Water, Oil, And Silicone-Based Lubes – Differences + Pros And Cons

Considering that 30% of women report needing additional lubrication for comfortable sex – it’s certainly important to know your options!

Lube is a critical tool in the sexual toolbox, but there are so many different types available that it can be hard to know which one you should choose. And by the way, needing lube is completely normal, and doesn’t mean she isn’t aroused. Regardless of the reasoning, it’s a good idea to know your way around sexual lubricant – starting with perhaps the most important difference – the different types!

The three most popular types of lubricant are water, silicone, and oil-based lubricants.

Each of these have their pros and cons, and in this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about each, so you can make an informed decision next time you’re shopping for lube. I’ll also share some of my top recommended lube brands to consider trying out!

Let’s slide into it! Get it? Slide?

Ha. Ha…

Water-Based Lubricant

Water-based lubricants are the most commonly used lubricants, and for good reason. They’re safe to use with condoms and all types of sex toys, making them the most versatile option available. Honestly, whatever you’re planning on using it for, you usually can’t go wrong with water-based lube.

They’re also hypoallergenic, which means that they are unlikely to irritate your skin or sensitive parts. This makes them a great choice for those who haven’t tried many different lubricants before, or for couples who aren’t sure about what works best for them yet. So listen – if you’re with a new girl or you’ve never tried lube before and you want to play it safe, look no further. This is what you want.

Clean-up is also simple, and they are in fact the easiest to clean up after sex – just use water!

However, water-based lubes have a major downside – they tend to dry out faster than any other type. This means you may have to reapply often if you’re planning on having a marathon session. This can be a turn-off for some. It’s probably not that big of a deal since they can still last 30 minutes or more, but yeah.

If you rarely use lube, the water can also evaporate, which means the bottle will only last years instead of decades.

There are some water-based lubricants that are advertised as ‘long-lasting’ but they usually use glycerin, which can be irritating to sensitive parts, especially if used too often.

Pros

• Safe to use with condoms and toys
• Hypoallergenic – unlikely to irritate skin
• Easy to clean up
• Easy to find in stores, as it’s the most common

Cons

• Can dry out quickly
• Long-lasting versions may irritate sensitive areas
• It will wash away if you use it in conjunction with water, so it’s out of the question for pool or shower sex

Some of my favorite brands include one called ‘Slippery Stuff’, Sliqiud, and for usage with toys, one called ‘OnaEki’ that’s manufactured in Japan, but sold worldwide.

Silicone-Based Lubricant

If you’re looking for a lubricant that lasts for ages, silicone is your best choice. This stuff is like liquid silk. Once you get it on, it will keep your parts slippery and wet for a long time without needing to reapply.

Silicone lubricant is also waterproof, meaning you can use it in the bath, the shower, or even a hot tub without it washing off.

However, this is also the biggest downside to silicone lube – it’s also not water soluble. This means that getting it off your sheets can be a real pain. In fact, the phrase ‘how to get silicone lube out of sheets’ is searched for hundreds of times a month on Google, and there are probably a thousand different ways to ask that question. Let me just say, it takes a lot of dish soap and a lot of patience.

Silicone can also not be used with silicone or TPE sex toys. That means if you have a silicone dildo or an onahole that you love using, you’re going to want to stick to water-based lubes.

And if you don’t have an onahole, be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide To Onaholes, because you’re seriously missing out.

Pros

• Lasts for a long time
• Feels silky smooth
• Great for shower / water play

Cons

• Not easily washable
• Not compatible with silicone sex toys

My top brand recommendation for silicone based lube is Swiss Navy.

Oil-Based Lubricant

The final popular option is oil-based lubricant. This stuff is thick, long-lasting, and slippery as hell.

The biggest advantage of oil-based lubes over water-based lubes is that they can also be used in the shower or bath, and they’re unlikely to dry out quickly.

Like silicone, it lasts a long time without needing to be reapplied. This makes it a great choice for anal, where pulling out and reapplying the lube isn’t as easy, nor as hygienic.

Unfortunately, oil-based lubes have a few major drawbacks.

For one, they’re not compatible with latex condoms. In fact, using oil-based lube with latex condoms can actually make them more likely to break, which defeats the whole point of using a condom in the first place! If you must use oil-based lube, make sure the condom you’re using is polyurethane.

Additionally, they are harder to clean up than water-based lubricants, and can also be messier in general. Not as bad as silicone, but not great either.

Pros

• Lasts a long time
• Still suitable for most sex toys, including silicone
• Great for anal sex

Cons

• Incompatible with latex condoms
• Can be messier to clean up
• Harder to find in stores – but plenty of options online!

For brands, Gun Oil is a great one, or you can just use plain old coconut oil.

Conclusion

In my personal opinion, you really can’t go wrong with water-based lube, as long as you aren’t playing in or around water. That being said, silicone and oil-based lubes have their places as well.

It’s worth trying out each type at least once – assuming it’s safe to do so, and seeing what you like best. Different lubes – even of the same types can feel quite differently, so experiment and find which you like best!

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Thanks for reading, and have fun!

~ Lexi