Happy Pride Month from The Stockroom! We know the perfect way to sink into celebration. Wanna keep things steamy this summer? Lucky for you, we’re dripping with lube recommendations… Whether you’re soaking up the sun or your sheets, we’ve got the highest quality products to prime your pleasure.

As you submerge into shopping for your next sexual adventure, don’t forget to stop by our lube section online or our vast lube wall, conveniently located at the entrance of our retail store. If you’re a hands-on learner, you can always check out our lube testers in-store to give you the best idea of what formula and viscosity work for you.

Some additional factors to consider are where you’ll use your lube: Will silicone toys and latex barriers be invited to your session or is your play solely skin to skin?

Choosing a Lube: Silicone, Water, or Oil

When choosing a lube, it’s important to keep two things in mind: what kind of action you’re going to be using it for, and what your body likes. Lubes are classed by their composition: water-based, silicone-based, or oil-based. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Water-Based Lube

Water-based lubes are primarily used for vaginal intercourse; being made of water, they get absorbed easily by the skin, and don’t stain the bed sheets as easily as silicone or oil-based lubes. They’re a great all-around option to have on hand, and play nicely with condoms and sex toys like dildos or vibrators.

Water-based lubes are not good for sex play in the shower or pool. The lube will dissolve quickly, and you’ll be left with naught but your own naughty juices to make everything go smoothly.

Do you want glycerin in your lube?

Another thing to keep in mind when picking a water-based lube is that most use glycerin to keep it from drying out too quickly. This is great in most cases, but glycerin is high in sugar, and in some people, it may cause yeast infections. If you or your partner are highly prone to yeast infections, you might want to consider a glycerin-free lube.

For those who shop vegan or organic, Sliquid Organics Silk is one of our bestselling lubes. It’s a paraben and glycerin-free, water-based serum paired with a bit of silicone for longevity. This hybrid lube keeps sensitive bodies slick. If you want something that’s entirely silicone-free, Sliquid Organics Natural is an excellent choice.

Silicone-Based Lube

Silicone lubes are thicker than water-based lubes, and hang around for longer. They won’t wash away easily in the shower or bath, and don’t break down under friction. All this makes them ideal for anal play.

Unfortunately, silicone lube can damage silicone toys by making them porous and prone to storing bacteria, and can even void your toy’s warranty. Generally, if silicone toys are making a splash in your session, steer clear of using any silicone lubricants. Silicone lubes are well-loved by a lot of people for their durability and texture, but you do need to be careful about toys you’re using with them.

As a silicone substitute, we would recommend a thick, water-based gel such as Sutil Rich Glide. Its concentrated formula never dries out or develops a sticky texture; It mimics the silky slide of silicone lube while being much safer to use with toys.

However, for play between bodies or with any type of condoms, silicone lube like Pjur is a top pick for reducing friction due to its long-lasting formula. Another brand we recommend for folks using only polyisoprene or latex condoms is Überlube: with added vitamin E oil and an easy-to-use, single-hand pump, it evenly nourishes the skin.

Oil-Based Lubes

Oil-based lubes are less common than the first two, but they deserve a mention. They’re even thicker and long-lasting than silicone, and don’t play nicely with latex.

A vegetable oil-based lube such as Boy Butter is a fan favorite for those who fancy fisting and need the most moisturized orifice possible. Although, if you’re using condoms, ensure they’re polyurethane because oil degrades latex condoms... And not in the fun way.

Getting Your Lube Where It Needs to Be

The fastest, easiest way to apply lube is to just squirt a dose of it in your palm and start rubbing it on whatever body part needs it. It’s practical, easy, and a nice way to get everyone’s bits warmed up.

But when you need to get the lube deeper, or just want to add some fun to the proceedings, there are options. One of the most popular is the Lube Shooter: A small, inexpensive syringe that you can use to inject lube deep into your partner, avoiding any mess on the sheets — or adding a medical theme to the scene.

For fisting, we recommend the Shots Fist-It Gloves. The gloves are made of latex, so you should be slicking up with silicone lube, not oil-based. They add a nice touch to getting ready, and make it a little easier to slide deep inside.

Overwhelmed by options or doubtful of “needing” lube? We advise you to focus on what you want: more pleasure! Aside from making play safer (i.e. less microtears \= less risk of injury or STI transmission), lube helps us feel every touch, not just friction. Wherever you are in your lube-seeking journey, we hope this blog will transform your selection confidence.