Lubes & Safe Sex

• Differences Among Lubes
• Ingredients: N-9, Glycerin, and Natural Ingredients
  
• Thick vs. Thin
• Staying Slick
• Silicone Lubes
• Is Silicone Safe?
• Flavor: Taste-Free, Sweet, or Fruity
• Spit

What are the differences among all these lubes?

Because lubes differ in their ingredients, thickness, taste, and longevity, we'll give you the lowdown on our lubes to help you choose the right ones for you. Oil-based products are not compatible with latex (only water-based lubes and silicone-based lubes are latex compatible) so if you are playing safe, don't use Crisco, baby oil, Vaseline, etc. Oils can also contribute to yeast infections when used vaginally. Water-based and silicone-based lubes are safe with latex and are the only type we sell. Silicone lubes will damage silicone and cyberskin toys, so cap dildos made from those materials with condoms if you want to use silicone lubes with them. If you can't decide which you'd prefer—or want to try a few different types of lube—check out our Lube Sampler Pack.
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Ingredients: Why do some lubes feel irritating?

The two ingredients that most commonly cause irritation are Nonoxynol-9 and glycerin. Nonoxynol-9 is a popular contraceptive gel ingredient. N-9 lubes, however, don't contain a high enough concentration to prevent pregnancy. The detergent-like compound has been shown to kill HIV in the laboratory, so it's been touted as protective against HIV. The problem is that it can cause tiny micro-tears in the mucous membranes of the vagina and anus, so instead of protecting people from HIV, lubes with N-9 can actually create a greater risk for the transmission of HIV. TIB doesn't sell lubes or condoms with Nonoxynol-9.

Glycerin is a form of sugar. It's what makes many lubes taste sweet. Some women find that using glycerin in their vagina is an open invitation to a yeast infection. If that's true for you, stick with the glycerin-free lubes such as Liquid Silk and Slippery Stuff.

I want a natural lube—which ones have the fewest chemical preservatives?
O'My uses grapefruit seed extract as a preservative and boasts a list of all natural botanical ingredients. Emerita Natural Lube is also botanical; it is water-based, paraben-free, and infused with Vitamin E, and is compatible with safer sex barriers and all toy materials.

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Thick vs. Thin

Many people prefer thicker lubes for anal play and thinner lubes for vaginal play. Astroglide, an extremely popular lube, is on the thinner side. In fact, many Astroglide fans say it feels similar to natural vaginal fluids, though detractors point to its glycerine content as a reason to go with something else. Plus, it sports a nifty glow-in-the-dark label! Slippery Stuff Gel is a bit thicker than Astroglide, but it comes out of the bottle in a gel form and turns liquidy as you work with it—making it easier to use the desired amount without spilling. It is taste-free, glycerin-free and not sticky. Probe is thicker and stringier than most other lubes; the Classic formula is a popular choice for anal play. If you are looking for a lube that doesn't get sticky or tacky, Liquid Silk, Maximus, and Eros Water Formula are your best water-based options. Silicone-based lubes are also popular for anal play, as they stay slick longer and also are not sticky or tacky; Eros Gel is one of our favorite silicone-based lubes.
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Staying slick: which lubes don't dry out quickly?

Slick is the trick! Liquid Silk is a popular water-based lube because of its moisturizer-like consistency. It is white in color and is neither sticky nor tacky. Furthermore, it's glycerin-free and lasts the longest of the water-based lubes—except for Maximus, made by the manufacturers of Liquid Silk, which is clear and lasts just as long. Wet Light is another long-lasting lube, though it contains glycerin. Silicone lubes, like Eros, will stay slick for what feels like forever.
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Silicone lubes

If you are looking for a lube that won't dry out for a long time, try Eros. Silicone lubes feel like oil, but are latex compatible. They stay slick in water (hot tub, anyone?) and are great for anal sex. Silicone lube doesn't wash away unless you use soap and water. Don't use silicone lubes on silicone or cyberskin dildos, unless you want to see your dildo melt—cover such toys with a condom before you use them with a silicone-based lube.
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What's the scoop on safety?

If silicone breast implants are dangerous, wouldn't silicone lubes also be dangerous?
Breast implants become dangerous when they break and the silicone leaks into the blood stream. Silicone lubes only contain a fraction of the silicone contained in medical implants and don't pass into the blood stream.

Why do you say not to use silicone lube with silicone toys?
Use a condom when playing with silicone lube and silicone toys to avoid a chemical reaction between the two that will cause your sex toy to change shape—not in a good way.
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Which lube is taste-free?

BabeLube is flavorless, odorless, and not sticky.

I like a sweet flavor, but can't stand chemical tastes. What the best lube for me?
Check out Astroglide and O'My.

Got anything fruit-flavored?
We sure do! Our top flavored lubes are glycerin-free, so they’re great for vaginal sex. Sliquid Swirl comes in Green Apple, Blue Raspberry, and Cherry Vanilla
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Why can't I just use spit?

It's true that while spit is cheap, and you may have seen non-stop spit-fests in porn movies, the reality is that spit dries out pretty quickly and can leave genitals feeling even drier afterwards. If someone has oral herpes, using spit as lube poses a threat of infection to your partner.
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