How do you apply lube?

Planned Parenthood health educator Jen Cowe believes there’s no right or wrong way to apply lube. “The great thing about lube is you apply it anywhere! Directly to your body, to your partner’s body, a toy, or even a condom itself. But I would say before you apply it, rub it together in your hands to warm it up.”

Do lubes have side effects?

Most lubricants are safe to use and won’t cause any serious side effects. If you are allergy-prone or have sensitive skin, pay attention to the ingredients. There are a few you may want to avoid because they may cause irritation or inflammation: Glycerin Propylene Glycol Petroleum Chlorhexidine Gluconate Parabens

Does lube decrease the chances of pregnancy?

Some older studies suggest lubricants can be toxic to sperm in the artificial laboratory environment. However, lubricants formulated to be nontoxic to sperm have no effect on sperm motility or viability. A 2012 longitudinal cohort study suggests lubricant use and choice have no effect on fertility, although the authors acknowledge more research is needed in this area.

What type of lube is long lasting?

Water-based lubes are the most commonly used, but they can dry up fairly quickly. You can “reactivate” these lubes again with water, saliva, or more lube. Silicone-based lubricants last longer and tend to be more slippery than water-soluble lubricants.

The 7 Best Lubes of 2022

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Using the right lubricant can make or break your sex life. Whether it’s for your own pleasure or it’s a joint effort with a partner, lube is the simplest way to reduce injury and ultimately take a sexual experience to the next level. No matter your sexual activity, lube can only make things better. You just have to know what you’re looking for and the following list can help.

When shopping for lube, you’re going to find all sorts of options out there: natural, organic, flavored, water-based, and warming to name a few. We researched dozens of lubricants and evaluated them based on their ingredients, purpose, and how well they work with the vagina's sensitive pH levels. Each of the products chosen in this article was determined to be the best of their individual category.

Here are some of the best lubes on the market, so if you're looking to turn the heat up on your sex life, this is a great place to start.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube at Amazon

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

Best Organic:

Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant at Thrive Market

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

Best Water Based:

LOLA Personal Lubricant at Mylola.com

This features a convenient one-click pump so you can apply it without interruption.

Best For Sensitive Skin:

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.

Best Silicone:

Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant at Amazon

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

Best Flavored:

WET Flavored Popp’n Cherry Edible Lube at Amazon

This is a great lubricant and tastes very good on those occasions where the lubricant comes in contact with the mouth.

Best Heating:

K-Y Warming Jelly Personal Lube Tube at Amazon

The warming effect is quite pleasant without feeling too intense.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
Lube Ingredients to Avoid
Why Trust Verywell Health

The Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube is vegan and comes in four flavors. It’s free of parabens, petroleum, phenoxyethanol, glycerin, and other chemicals. In addition to it being safe for your body, it helps to reduce painful intercourse and menopause dryness. All in all, it’s a two-in-one deal as it acts as a personal lubricant and a vaginal moisturizer. Bonus: It’s edible, and rubber and plastic-friendly, so it won’t damage any of your sex toys.

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

Get ready, the water base behind the Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant will leave you feeling almost naked. It’s highly recommended by gynecologists and is free from petrochemicals, parabens, and glycerin.

The formula is long-lasting and easy to clean up. You won’t have to worry about it leaving behind any bothersome stains. It’s infused with light lemon and vanilla scents without irritating chemical additives making it ideal for anyone with sensitive skin.

Remember, you can never go wrong with a water-based lube. The LOLA Personal Lubricant features a simple, one-click pump that makes application a breeze and saves you from unnecessary messes.

It’s completely hypoallergenic and is made up of only six ingredients. The aloe leaf juice, vanilla, and lemon are all organic. There are no fragrances or synthetic flavors to complicate the moment, you’ll just be left with safe, sexual fun. Additionally, it has a pH-balanced formula to support better vaginal health.

If you’ve ever had issues with lube before, you won't need to worry once you try the Uberlube Luxury Lubricant. It’s colorless, odorless, tasteless, and won’t leave behind any sticky, stain-prone residue.

On top of that, it’s free of animal products, parabens, alcohol, gluten, and glycerin, proving it’s made for sensitive skin and won’t harm healthy bacteria or affect pH levels. Furthermore, a little goes a long way with Uberlube, which certainly justifies its higher price tag. It has a single hand pump that will give you the perfect amount every time.

