what is lube? everything you need to know about personal lubricant

If you ever wondered about lube; what it does, who uses it, and why...you've come to the right place! Here at ONE® we love lube, and found that there are often stigmas and personal biases that prevent people from using it. So, we wanted to break down some of these in our blog today!

Key Takeaways (TL;DR) Lube tips and facts 

• Lube enhances comfort and pleasure by increasing wetness during sex. 
• There are many reasons to use lubricant including pleasure, anal sex, medical or life-cycle reasons, and more. 
• The types of lube are water-based, silicone-based, and oil-based. 
• Oil-based lube cannot be used with condoms as it can break down latex making the condom ineffective. 

What is Lube? 

Lube, or lubricant is a product that enhances the sexual experience through its gel or liquid formula to increase wetness and decrease friction.

People use lube for various reasons, from enhancing one’s sex life, making sex fun and pleasurable, medical or life-cycle reasons, and so much more. However, there are some common myths out there about lube, such as that a woman is always wet when aroused or that only older couples use lube (both not true!).

What is Lube Used For? 

So, what does lube do and what are the different ways that it can be used? Here are just some of the reasons people use lubricant in their sex life: 

Pleasure

Hello, epic sex. Lube comes in various styles and flavors, and can enhance your sex life by providing that extra wetness during sex. Lube can increase pleasure whether you’re masturbating or having sex with a partner(s). Inserting anything into the vagina or rectum should feel comfortable (and pleasurable!), and requires at least some lubrication. The vagina self-lubricates, but not always the same amount or in the same way. Despite the magic that foreplay can bring, some individuals experience vaginal dryness (which could be due to anything from stress, menopause, birth control, etc). This is why lube is a great thing to have around, no matter the type of sex you are having. 

Pro-tip for extra pleasure: Put a drop of lube both inside the condom (before placing the condom on the penis) as well as outside the condom (after putting the condom on the penis).

Anal sex

Lube is a must for anal sex along with condoms. The anus and rectum are not self-lubricating, and the lining of the anus is thinner and more delicate. Lube is a great way to help make sure anal sex is comfortable, pleasurable and safer.

Complimenting Condoms

Although many styles of condoms come already lubricated, adding extra lube can help reduce friction, which helps decrease the likelihood that a condom will break. Using lube can make a condom feel even more natural and pleasurable. Just remember to check that your condom is compatible with the type of lube you are using (note: oil-based lubes cannot be used with latex condoms). Read more about ONE® Condoms. 

Vaginal Dryness and Aging

Lube is great for people of all ages! As women age, estrogen levels decrease during menopause. This may cause a decrease in a woman’s natural lubrication. Lube can help vaginal dryness, increase pleasure and make sex more comfortable.

What is Lube Made Of? 

There are many types of lube with their own benefits and drawbacks including water-based, silicone-based, and oil-based. You should consider the different types and purchase lube based on how you intend on using it. Some of their uses include: 

• Water-based lubricant: Lubes that are water-based are compatible with condoms, including latex condoms. They tend to be the least messy and thus easy to clean up, and are most similar to the body’s natural lubrication. Because water-based lubes tend to evaporate quicker, you may need to reapply.

• Silicone-based lubricant: Lubes that are silicone-based are slicker. They tend to last longer, but generally require soap and water to clean up. Silicone-based lubes can be used in water (think hot tubs and showers, wink wink). Silicone-based lubes are compatible with condoms (including latex condoms). You may have also heard that using lubricants containing silicone with silicone-based toys can damage the toy. What you may not know is that silicone is available in different grades and that can make a difference. Cheaper, industrial versions of silicone have the potential to degrade other forms of silicone. On the other hand, higher-quality, medical-grade silicone is safe to use with most types of sex toys. ONE condoms and lubricants use the highest grade silicone to ensure maximum performance and safety.

• Oil-based lubricant: Do not use oil-based lubes or products that are made with petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline®), mineral oil, vegetable oil, or cold cream with latex condoms—as these may break down or damage the latex condom. So if you’re using a latex condom, use lubes that are water-based or silicone-based.

Conclusion

We hope that this blog has inspired you to try lube the next time you have sex or introduced you to a new way you would like to experiment with it! To recap: Lube can be used for a variety of different reasons and each of those reasons may be best suited with either silicone-based lube, water-based lube, or oil-based lube. 

Have more questions about lube? Contact us and check out our ONE® lubricants. 

FAQs

Can you use lube with condoms? 

Yes. Lube can be used with condoms, however you must make sure that your lubricant is compatible with condoms. Never use oil-based products with a condom as they can break down the latex. 

Do condoms have lube on them? 

Most condoms are pre-lubricated, however you can also purchase non-lubricated condoms.

Fun fact: Most lubricated condoms are lubricated with silicone-based lube.