The Best Lubes for Smooth Sailing Alone or With a Partner (2024)

Target

Best Overall: Bloomi’s water-based lube is our top overall pick because it’s budget-friendly and doesn’t contain any flavor, fragrance, glycerin, gluten, or parabens—all of which are common allergens that can irritate sensitive areas. Shoppers rave that it provides the perfect amount of slip whether you use it on a toy or with a partner. Plus it doesn’t feel sticky or greasy, and it won’t leave a residue behind. “I don’t know how I ever used anything else!” one reviewer wrote.

• Pros: Discreet packaging, latex-safe, hydrating, and long-lasting
• Cons: Smaller tube than most of our other top picks
• Other notable ingredients: Slippery sunflower seed extract

Amazon

Best for Beginners: New to lube? Try this water-based pick, which comes in a small pump bottle that locks to prevent accidental spills. The sleek bottle looks more like a pricey skin care product, right down to its frosted exterior. Reviewers with sensitive skin also appreciate that Lola’s lubricant doesn’t burn or sting. “This really does mimic your body’s natural moisture,” one shopper wrote. “No scent. Not sticky.”

• Pros: Discreet packaging, can be pumped with one hand
• Cons: Smaller than most of our other top picks
• Other notable ingredients: Hydrating propanediol, pH-balancing citric acid

Amazon

Best Anal Lube: As the name implies, Pjur’s Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant is designed for anal sex, with silicone and jojoba oil that creates a silky formula. Its thinner consistency feels fluid and lasts longer than many other silicone-based lubes do, according to shoppers. “We were surprised that we only needed a few drops and that it maintains its slick lubrication without the need to reapply during our anal play,” one Lovehoney reviewer wrote.

Pjur’s Anal Lubricant works well with latex condoms, but it can’t be used with silicone sex toys or condoms, since it contains silicones that could damage them.

• Pros: Latex-safe; long-lasting; flavor-, fragrance-, and glycerin-free
• Cons: Incompatible with silicone sex toys, pricey
• Other notable ingredients: Softening, non-greasy jojoba; moisturizing dimethicone

Maude

Best for Masturbation: Maude makes one SELF editor’s go-to vibrator and her favorite lube. While the brand also carries a silicone-based lube, she prefers its water-based formula because it isn’t distractingly scented and doesn’t irritate her vulva. “I use it with a vibe when I don’t want to deal with the friction of rubbing a toy against my dry vag,” she says. You can buy it in a 4 oz. easy-pump bottle, a travel-friendly 2 oz. size, or an 8 oz. value size.

• Pros: Silicone- and latex-safe; long-lasting
• Cons: May feel sticky after it dries, according to reviewers
• Other notable ingredients: Hydrating propanediol

Target

Best for Sensitivity: If you have sensitive skin, Dr. Torrisi recommends Good Clean Love’s water-based, hypoallergenic lubes (as do many Amazon shoppers). “It lives up to its ‘ultrasensitive’ name—and it lasts longer than other water-based ones my wife and I have used,” one reviewer wrote.

• Pros: Silicone- and latex-safe, hypoallergenic
• Cons: Small tube
• Other notable ingredients: pH-balancing lactic acid

Amazon

Turn to Sliquid Silver for a velvety lube that’s perfect for exploring butt play or giving a massage. “This is totally my favorite silicone lube—it’s not too thin, so it feels more natural to the body, and it lasts forever,” wrote one shopper. The brand makes all types of lubes (water-based, oil-based, hybrid), in case you have different needs.

• Pros: Comes in a wide range of sizes, waterproof
• Cons: Incompatible with silicone sex toys
• Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing dimethicone

Ulta

Best Oil-Based: Foria’s coconut-oil-based lubricant comes recommended by Megan Fleming, PhD, a psychologist and AASECT-certified sex therapist. She appreciates that it only has two ingredients: organic coconut oil and CBD. Shoppers say that the lube is long-lasting, moisturizing, and makes for an excellent massage oil. Just make sure that you don’t pair it with anything made of latex, and steer clear if you have a tree nut sensitivity or allergy.

• Pros: Silicone-safe, dropper to control application
• Cons: Not safe with latex; may irritate those sensitive to tree nuts; pricey
• Other notable ingredients: moisturizing coconut oil

Amazon

Best for Latex Condoms: If you plan to use latex condoms, it’s super important you make sure your lube is compatible—otherwise, it could cause the condom to break down and become less effective, Alyssa Dweck, MD, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and co-author of V is For Vagina, previously told SELF. K-Y’s True Feel Lube is silicone-based and has an extra slippery feel that’s great for both vaginal penetration and anal sex. Just so you know: While it’s safe to use with latex, it will degrade silicone sex toys, so you should try a water- or oil-based option there instead.

“Other lubes tend to get sticky fast and ruin the moment,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “Not True Feel! You don't have to use a lot of it, either.” The 4.5 oz. size is discreet, while the 8.45 oz. size saves you the hassle of having to constantly reorder.

• Pros: Flavor-, fragrance-, and glycerin-free; long-lasting
• Cons: Not safe for silicone toys
• Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing dimethicone