Lubricant education
Find the formula that suits your body and your toys
There is no single best lubricant — only the right one for the material, the activity and your skin.
Water-based
- Feel
- Light, clean, easy to rinse away.
- Compatibility
- Safe with every toy material and every condom type.
- Best for
- Silicone toys, everyday use, anyone unsure where to start.
- Watch for
- Absorbs over time — refresh with a little water.
Silicone-based
- Feel
- Silky and long-lasting; a little goes far.
- Compatibility
- Safe with glass, steel and ABS. Avoid on silicone toys.
- Best for
- Longer sessions, use in water, minimal reapplication.
- Watch for
- Can degrade silicone surfaces and needs soap to wash off.
Hybrid
- Feel
- Creamy, cushioned, slower to absorb.
- Compatibility
- Depends on the formula — check the label.
- Best for
- People who like water-based but want more staying power.
- Watch for
- Silicone content varies widely between brands.
Sensitive skin
- Feel
- Neutral and unscented.
- Compatibility
- Usually water-based, so broadly compatible.
- Best for
- Reactive skin, or anyone avoiding glycerin and fragrance.
- Watch for
- Shorter ingredient lists are generally the better sign.
Flavoured
- Feel
- Slightly sweeter, often thinner.
- Compatibility
- Water-based, so toy-safe.
- Best for
- Oral play where taste matters.
- Watch for
- Sweeteners can be irritating for some people.
Toy-compatible
- Feel
- Formulated specifically to sit alongside silicone.
- Compatibility
- Labelled as safe for all toy materials.
- Best for
- Households with a mixed collection.
- Watch for
- Still worth patch-testing new formulas.