The Best Natural Lubes to Use Alone or With Your Significant Other
If there is one thing that all sex educators will agree on it is that a personal lubricant is important. Personal lubricants are vital for certain activities and will make other activities in the bedroom more enjoyable. However, you should not buy the first personal lubricant you see on the shelf. Choosing the best personal lubricant is important and you need to consider a number of factors to help you do this.
Know The Types Of Personal Lubricants
Many people do not realize that there are 3 different types of personal lubricants that you can buy. It is important that you know about these types to better understand which one you should get. The lubricant types are water-based, silicone-based and oil-based.
If you are looking for the all-around best natural personal lubricant, you should look at a water-based one. This is due to the fact that these lubricants are safe to use on yourself, safe for all of your toys and will be made with ingredients that are not harmful. While water-based lubricants are all-around great, it is important to note that they will dry up faster than other types of lubricant and they cannot be used underwater.
The Pros:
The Cons:
The silicone-based lubrications are ideal if you are going to use it underwater. They are also safe for humans, but you will find that they are not all compatible with any silicone toys you might have. It is also important to note that this type of lubricant can be hard to clean up because it is very long-lasting.
The Pros:
The Cons:
The last type of personal lubricant that you need to know about is the oil-based ones. These are great for men, but they will destroy the structural integrity of a condom which makes them a poor choice for anything other than masturbation. There are many experts that warn women about these lubricants as they can trap harmful bacteria and are not recommended for penetration. These lubricants are long-lasting which is why many people choose them for non-penetrative activities.
The Pros:
The Cons:
If you are looking for the all-around best natural personal lubricant, you should look at a water-based one. This is due to the fact that these lubricants are safe to use on yourself, safe for all of your toys and will be made with ingredients that are not harmful. While water-based lubricants are all-around great, it is important to note that they will dry up faster than other types of lubricant and they cannot be used underwater.
The Pros:
- They are compatible with sex toys and condoms
- They are affordable
- They won’t stain your clothes or bed sheets
The Cons:
- They dry quickly
- They are not shower-friendly
- They can become sticky
The silicone-based lubrications are ideal if you are going to use it underwater. They are also safe for humans, but you will find that they are not all compatible with any silicone toys you might have. It is also important to note that this type of lubricant can be hard to clean up because it is very long-lasting.
The Pros:
- Are safe to use with condoms and any non-silicone sex toy
- Water-friendly
- Longer lasting
The Cons:
- Cost more than the water-based lubricants
- You cannot use them with your silicone sex toys
- Harder to wash away
The last type of personal lubricant that you need to know about is the oil-based ones. These are great for men, but they will destroy the structural integrity of a condom which makes them a poor choice for anything other than masturbation. There are many experts that warn women about these lubricants as they can trap harmful bacteria and are not recommended for penetration. These lubricants are long-lasting which is why many people choose them for non-penetrative activities.
The Pros:
- Very slippery and slick
- Great for masturbation
The Cons:
- Not suitable for use with condoms
- Very hard to clean and wash away
- Not recommended for vaginal intercourse
Your Lifestyle
Knowing about the different types of personal lubricants is important because you can determine which base you need to get. However, you should also consider your lifestyle choices. There are many people who do not realize how their lifestyle choices will impact their decision regarding a personal lubricant.
However, if you are a vegan, you do not want to use a personal lubricant that has animal byproducts. Additionally, if you are more eco-friendly, you might want to consider a lubrication that is made only with organic materials. The choices that you make in other aspects of your life will need to be considered when you look for a lubricant.
To ensure that the personal lubricant you choose matches your lifestyle choices, you have to carefully read the label. The ingredient list will tell you about the materials used. You should also take the time to look at the practices the manufacturer uses to ensure that they meet your social responsibility standards. When you do this, you will also be able to determine how the ingredients in the lubricant are sourced.
However, if you are a vegan, you do not want to use a personal lubricant that has animal byproducts. Additionally, if you are more eco-friendly, you might want to consider a lubrication that is made only with organic materials. The choices that you make in other aspects of your life will need to be considered when you look for a lubricant.
To ensure that the personal lubricant you choose matches your lifestyle choices, you have to carefully read the label. The ingredient list will tell you about the materials used. You should also take the time to look at the practices the manufacturer uses to ensure that they meet your social responsibility standards. When you do this, you will also be able to determine how the ingredients in the lubricant are sourced.
