Does your lube get sticky?
Personal lubricant is a bedroom tool which we recommend using plenty of! Folks of all ages can alleviate discomfort during penetrative sex, enhance sensation during masturbation, take pressure off their body’s natural lubrication system, make certain sex acts even possible, and find relief from irritating dryness (which may come from menopause, breastfeeding, diabetes, cancer, or plenty of other medical conditions and treatments whose side effects include dehydration and vaginal dryness).
But what if you’re feeling sticky down there?
(Note: If you find that your lube is causing pain or discomfort, you may have an allergy to an ingredient. Let us know! We’ve got plenty of options at The Pretty Pussycat, and we’re here to help you find the match for your body.)
If you’re experiencing stickiness, or finding yourself using more and more and more lube, you may be using a water-based lubricant. Your body is absorbing the water and leaving the rest behind to be naturally flushed out later. This is totally normal, and can be remedied with a different type of lube!
Switch to silicone
Way slicker than their water-based cousins, silicone lubes last longer and safely coat the skin to decrease friction. They don’t wash off as easily as water-based lubes, nor do they absorb as quickly into your skin.
While organics-obsessed Oregonians may feel wary at the mention of synthetic materials, silicone itself is inert and hypoallergenic. Silicone lubes often feature the shortest ingredient lists, and are typically free of parabens, glycols, glycerin, gluten, and other major irritants.
Silicone is a safer lube than oil: olive oil, baby oil, even coconut oil often contain trace minerals you don’t want inside your body. And not only does oil destroy many forms of birth control, including latex condoms, it’s much heavier than silicone and much harder to wash off. Oil can clog your pores, trap bacteria, and increase risk of infection. Yikes!
(Note: Silicone is condom-safe, but will degrade silicone surfaces – only use silicone lubes on metal and glass toys.)
“Which do you recommend?”
The Best of the Best: Überlube
Pure silicone with a trace of Vitamin E, Überlube is our top choice for anyone considering a silicone lube. Don’t just take our word for it! New York Magazine, Sex With Emily, Prevention.com, and plenty of others agree: Überlube is slippery, smooth, and great for all kinds of play. It’s also one of only a few products we can recommend using as both a massage glide and a personal lubricant. Cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and free of glycerin, gluten, parabens, and scents and flavors.
A Close Second: Sliquid Silver
In a side-by-side comparison, Sliqiud Silver is hard to distinguish from Überlube. Ideal for shower play and excellent for hand jobs, vulva massage, and anal play, the only real difference we’ve found is how it feels when you’re done. Überlube feels more like a moisturizer when the friction stops, whereas Sliquid Silver will stay right where you put it, in case you feel like seconds (or thirds [or fourths]). 100% free of DEA, gluten, glycerin, glycols, parabens, PEG, sorbitol, and sulfates, Sliquid Silver is 100% vegan-friendly, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic.
Certainly Not Least: Pjur Women’s Silicone Personal Lubricant
Less viscous (meaning: thinner) than most personal lubricants, Pjur Women’s Silicone Personal Lubricant can be used by anyone looking for a softer experience. A moisture-enhancing, hypoallergenic formula advertised for daily use, comprised of medical-grade ingredients. Safe for soft and sensitive skin, Pjur Women’s Silicone also makes an excellent, long-lasting massage glide.
In Conclusion
If you’re experiencing stickiness, or going through way more lube than you’d like to, consider the switch to silicone! We’ve got plenty of options for you to choose from and compare, and we’re always here to answer your questions. Lube is one of the most important things to have in your bedside arsenal of sexy time stuff, and you deserve one that makes you feel awesome!