Everything You Need to Know About Water-Based Lube
How much do you really know about the bottle of lube that sits on your nightstand — aside from the fact that it’s wet and makes sex and solo play a lot better?
You might be thinking “It’s lube — how much do I need to know?” But in the last 20-something years, the sexual wellness industry has exploded. And as a result, you have so many more options to choose from when it comes to lubricants. Rather than choosing one at random, you should know whether the lube you’re reaching for is working for you or against you. Water-based lubes typically go in the former category.
Water-based products have been used in lubricants for centuries, and for good reason. These lubes are usually made from safe ingredients that don’t typically affect your pH, making it a great option for anyone who may be worried about possible vaginal irritation. Plus, water is hydrating! It can make dry skin a thing of the past, and will probably be the closest you’ll feel to the natural lubrication of a vagina. And unlike other options like silicone- or oil-based lubes, water-based lubes are your best options when it comes to sex toys or condoms since they don’t break down silicone or latex.
But not all water-based lubes are created equally. If you’re going to put something inside of you, you’ll likely want to make sure it’s the safest and healthiest option possible (and yes, this applies to everything). Lube ingredients will often include a few things you may not have heard of before — but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re unsafe to use. The ones worth avoiding are glycerin (which feeds yeast), parabens (hormone disruptors), chlorhexidine (which wipes out the good bacteria your body actually needs), and anything with fragrance or numbing agents. What you do want is a simple, no-nonsense list of ingredients that keep things balanced and comfortable — and Shibari’s Water-Based Lubricant is just that. There is no glycerin, no parabens, and no fragrance. The clean, simple lube has minimal ingredients that work with your body rather than against it.
The trick with water-based lubes (which is one of the reasons some may go with a silicone- or oil-based option) is that you have to reapply in order to keep things going. But adding more lube mid-play won’t really detract from the sex — especially because it helps slow things down and keep the focus on the sensations your body is feeling.
The best part is that water-based lubes have the easiest cleanup. Because these lubes are water-soluble, water is all it takes to clean them up and you never have to worry about getting stains on your beautiful high-thread count sheets (even though you should probably wash them post-sex anyway).
If you want to have the wettest, wildest time possible without feeling a yeast infection coming on mid-sex, you’ll want a water-based lube sitting on your nightstand.
