Better When it's wetter

It's Better When It's Wetter- Fun With Lube!

Here at As You Like It we are huge fans of lube! Why? Well, the short answer is: it makes so many things feel better!! Too much friction can take any activity from unbelievable to uncomfortable really quickly but having the right lube on-hand can help you ensure that everything keeps gliding smoothly! So let’s take a look at lube.

First we’re going to talk about what you don’t want. Here are some ingredients to avoid when shopping for lubricant:

  • Glycerin: Glycerin throws off the PH of the vagina which, for many folks can trigger yeast infection and that’s no fun!
  • Parabens: Parabens mimic estrogen and excessive estrogen promotes reproductive cancers.
  • Propylene glycol: To put it mildly, propylene glycol is an irritant. To put it not mildly, it is a toxin. It is what is used in anti-freeze; you don’t want it in your body.

Here at As You Like it we don’t sell lubricants that contain any of the above ingredients. Now that we’ve cleared that up let’s talk about what you might want, and when!

Water-Based Lubricant

Perhaps the most versatile of the lube options, water-based lube covers a lot of your bases (as it were)! It is condom compatible, plays well with silicone toys and–depending on the formula–it’s useful for all different kinds of sex!

If you’re using water-based for anal play, we recommend getting a thicker gel lubricant, like Sliquid Sassy. Water-based is one of the most versatile lubricants, but has one downside. Because our bodies absorb this kind of lube somewhat quickly, it can get sticky. One solution is to use a little spray bottle of to bring it back to life.

An important note is that water-based lubricant is not compatible for shower play; since it is comprised of mainly water, the falling water will wash away most lubricant.

Silicone Lubricant

Silicone lubricants are more long-lasting than traditional water-based; a little goes a long way, plus they don’t get sticky! Silicone is condom compatible, and unlike water-based, can be used in the shower! Just be sure to thoroughly clean with soap and water once you are done with the fun.

The main benefit of silicone is that it LASTS. We love to suggest silicone for anal play, sans silicone toys, since that region doesn’t self-lubricate. On the other hand, it can become too lubricating during a session and reduce some sensation. Start slow and remember that you can always add more! The biggest con is that silicone lubricant is NOT compatible with silicone toys. It can degrade the surface of the toy and cause tiny tears in the silicone, rendering it porous. If you are set on using silicone with your silicone toys, do a patch test on an inconspicuous part of the toy first so you can know for sure.

Hybrid Lubricant

For the context of this blog, Hybrid Lubricant is a mixture of water-based and silicone to create the perfect blend. They offer the best of both worlds; creamy, smooth, and long-lasting. Plus, this type of lube is safe for silicone toys!

The content of silicone is low enough to prevent any damage to toys. Hybrid lubricants falls in a happy medium between water and silicone for how long it lasts. However, the water does absorb over time; it can leave a feeling of stickiness, so we recommend trying a sample before diving into a bottle.

Hybrid Lubes are great for anal play that involves silicone toys. Since some toys, such as plugs, are designed to be worn for periods of time, you want to ensure lubricant will still be there when you remove the toy.

Oil-Based Lubricant

Oil-based lube can be tricky. Generally, commercial oil-based lube doesn’t do well with vaginas with lots of repeated use; it tends to clog pores. Additionally, it is not compatible with latex or polyisoprene condoms.

So when are oil-based lubricants good to use? I’m glad you asked! For anal play oil-based lube is pretty fantastic, especially with non-motorized toys. When playing with other bodies you can use nitrile gloves or condoms or polyurethane condoms and still be safe from breakage.

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