What To Use For Lube
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What To Use For Lube
March 4, 2022 November 26, 2021 by Julia
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If you find yourself in a bind and need a lubricant in a pinch, look no further than things you might have in your own home.
Instead of just wondering, “what can I use as lube?”, read below to find out what you can grab from the kitchen or bathroom to take care of business.
A plus is that most of these are going to be far more natural and clean than a lot of lubricants on the market.
To find the right DIY lube, read below and see what is going to work best for you. A quick (hopefully obvious) note on allergies; if you’re allergic to avocados, don’t use avocado oil, the same goes for anything else on here.
Aloe vera is an excellent natural lubricant. It’s gentle and natural, and if you live anywhere like me, it might be growing in your backyard! As a common ingredient in store-bought lubes, you know it’s safe for you to use.
Soothing and hydrating, it has great benefits too.
Just be sure you’re not grabbing the bottled green aloe vera you reach for when you have a sunburn. Alcohol and other chemicals should not be near genitals.
Sweet almond oil is another terrific choice on-the-fly. In addition to leaving your skin soft and supple, it has lasting power! Sweet almond oil will stick around longer than coconut oil or aloe vera.
The irritation factor is low as sweet almond oil is ordinarily used to treat skin conditions and widely used in cosmetics.
Even better, it’s chemically stable and will not go rancid on your skin like olive oil would. It smells pretty good, too!
One strong word of warning here, oil-based lubricants like almond oil will break down condoms. You shouldn’t be using almond oil on condoms unless you’re not worried about pregnancy or STI’s.
If you have a nut allergy, you and your partner are going to have to avoid this.
Avocado oil is a perfectly acceptable lubricant but should never be your first choice if you have anything else on this list. Compared to some others on this list, avocado oil does leave a residue that feels sticky. Also, even though some say avocado oil is odorless, I think it still smells like you’re sauteing vegetables.
It does have a high smoke point though, so feel free to burn up your sheets
Remember that oils, like avocado oil, will cause tears or breaks in condoms. Beware!
Like any oil, it will also stain fabrics like your sheets. To protect your sheets or couch against your lube (or anything else), consider a blanket like the popular Liberator Moisture-Proof Throw .
Coconut oil is a pretty reliable lube, whether you’re in a pinch or not. It’s also convenient as it will melt when you put it on your skin. Make sure you’re using unrefined or unprocessed coconut oil, commonly labeled as “virgin” coconut oil.
The taste is excellent if you like coconuts, and the consistency has a nice feel. Eventually, it absorbs into your skin, and you’ll finish with moisturized skin too.
As an oil, it will break down condoms, so beware. One quick note on oil and condoms, the breakdown happens even after a minute, so don’t try it!
Sit down and buckle up, because you’re going to have to go with me on this one.
Egg whites can be lube. There, I said it. It’s strange, but using egg whites as lube when you’re trying to get pregnant is an old wives’ tale.
If you can’t get over the gross factor, this isn’t going to be for you.
If you were wondering, “is lube a carb?” then you are in for a treat with ghee. Although it’s undoubtedly one of the weirder lube choices I’ve seen, it can do the job.
Ghee is clarified butter, and if you’re on a low-carbohydrate diet such as the ketogenic diet or are paleo, chances are you have this on hand.
Clarified butter means that they have melted butter and removed the milk solids and water. It’s still a perishable food, so keep it topical only to avoid infection.
Another conventional lube-safe oil you might have in your home is grapeseed oil. If you like to cook or make your own beauty products, you’re like to have it on hand.
Grapeseed oil is beneficial for your skin and has no odor or taste. Feel free to slather it everywhere; the consistency is silky too.
This one also spells trouble for condoms and sex toys, so it should be avoided.
Common in massage, sesame oil is also an above par lube. Your skin will feel nourished and supple after using it.
This oil feels smooth on and absorbs into the skin. Depending on the oil you have at home, there might be a slightly nutty flavor, or a barely detectable one.
