Different Lubricants and When to Use Them

Whether youโ€™re using it for sex or masturbation, lubricants are an absolute essential in the bedroom! But do you know your silicone lube from your water-based?

In this post, we talk you through the different type of lubes and their uses. Whether it’s for an encounter or solo session, we’re here to help you find your perfect match.

Water-Based Lubricants

Letโ€™s start with the most common lubricant: water-based. Water-based lubricant is – you guessed it – made from a water-soluble base.

Pros
  • This means it’s easy to clean up and won’t stain materials such as clothes or bedding.
  • Water-based lube is safe to use with all condoms and toys, which makes it ideal for any situation.
  • This type of lube is often recommended by doctors as the mots body-friendly personal lubricant.
Cons
  • It doesn’t have the same silky feeling as silicone lube, nor does it last as long.

Silicone Lubes

If youโ€™re looking for a silkier, longer-lasting lubricant than we would recommend a silicone lubricant.

Pros
  • Less reapplication required! Silicone lube doesn’t absorb into the skin in the same way as water-based lube, meaning it lasts for longer.
  • It’s a lot tougher against water and is perfect for shower sex!
Cons
  • Silicone lube should not be used with sex toys made from silicone. The two materials can react, causing damage to your toy.
  • It’s harder to get out of bedding and clothes, so be careful to avoid any spills!

Hybrid Lubes

Hybrid lubes are a blend of water-based and silicone lubricants.

Pros
  • This type of lube is great as it provides the longevity and silky feeling of silicone, without compromising on the easy clean-up of a water-based lubricant.

Sensation Lubricants

Sensational lubes contain a special agent which causes a reaction to the skin, such as tingling or warming.

Pros
  • Such lubricants are normally water-based so are safe to use with condoms and sex toys.
  • They’re an easy way of adding a new type of stimulation to your play.
Cons
  • Generally speaking, sensation lubes dry out faster than other lubricants.

Sensations can feel very different person-to-person, so start with a little and add more if you like it!

Flavoured Lubricant

These lubricants do exactly what they say on the tin (or should we say ‘tube’?).

Pros
  • Perfect for oral sex, these lubes are available in a range of flavours so there’s plenty to experiment with!
  • Safe for vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Cons
  • While flavoured lubricants are sugar-free, they do contain glycerine. If you are prone to yeast infections or are allergic to glycerine, you should avoid using this type of lube.

Oil Lubricants

Last but not least, we have oil lubricants!

Pros
  • Great for male masturbation, oil lubes won’t irritate the penis and create deliciously slick strokes.
Cons
  • This lube shouldn’t be used by women as the oil can trap yeast and bacteria, affecting the genital’s delicate pH balance.
  • Oil lubes can break down the fine rubbers in condoms, and can react with silicone or TPE sex toys.
115 comments
  1. Janice 1
    Janice 1
    January 31, 2014 at 10:00 am

    great products

    Reply
  2. miriam bland
    miriam bland
    January 31, 2014 at 10:02 am

    Love to use lube it feels sexy. X

    Reply
  3. Hassni
    Hassni
    January 31, 2014 at 10:09 am

    Now that would be handy

    Reply
  4. Angela Walker
    Angela Walker
    January 31, 2014 at 10:14 am

    Great products

    Reply
  5. mick
    mick
    January 31, 2014 at 10:14 am

    I Just Thought I would slip in and leave a comment

    Reply
  6. Sallyanne Gooch
    Sallyanne Gooch
    January 31, 2014 at 10:18 am

    Fab prize

    Reply
  7. Rob
    Rob
    January 31, 2014 at 10:34 am

    The hybrid lube sounds really good!

    Reply
  8. Ruby Goodnight
    Ruby Goodnight
    January 31, 2014 at 10:35 am

    Great post with clear explanations. Well done. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  9. elizabeth huppert
    elizabeth huppert
    January 31, 2014 at 10:53 am

    Looking forward to fun times with the Mr.

    Reply
  10. Neil
    Neil
    January 31, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Its good when you find a nice lube that doubles as a good massage oil
    leads to hours of fun!!

    Reply
  11. Tia Maresco
    Tia Maresco
    January 31, 2014 at 11:15 am

    Great article I’ve used a lot of lubes and find Pjur and Bondara’s own lube the best for both toy play and skin on skin.

