8 Best Lubes in 2024, According to Experts and Shoppers
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Penetration, hand jobs, masturbation, fingering—if you’re having any kind of sex, you can (and should) use lube during it to reduce friction and make things more comfortable, Allison K. Rodgers, MD, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility doctor at Fertility Centers of Illinois, tells SELF. But if you haven’t yet found your go-to lubricant, searching for the best lube can be daunting: It’s easy to feel like there are as many different kinds as there are ways to use it. So how do you choose the right one?
The good news is, when shopping for lube, you don’t need to reach for the fanciest (or most expensive) tube on the shelf, Dr. Rodgers says. Focus on finding one that won’t irritate your skin—just like any other product you slather on. The next step is learning which type is best for you and your favorite bedroom activities: water-, silicone-, or oil-based (more on this later).
To track down the top options, we turned to the experts and researched dozens of lubes from brands like K-Y, Pjur, and Lola. Our favorites are super slippery, easy to use, and definitely worth adding to your bedside drawer.
Top picks:
- Best Overall: Bloomi’s Natural Water-Based Lubricant
- Best for Beginners: LOLA Personal Lubricant
- Best for Masturbation: Maude Shine Organic
- Best for Latex Condoms: K-Y True Feel Lube
- Best Anal Lube: Pjur Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant
In this article:
Target1Bloomi
Smooth Water-Based Personal Lubricant
Best Overall: Bloomi’s water-based lube is our top overall pick because it’s budget-friendly and doesn’t contain any flavor, fragrance, glycerin, gluten, or parabens—all of which are common allergens that can irritate sensitive areas. Shoppers rave that it provides the perfect amount of slip whether you use it on a toy or with a partner. Plus it doesn’t feel sticky or greasy, and it won’t leave a residue behind. “I don’t know how I ever used anything else!” one reviewer wrote.
- Pros: Discreet packaging, latex-safe, hydrating, and long-lasting
- Cons: Smaller tube than most of our other top picks
- Other notable ingredients: Slippery sunflower seed extract
Amazon2Lola
Personal Lubricant
Best for Beginners: New to lube? Try this water-based pick, which comes in a small pump bottle that locks to prevent accidental spills. The sleek bottle looks more like a pricey skin care product, right down to its frosted exterior. Reviewers with sensitive skin also appreciate that Lola’s lubricant doesn’t burn or sting. “This really does mimic your body’s natural moisture,” one shopper wrote. “No scent. Not sticky.”
- Pros: Discreet packaging, can be pumped with one hand
- Cons: Smaller than most of our other top picks
- Other notable ingredients: Hydrating propanediol, pH-balancing citric acid
Amazon3Pjur
Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant
Best Anal Lube: As the name implies, Pjur’s Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant is designed for anal sex, with silicone and jojoba oil that creates a silky formula. Its thinner consistency feels fluid and lasts longer than many other silicone-based lubes do, according to shoppers. “We were surprised that we only needed a few drops and that it maintains its slick lubrication without the need to reapply during our anal play,” one Lovehoney reviewer wrote.
Pjur’s Anal Lubricant works well with latex condoms, but it can’t be used with silicone sex toys or condoms, since it contains silicones that could damage them.
- Pros: Latex-safe; long-lasting; flavor-, fragrance-, and glycerin-free
- Cons: Incompatible with silicone sex toys, pricey
- Other notable ingredients: Softening, non-greasy jojoba; moisturizing dimethicone
Maude4Maude
Shine Organic (4-oz.)
Best for Masturbation: Maude makes one SELF editor’s go-to vibrator and her favorite lube. While the brand also carries a silicone-based lube, she prefers its water-based formula because it isn’t distractingly scented and doesn’t irritate her vulva. “I use it with a vibe when I don’t want to deal with the friction of rubbing a toy against my dry vag,” she says. You can buy it in a 4 oz. easy-pump bottle, a travel-friendly 2 oz. size, or an 8 oz. value size.
- Pros: Silicone- and latex-safe; long-lasting
- Cons: May feel sticky after it dries, according to reviewers
- Other notable ingredients: Hydrating propanediol
Target5Good Clean Love
Bionude Ultra Sensitive Personal Lube
Best for Sensitivity: If you have sensitive skin, Dr. Torrisi recommends Good Clean Love’s water-based, hypoallergenic lubes (as do many Amazon shoppers). “It lives up to its ‘ultrasensitive’ name—and it lasts longer than other water-based ones my wife and I have used,” one reviewer wrote.
