The Slick Facts about Personal Lubes

Choosing a personal lube from all of the personal lubes on a store shelf can be confusing. Finding which of the personal lubes is best for you and your partner requires some detective work. The main purpose of personal lubes is to reduce friction, reducing discomfort and pain. Bonus benefits of some personal lubes are that some have a warming effect when they come in contact with the skin, and there are some lubricants that are made with glycerin and sugar, giving them various delicious flavors. Some personal lubes even have a cooling effect when it contacts the skin. There are three main types of personal lubes, and each of the three has different qualities and properties. Oil based lube is not recommended any time that sex toys, novelties, or diaphragms and condoms are being used. The oil will break down latex and rubber. Oil lubes are great, on the other hand, for men who need personal lubes for masturbating. Water based lubricants are safe to use with toys and birth control, but often dry out fairly quickly, so frequent applications are common, and recommended. They are also close to natural, and are generally safe for sensitive skin too. Silicone based personal lubes last longer than the water based ones, but can be hard to wash off and could cause damage to silicone toys. Many people do like the silicone lubes because of their silky feel. Some companies manufacture combination lubricants, a mix of water and silicone. Personal Lubes that are flavored are not for use in the vagina or rectum; they should be used for external use only, like for oral sex. Flavored lube is not recommended for use inside the vagina or the rectum because the glycerin in them can cause infections. Lubricants that have a warming sensation are generally some of the most popular ones that people really enjoy. The jury is still out on the popularity of personal lubes that cause a cooling, menthol ish effect! Silicone based personal lubes are recommended for anal sex and sex using toys like vibrators and dildos. These lubes are thicker and will stay on longer than the other two types of lubes. Men who are looking for a lube for masturbating will generally like the oil based ones because they generally feel very smooth, but again, do NOT use the oil lubes for vaginal penetration or with condoms or toys. For vaginal intercourse, it becomes a matter of personal preference as to which lubricant feels the best. If you are prone to yeast infections to begin with, look for the glycerin free lubricants. Always read labels carefully when you are shopping for personal lubes. Make sure that there is nothing used in the lube that you are or may be allergic to. If you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, there is some evidence that the chemicals in personal lubes are damaging to sperm, so take that into consideration if you need to.