You will not be left with a sticky residue after this one just absorbs into the body.
Like the other, it will break down condoms and can damage sex toys.
In addition to being linked to bacterial infections in your nethers, petroleum jelly is sticky and won’t do a thing to reduce friction.
Another petroleum-based product, baby oil is also linked to vaginal infections. It’s difficult to wash out since it’s an oil and doesn’t absorb into your skin.
Since honey and agave nectar have sugar in them, they should not be used as lube. Sugar in your vagina is a one-way ticket to an infection. Even if that wasn’t the case, it’s still sticky instead of slick and would make for an uncomfortable experience.
Don’t reach for that hand lotion when you’re looking for lube. Hand lotion is full of perfumes and chemicals that don’t belong anywhere near your genitals.
A quick note here: water and spit is not lube. The goal of lube is to reduce friction, and neither here are slick enough to get the job done.
SheVibe is an industry leader in sex-positive, safe toys. They have great prices (and run sales often), treat customers with respect and are size inclusive. I have no hesitation recommending readers to their store (and I frequent it often).
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Korin Miller
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more.
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You’re not born knowing how to use lube, and it's not always a topic covered in sex ed, so it’s more than fair if you’re not ~exactly~ sure what to do when you get your hands on a bottle. And, while you probably have a general idea of what to do with it, you might be missing out on some of the added perks it can offer you (and your sex life).
Before we get into all that, just know this: There’s really no wrong way to use lube. “Like all things sexual, use lube in whatever way feels good for you,” says sexologist Jess O’Reilly Ph.D., host of the Mind Blowing Oral video courses. If you focus on your own pleasure, using lube can become second nature, she says.
“We often say, ‘the wetter the better,’ but that may not apply to all types of sex,” O’Reilly says. While plenty of lube can be a great accessory for penetrative sex, she says it might be better in small amounts—like, only a few drops—for non-penetrative sex.
But knowing how much lube to use is only part of the picture. O’Reilly says there’s a huge range of options, including plenty you’ve probably never even considered, like using lube in the shower or making your oral experience next-level. And, of course, the type of lube you reach for matters. “There are many types of lube and often, the use can help determine which ones are best for that person,” says women’s health expert Jessica Shepherd, MD, founder of Sanctum Med + Wellness .
Consider this your guide to all things lube.
Not all lubes are created equal, and the right one for you depends a lot on your personal preferences and needs. Here’s a breakdown of your options:
There are a lot more options out there besides just smearing some on and calling it a day. Try these options to max out your lube experience.
“Lube is everything when it comes to hand jobs,” O’Reilly says. Try smearing a few drops on your hands or putting some on your partner’s penis before you dive in. “Anything you can do with your mouth, you can do with your hands as long as you use lube—and your hands are more flexible and dexterous,” O’Reilly says. She recommends interlacing your lubed-up fingers and going for it.
Try this pro tip from O’Reilly: Lube up your fingers, and cross them, like you’re making an “I swear” motion. Then, slide them into your partner's vagina, while gently rotating them. You can use your thumb to work your partner’s clitoris while you’re at it.
There’s plenty you can do here when it comes to sex toys . “You can roll a lubed-up bullet vibe over your skin or across the vulva,” O’Reilly says. Another trick: Sweep a vibe, with lube, over the perineum during oral or penetrative sex on your partner.
O’Reilly recommends adding a few drops of lube to the base of your vagina or your toys before hitting the shower. Why? Water is notorious for washing away your own natural juices, and that can lead to some not-so-comfortable friction.
Lube can help make backdoor penetration more comfortable, O’Reilly says. In fact, since you don’t have natural lubrication there, it’s kind of essential. “Use silicone lube for all types of anal penetration—with fingers, toys, strap-ons, penises, and anal beads,” she advises. It can also be an added bonus to keep things lubricated when you're rimming your partner.
Of course, this is where we're used to using lube most often. “Use lube for more pleasure and less friction,” O’Reilly says. She suggests applying lube right to your vulva using your fingers, or, if you want to get the party started right away, having your partner apply it by using their lips.