When being intimate, the last thing you should be thinking about is harmful chemicals in your body. Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant’s silicone and water-based formula is free of any unwanted additives.

This lube is botanically infused and vegan, and the 12% silicone blend makes it longer lasting and perfect for sensual massages. If you apply it to your skin, the Aloe Vera in the formula acts as a natural moisturizer and alongside it, there’s vitamin E, green tea, and hibiscus within the lubricant. This combination is special and will result in the most unforgettable, invigorating sensations.

If you have a sexy sweet tooth, you won’t want to miss the Wet Flavored Popp’n Cherry Edible Lube that’s perfectly safe to eat. You may choose from five luscious flavors that are all sweeter than ever.

Surprisingly, the lube is sugar and gluten-free, but it will still taste like the real flavors without an artificial aftertaste. This product is made for foreplay, so if you’re looking for a sweet way to spice of your sex life (literally), this is it.

From the second you play around with the K-Y Warming Jelly Personal Lube Tube, you’ll feel a warm sensation. You can trust K-Y with your needs as it’s a popular brand recommended by doctors.

Adding heat to your intimate moments can heighten your senses and enhance intimacy with your partner. You can opt for it in liquid or jelly form. If you prefer the item to stay in place, the jelly is your best choice. Note, however, that K-Y Warming Jelly contains propylene glycol and may be irritating.

Final Verdict

Lube can be the key to an all-around better sex life. It’s guaranteed to make the moments safer and more pleasurable, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it. If you’re nervous about it causing an irritation, stick with the unproblematic Uberlube Luxury Lubricant. It may be pricer, but it won’t leave behind any residue as it’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

What to Look for in a Lube

Natural Ingredients

Similar to most products, it’s beneficial to have all-natural labels. The Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube is a go-to that’s gentle to the skin and features aloe vera, one of nature’s common moisturizers. The Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant is another that boasts natural components including vitamin E, green tea, and hibiscus, which combined provide healthy, invigorating results.

Water

If all else fails, pick a water-based lube. It’s a safe choice that won’t harm your body. The LOLA Personal Lubricant is a water-based fan favorite that’s safe, easy to apply, and a pH-balanced formula that’s great for your vaginal health. The gynecologist-recommended Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant should also be on your radar as it’s water-based without any chemical additives allowing it to work on all skin types.

Multipurpose

The lube you choose has to fit all your needs. If you’re hoping to get pregnant, that’s what the Pre-Seed Fertility Friendly Lubricant is for. For those interested in something different and new, try the K-Y Warming Jelly Personal Lube Tube, a product that turns to heat to intensify the senses. In short, whatever your need may be, the perfect formula is out there waiting.

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.

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. Poison 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you apply lube?

Planned Parenthood health educator Jen Cowe believes there’s no right or wrong way to apply lube. “The great thing about lube is you apply it anywhere! Directly to your body, to your partner’s body, a toy, or even a condom itself. But I would say before you apply it, rub it together in your hands to warm it up.”
Do lubes have side effects?
Most lubricants are safe to use and won’t cause any serious side effects. If you are allergy-prone or have sensitive skin, pay attention to the ingredients. There are a few you may want to avoid because they may cause irritation or inflammation:
- Glycerin
- Propylene Glycol
- Petroleum
- Chlorhexidine Gluconate
- Parabens
Does lube decrease the chances of pregnancy?

Some older studies suggest lubricants can be toxic to sperm in the artificial laboratory environment. However, lubricants formulated to be nontoxic to sperm have no effect on sperm motility or viability.
A 2012 longitudinal cohort study suggests lubricant use and choice have no effect on fertility, although the authors acknowledge more research is needed in this area.
What type of lube is long lasting?

Water-based lubes are the most commonly used, but they can dry up fairly quickly. You can “reactivate” these lubes again with water, saliva, or more lube. Silicone-based lubricants last longer and tend to be more slippery than water-soluble lubricants.

Why Trust Verywell Health

As a seasoned health writer, Isis Briones knows the importance of finding products that work best for you and your conditions. You can count on her to always provide a variety of recommendations from licensed medical professionals because she has tested and reviewed tons of products over the years to know everyone is different.

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