Lube 101

Water-based, silicone, or hybrid? Oil-based? Nothing? What's right for you? What's the difference?

There are almost as many types and brands of lubes as there are of condoms (all condoms can be used with extra lube, but all lube is NOT condom compatible. Let's rundown some brands and types and then talk about uses:

System JO, Pjur (pronounced like "pure as the driven snow"), Sliquid, Swiss Navy, ID, Wet, Pink, Gun Oil, Elbow Grease, Encounter, KY and Astroglide are all available at Sara's Secret and Condoms to Go. All of these brands have water-based and silicone lubes. Some of them have hybrids. Some of them oil-based.

LUBE BASICS

• Water-based lube is safe with condoms and ALL toys. These lubes can get sticky as the part that's actually water absorbs into skin and leaves behind on your skin the stuff like glycerin and parabens that make it slippery for longer than just water. More and more are now formulated to dry like lotions and leave a silky feeling behind. Water soluble, so it will dissipate in the shower or bath without soap, and you can soap up to get it good and gone.
• Silicone lube is safe with condoms and ONLY hard plastic, glass or metal toys. You never want to use these lubes with silicone toys unless you're using a condom over the toy before you apply the lube. Non-water soluble, silicone stays slick in the shower, tub or pool (watch your step if you use it in a tub you shower in - the bottom can be slippery for days!), but it does clean up with water AND soap. Can stain fabric so either test a spot somewhere discreet or just pull out the sex sheets (like a Sportsheet for example).
• Hybrid lubes are blends (often called "silk") of water-based and silicone lubricants. They are easier to clean up, like water-based lube, but stay slicker like silicone lube. Since these lubes contain silicone, they are only safe with hard plastic, glass or metal toys (unless you're using a condom over the toy before you apply the lube). Hybrid lubes seem to stain less than straight (or gay) silicone.
• Oil-based lubes are NOT safe with condoms OR toys. Massage oils are almost never safe for internal use anyway, and they are definitely not good with condoms since latex is an oil derivative it just disintegrates in the oil and friction. Most oil-based lubes market as lubes are going to be a creamy substance intended for external use on his member.
• Warming, cooling, numbing and flavored lubricants are primarily water-based. Some brands have branched into silicone lubes with these special types. Read your bottles carefully to determine toy-worthiness and condom compatibility.

If you have more questions, call or visit one of the 13 area Condoms to Go or Sara's Secret locations in the greater Dallas area and talk to one of our knowledgeable staff!