It’s highly unlikely your partner has ever experienced this sexy hack before. Use your tongue to cover your lower teeth and wrap your top lip around your upper teeth. “Add lube to your upper lip as you clamp them between your teeth,” O’Reilly says.
While you can do it on your partner’s back, O’Reilly says a thigh massage is really the way to ramp things up during foreplay. “Use lube to trace figure eights over their thighs,” she says. “Or use it to massage their inner legs before going down on them.”
Gently massaging your partner’s balls (if they have them) during a blow job can help max out the experience. O’Reilly’s advice: Add a few drops of lube to your hands and then play with their balls or perineum while you give your partner a blow job.
A big complaint with condoms is that they can take some of the pleasurable feeling out of sex, but O’Reilly says that adding a little lube inside can do the opposite. “A drop or two of lube in the tip of the condom can heighten sensation,” she says.
A vibrator can really stimulate a partner with a penis. O’Reilly recommends taking a flat-tip vibe, covering it in lube, and gently tracing it around your partner’s balls. You can even breathe warm air gently over the wet path you’ve created.
O’Reilly recommends using lube to try out different sensations for what she calls “mindful" masturbation . “Slow down, release your grip, and breathe deeply as you focus on the sensations in your body as opposed to focusing on getting to orgasm,” she says. Sounds like a plan.
https://www.thebody.com/article/household-items-lube-during-sex
What kind of lube can I use when having sex? A friend says that it’s possible to use soap or toothpaste to lubricate a condom. Can you?
What to use if you don’t have lube? This is a common question many of us have asked ourselves at some point or another. You’re in the moment, getting hot and heavy with your partner, and then, suddenly: You realize you don’t have lubricant anywhere.
Never fear. There are some household items that can be used as lube. What household items are these, you ask? We have the information you need.
Now, you may be willing to use just about anything you have on hand as a homemade lube (we’ve all been there), but this is not the best choice . “While you may think that anything oily or slippery you can find in your home can be used as lube, think again,” Lucy Rowett, a certified sex coach and clinical sexologist, tells TheBody. “Not every product—including food products—are body-safe. And some products are fine to use externally but not internally, or fine to use for anal penetration but not for vaginal penetration.”
If you’re able to get your lube from a store, we also have a complete guide to store-bought lube options . For this article, we’re going to focus on the safety and efficacy of using homegrown, cabinet-found solutions for lube.
From aloe to coconut oil, there are indeed items found at home that can be used as lube substitutes when you’re in a bit of a bind but want to get freaky. However, before you grab the Crisco or shampoo, here are our top three recommendations for household items to use for lube during sex.
Remember to always ask your partner if they have any allergies before you play.
You may have heard that coconut oil is a fantastic natural lubricant. You would be right! Just be sure the coconut oil you use is virgin or unrefined; this means it hasn’t undergone a ton of processing.
Coconut oil is a great choice if you’re looking for something natural that has great staying power. “It has a long-lasting glide, which is why many organic and natural lubes have a base of coconut oil,” Taylor Sparks, an erotic educator and founder of Organic Loven, one of the largest online organic intimacy shops, tells TheBody.
It’s genuinely really great for your skin, keeping it healthy and soft. So there’s more than one reason to use it, especially if you’re into having baby-soft skin. “It absorbs easily into the skin; has antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral properties; and reduces inflammation,” Sparks says.
An alternative choice to coconut oil is extra virgin olive oil. “[It is] body safe and can be used for lots of sexual play,” Rowett says, adding that it’s “great to use for things like vulva and anal massage, masturbating with fingers, glass or steel toys, [and] oral sex.”
If you’re using latex barrier methods, oil-based lubes should not be used. Oil can degrade the rubber and cause breakage.
You should also take caution when using silicone toys, Rowett says: You’ll want to be sure to wash them immediately after sex with warm soap and water to avoid damage.
If you and your partner are fluid bonded or using toys made from glass, ABS plastic, or stainless steel, coconut oil is a suitable household lube.
