Lube 101

Lube 101 – Your Positive Passions Guide to Great Lubricants

“I need a lubricant that won’t turn sticky!”  “I need a lubricant that won’t irritate me or give me an infection!” We hear these comments several times a day, every day, at Positive Passions.  Fortunately, our knowledgeable staff members are always ready to assist. Today we give you the low-down on lube with our Q & A!   In this article we answer the following questions:

• What are the different types of lubricants?

• How do I tell which lubricant is right for me?

• Which lubricants are glycerin and paraben free?  Why should I care?

• Which flavoured lubricants are aspartame free?

• What toys can I use silicone lubricant with?

• Which lubricants won’t harm sperm?

  
  

Q: What are the different types of personal lubricants?  How do I tell which one is best for me?

A: There are 4 basic types of personal lubricants, and all are available at Positive Passions.

Water-based lubricants:  These lubricants are made from water soluble ingredients. All water-based lubricants will eventually absorb into the skin, but one compatible with your skin’s ph balance should stay slippery enough for all your fun. You can re-activate water-based lubes by dipping your fingers in a glass of water and then touching them to the lubricated body part(s).  Water-based lubricants clean up easily with just water. They are safe to use on skin, all types of condoms, all types of toys, and are edible.  Water-based lubricants may contain glycerine and paraben preservatives, so if you are sensitive to these ingredients or prone to vaginal or urinary infections,  see our Q & A below for brands without these. Our favourites: Waterslide, O’ My, Sliquid H20, and Slippery Kitty.

Water-based + silicone hybrids:  These lubricants are primarily water-based and clean up with just water, but contain just a hint of silicone.  This helps them to stay slippery just a bit longer and have a silky texture.  Sometimes these lubricants are slightly thicker than pure water-based lubricants.  They are safe to use on skin, all types of condoms, and most toys, but if your toy is a pure silicone toy, test a small bit of lube in an unnoticeable area of the toy first to make sure it does not damage the toy’s surface.  Our favourites: Sliquid Silk, Sliquid Organics Silk, and Boy Butter H20. We have tested these 3 products and they do not damage our pure silicone toys, but always recommend you try it on a “test patch” on your toy.

Silicone lubricants: Silicone is not water soluble, meaning it stays slippery almost forever!  Pharmaceutical grade silicones are formulated for internal use and are hypoallergenic and non-toxic.  A very small amount will remain slippery for hours. Because silicone is not water soluble, it must be cleaned up with a small amount of soap and water.  Silicone lubricants are a great choice for people whose skin ph causes most other types of lubricants to be sticky, and for women with extreme sensitivities to other common water-based lube ingredients.  Silicone lube is compatible with skin, all types of condoms, and some toys. Silicone is not edible, and will damage the surface of 100% silicone toys. If you are not sure of the composition of your toy, always test a small bit of lubricant on an inconspicuous part of the toy to check for compatibility.  Our favourites: Sliquid Silver and UberLube.

Oil-based lubricants:  Oil based lubes include vegetable, plant, fruit, or animal oils. These lubricants stay very slippery on the skin and take a long time to absorb, and some have a thick yet slick consistency that some people enjoy.  Oil-based lubricants are not compatible with latex or polyisoprene condoms – they will weaken the condom and may leave you vulnerable to STIs and unwanted pregnancies.  Oil-based lubricants will damage toys that contain rubber or latex, so are not generally recommended for use with toys, including male masturbation toys.  Our favourites: Boy Butter Original or Aphrodisia Intimate Arousal Oil.

Q: How do I tell which lube is best for me?

A:  You have to test it on your skin.  Lubricants will work differently for different people since everyone’s skin has a slightly different ph balance.  We have testers of all of our lubricants so customers can rub a pea-sized amount of lubricant between their fingers or on the back of the hand for 10 – 15 seconds.  This tests how each lubricant stands up to friction on your own skin.  Lubricants that are less compatible with your skin will either absorb into your skin too quickly like hand lotion, or will turn frothy, white and sticky. Your ideal lubricant will stay slippery and clear on the surface of your skin. Try different lubricants until you find one that is slippery enough and has the right consistency for you! Some people prefer thinner or thicker consistencies.

Q: What are parabens? Which Positive Passions lubricants are paraben / methylparaben free?

A:  Parabens or methylparabens are ingredients frequently used as preservatives in cosmetics and lubricants.  Some people, especially women, find these ingredients irritating to their sensitive skin.  Other people have health concerns about the bioaccumulation of parabens in the body. All of the lubricants we carry, both water-based and silicone, are paraben free.

Q: Which Positive Passions lubricants are glycerin free? Why is this important?

A:  We recommend glycerin-free lubricants to women who are very prone to yeast infections, urinary tract infections, or who find other common lubricants irritating to their bodies.  Sugars should be kept out of the vagina since sugar feeds yeast colonies.  While many women do not have problems with glycerin, since glycerin is a sugar derivative, highly sensitive or infection-prone women do best to avoid it.  All of the lubricants we carry are glycerin free. Our favourites: are Waterslide and Sliquid.

Q: Which flavoured lubricants are aspartame-free?

A: O’My and Jo H20 flavoured lubricants are delicious, sugar free and aspartame free!  Avoid flavoured lubricants that contain sugar (glucose) because they could cause a yeast infection. We carry the Sliquid Swirl flavoured lubricants which do contain aspartame.

Q: I love silicone lube, but what toys can I use it with?

A: Silicone lubricant destroys silicone toys! The silicone in each actually bonds together and will destroy the surface of your silicone toy, making it tacky, melted, and peeling.  However, silicone is safe to use on hard plastics, latex, rubber, and glass toys, and may be safe to use on your mixed jelly plastic toy if it does not contain a high amount of silicone. If you’re unsure, always test your lubricant in an inconspicuous place on your toy. A negative reaction will happen immediately if they are not compatible.

Q: I’m trying to become pregnant. Are there lubricants that won’t harm sperm?

A: Pré by Pre-Seed is a good lube to use if you are trying to get pregnant. Clinical studies have shown that the ingredients in Pre and Pre-Seed lubricants help to maintain the viability and mobility of sperm for several hours longer than those in conventional lubricants.  See the Pre-Seed website for more info:  www.preseed.com

The Positive Passions Team