Think About Your Toys
Are you planning on using your personal lubricant on your toys as well? If the answer is yes, you have to know what your toys are made out of and if the lubricant will work on them. There are a number of silicone toys that are not compatible with silicone-based lubricants and you need to know this before you buy.
If you are unsure about compatibility, you will need to complete a spot test. To do this, you will have to place a small dab of the silicone-based lubricant you have on a non-essential part of the toy. You should then wait and see how they react to each other.
If you do not want to worry about this compatibility, you should avoid silicone-based lubricants. Your best option in these cases will be to choose a water-based lubricant instead. This type of lubricant will be compatible with all toys on the market, regardless of the material they are made from.
If you are unsure about compatibility, you will need to complete a spot test. To do this, you will have to place a small dab of the silicone-based lubricant you have on a non-essential part of the toy. You should then wait and see how they react to each other.
If you do not want to worry about this compatibility, you should avoid silicone-based lubricants. Your best option in these cases will be to choose a water-based lubricant instead. This type of lubricant will be compatible with all toys on the market, regardless of the material they are made from.
Look At The Bottle Tops
A lot of people forget to look at the bottle tops when they choose a personal lubricant. This is actually something that you need to pay attention to because it will impact how easily you can use the lubricant you choose. You need to consider if you want a one-handed approach to the bottle or if you would like to leave it on the bedside table and never have to pick it up. You also need to think about how you are going to be applying the lubricant.
There are many lubricants that come with a pump-top and you need to consider these if you are going to leave the bottle out. This top will also be ideal if you want a one-handed approach. However, if you do not care about a one-handed approach, you can easily get a squeeze bottle. These bottles will also be ideal if you want to ensure that you use every last drop of the lubricant.
There are many lubricants that come with a pump-top and you need to consider these if you are going to leave the bottle out. This top will also be ideal if you want a one-handed approach. However, if you do not care about a one-handed approach, you can easily get a squeeze bottle. These bottles will also be ideal if you want to ensure that you use every last drop of the lubricant.
Consider Discretion
Discretion is something that a lot of people think about when it comes to their personal lubricant. If you want discretion, you need to be careful with the packaging of the lubricant. Bottles that have large lettering stating what the product is, will generally need to be avoided in these cases.
If you want your lubricant to be discrete, you need to look for less sexualized packaging and product names. There are a number of brands that offer this and you can easily choose them. However, if you are not worried about discretion, you will be able to bypass this factor completely and simply choose the bottle that you like the most.
If you want your lubricant to be discrete, you need to look for less sexualized packaging and product names. There are a number of brands that offer this and you can easily choose them. However, if you are not worried about discretion, you will be able to bypass this factor completely and simply choose the bottle that you like the most.
Consider The Oral Application
There are many instances where you might end up tasting an area which has been lubricated. If you feel that you will be in this situation, you need to consider a personal lubricant that has a neutral or pleasurable taste. You do not want to have the taste of silicone in your mouth when you are meant to be having a good time.
If you are looking for a good taste, you should choose a couple of sample bottles before you commit to a full-sized bottle of the lubricant. This allows you to try out the taste before you pay for a large bottle that you might not end up using. There are many people who prefer neutral or organic lubricants for their taste because they have a slight-medicinal one. This is considered better than the extremely fake tastes that you get from some flavored lubricants.
If you are going to be using the lubricant for oral and penetrative activities, you need to check the ingredient list. You will want to avoid any lubricants which sugar in it. If the lubricant does have sugar, you should ensure that it is as small an amount as possible because of the bacterial issues that can come from this.
If you are looking for a good taste, you should choose a couple of sample bottles before you commit to a full-sized bottle of the lubricant. This allows you to try out the taste before you pay for a large bottle that you might not end up using. There are many people who prefer neutral or organic lubricants for their taste because they have a slight-medicinal one. This is considered better than the extremely fake tastes that you get from some flavored lubricants.
If you are going to be using the lubricant for oral and penetrative activities, you need to check the ingredient list. You will want to avoid any lubricants which sugar in it. If the lubricant does have sugar, you should ensure that it is as small an amount as possible because of the bacterial issues that can come from this.
Know Your Body
When it comes to choosing the right personal lubricant, you need to know your body. This is particularly important for women as certain lubricants can upset the balance of the vagina. If you find that your current personal lubricant causes irritation, you need to stop using it and switch to a different one.