    Reply
  12. Andy Caldwell
    Andy Caldwell
    January 31, 2014 at 11:29 am

    so many choices

    Reply
  13. barrington hubblr
    barrington hubblr
    January 31, 2014 at 11:40 am

    Yes purlease!! xxx

    Reply
  14. Scott Hambley
    Scott Hambley
    January 31, 2014 at 11:45 am

    You can’t beat a bit of slide and ride!

    Reply
  15. Amanda
    Amanda
    January 31, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    Very slick prize

    Reply
  16. Sunny
    Sunny
    January 31, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    A slick prize! x

    Reply
  17. JAMES
    JAMES
    January 31, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    Count me in

    Reply
  18. eddie
    eddie
    January 31, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    introduced to lube a few years ago and have the best sex ever with the wife,she loves the feel of it

    Reply
  19. Sharon Arnott
    Sharon Arnott
    January 31, 2014 at 2:25 pm

    Lube always guarantees a slick performance. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  20. Francesca Tuck
    Francesca Tuck
    January 31, 2014 at 2:29 pm

    I would love to give some of these a whirl!

    Reply
  21. Jennifer H
    Jennifer H
    January 31, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    I’d be a very happy girl if I won these! Thanks for holding the giveaway ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  22. Josie
    Josie
    January 31, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    Silk Hybrid Lube sounds like the one for me

    Reply
  23. Damian
    Damian
    January 31, 2014 at 3:43 pm

    GREAT PRIZE

    Reply
  24. Mal Haddon
    Mal Haddon
    January 31, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    You learn something new everyday…

    Reply
  25. Kay adams
    Kay adams
    January 31, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    A very good range!

    Reply
  26. Julie Roberts
    Julie Roberts
    January 31, 2014 at 4:47 pm

    The Durex Extra Cherry has a lovely fragrance. The I.D Banana really smells of banana. All Durex and I.D Lubs are great and cheaper at Bondora than most outlets. Still better than win to buy though even at great prices.

    Reply
  27. Christina Brown
    Christina Brown
    January 31, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    Fabulous giveaway!!! ID Juicy Strawberry & Kiwi Lube sounds totally yummy ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  28. Nick Thompson
    Nick Thompson
    January 31, 2014 at 5:41 pm

    yes please

    Reply
  29. Sadie Godiva
    Sadie Godiva
    January 31, 2014 at 5:51 pm

    The stuff that made my MUCH older sister slip off the horses back.

    Reply
  30. Laura Pritchard
    Laura Pritchard
    January 31, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    Great prizes!

    Reply
  31. Holly Smith
    Holly Smith
    January 31, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    why not ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  32. Bob Smith
    Bob Smith
    January 31, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    The flavoured one sounds good enough to eat. they would all come in handy for some fun.

    Reply
  33. Georgina Ball
    Georgina Ball
    January 31, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    Yes please!

    Reply
  34. Cyra Bellamy
    Cyra Bellamy
    January 31, 2014 at 8:18 pm

    Great prize, would have lots of fun using them!

    Reply
  35. Lisa Pepper
    Lisa Pepper
    January 31, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    Would love to try these ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  36. Jan
    Jan
    January 31, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    Any time you feel you need a little psychological or physical boost ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  37. Andrea Storey
    Andrea Storey
    January 31, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    Me and the mister would be over the moon to win this. We’d have to throw a sicky as we wouldnt be able to wait until the weekend to try them ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  38. claire eadie
    claire eadie
    January 31, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    Ooh would love to win this! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  39. Jennifer Rhymer
    Jennifer Rhymer
    January 31, 2014 at 9:01 pm

    Never knew there were so many types! Great giveaway ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  40. stew
    stew
    January 31, 2014 at 9:15 pm

    Sounds great, would love to try.

    Reply
  41. audrey j
    audrey j
    January 31, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    i love the variety of gels! my favorite is the sensation one ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  42. Paul Chadwick
    Paul Chadwick
    January 31, 2014 at 9:48 pm

    all sounds good

    Reply
  43. Christian Oliver
    Christian Oliver
    January 31, 2014 at 9:48 pm

    For the things I have in mind I’ll need all the lube you can provide ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  44. IanM
    IanM
    January 31, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    Sounds like you could have some fun times with these

    Reply
  45. claire WOODS
    claire WOODS
    January 31, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    I’ll give it a go.

