Lube or lubricants are viscous liquids to reduce friction that are used in medicine, technology and sexual practices.
In the field of sexuality, these gels are used to reduce unpleasant friction during sexual intercourse and masturbation. But it’s not just a necessity: lube is also particularly suitable for discovering new sensory experiences.
Most lubricants are oil, silicone or water based. Many also have pleasant scents, such as strawberry, coconut or chocolate, which are not particularly popular with many people. There are also various lubes for special purposes, such as anal sex, fisting, massages. There is also lube with additional stimulating properties, for example a cooling or warming effect. There are also sensitive or organic lubricants for people with allergies or with nourishing substances such as aloe vera. Also exciting: the massage oil and the stimulating spray with ginger extract from Naturally Naughty for fans of mild burning sensations.
What do you use lube for?
Lube can be used in both the vagina and the anus. Penetration of the penis or toys such as plugs and dildos is made easier by gel. With stimulating gels, sensitivity is increased and pleasure is increased.
Sometimes there is a lack of natural moisture in the vaginal mucosa, without this being due to a lack of sexual desire, as is often assumed. Changes in the hormonal balance, stress or changes in the normal rhythm of life can also lead to vaginal dryness despite the desire for sexual play. But even if the vagina is sufficiently moist, the use of lube can increase pleasure.
There is no moist mucous membrane in the anal region, so you should always take good care of the anus to avoid injuries when penis, toys or fingers are inserted, for example during a prostate massage. For example, if a plug is to be worn for a longer period of time, lube also increases comfort.
What do I have to consider when using lube?
The use of lube is very simple: it is applied to the skin of the penis, the plug, the dildo, the vagina or the anus and distributed. How much is up to you. It’s best to start with a hazelnut-sized amount. If you notice that there is too little or that the glide is decreasing, just take a little more.
You should stay away from oil-based lubricants, as they can damage plastic sex toys and condoms. These are usually made from natural rubber, which reacts when it comes into contact with organic oils or greasy lotions. This makes the material permeable to viruses or can even tear. With condoms, protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases is no longer guaranteed in such a case.
The same applies to various home remedies such as petroleum jelly, cosmetic lotions, baby oil or even cooking oil. Not only are they potentially harmful to toys and condoms, they can also irritate the mucous membranes and upset the pH value, allowing unwanted bacteria and germs to multiply unhindered. Unpleasant fungal infections can result.
So it’s better to use a water-based lube or silicone oil. But be careful: although the latter is good for people with allergies and even suitable for caring for latex, it is not compatible with toys made of silicone.
What should you consider when buying lube?
When using a new lube, familiarize yourself with it before lovemaking or a session to test for any allergic reactions. To do this, apply a small amount to the mucous membrane of the vagina, the anus or the tip of the penis.
If you feel an unpleasant burning or tingling sensation, you may have an intolerance. You should then quickly wash the gel off with a little water and, if necessary, test it again at a later date. If the effect is the same, we recommend using a different gel in the future.
You should also pay attention to certain ingredients: Lubricants should not contain lidocaine and benzocaine, xylocaine or other local anesthetics, as these are dangerous in connection with sexual acts. This would increase the risk of injuries to the intimate area.
Parts of this text were first published on Baumwollseil.de, one of Germany’s first online shops for kink, eroticism, and BDSM, and were kindly provided to Deviance.
