All About Lube
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Remember that old summer game Slip 'N Slide? Oh man, was that a good time. A long latex slide that you unfurled on your buddy’s lawn and then made wet and slippery with the attached sprinklers? What’s not to love about that? Now picture playing on a Slip 'N Slide but leaving the sprinklers off. Why would you do that to yourself? OUCH!
I think you know where I’m going with this, but I’m going there anyway. Why deprive yourself of extra lubrication in your sexual play? Not everybody can be a perpetual fount of wetness. Vaginal lubrication is a complicated physiological process, dependent on so many factors, including, but not limited to stress, where you are in your menstrual cycle, and how much water you drank yesterday! How wet you get is not a reflection of how good you are in bed, how attracted you are to your partner, or even necessarily how turned on you are.
If you are masturbating, regardless of your parts, you will probably find that a little lube on your hand or toy makes that act more pleasant and enjoyable.
And then of course there is anal sex. Our butts don’t produce any lubrication at all, so a good lube is essential to that act being fun (in fact, we think it should be a LAW that you have to use lube with anal sex).
So rather than stress about it, why not add a little extra lube to the game no matter what? Wetter is better, and it gets much better than KY Jelly.
And so, without further ado...
The Early to Bed Awards for Best Lubes!
Best Lube for Sensitive Skin: Sliquid H2O. With only four ingredients, it is our simplest, most hypoallergenic lube. It is gentle, glycerin and paraben-free, super long-lasting, odorless, and tasteless! What’s not to love?
NOTE: Glycerin, which is an ingredient in many lubes, can cause irritation in some folks, so if you are sensitive, look for glycerin-free lubes.
Best Anal Lube: Sutil Rich. This lube is think and long-lasting, making it great for any play but ideal for anal play. It is water-based so it is compatible with any sex toys!
Best Flavored Lube: Sliquid Swirl. It comes in multiple flavors so everyone is bound to find one they like! From classic Cherry Vanilla to the foodie favorite Blackberry Fig, this flavored lube is also pH-balanced (and paraben-free) so as to be gentle on even the most sensitive bits.
Best Waterproof Lube: Überlube. Hands down, silicone is the funnest and most frictionless. This silicone lube is latex compatible and just will not quit! Use it in the bedroom or in the bath, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Just keep it away from those silicone toys, okay? Überlube is even made locally here in Chicago!
NOTE: We usually strongly advise against using silicone lube with silicone toys, however we have found that you can sometimes use the two together. If you want to use Uberlube (or any silicone lube) with your 100% silicone toy, just do a small patch test first to be sure they are compatible. But note that some maker's warranties are void if you use silicone lube (like Fun Factory) so in most cases with silicone sex toys, stick to water-based lube.
But why is silicone lube bad with silicone toys you ask? The easiest answer is that "“like dissolves like". The silicone lube can dissolve the surface of a silicone toy making it no longer non-porous and the great thing about silicone toys is that they are non-porous!
Best Lube for Penis Only Fun: Stroke 29 has long be heralded as the ultimate masturbation cream. Super slippery and long last, it is mean for solo pleasure that feels amazing! It is made of oil so be sure to keep it out of vaginas and away from latex.
NOTE: In general, oil is not great for vaginal tissues, will make latex condoms useless, and it is REALLY hard to clean off toys, so best keep these lubes for your hand-only action.
Best Lube for Pain Management: CBD lube! Some folks find that CBD lube is great for dealing with pelvic pain and painful sex! CBD is thought to reduce inflammation, ease tension, and increase bloodflow. If you are experiencing painful sex, however, you may want to see a doctor or other medical professional to rule out infection or other diagnosis. Come see us to purchase our fave--CBD lube is available IN STORE ONLY!
Best All-Around Lubes: It’s a three-way tie! Slippery Stuff Sutil Rich and Sliquid H2O both win the prize! All are water-based, glycerin-free, and long-lasting. Slippery Stuff is a nice thick gel that stays where you want it and is easy on the wallet (it's even a favorite of pelvic floor physical therapists). Sliquid H2O has a great slipperiness and doesn't get too sticky when it dries out. And Sutil is extra rich and log-lasting. All are very gentle on your body and are some of our best-selling lubes.
There are no losers here, so if you just can’t decide, try one of our lube samplers and you get a little taste of our favorites!