’s near and dear to our hearts. However, we recognize that some lovers need a condom-safe lube, which is why we’re so happy to offer this new formula to quench your thirst.

The Bottom Line

While everyone’s body is different, and we all have different types of sex, one thing is the same — lube can make any sexual encounter more exciting and pleasurable.

If you’re looking for a way to take your sex life up a notch, enjoy shower sex, and don’t need to rely on latex condoms for birth control or STI prevention, we highly recommend trying our Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD! If you’re looking for a lube that is condom-compatible, we highly recommend trying our non-sticky water-based lube, Juicy Pure™. Happy lovemaking!

Sources:

Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review | PubMed

Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? Here's What You Need to Know. | ACOG

5 great reasons to use lube the next time you’re getting intimate | IPPF