    Reply
  46. Liam Jeffery
    Liam Jeffery
    January 31, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    Yeah I am anal lube only chance I get it, same as flavoured otherwise would not get

    Reply
  47. monika s
    monika s
    January 31, 2014 at 10:16 pm

    Winning this would mean lots of loving ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  48. Sarah
    Sarah
    January 31, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    Lovely ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  49. sairz eastham
    sairz eastham
    January 31, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    The strawb sounds yummy! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    send them this way please!

    Reply
  50. taja mckenzie
    taja mckenzie
    February 1, 2014 at 12:12 am

    nice giveaway

    Reply
  51. Kerry Kilmister
    Kerry Kilmister
    February 1, 2014 at 1:00 am

    Fantastic giveaway – Lubes are brillaint

    Reply
  52. Kerry Byrne
    Kerry Byrne
    February 1, 2014 at 8:27 am

    Fab prize!

    Reply
  53. cathyj
    cathyj
    February 1, 2014 at 8:57 am

    sounds like an interesting selection

    Reply
  54. Tamara Payne
    Tamara Payne
    February 1, 2014 at 8:58 am

    Fab ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  55. Penny Pring
    Penny Pring
    February 1, 2014 at 10:55 am

    Great Prize, thank you

    Reply
  56. Maria Jane Knight
    Maria Jane Knight
    February 1, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    Awesome ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  57. tiffany callan
    tiffany callan
    February 1, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  58. Hazel Rush
    Hazel Rush
    February 1, 2014 at 3:12 pm

    Great selection!

    Reply
  59. Lorna Peppiatt
    Lorna Peppiatt
    February 1, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    Thanks for giveaway ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  60. Clint Howat
    Clint Howat
    February 1, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    Fab prize

    Reply
  61. Ani
    Ani
    February 1, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    What a great, extremely helpful guide. The strawberry kiwi lube sounds absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  62. graham woodend
    graham woodend
    February 1, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    essential for a smooth ride,squeeze then slide and glide

    Reply
  63. Hazel Smithies
    Hazel Smithies
    February 1, 2014 at 3:31 pm

    Great article

    Reply
  64. Andrew Halliwell
    Andrew Halliwell
    February 1, 2014 at 4:02 pm

    Nice

    Reply
  65. Phil Bowell
    Phil Bowell
    February 1, 2014 at 4:02 pm

    Very slick prizes

    Reply
  66. Mickie Bull
    Mickie Bull
    February 1, 2014 at 4:11 pm

    Great products!

    Reply
  67. Rochelle Lear
    Rochelle Lear
    February 1, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    I reckon I have about 15 different flavoured lubes already!
    Mint tingle is the best!

    Reply
  68. Ruth Tesdale
    Ruth Tesdale
    February 1, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    A good range of products which meet a range of needs and uses.

    Reply
  69. David Holland
    David Holland
    February 1, 2014 at 4:30 pm

    Yes please!

    Reply
  70. Lee Davis
    Lee Davis
    February 1, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    Brilliant!

    Reply
  71. sherri fordham
    sherri fordham
    February 1, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    fab giveaway! xxx

    Reply
  72. saz palmer
    saz palmer
    February 1, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    sound like fun x

    Reply
  73. Tracey
    Tracey
    February 1, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    Yes please <3

    Reply
  74. gemma clark
    gemma clark
    February 1, 2014 at 6:26 pm

    wow so many choices ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  75. Marc Jackson
    Marc Jackson
    February 1, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    Yes please!

    Reply
  76. michelle t
    michelle t
    February 1, 2014 at 7:01 pm

    lovely, i love this , keeps us healthy in the bedroom , along with imagination!

    Reply
  77. Darius
    Darius
    February 1, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    count me in!

    Reply
  78. natalja p.
    natalja p.
    February 1, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    Would love to try

    Reply
  79. Paula Phillips
    Paula Phillips
    February 1, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    I would love the chance to try some of these, thanks.

