To Lube or Not to Lube | The Feronia Project

It can be difficult to decide whether you should use lubrication and which type and brand is right for you and your partner. Here are a few simple tips to hopefully help you find the right one. Remember, it can be like Goldilocks at first and it may take experimenting with a few different lubes to find the one that is just right.

Reasons to consider using lubricants:

It may make sex feel better
It makes condoms less likely to break
Helps women who have vaginal dryness
Should be used for anal sex to help prevent tearing

Water-based lubricants with glycerin (Astroglide, KY Jelly, Pink) & water-based without glycerin (Good Clean Love, Blossom Organics, Please)

Silicone-based lubricants (Eros Pjur, Sliquid, Wet Lubricant, Liquid Silk)

Pros:

Rinses out of the body easily and easy to clean up
Can be used on sex toys
Sweeter tasting

Pros:

Lasts longer than water-based lube
Never gets sticky
Can be used for massage

Cons:

Can feel sticky on the skin
Are not as long-lasting as silicone
Are not good for use in water
May stain linens and towels
Lubrication with glycerin is not recommended for women with diabetes, immune deficiencies, and chronic yeast or vaginal infections.

Cons:

Can damage some silicone toys
Are more difficult to rinse off/out of body (especially out of the vagina)
More expensive

FYI: People have come up with some very strange things to use for
lubricants. The best way to explain what to use and not to use is as lube is to simply remember: anything you put in your hair, anything you cook with or eat, and anything you can find in your bathroom should not be used as a lubricant. People should know that if it is not designed to be used with condoms they should not use it. Furthermore, anything with oil in it can trap bacteria in the body and cause a condom to break.

By the way, there are also lubes that are organic, vegan, phylate-free, and paraben-free. For a list of a variety of lubes, you can visit Goodvibes.

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