- Pros: Silicone- and latex-safe, hypoallergenic
- Cons: Small tube
- Other notable ingredients: pH-balancing lactic acid
Amazon6Sliquid
Silver Luxury Silicone Lubricant
Turn to Sliquid Silver for a velvety lube that’s perfect for exploring butt play or giving a massage. “This is totally my favorite silicone lube—it’s not too thin, so it feels more natural to the body, and it lasts forever,” wrote one shopper. The brand makes all types of lubes (water-based, oil-based, hybrid), in case you have different needs.
- Pros: Comes in a wide range of sizes, waterproof
- Cons: Incompatible with silicone sex toys
- Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing dimethicone
Ulta7Foria
Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD
Best Oil-Based: Foria’s coconut-oil-based lubricant comes recommended by Megan Fleming, PhD, a psychologist and AASECT-certified sex therapist. She appreciates that it only has two ingredients: organic coconut oil and CBD. Shoppers say that the lube is long-lasting, moisturizing, and makes for an excellent massage oil. Just make sure that you don’t pair it with anything made of latex, and steer clear if you have a tree nut sensitivity or allergy.
- Pros: Silicone-safe, dropper to control application
- Cons: Not safe with latex; may irritate those sensitive to tree nuts; pricey
- Other notable ingredients: moisturizing coconut oil
Amazon8K-Y
True Feel Lube
Best for Latex Condoms: If you plan to use latex condoms, it’s super important you make sure your lube is compatible—otherwise, it could cause the condom to break down and become less effective, Alyssa Dweck, MD, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and co-author of V is For Vagina, previously told SELF. K-Y’s True Feel Lube is silicone-based and has an extra slippery feel that’s great for both vaginal penetration and anal sex. Just so you know: While it’s safe to use with latex, it will degrade silicone sex toys, so you should try a water- or oil-based option there instead.
“Other lubes tend to get sticky fast and ruin the moment,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “Not True Feel! You don't have to use a lot of it, either.” The 4.5 oz. size is discreet, while the 8.45 oz. size saves you the hassle of having to constantly reorder.
- Pros: Flavor-, fragrance-, and glycerin-free; long-lasting
- Cons: Not safe for silicone toys
- Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing dimethicone
9Why should you use lube?
The short answer? Because it makes most positions feel better. Dr. Rodgers notes that lube creates glide, preventing the friction created by your hands, a toy, or a partner from causing irritation. Lube can also help soothe an itchy, dry, or uncomfortable vagina—and it’s a must for anal sex because your anus can’t lubricate itself.
10What should you consider when shopping for lube?
Choose your lube based on what you want to use it for. Water-based lube is great for almost all types of sex, and it’s safe to use with latex and silicone products, according to Dr. Rodgers. It usually comes in a thin, slippery liquid or gel form that’s “easier to clean off than silicone-based [lubes] and much safer with toys and condoms,” says Dr. Torrisi. One downside is that water-based lube tends to get sticky as the water evaporates during use, so it needs frequent reapplication; you can remedy any tackiness by adding a few drops of water to refresh it.
According to the experts we spoke with, silicone-based lube is an excellent choice for anal sex and hand jobs because it’s longer-lasting than water-based and less absorbent (requiring fewer reapplications). Plus, it’s hypoallergenic, so it’s great for sensitive skin, Dr. Rodgers says. FYI: You can use this kind of lube with latex condoms, but never with silicone sex toys because it can degrade their material.
Lastly, there are oil-based lubes like coconut oil, baby oil, and petroleum jelly, which are popular because they’re cheap and easy to find at most drugstores. But oil can cause latex condoms to break—and petroleum jelly can potentially lead to vaginal infection. So if you do opt for oil, use it with a latex-free condom like this option from Skyn ($9).
11Which ingredients should you avoid in lube?
When it comes to reading a lube label, Dr. Rodgers recommends avoiding parabens, petroleum, and any fragrances or flavors, which can be harsh on your skin. (None of the picks on our list contain any of these.) If you’re prone to yeast infections, make sure that your water-based lube doesn’t have glycerin in it. This ingredient is a byproduct of sugar, which may alter vaginal pH by producing an overgrowth of yeast, leading to infection.
In general, “avoid products that report that they heat you or warm you,” Dr. Rodgers says. “This is likely an irritant that’s causing burning of the tissue—that’s why it’s warm!” Also, don’t use food or whipped cream as lube: She says this can also cause irritation and increase your risk of infection.
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