    Reply
  80. neil parnham
    neil parnham
    February 1, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    Would love these, It is hard to find a lubricant that does what it says on the bottle, hopefully these will ๐Ÿ™‚ โ˜€

    Reply
  81. Hayley Todd
    Hayley Todd
    February 1, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    Fantastic competition, great products, thanks!

    Reply
  82. Gillian Hutchison
    Gillian Hutchison
    February 1, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    Great giveaway

    Reply
  83. Rob Clayton
    Rob Clayton
    February 1, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    Love lube, this would be very useful

    Reply
  84. Nicky Hopkins
    Nicky Hopkins
    February 1, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    These look great

    Reply
  85. Jo
    Jo
    February 1, 2014 at 11:19 pm

    Fantastic

    Reply
  86. Mia Fergusson
    Mia Fergusson
    February 2, 2014 at 5:53 am

    Great giveaway !

    Reply
  87. Keith H
    Keith H
    February 2, 2014 at 7:10 am

    Hope they cum in a brown envelope ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  88. emma kinsey
    emma kinsey
    February 2, 2014 at 8:14 am

    thanks

    Reply
  89. Sue Warr
    Sue Warr
    February 2, 2014 at 9:14 am

    I’d like to try some lubricant as I’m 51 and could do with a bit of help!

    Reply
  90. Stuart Payne
    Stuart Payne
    February 2, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Great article

    Reply
  91. Kristy L
    Kristy L
    February 2, 2014 at 10:05 am

    Fab article! Love diff lubes

    Reply
  92. Gary Topley
    Gary Topley
    February 2, 2014 at 11:34 am

    Thanks for the comp x

    Reply
  93. tracey denby
    tracey denby
    February 2, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    getting married in may so all will come in handy lol!!

    Reply
  94. Mrsvj
    Mrsvj
    February 2, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    Mmmm lube ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  95. Hannah Whitling
    Hannah Whitling
    February 2, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    Great article with useful info. Fingers crossed.

    Reply
  96. Claire
    Claire
    February 2, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    great prize

    Reply
  97. jodie harvey
    jodie harvey
    February 2, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    sounds fab to me ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  98. Laura
    Laura
    February 2, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    Would love to win it!

    Reply
  99. Rachel McCook
    Rachel McCook
    February 2, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    LUBE!

    Reply
  100. Holly Broomhead
    Holly Broomhead
    February 2, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    I would LOVE to try the juicy strawberry kiwi!

    Reply
  101. susan russell
    susan russell
    February 2, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    yes plz would love to try these x

    Reply
  102. bikersuze
    bikersuze
    February 2, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    Love to win the lubes, party on!

    Reply
  103. Sarah Nixon
    Sarah Nixon
    February 2, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    I would love to try some new lubricants

    Reply
  104. michelle bennett
    michelle bennett
    February 2, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    Great selection, these sound fun ๐Ÿ˜€

    Reply
  105. ann scally
    ann scally
    February 2, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    sounds fab x

    Reply
  106. glenn
    glenn
    February 2, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    bump

    Reply
  107. Charlotte I
    Charlotte I
    February 2, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    Great giveaway for a very handy product ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  108. Catherine Gregory
    Catherine Gregory
    February 2, 2014 at 6:02 pm

    Thank you, hope I’m in for a treat <3

    Reply
  109. Daniel Stacey
    Daniel Stacey
    February 2, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    all sound good

    Reply
  110. Laura Corrall
    Laura Corrall
    February 2, 2014 at 7:39 pm

    Would love to try some of these. Great giveaway.

    Reply
  111. Phillip Ross
    Phillip Ross
    February 2, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    Great giveaway

    Reply
  112. Bonnie King
    Bonnie King
    February 2, 2014 at 7:54 pm

    Oh I would love to try some of these. Smooth sailing.

    Reply
  113. Zowee Moore
    Zowee Moore
    February 2, 2014 at 8:43 pm

    wicked giveaway
    #fingerscrossed

    Reply
  114. sue Seaman
    sue Seaman
    February 2, 2014 at 9:01 pm

    every lube helps

    Reply
  115. Peter
    Peter
    February 3, 2014 at 9:30 am

    Thank you for all the entries, we have picked a winner and will be emailing them shortly. Once again thank you for all the entries and keep your eyes peeled for more competitions soon.

    Reply
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