How to choose lube: the complete buying guide
The right lube depends on its base (water, silicone, hybrid or oil), where you use it and how sensitive you are. For most people water-based is the safest starting point: it works with every condom and every toy. Silicone lasts longer but never on silicone toys, and oil does not belong with a latex condom.
The 4 types of lube and when to use them
There are four base types, and your choice is determined mainly by which condoms and toys the lube can safely be used with.
- Water-based: the safe all-rounder. Feels the most natural, is safe with all condoms and all toys (including silicone), and rinses away with water. Downside: it dries out faster, so you need to reapply more often.
- Silicone-based: stays slick for a long time, is waterproof (handy in the bath or shower) and silky smooth. Downside: never use it on silicone toys and it can stain fabric.
- Hybrid: water-based with a splash of silicone. Lasts longer than pure water-based and is easier to clean up than pure silicone. Not sure about a silicone toy? Do a patch test first.
- Oil-based (including coconut oil and massage oil): lasts the longest and can double as massage oil. However, it breaks down latex condoms and, when used internally, has been linked to irritation and yeast infections.
Compatibility: what is safe with which condom and which toy?
Two rules are crucial for your safety: oil does not belong with latex and silicone lube does not belong with silicone toys. Everything else is in the table below.
| Base | Latex condom | Polyurethane/nitrile condom | Silicone toy | Glass/metal toy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Silicone-based | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hybrid | Yes | Yes | Patch test | Yes |
| Oil-based | No | Yes | Usually no | Yes |
Oil (including coconut oil, baby oil and petroleum jelly) weakens latex and polyisoprene within minutes, which can cause a condom to tear. Oil can be used with polyurethane, nitrile or lambskin condoms. Silicone lube damages the surface of silicone toys, making them sticky and porous, so choose water-based instead. Glass, metal and hard ABS are compatible with every type of lube.
Which lube for which situation?
- Vaginal: water-based with a pH around 3.5–4.5; if sensitive, choose glycerine-free.
- Anal: a thicker gel that stays in place. Silicone for longer sessions, or a thick water-based anal gel. Do not use numbing lube.
- With toys: water-based is always safe; never use silicone lube on a silicone toy.
- Sensitive skin: fragrance- and flavour-free, glycerine- and paraben-free, low osmolality.
- Dryness and menopause: a lube helps in the moment, but for persistent dryness a vaginal moisturiser (for example with hyaluronic acid) is the first choice. Many people use both.
- Trying to conceive: choose a fertility-friendly (sperm-safe) lube such as Pre-Seed or Conceive Plus, regular lube can inhibit sperm. It does not make you more fertile, only less harmful to sperm.
- In the bath or shower: silicone, because it is waterproof.
Ingredients best avoided (and why)
For occasional use on healthy skin this is less critical, but with daily use or a sensitive mucous membrane it is worth paying attention:
- Glycerine/glycerol: can feed yeast (Candida) and thereby trigger a yeast infection in sensitive individuals.
- High osmolality: draws moisture from mucosal cells and damages the epithelium. The WHO recommends a preference for ≤ 380 mOsm/kg.
- Propylene glycol: can cause irritation; WHO limit < 8.3%.
- Nonoxynol-9: does NOT protect against STIs or HIV and irritates the mucous membrane, actually increasing HIV risk. Do not use it.
- Parabens and fragrances/flavours/sugars: can disrupt pH and cause irritation, especially vaginally.
- Numbing agents (benzocaine, lidocaine): mask pain that warns you of injury. Particularly inadvisable for anal use.
pH and osmolality, simply explained
A healthy vagina is mildly acidic (pH 3.5–4.5); the rectum is more neutral (around pH 7). A lube that matches these values disturbs your natural balance the least.
Osmolality relates to the water concentration relative to your body's cells. If it is too high, the lube draws moisture out of the cells and dries out the mucous membrane. The WHO recommends ≤ 380 mOsm/kg as a preference, with 1,200 mOsm/kg as the upper limit, many products on the market exceed this considerably. Choose iso-osmotic, pH-balanced, low-glycerine products; manufacturers do not always state this, so read the specifications.
How to use lube properly
- Amount: start with a coin-sized amount and add more as needed. You can warm it briefly between your hands if you like.
- With condoms: apply the lube to the outside of the condom, and never use oil on latex.
- Reapplying: water-based dries out faster; a splash of water reactivates it. Silicone and oil last longer.
- Cleaning up: rinse water-based lube away with water; remove silicone stains from fabric with a little washing-up liquid. Lay down a towel.
- Clean toys after use, and stop if you feel a burning sensation, then rinse off. If pain or irritation persists, consult a doctor.
Decision guide: find your lube in 4 questions
- 1Are you using a condom? Latex → no oil. Non-latex (polyurethane/nitrile) → oil is fine.