All lubricants are made using a ratio of different ingredients and you have to find the ratio that works for your body. If you know that you have certain sensitivities, you should look at lubricants that are pH-balanced or organic. This will reduce the chances of irritation and other issues when you use them.
All lubricants are made using a ratio of different ingredients and you have to find the ratio that works for your body. If you know that you have certain sensitivities, you should look at lubricants that are pH-balanced or organic. This will reduce the chances of irritation and other issues when you use them.
PH Balance
The last consideration of choosing lubricants that work is to consider the pH balance in the vaginal area. The pH scale is a range between 0 and 14. Any number under 7 is considered acidic and the area of the vagina is usually slightly acid. The normal range in pH should range between 3.8 and 4.5, yet these numbers usually fluctuate during pregnancy and menopause.
Using anything that will upset the normal balance often results in a yeast or bacterial infection. Every lube features a pH, and it is important to choose the lube that is as close as possible to the pH balance of the vagina. The ideal osmolality for lubricants are usually 285-295 mOsm/kg, while the pH of the vaginal lubricants should not exceed 4.5. The anal lubricants should have a pH balance of between 5.5 and 7.
Using anything that will upset the normal balance often results in a yeast or bacterial infection. Every lube features a pH, and it is important to choose the lube that is as close as possible to the pH balance of the vagina. The ideal osmolality for lubricants are usually 285-295 mOsm/kg, while the pH of the vaginal lubricants should not exceed 4.5. The anal lubricants should have a pH balance of between 5.5 and 7.
Think About Fertility
If you are planning to become pregnant, you need to be careful with the personal lubricant you choose. Most people are not aware of the fact that most lubricants actually make it harder to conceive. This is due to the way they are designed and how much harder they make it for sperm to get through the vaginal canal. Of course, this does not mean that personal lubricant is a means of birth control, it only means that you might have some trouble conceiving when you use them.
If your goal is to become pregnant, you will need to look at personal lubricants which have been made with this in mind. There are a number of couple brands that you should look at which are made to help you conceive. If you do not want to use any of these lubricants, you should look for organic ones which will reduce the chances of hard chemicals which could hinder the likelihood of conception.
If your goal is to become pregnant, you will need to look at personal lubricants which have been made with this in mind. There are a number of couple brands that you should look at which are made to help you conceive. If you do not want to use any of these lubricants, you should look for organic ones which will reduce the chances of hard chemicals which could hinder the likelihood of conception.
Ingredients to Avoid
Every lubricant will feature a list of ingredients. The personal lubricants will either be oil, silicone or water based along with other ingredients, which are designed to create the correct consistency, texture as well as preservatives to ensure the product has a shelf-life.
In most cases, you probably won’t experience issues with most of the ingredients, but there are certain ingredients which are associated with causing an irritation or promote infections. Some of these include the following:
In most cases, you probably won’t experience issues with most of the ingredients, but there are certain ingredients which are associated with causing an irritation or promote infections. Some of these include the following:
- L-arginine which is commonly found in the arousal lubes. This ingredient can bring about a herpes outbreak, which is why you should avoid lubes that contain this ingredient if you already have the herpes virus.
- Glycerin is an ingredient which is associated with sugar, which could lead to yeast infections or UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections). If you have recently suffered from a yeast infection or you are prone to them, stay far away from the lubricants that contain this ingredient.
- Menthol is the common ingredient featured in cooling lubes for its tingling and cooling properties. However, some women find that these lubes are drying and can dry-out soft tissues in the genital areas.
- Parabens are known as preserving ingredients which includes propylparaben and methylparaben. These ingredients are used in lubricants as well as many cosmetic products. Research has now suggested that these parabens absorb into the skin and are then metabolized inside the body, particularly in the ovaries and breasts of women.
- Nonoxynol-9, is the common ingredient which is found in the spermicidal lubricants. This is a chemical which can cause abrasions inside the vagina or even break-down the rectal protecting lining inside the anus. This type of damage can result in increasing your chances of contracting STDs, AIDs and skin irritations that often lead to infections.
- Polyquaternium-15 an ingredient mainly found in cosmetics, can result in damaging the lining cells as well as increasing HIV replication actively.
- Petroleum oils can block the pores and coat the skin in an oily layer that is not easy to wash away.
When it comes to choosing a personal lubricant, you should not pick the first one that you see. There are a number of factors that you have to consider including the base of the lubricant and how you are going to use it. The ingredients will also need to be considered as they could cause issues if you have certain sensitivities.