Lubricants are a great addition to any sexual activity.  You can use it to reduce the friction during hour-long romp sessions, minimize discomfort, flavor body parts or maybe just to try something new.

So now you have made the decision to try some — but how the hell are you supposed to decide which ones to get with hundreds of choices out there? Hopefully this little guide can get you on your way.

First, I’d like to split lubricants into two categories: Silicone lubricants vs. Water-based lubricants (I am purposefully leaving out OIL: it traps bacteria and is not latex safe, which means infections and broken condoms are more likely.)

Silicone Lubricants:

They are smooth, silky and hypoallergenic.  The particles of silicone are too large to actually soak into your skin, so a little bit can go a long way. It’s perfect for male masturbation. It’s also great to use in the shower since it’s waterproof, but you will need soap and water to wash it away.  CAUTION: If you use it in the shower please make sure it doesn’t get all over the bottom of the tub unless you want to crack your head open!  Another little downside to silicone lube – it may stain your sheets (which can be avoided by putting down towels or cheap sheets).

Using with toys – Silicone lubricant can be a great addition to sex toys UNLESS you have toys made from silicone materials.  These two can bond together and leave your toys (and your sheets) sticky and icky.  Do a little spot test with the lubricant on the toy before you start playing.

Water Based Lubricants:

Within water-based, I like to separate them into a few different categories of viscosity and ingredients – gels, creams, liquids, glycerin free, and flavored.

Gels – gels are nice and thick, and last the longest when it comes to water-based lubes because they won’t soak into your skin or evaporate quickly.  You can use gels for every kind of sexual activity, but they are especially great for anal sex: they provide a nice cushion for the sensitive tissue, and you won’t have to reapply quite as often as with a thinner lube, as the rectum is designed to soak up moisture, so the thicker the better.  TIP: For anal sex, add a little silicone to the gel so you can have it long lasting and thick.

Creams – creams last longer than thin liquid lubes and feel very much like natural body lubrication.  A lot of people love creams because they can add a little soothing sensation to vaginal tissue due to the lotion in them.  When it comes to oral sex, be aware that they might have a bit of a bitter taste.

Liquids – liquids are great if you just want to add a little extra to your play.  They are great for vaginal intercourse if you don’t want too much added moisture.

Glycerin Free – glycerin is a sugar alcohol that by itself is not harmful.  Glycerin is used to help lubes last longer, although it is also what can make them feel a bit sticky towards the end.  Some women have sensitivities to this ingredient and there are plenty of options out there that are glycerin free. It does not cause yeast infections BUT if you already have one it can make it worse.

Flavored – These are generally just for oral sex and not intercourse: most of them will contain sugar which can facilitate yeast infections and will get very sticky, very quickly.  If you really want to use one for intercourse (although I have to wonder why, since neither your anus nor vagina have taste buds) look for a flavored lube that contains aspartame (the same stuff they put in diet coke) instead of real sugar.

Watching your ingredients:

Some women experience burning sensations after vaginal intercourse, but never quite understand why and are too embarrassed to discuss it with their partners.  Although there can be many different reasons for this (STI, UTI, yeast infections, etc), it can also be from lubricants or lubricated condoms. (Or latex sensitivity, but we will get to that another time.)

Some lubricants can have a lot of crap in them.  If you never have any problems, don’t worry about it.  But if you have sensitivities, it can come from ingredients such as glycerin, parabens, and propylene glycol.  Choose one with very few ingredients. (The Sliquid line is a great one for that.)

Now, go have some amazingly lubed up sex!