In general, lube comes highly recommended by Planned Parenthood, but there are different types, and, notably, “just plain water in a water bottle” isn't among them. Water-based lubes are the most common, as they're safe to use with condoms and sex toys alike, easy to clean up, and non-irritating.
Pure water is not a very good lubricant. In fact it can act in the opposite. It's surface tension can actually work to make mated surfaces marry to each other.
Saliva may always be available to you, but it's not safe to use as lubricant during sexual activity. STIs, such as herpes or syphilis, can be transmitted through saliva. You might also be likely to develop vaginal infections or irritation if you use saliva as a lubricant.
People should never use Vaseline as a sexual lubricant. Vaseline can damage latex condoms, trap bacteria that can lead to an infection, and stain clothing and bedsheets. Instead of Vaseline, people may want to consider choosing a high quality, water-based lubricant.
Any kind of liquid soap, washes, sanitiser or douche is considered lubricating and often used to clean down there but we suggest you never use this on your private parts. Using such douching products disturb the body's pH levels and harm your skin, which is not something you want happening.
Of course, if you just do NOT want to use lubricants, you don't have to. That is likely to make some kinds of sex, or sex sometimes, less pleasurable or more uncomfortable. It also can mean things like winding up with UTIs or other infections more frequently.
But even though water is an essential component to many lube products, it won't do a whole lot on its own — and it might actually work against you. Dousing your, uh, hoo-ha in water essentially washes away your body's own natural lubricant, according to Idries Abdur-Rahman, a board-certified OB/GYN.
'Water' being an abundant natural resource, can certainly be considered as a primary fluid in lubrication. As of now, most of the lubricants are petroleum-based because of their superior functionality compared to water-based lubricants(WBLs).
Can you use baby oil as lube? The short answer is no. While baby oil is safe to use on the skin as a moisturizer, it shouldn't be used as a sexual lubricant. Baby oil and other mineral oil products used as lubes can cause condom problems and skin irritation.
Many factors can impact your hormonal balance and contribute to vaginal dryness, such as age, life stages, mental health, chronic conditions, and medication (4,5). The ovaries produce estrogen, but when estrogen production is reduced for any reason, it can cause the vaginal lining to become thinner and dryer (5,6).
Saliva does not make for a good lube
Ultimately, even if the mere consistency of saliva is kept in mind, it isn't actually a good lube. It is more watery than slippery and dries pretty quickly. Secondly, there is no slickness in saliva, which increases the risk of wear and tear down there, due to friction.
Yes, but with a few precautions. Coconut oil is safe to use on your skin and should be fine to use as a vaginal lubricant. However, some people with vaginas may be sensitive to coconut oil. Try it on a patch of skin before putting it on more delicate areas.
You should never use toothpaste as a lube substitute under any circumstances.
Rubbing alcohol is not a lubricant. It won't help and might make things worse. Many people simply use food-grade mineral oil. It's super-cheap, lubricates well, and the best solution if you ever use your knife on food; cutting an apple, etc.
With so many other choices out there, it's best to steer clear of petroleum-based products, slippery as they may be. This also goes for other bathroom staples like shower gel, shampoo and conditioner! These products are for external use only and away from intimate areas.
For women, water-based lubes containing glycerin are a popular choice. Silicon-based lubes are suitable for those who experience excess vaginal dryness or pain during sexual intercourse. These are safe to use with latex condoms. These lubes also come in various flavours as per the preferences.
Vegetable oils can and have been used as lubricants in their natural forms. They have several advantages and disadvantages when considered for industrial and machinery lubrication. On the positive side, vegetable oils can have excellent lubricity, far superior than that of mineral oil.
Water-based personal lubricants are water-soluble and are the most widely used personal lubricants. The earliest water-based lubricants were cellulose ether or glycerin solutions. Products available today may have various agents added for even dispersal, moisture retention, and resistance to contamination.