The Best Lube of 2020

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

First Look

Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant at Amazon

"Primarily made with organic ingredients, this aloe- and silicone-based hybrid lube offers long-lasting moisture."

Uberlube Luxury Lubricant at Amazon

"When you’re done using it, it becomes less slick, moisturizing your skin instead of demanding to be rinsed off."

Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube at Amazon

"The aloe vera-based, edible lube gives you long-lasting moisture without damaging petroleum oil or silicone."

LOLA Personal Lubricant at LOLA

"The water-based lubricant is a fan-favorite and features a convenient one-click pump so you can apply it without interruption."

Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant at Amazon

"Certified-organic, the lubricant is made of only seven ingredients and leaves out everything you don't want."

Pre-Seed Fertility Friendly Lubricant at Amazon

"This spermicide-free lubricant scored higher than comparable lubes on measures of sperm vitality and motility."

Not only can vaginal lubrication enhance sexual pleasure and satisfaction, but it can also reduce symptoms such as vaginal dryness during sex and could even lower your chances of experiencing vaginal tears and irritation after intercourse, making you less likely to contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

If you've decided you want to try a personal lubricant to help with vaginal dryness, prevent condoms from breaking, or increase arousal there is a lot to consider. Lubes come in many forms, including water-, silicone-, and oil-based. Each has pros and cons depending on what exactly you are looking for in the bedroom. Water-based lubes tend to be non-staining and easy to clean up, but they usually don't last as long as silicone- or oil-based options.

Another thing to consider when buying lube is the ingredients list. Less is always more here, so look for natural formulas with fewer ingredients. If using lube with silicone sex toys, a silicone-based formula should always be avoided as it may degrade them.

To learn more, here are the best lubes on the market.

Our Top Picks

Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant

Primarily made with organic ingredients, this aloe- and silicone-based hybrid lube offers the best of both worlds—it has the long-lasting, silky qualities of silicone-based lube combined with the moisturizing benefits of aloe that make it perfect for sensitive skin.

Crafted without the bad stuff, it's made with note-worthy ingredients such as organic aloe, vitamin E, organic hibiscus extract, organic flax extract, organic green tea extract, and more. The pH-balanced, hypoallergenic lubricant is blended to enhance your body's natural lubrication.

Because its consistency resembles that of a silky, fragrance-free lotion, the lube can even be used for massages. It comes in a 2-, 4.2-, or 8.5-ounce bottle.

Uberlube Luxury Lubricant

Überlube’s Luxury Lubricant boasts a decidedly simple formula: It’s crafted from pure silicone and a trace of vitamin E. So you can rest assured knowing the lube is generally irritant-free—no alcohol, parabens, or artificial scents and flavors here.

Like many silicone-based lubes, Überlube’s Luxury Lubricant should deliver slick, long-lasting moisture in relatively small doses. This means you won’t have to constantly reapply it, but again, you’ll also want to be careful not to overuse it at the outset. When you’re done using it, Überlube’s Luxury Lubricant promises to become less slick, moisturizing your skin instead of demanding to be rinsed off. Just remember not to pair it with any silicone-based toys.

Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube

Aloe Cadabra’s Natural Personal Lube is edible and primarily crafted from natural aloe vera, so you can get long-lasting moisture without ingesting harmful petroleum oil or silicone. The lubricant also promises to be stain-free and pH-balanced—benefits you might not always get from such a long-lasting lube.

It's also free of most common problematic lube ingredients, including glycerin, nonoxynol-9, petroleum, propylene glycol, parabens, and chlorhexidine gluconate. It’s sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan-friendly, and paleo-friendly, so you can use it without worrying about it disrupting your diet (or causing flare-ups for many food-based allergens). Finally, Aloe Cadabra’s Natural Personal Lube promises to be safe for use with most condoms and sex toys.

Because it contains some vitamin E oil, you may want to exercise caution in pairing it with latex condoms.

LOLA Personal Lubricant

This water-based lubricant is a fan-favorite and features a convenient one-click pump so you can apply it without interruption. It's made with only six ingredients, including 100% organic aloe leaf juice, agar, organic vanilla, and organic lemon. The lube is free of harmful additives such as glycerin, parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic colorants, and more. It's also hypoallergenic.

