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What’s The Best Lube? Six Lubes to Try For Sensational Sex
on 25 Oct 2024
Next time you’re playing with a vibrator, a dildo, or your fingers, add lube! It instantly creates a smooth, sensual glide, boosting your natural lubrication (or creating a comfortable ‘wetness’ where there wouldn’t usually be any, like during anal sex).
A little goes a long way: just a dash of this stuff is designed to dial up your pleasure, whether you’re using it for masturbation or bringing it into a partnered sex session.
In this guide, you’ll find the very best lubes for a range of steamy situations — and we know they’re the best, because they’ve all been tried and tested by our sex toy reviewers. It’s a (ahem) hard job… but someone’s gotta do it!
Also: If you or your partner feels like you don't need lube during sex, we'd recommend giving it a go anyway. A study of over 2,000 women found that more than 70% of the time, lube made sex more enjoyable.
Once you’ve tried it, you’ll get the hype. Regardless of your gender, lube makes skin-on-skin contact feel softer and slicker, and keeps you wet for longer. What’s not to love?
And, if you’re brand new to lube, check out our guide on ‘How to Use Lube’ to get started. It's packed with tips for using and choosing lube that'll enhance your play.
Our best-loved lubes
How we chose the best lube
The internet’s virtual shelves are stacked with different types of lube; water-based-lube, silicone-based lube, oil-based lube, even hybrid lube. So which variety is best for different situations — and, of those, which products are the stand-out stars?
At Lovehoney, we run a sex toy tester program that means all our products are reviewed by real people in real scenarios. Based on the products our testers loved most, we’ve picked out just one winning lube for each of the sexy scenarios listed below.
What’s the best lube?
Many of our customers like to have a selection of lubes for different things; for example, one that’s great for anal play, or one that’s perfect for the shower. But if you’re going to invest in just one lube, there’s a clear winner that our testers always rave about: Liquid Silk.
Best silky-smooth water-based lube
This best-selling water-based lube can be used with any sex toys, as well as during sex, solo play, or mutual masturbation. It’s right there with you whether you’re enjoying external or internal stimulation.
Liquid Silk is so long-lasting — allowing you to luxuriate in the sensual slip-and-slide feeling for as long as you like, while you rub or thrust your way to climax.
- Pros: Hydrating, long-lasting play that’s safe with all sex toys
- Cons: Will wash away easily if you’re playing in the bath or shower
- Compatibility:This condom-safe lube is also compatible with all sex toys
Liquid Silk
Customers love the pump dispenser because it’s easy to use with slippery hands, and that it looks a lot like cum. If you’re not crazy about cum don’t worry, it doesn’t taste or smell that way. In fact, one reviewer said “The smell and taste is not as strong as other lubes in my experience, which I like a lot.”. No wonder it’s so many people’s favourite lube: it’s a real all-rounder!
What customers say: "If you ever see this lube — grab it! It is the single best lube I have ever come across (pardon the pun). It's like moisturiser that's slippy, never goes sticky and just soaks in like moisturiser too — tho not too soon!"
Best personal lubricant for anal sex
When it comes to enjoying a spot of backdoor action, our testers can’t get enough of Lovehoney Discover. It’s thicker and longer lasting than regular lube, because it’s designed for anal play.
- Pros: Our best anal lube for super long-lasting, sensual anal play
- Cons: If you’re looking for a lube that’s great to use during oral sex, we recommend a lighter formula
- Compatibility: It’s safe to use with all sex toys and condoms
Lovehoney Discover
It’s a must-have if anal play’s your thing, thanks to the comfy, cushioning effect it creates in even the tightest spots. Coat your butt plug, anal dildo or partner’s penis with a slathering of this thick water-based lubricant, and you’re ready for as much anal fun as you can handle! Plus, you’re getting two in one with this hard-working lube: our customers also love it for everyday play, because it’s so long-lasting.
What customers say: "We’re fairly new to anal play and have found it to be a great companion in our exploration. It is much thicker than normal lube and almost has a soft cushioning feeling to it. 10/10 would recommend. P.S it’s also great for everything else you might use lube for too!"
Best silicone lube for shower sex
Get ready to make your morning shower even wetter: pjur Original takes home the trophy for best silicone-based lubricant. Because it’s a silicone lube, it’s waterproof and will stay right where you need it during shower sex — unlike water-based formulas, which will wash away.
- Pros: Super-smooth, long-lasting play, even in the shower or bath
- Cons: It’s more expensive than many other lubes
- Compatibility: This lube can be used with latex condoms, but it’s not compatible with silicone sex toys
pjur Original
The super-concentrated formula adds a luxuriously long-lasting slippery finish to skin and sex toys, so you can dodge that frustrating drying feeling that can sometimes happen during shower sex sessions. It’s also a fantastic, long-lasting lube for sex outside the shower too. But just remember that silicone lube can’t be used with silicone toys, as it will degrade the material over time. If you’re playing with sex toys, it’s always best to use a water-based lube.