If you’re in a pinch and need to grab some coconut oil ASAP, be sure to take a spoon and scoop it into a bowl first. You don’t want to mix your sexual fluids, hair, and other rather unspeakable body bits with any coconut oil you plan to cook with later. It’s best to have “cooking coconut oil” and “sex coconut oil.”
Ah, aloe. The best treatment for sunburns under the … well, sun. Who knew it was also a fantastic choice for lube during sex? “Aloe vera is soothing [and] cooling, which can be great on a hot vulva, [anus, or penis]. It is water-based, so it is [safe to use] with latex condoms,” Sparks says.
There’s just one problem: Aloe has very little glide-ability and tends to dry out quite fast. “It may serve best after a long lovemaking session to cool things down [on your genitals],” Sparks explains. “Just be sure to use pure aloe vera and that no other ingredients are included, like alcohol.” 100% natural is key here—always read the ingredients.
Aloe vera is essentially a natural water-based lubricant, so it comes with very few “rules of use.” This is probably what makes it so attractive. It’s safe to use with latex condoms and all of your toys.
Just be sure that when you’re going to use it, you do a small patch test on your (and your partner’s) skin to be sure it isn’t irritating.
Since you use aloe on your body anyway, there isn’t much risk for contamination. What is there to even contaminate? Aloe (usually) comes in a squeeze bottle, so simply squeeze it on and go. Be sure to wipe down the bottle (and all your toys!) after you’re finished getting it on.
If you’re a skin-lover, chances are you already have some 100% natural vitamin E oil in one of your drawers. “Vitamin E oil can be a great lubricant if you struggle with vaginal dryness,” Rowett says.
If you don’t have vitamin E, Rowett suggests an alternative that can be found in many household bathroom cabinets: primrose. “Evening primrose oil can be bought in a bottle, and while it is usually taken orally as a food supplement, can be used as a lube too, especially if you are a woman or person with a vulva who experiences a lot of vaginal dryness and inflammation,” she says.
Evening primrose and vitamin E are also decent choices for anal and vaginal intercourse.
The same rules we mentioned above for coconut oil also apply to vitamin E and primrose oils. Oil-based lubes are not a good choice when you’re using barrier methods like condoms or dental dams. You should also be careful with silicone toys, as oil can cause degradation of the material. Be sure to wash your toys thoroughly directly after use.
If you’re going to use some face/hair oil as lube during sex, be sure to pour it into a small, separate container first. You want to keep your sex oils separate from your face oils. It won’t harm you to mix them, but it is kind of icky.
We also suggest taking a travel-sized shampoo bottle and filling it with oil to keep by the bed.
Or you could just plan ahead for next time by buying some lube from the store that’s specifically designed to safely enhance sex.
Lastly, we’d be remiss if we didn’t put the kibosh on a few common household items that people use as lube, but really shouldn’t.
Vaseline (a.k.a. petroleum jelly) is often the quick-grab choice for many people. Sparks says this is a mistake. “It cannot be absorbed into the skin and blocks the pores,” she says. “It is literally the offshoot of gasoline.” Yikes.
On top of that, “vulva owners who use it are 2.2 times more likely to develop bacterial vaginosis ,” Sparks adds. It’s also “not compatible with latex condoms, and is greasy, not slippery.” Definitely give it a pass.
Mineral oil is another quick-fix choice that sounds like a good idea (because, hey, it’s oil) but is similarly not a wise pick.
Shaving cream is full of harmful chemicals and additives that will almost certainly cause irritation and redness. This is a terrible choice for lube. Grab the coconut oil and go live your life without inflamed, angry genitals.
The same concerns about shaving cream also go for toothpaste. Your genitals should never be minty fresh, because they are also going to feel like they're burning. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Gigi Engle, ACS, is a certified sex educator, sexologist, and author of All The F*cking MIstakes. Her work regularly appears in many publications including Cosmo, Glamour, Men's Health, and Refinery29.
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