Made without spermicide or contraceptives, the lube is safe to use if you're trying to conceive, according to the manufacturer. Buy the 1.7-ounce bottle as a one-time purchase or sign up for a subscription to get a refill every four or eight weeks so you never run out.

Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant

This water-based, certified-organic lubricant is made of only seven ingredients—including soothing aloe vera—and leaves out everything you don't want, like petrochemicals, parabens, and glycerin. Because it's water-based, the lube is safe to use with sex toys and latex or polyisoprene condoms.

It's pH-balanced and iso-osmolar, proving long-lasting glide without irritating chemicals or sticky cleanup. What's more, the lube is infused with vanilla and lemon for a light flavor. Environmentally-conscious buyers will love that with every bottle purchased, the company will donate to a project that reduces greenhouse gases. This formula comes in a convenient 4-ounce tube.

Pre-Seed Fertility Friendly Lubricant

Some lubricants contain spermicide, and others don’t. But some research has suggested that even spermicide-free lube may limit sperm motility, making it harder to conceive. Developed by a reproductive physiologist, Pre-Seed’s Fertility Friendly Lubricant was specifically formulated for couples trying to conceive.

The water-based lubricant is isotonic, pH-balanced, and designed to mimic your body's natural fluids, which keeps it from interfering with your partner's sperm motility.

One independent study confirmed Pre-Seed’s fertility-friendly claims, noting that out of nine vaginal lubricants assessed, Pre-Seed’s Fertility Friendly Lubricant "had the least negative effect on sperm function.” This lubricant scored higher than comparable lubes on measures of sperm vitality and motility. Pre-Seed notes that you should speak with a physician if you haven’t gotten pregnant after six months of using their product.

Note: While this lube is glycerin-free, it does contain parabens.

Lube Ingredients to Avoid

Lubes can contain a range of ingredients—some of which you may want to avoid. A few worth looking out for:

Glycerin

Glycerin is a clear, odorless compound that acts as a humectant, which means it seals in moisture. Because of this, it’s often used to make lubes last longer. Some research has suggested that glycerin can damage skin cells, potentially increasing the transmission of STIs.

Nonoxynol-9

Nonoxynol-9 is a compound commonly added to lubes, because it can act as a spermicide. Some research has shown that long-term use of Nonoxynol-9 is associated with increased prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, but that this effect is generally rare and often dose-dependent.

Petroleum

Petroleum is a gooey, jelly-like compound found in some oil-based lubes to promote moisture. One small study found a link between petroleum jelly and an increased risk of bacterial vaginosis.

Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol is a humectant added to lubes to make them last longer. One small study linked propylene glycol to the spread of STIs (specifically, herpes) in mice, but this effect does not seem to have been replicated in human-based research. Other research has linked propylene glycol to skin irritation—the American Contact Dermatitis Society went as far as naming the ingredient its "Allergen of the Year" for 2018.

Chlorhexidine gluconate

Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antibacterial commonly used in mouthwashes and oral rinses. It’s also occasionally used in lube. Chlorhexidine gluconate may cause skin irritation. Posion Control also notes that chlorhexidine gluconate shouldn’t be orally consumed, so be sure to avoid it in any lubes you plan to use orally.

Parabens

Parabens are synthetic chemicals that act as preservatives in a number of products, lube included. Some experts have expressed concern that parabens could potentially disrupt the endocrine (or hormonal) system, but research has yet to clearly demonstrate this effect.

Some research has suggested that single-exposure parabens consumed at recommended doses do not significantly affect the endocrine system. But that same review notes that most of us aren’t exposed to just one paraben at a time, so further research is needed. Put simply, the jury is still out on this one.

Why Trust Verywell Health

As a seasoned health writer and former sex editor Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be—especially when those products are on or in your body. She's spent years familiarizing herself with various lubricant ingredients, risks, and use cases. Her goal is to recommend products that are genuinely well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them, and that adhere to basic guidelines laid out by medical professionals.