What customers say: "This is the Rolls-Royce of lubes, it’s the best you'll ever buy. It lasts so much longer than the water-based alternatives and just leaves you getting down to business and not having to think about re-applying."
Best flavoured lube for oral sex
Get fruity with Lovehoney Passionfruit: this tasty lube is packed with mouthwatering flavour, and is perfect for oral sex. Fruity flavours not your thing? We’ve got plenty of other options on the menu too, like peppermint and cookie dough.
- Pros: Makes oral sex even more delicious!
- Cons: Some customers say it’s not always long-lasting and needs to be reapplied
- Compatibility: You can use this lube with all condoms and sex toys
Lovehoney Passionfruit
Whether you’re giving or receiving, this water-based lubricant will be a big hit in the bedroom; it makes licking and sucking your partner taste even more delicious, so everyone’s a winner! Plus, Lovehoney Passionfruit doubles as an all-purpose lube, which means you can slip effortlessly from oral to penetrative sex.
What customers say: "This lube is brilliant. Can really taste the passion fruit, it isn't overly sweet and it hasn't got a chemical/artificial taste or smell to it. It's not sticky or thick in the slightest — beautifully silky texture and makes clean-up (if any) very easy. I highly recommend this for great tasting oral and effortless slip'n'slide insertion."
Best gel lubricant for vaginal dryness
If your vulva and vagina are naturally drier than feels comfortable, particularly during menopause, YES Vaginal Moisturiser is the lube you’ve been looking for. As well as being a great way to boost sensation during sex, it’s also perfect if you’re looking for ways to masturbate that’ll moisturise rather than irritate your genitals.
- Pros: Moisturising, super-slick lube to reduce dryness and protect sensitive skin
- Cons: Some customers have asked for a bigger bottle!
- Compatibility: You can use this lube with all condoms and sex toys
YES Organic Vaginal Moisturising Gel
It’s pH balanced to protect sensitive skin, and it helps to reduce dryness over the long term when used regularly. Whether you’re enjoying solo or with a partner, this is one of the best water-based lubes for supporting sensual, super-smooth foreplay while helping to soften and protect your skin.
What customers say: "Wish I'd found this sooner. Being perimenopausal I've quite literally dried up in all the worst places and sex was beyond painful. This stuff is a life saver, I started using it twice a day and the results were instant and long lasting. There is zero irritation and I finally feel comfortable, I'm no longer going through a gallon of lube to have sex one time."
Best lube for anal fisting
If there was ever a time for plenty of lube, it’s when you’re fisting. Your butt is delicate, so you really need to do your prep and use a top-quality lube before you put anything up there (let alone a whole hand). That’s why we’re glad to stock the incredible Extra Thick Fisting Lube.
- Pros: Super-thick lubricant: the perfect partner for intense anal play
- Cons: It comes in a pot, not a bottle, so you’ll need to avoid re-lubing mid-session to stay hygienic
- Compatibility:This can be used with all sex toys and condoms
FIST IT Extra Thick Fisting Lubricant
If it’s that hard, full-up feeling that really gets you off, you’re going to want to stock up on this stuff. It comes in a one-litre tub, so you won’t run out fast. Team it with your favourite oversized toys and anal plugs to put its thick, slick formula to the test.
What customers say: "Very good lube, lasts for quite a while, the massive tub makes it easy to just dunk the tip of your toy (or hand, hehe) into it then away you go."
Frequently asked questions about the best lubes
What types of lube are there?
Water-based lube: Compatible with all sex toys, these lubes add sensual slip-and-slide wherever you need it.
Silicone lube: The longer-lasting of the lubes. Try this waterproof lube in the bath or shower: it stays on in a thick, slick layer wherever you apply it, and won’t wash away until you decide you’re done.
Hybrid lube: A mix of water-based and silicone lubricant, this blend offers the best of both: easy-clean, all-round compatibility with next-level slickness.
Oil-based lube: This moisturising is best used as a massage oil. It’s not safe to use with condoms or sex toys though, so stick to water-based lube when your sensual massage session is over.
Warming or tingling lube: Warming lubricants are ideal if you’re looking to try out temperature play — and tingling lubes help you feel every touch and thrust even more intensely.
Specialist lube: Orgasm gels are designed to intensify your climaxes and can double as lube, There are also plenty of specialist anal lubes that offer extra-thick slickness.
Want to learn more about the alternatives to lube, like aloe vera, coconut oil and olive oil? Some of these have their drawbacks, so we recommend reading up on them before trying.