- 2Are you using a silicone toy? Yes → water-based (or hybrid after a patch test), never silicone lube.
- 3How long and where? Long session or in the bath → silicone or hybrid. Short session with a natural feel → water-based.
- 4Sensitive, dry or trying to conceive? → glycerine- and paraben-free with low osmolality; for menopause also use a moisturiser; when trying to conceive, use a fertility-friendly lube.
Shop this guide
Lubrifiant S8 à Base d'Eau 250ml
Lubrifiant Anal Détente pour Hommes 250 ml
Lubrifiant Anal à Base d'Eau 250 ml
Warming Glide Liquid Pleasure 30 ml
S8 Lubrifiant Silicone 125 ml
Mister B Load Silicone 100 ml
Glide Liquid Pleasure Lubrifiant 100 ml
CBL Lubrifiant à Base d'Eau 1000 ml
Questions fréquentes sur How to choose lube: the complete buying guide
Neither is universally better, it depends on how you use it. Water-based is the safe all-rounder: compatible with all condoms and all toys (including silicone), feels natural and rinses away easily, but dries out faster. Silicone lasts much longer, is waterproof and silky smooth, ideal for longer sessions, anal use and in the bath, but must not be used on silicone toys. For most people, water-based is the best starting choice.
No, do not do that. Silicone lube damages the surface of silicone toys: they become soft, sticky and porous, and therefore unhygienic. Always use a water-based lube with silicone toys. Not sure about a hybrid lube? Do a patch test on a hidden spot first.
Not with a latex condom. Oil (including coconut oil, baby oil and petroleum jelly) weakens latex within minutes, which can cause the condom to tear and no longer protect you. The same applies to polyisoprene condoms. Oil can be used with polyurethane, nitrile or lambskin condoms. To be on the safe side, choose water-based or silicone, both of which are compatible with every condom material.
Choose a thicker, gel-like texture that stays in place. Silicone is popular for anal use because it stays slick for a long time and does not dry out; a thick water-based anal gel also works and is safe with silicone toys. Do not use numbing lube, especially if you are a beginner, as it masks pain that warns you of injury. The anus does not produce its own lubrication, so apply generously and reapply as needed.
Certain ingredients increase the risk. Glycerine can act as a food source for the Candida yeast, and high osmolality and propylene glycol can also dry out the mucous membrane and disrupt pH levels. Prone to infections? Choose a lube without glycerine and parabens, with low osmolality and a pH of 3.5–4.5.
For sensitive users: glycerine (yeast food), propylene glycol (irritation), high osmolality (> 380 mOsm/kg according to the WHO), nonoxynol-9 (irritates and increases the risk of STIs/HIV), parabens and fragrances/flavours/sugars for vaginal use. Numbing agents (benzocaine, lidocaine) mask pain and are inadvisable, especially for anal use. The simpler and more pH-balanced the formulation, the better.
Use a fertility-friendly (sperm-safe) lube such as Pre-Seed or Conceive Plus. Regular lube, and even saliva, can damage sperm or inhibit their motility. These lubes are formulated to match the pH and salt balance of fertile cervical mucus. Note: they do not make you more fertile, they are simply less harmful to sperm.
Yes, a simple water-based lube without fragrance, glycerine and parabens is generally fine during pregnancy; many women actually have greater need for it at that time. Avoid warming, numbing and heavily scented varieties, and nonoxynol-9. Not sure, or experiencing symptoms? Discuss it with your midwife or doctor. (This is general information, not medical advice.)
For the moment itself, yes: a good lube reduces friction and discomfort during sex. For persistent dryness during menopause, however, a vaginal moisturiser (for example with hyaluronic acid) is the first choice, used regularly, it hydrates the tissue for longer. Many women use both. For ongoing symptoms, consult your doctor.
Water-based and silicone-based lubes are safe with all condom materials, including latex. Oil-based lubes are not safe with latex or polyisoprene (they degrade the material). Apply the lube to the outside of the condom. Avoid lubes containing nonoxynol-9: it offers no protection and causes irritation.
Start with a small amount (roughly the size of a coin) and add more as needed, too much can feel overly slippery. Water-based dries out faster and needs more frequent reapplication; a little water reactivates it. Silicone and oil last longer and go further. If things start to feel rough or there is a burning sensation, add more lube or stop.
Warming and cooling lubes (containing menthol-like substances) are pleasant for many people, but can cause a burning sensation or irritation on sensitive skin, test on a small area first. We advise against numbing lubes containing benzocaine or lidocaine: they mask pain that warns you of injury, and benzocaine can trigger an allergic reaction. Pain should remain a signal, especially during anal use.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms or any doubt (pain, irritation, recurring infections, pregnancy), consult a doctor, midwife or sexologist.