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Lubricants Buy Here
Why
Use Lube?
A woman produces
varying levels of vaginal lubricant, depending on where she
is in her monthly cycle. Sometimes, it's just not enough.
Women who are pregnant,
taking hormones or going through menopause may produce less
natural lubricant. This can make sex uncomfortable, even painful.
Sex toys and condoms
can create friction that uses up more of a woman's natural lubricant.
Also, many sex toys are slightly porous, and therefore absorb
more natural fluids.
Certain medications
affect vaginal moisture. Antihistamines, for example, clear
up sinuses quite nicely, but they dry up the rest of the body
too.
If you're dry, figure
out why! Sometimes wetness is an indication of sexual turn-on,
sometimes it isn't. A bad relationship or unresolved sexual
anxiety can inhibit your body's responses as much as your hormones.
There is no shame
in using lube. It's a myth that a woman's sexual vitality hinges
on her ability to create vaginal lubricant. On the contrary,
a $10 bottle of lube can give you more control over your sexual
experience, and add an amazing amount of pleasure
What's
the deal with water-based lube?
Water-based lubes
will not interact with toys, condoms, or delicate genital tissues.
They are easy to use, easy to clean up, and generally non-staining.
Common ingredients
in water-based lubes:
Deionized water
- very pure water
Glycerin - for slipperiness
Ethyl or methyl cellulose
- a slickening/thickening agent
Methylparaben - holds
all the ingredients together
The products in our
"Lubricants" section will generally not cause adverse
reaction in most people. However, it is your responsibility
to know your body and choose a lube that's right for you.
Lots of women end
up with yeast infections from using sugary products internally.
Emotion Lotion, Oil of Love and other products are fabulous
on skin, but the oils and sugary ingredients are friendly to
neither condoms nor human orifices. Stick with water-based lube
for internal use. ·
Nonoxynol 9 is commonly
added to lubricants and condoms because it has properties that
can kill STDs like HIV - in a test tube. What they don't tell
you: Nonoxynol 9 kills everything , not just the bad stuff.
No wonder, it's a disinfectant and cleanser found in many household
products! Recent studies indicate that abrasions and irritations
caused by Nonoxynol 9 may actually increase the chance of STD
infection.
Other
lubes:
Oil and silicone
lubes are mainly designed for men going solo. (Plus, oils can
get trapped in her vagina and cause infection.) Never use Vaseline
or petroleum jelly on a toy or during intercourse, it will degrade
the material (and again, it'll give her a nasty infection.)
A good rule of thumb:
if a lube stays on for an uncanny amount of time, it's probably
not good for your insides. · KY Jelly has been around
for years, is available in most drugstores, and it's better
than using nothing or something oily. But, it was formulated
for medical use, and gets sticky and runny when it heats up,
plus it stains sheets.
For best results,
choose a lube that's designed for sexual use. There are thousands
of lubricants out there. It can get confusing.
To choose a lube,
think about the following things:
What will I be
using it for? Vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex? There are
certain lubes that work better for each type of activity. Check
product descriptions for more information.
What kind of texture
do I want? It's a completely personal choice, there are
no right or wrongs as long as it's water-based. Lubes with a
liquid texture are slicker, but can be messy to dispense in
the heat of the moment. Gel lubes have less water so they're
not quite as slippery, and they dry up/get tacky more quickly.
But, gel lubes usually
land in the right place, and they're great for certain activities,
like anal sex, and certain toys. How sensitive is my skin (and
my partner's)? Certain lubes are recommended for people who
are prone to allergic reactions, like Sex Grease and Sylk.
LUBE
TIP: When a water-based lube dries up, it's the water
evaporating, not the other ingredients. To make your lube last
longer, keep a small bowl of water by the bed. Dip your fingers
into it and apply water to areas where the lube has dried up.
A spray bottle works great, too.
Hot
Lubricants Buy Here
