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Types of Personal Lubricant

Many lovers realize that lubricants are a great aid to assist in having pleasant sex involving anal play, or for use during masturbation. However, many also believe that lubrication of the vagina during intercourse shouldn't be necessary. The common belief is that - if a woman does not have enough of her own lubrication for pleasant sex - it must mean that she is not aroused enough and because of this, there is something wrong with them.

This simply isn't true. While a woman's vagina does naturally lubricate itself when she becomes aroused, it is a common occurrence to not produce enough wetness for pleasant intercourse, or enough lubrication to last the entire duration of a sexual encounter.

If this is your situation, there is nothing wrong with applying sexual lubricant to ease the experience. You may also find that as sex becomes easier in this manner, and as your body begins anticipating the type of pleasant enjoyable sex that comes from being well lubricated, your body will begin more easily producing its own lubrication.

What is the best personal lubricant?

Sexual lubricants that are made for the purpose of producing a slippery entrance into the vagina and anus, as well as various masturbation sex toys, come in many varieties. These are petroleum-based, oil-based, water-based and silicone-based. These various types come in different textures and even flavors. Following is a description of these different lubricant types.

• Water-Based. Water based lubricants contain a mixture of ingredients that dissolve in water, making them easy to wash from your body as well as fabrics. Their ingredients usually include glycerin, propylene glycol, deionized water and preservatives that are non-toxic. Water based lubricants often come flavored and have a sweet taste to them. Water based lubricants are safe to use with latex condoms, they typically will not stain clothing, and do not cause irritation to the skin. Water-based lubricants sometimes will not last the entire length of an extended sexual episode and so may require reapplication during sexual play.
• Silicone-Based. Silicone based lubricants are entirely waterproof. If you enjoy underwater sex, you will want to give silicone lubrication a try. Unlike water-based lubrication, silicone lubricants stay slippery longer. Use silicone lubrication sparingly, as a little lube goes a very long ways. Silicone lubricants do not harm latex, so they are safe to use with latex condoms. Do not use silicone lubrication with sex toys made from silicone. Use a different lubricant on sex toys made from silicone, as silicone lubricant can harm them.
• Oil-Based. These type of lubricants are typically made from natural food oils, such as vegetable, nut, butter, etc. Unlike water-based, oil-based lubricants are more likely to stain fabrics. These types of lubes can be more difficult to clean, yet they are safe for use on skin. Do not use oil-based lubricants with latex condems. Oil based lubricants can deteriorate the constitution of latex condom walls, causing them to break during use. If latex is not involved, oil-based lubricants are great for anal and vaginal sex, as well as masturbation by both males and females. A beneficial side of oil-based lubricants is that, like silicone-based, the duration of oil-based lubrication remaining slippery tends to be longer.
• Petroleum-Based. Petroleum based lubricants are made from petroleum jelly, mineral oils and petrolatum. These ingredients are also found in baby oil and Vaseline. These types of lubricants destroy latex condoms almost instantly, so like oil-based lubes do not use petroleum-based lubricants with latex condoms. Also similar to oil-based, petroleum lubricants will stain fabric and is difficult to wash. Petroleum also has a higher chance of irritating the vagina. This type of lubricant is best suited for anal play or male masturbation.

You can weigh the benefits of the various lubrication types above. Water-based lubricants remain popular with many, as they are the most convenient for washing, use with condoms, have the most pleasant taste and they do not tend to stain clothing. Their major downside is they don't remain slippery quite as long as the other three types of lubricants, and they certainly do not remain lubricated under water.

There are other methods that can be used to classify personal lubricant types; flavored and warming.

• Flavored Lubricants These types of lubricants are highly compatible with oral sex. Flavored lubricants give erogenous zones a variety of tastes and many prefer these flavorful options to mask the taste or odor of natural sexual fluids.
• Warming Lubricants These lubricant types cause a tingling warming sensation which can aid in sexual arousal. The warming sensation assists in blood-flow to the applied area which is similar to what happens during natural arousal. The sensations that warming and tingling lubricants give have beneficial effects for many, give it a try and see if it spices up your sex life!

In summary, sexual intercourse and anal play, use of sex toys, masturbation: all of these activities have the potential of irritating your skin with friction. This irritation can be relieved by use of sexual lubricant.