7 Best Lubes for the Best Sex of Your Life
Improve the moment for you and everyone else involved.
By Let's talk about sex. Sometimes it's better with the right accessories. Sometimes it's better with the proper protection. But when it comes to lubes, a good lube can only make sex better. We would go so far as to say that anyone who knows how to have great sex always has a bottle of good lube at the ready. But not all lubes are created equal.
We mustered 11 of the best personal lubes to hoist you straight into the pro echelon. Some are water based; they feel extra slippery and are most versatile for condoms and sex toys. Others are silicone based and feel like soft, warm linen on your sensitive parts. (These also last far longer and work underwater.) Oil-based options need only one application, and hybrid options offer the best of both worlds.
So discuss it with your partner(s), figure out everyone's needs, then choose one from the recommendations below.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients, good for sensitive skin
- Can be used with all condoms and toys
- pH balanced
Cons
- Not as slick as a silicone lube
If you're concerned about the ingredients touching your skin, invite Mother Nature into your intimate moments. By that, we mean something natural like this soothing aloe vera lube. Maude's aloe- and water-based lubricant is safe to use with toys and condoms. Plus, it's ultra-hydrating and pH balanced to relieve any irritation or dryness in her, his, or their sensitive areas.
| Type | Aloe- and Water-Based |
|---|---|
| Good for Sex Toys? | Yes |
| Good for Condoms? | Yes |
Pros
- Water-based lube is safe with toys and condoms
- Has a natural feel to it
Cons
- Not the most long-lasting
Water-based lubes mimic the natural fluids that female bodies release, though they often dry up quickly. Astroglide's options are decently long-lasting and well suited for sex that feels euphorically natural. This lube is extra slick and stimulating, and like any water-based lube, it washes off easily.
A bonus benefit of water-based lubes is that they're safe with all condoms and sex toys.
| Type | Water-Based |
|---|---|
| Good for Sex Toys? | Yes |
| Good for Condoms? | Yes |
Pros
- Long-lasting and ultrasmooth
- In terms of feel, it's the best lube for sex there is
Cons
- Can stain fabric
Silicone-based lubes are the professional-grade stuff. They're hydrophobic (so they're ideal for shower use) and they last (so they're good for longer-than-average sessions). Überlube is everything a silicone-based lube needs to be: long-lasting, smooth, and easy to clean off.
There are only two real downsides to a silicone-based lube. First, it's not compatible with silicone-based sex toys. Molecularly, they essentially want to meld into one object—no good. The second issue is that a silicone-based lube can stain fabrics. This isn't one to bring to the bed.
| Type | Silicone-Based |
|---|---|
| Good for Silicone Sex Toys? | No |
| Good for Condoms? | Yes |
Pros
- Feels closer to a silicone-based lube than any other water-based option
- Safe for use with all condoms and sex toys
Cons
- Still not as long-lasting or slick as a silicone-based lube
The real feat is finding a water-based lube that's as rich as a silky-smooth silicone-based one. The best we've found is from Sutil. It's thicker and longer lasting than a typical water-based lube, though not as much as a 100 percent silicone-based lube.
But since it's water based, it comes with the reassurance that it's safe for whatever condom or toy it comes into contact with.
| Type | Water-Based |
|---|---|
| Good for Silicone Sex Toys? | Yes |
| Good for Condoms? | Yes |
Pros
- Bottle looks inconspicuous enough
- Aloe- and water-based lube is a great all-purpose moisturizer
Cons
- Not as long-lasting as Maude
Listen, discretion is key. And Lelo ensures that you won't ever leave a crusty drugstore lube bottle lying out on the bedside table. Instead, it'll look like you placed one of your fancy fragrances on display.
As for the formula, it's made with aloe vera, like the option from Maude (though we found the Maude lube a bit longer lasting and good for sensitive skin). It works as a refreshing moisturizer for your upper-body skin, too.
| Type | Water-Based |
|---|---|
| Good for Silicone Sex Toys? | Yes |
| Good for Condoms? | Yes |
Pros
- Amazing for couples sex and toy-free solo sessions
- Smells lovely
- Locking pump is easy to use
Cons
- Not good for condoms or sex toys
A warning: Oil-based lubes are a no-go with latex condoms, and they're not exactly good for toys, either. But for no-toy and no-condom sex, this Glissant Huile d'Amour is phenomenal. The CBD and CBG improve pleasure in everyone's already sensitive areas, and the herbal aphrodisiacs (safe to consume) level it up even more. For situations when unprotected sex is in the cards, you simply can't beat this. With its locking pump, you can just open the top, dispense a little, and you're on your way.
| Type | Oil-Based |
|---|---|
| Good for Silicone Sex Toys? | Not Recommended |
| Good for Condoms? | No |
Pros
- Can switch out lubes depending on the mood
- Great for warming lube or massage oil to a nice temperature
Cons
- Bit of an investment
Instead of having you squeeze lube out of a bottle like a sex-crazed teenager, some brands give you a pump. Pulse goes more futuristic with a no-touch warming dispenser. It comes with pods of water-based and silicone-based lubes, so you can choose your preference depending on the mood.
And if foreplay—or just a loving massage—is the main attraction, this set comes with four of Pulse's massage oil pods.
| Type | Silicone- or Water-Based |
|---|---|
| Good for Silicone Sex Toys? | Water-Based, Yes |
| Good for Condoms? | Yes |
Which Lube Is Right for You?
There's not a lot to consider here, and we kept this list tight with the best options from each lube base. But it is helpful to spell out what each base is best and worst for. So let's do that.
Water-Based Lube: The jack-of-all-trades, best when aloe vera is involved, as in the Maude and Lelo options. Water-based lubes are safe on all toys and all condoms, and they're typically gentle on sensitive skin.
Silicone-Based Lube: The longest lasting of the lube bases and the one that is generally thought to feel the best. A downside is that it's bad for silicone toys. Never mix silicone lube with silicone toys. And it can stain fabric.
Oil-Based Lube: Our favorite for more intimate moments like unprotected sex and massaging. Oil-based lubes are typically super-hydrating, pH balanced, and about as long-lasting as silicone-based lubes, though not as thick. Oil-based lubes aren't great for silicone sex toys, but they're fine once or twice in a pinch. Always use water-based lube for toys when you can. And do not use oil-based lubes with condoms. Oil breaks down latex and leads to condom breaks.
Why Trust Esquire
Because we're the foremost voice in the world of sex-having adults with penises. We're committed to testing sex toys for people with penises, condoms, and every bottle of lube under the sun. We talk with experts and regular people, and we use our own firsthand experience. When it comes to products, we'll only recommend it if we'd use it. And for lube, we only recommend the stuff we trust in and around our own bodies.
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