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Personal lubricants (or sexual lubricants, or lubes) are used to reduce friction during sexual activity, and increase intimacy. Friction can cause pain during or after sexual activity, and sometimes lead to condom breakage.
Hormone fluctuations often cause vaginal dryness, so it is very normal that women experience vaginal dryness. A few drops of lubes will make sexual activity more comfortable and pleasurable.
Lubricants can be used not only for vaginal intercourse, but also anal sex, masturbation, and with sex toys for enhanced pleasure. For anal sex, you will feel more comfortable with thicker type lubes, since there is no natural lubricant produced. Lubricated sex toy will work amazingly for you, but you need to choose appropriate type of lubricant for the material of your sex toys. Otherwise it may damage your favorite sex toys.
Types of Lubricants
There are thousands of different kinds of products out there, and many of those can be divided into three types, Water-based, Oil-based and Silicone-based. It is good to know the differences, when you choose a personal lubricant.
Water-based :
Many of lubricants are water based, it is basic type of lube and usually less expensive. Most of them work with latex and silicone, which means you can use this type of lubricant with almost any vibrators, dildos, masturbators, and it will not damage latex condoms as well.
Water-based lubricants are easy to wash out, but they dry up and when they dry you will feel little tacky. There are many varieties, - scented, flavored, warming and so on, and there also is difference in consistency as well - thin like water to thick like gel. One of the most popular Astroglide Lube 2.5 oz./ 5 oz. is thin type, long lasting, Non-staining on fabric and condom compatible.
Oil-based :
Oil-based lubricants including Vaseline (petroleum jelly) and baby oil dissolve and weaken latex, will cause condom break. Not all the condoms are incompatible with oil-based lubricants, there are new condoms made out of plastic (Polyurethane) which can be used with oil-based lubricants.
Oil-based lubricants are not water soluble, so it is difficult to clean off completely from the vaginal wall, this will lead to increase the chance of getting bacterial infection.
Silicone-based :
Silicone-based lubricants never evaporate, so they last longer than water-based lubricants. And because they will not be washed away with water, you can use them in the bath or shower. Like Eros for Man / for Women and Wet Platinum - higher end silicone lubes, are usually more expensive than water based lubricants, but it requires less amount to work perfectly. They can be used as great skin moisturizers as well. Silicone-based lubricants feel almost like oil, and are thicker than water and compatible with condom (condoms are usually pre-lubricated with this type of lubricants), therefore they are ideal for anal play.
Down side is silicone based lubricants are not compatible with silicone sex toys or "cyber skin" sex toys. They can be used on latex and rubber, but should never be used with silicone sex toys or "cyber skin" sex toys. They stain clothes and bed linen.
More importantly they have added chemicals, so we recommend testing them on your inner arm or inner thigh before you use it on more delicate parts of your body.
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