The four lube types are water-based, silicone, oil and hybrid. Water-based works with every condom and toy. Silicone lasts longest and works in water. Oil suits massage but breaks down latex. Hybrids blend both. Choose by condom, toy and activity.
By the Badd Kitty boutique team · Updated October 2026
Key takeaways
- Using latex or SKYN condoms? Use water-based, silicone or hybrid lube. Never oil.
- Silicone toys? Water-based or hybrid is the safe default. Patch-test before using silicone lube on silicone.
- Coconut oil is fine for massage and condom-free play with no latex involved. It weakens latex and polyisoprene, and may not suit people prone to yeast infections.
- Sensitive or irritated? Look for glycerin-free, pH-balanced water-based lube, or try silicone.
- Anal sex: go thicker and use more. Silicone or a thick water-based gel.
Lube compatibility chart
| Water-based | Silicone | Hybrid | Oil (incl. coconut) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latex condoms | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Polyisoprene condoms (SKYN) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Polyurethane condoms | Yes | Check the lube label | Check the lube label | Yes |
| Silicone toys | Yes | Patch-test first | Usually yes, check the label | Check the toy maker |
| Glass, stainless steel, hard plastic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Anal sex | Yes, choose a thick gel | Yes, lasts longest | Yes | Without condoms only |
| Shower and bath | Rinses away | Best choice; wipe up drips | Partly rinses away | Hard to rinse; skip it |
| Clean-up | Water | Soap and water | Soap and water | Soap; can stain fabric |
The condom rows follow WHO's lubricant advisory. Water-based, glycol-based and silicone lubes are compatible with latex. Polyisoprene is as sensitive to oil as latex. Almost any safe lubricant works with polyurethane (WHO/UNFPA/FHI360). Planned Parenthood gives the same rule for latex: water-based or silicone lube only, never oil (Planned Parenthood). Brands can still differ: Überlube, for example, says it isn't compatible with polyurethane condoms (Überlube). Always read the label.
What is water-based lubricant?
Water-based lube is mostly water, thickened into a gel or liquid. It usually contains a humectant to hold moisture, often glycerin or propylene glycol, plus preservatives to stop microbes growing. WHO notes that those preservatives can irritate some people, and that warming lubes often contain high levels of propylene glycol.
Pros: safe with every condom and toy material, washes off with water, rarely stains, many flavored options. Cons: it absorbs and dries, so you reapply. A few drops of water revive it.
Our picks: JO H2O is the everyday classic. JO says it uses plant-based glycerin, and it is toy- and condom-friendly. Sliquid Sassy ($18.95) is a thick gel that Sliquid lists at pH 4.1–4.4, glycerin-free and glycol-free. pjur Naked ($29.95) has no glycerin, parabens or preservatives, per pjur.
Silicone lube
Silicone lube is made from silicone fluids such as dimethicone. It doesn't absorb into skin or evaporate, so a few drops last a long time and keep working in the shower. That staying power makes it a favorite for anal sex and long sessions.
Cons: it needs soap to wash off, it can leave marks on sheets, and it may react with silicone toys. Überlube, for one, does not recommend any silicone lube with silicone toys unless the toy maker approves it.
Our picks: Überlube (from $32.95) is light and silky. Überlube says it is compatible with latex and polyisoprene condoms. pjur Original 10 ml ($8.95) is a cheap way to try silicone. For anal play, pjur Back Door Silicone ($39.95) adds jojoba.
Hybrid lube
A hybrid is a water-based lube with some silicone blended in. It feels creamier and lasts longer than plain water-based lube, and still rinses off fairly easily. Most hybrids are sold as toy-safe, but check the label, and patch-test on a prized silicone toy.
Our picks: Wicked Simply Hybrid (from $23.95) is free of glycerin, propylene glycol and parabens, per Wicked. pjur Hybrid Toy Lube ($44.95) is a rich, creamy hybrid that pjur designed for all sex toys.
Oil-based lube, and can you use coconut oil as lube?
Yes, with limits. Cleveland Clinic lists coconut oil among the natural oils that can work as lube. It also warns that oils break down latex condoms and dental dams, and that baby oil and petroleum jelly can irritate delicate tissue (Cleveland Clinic).
One US study of 141 women is worth knowing. Women who used oils inside the vagina were more often colonized with Candida, the yeast behind yeast infections: 44.4% vs 5%. Using petroleum jelly inside the vagina was linked to 2.2 times the risk of bacterial vaginosis (Brown et al., 2013). That's an association in a small study, not proof. Still, if you get yeast infections or BV easily, keep oils external.
When oil works well
- Massage that turns into sex, with no latex or polyisoprene involved
- Hand play, masturbation and external touch
- With glass or stainless steel toys
Our pick: Wicked Coconut Oil ($23.95) is a coconut-oil balm with vitamin E and shea butter. Wicked says it's for external and internal use, isn't compatible with latex or polyisoprene condoms, and may stain fabric. For massage only, see massage oils.
Osmolality, glycerin and pH: why some lubes sting
If a lube burns or leaves you sore, the formula may be pulling water out of delicate tissue. That's osmolality, a measure of how concentrated a product is. WHO's advisory gives the numbers:
- Vaginal fluid is about 260–290 mOsm/kg and semen about 250–380.
- Most commercial lubes tested were 2,000–6,000 mOsm/kg.
- WHO says ideally a lube shouldn't exceed 380. As an interim limit for bulk buyers, it recommends no more than 1,200.
- Glycols drive the number. To stay under 1,200, glycerin should be below about 9.9% and propylene glycol below 8.3%.
Lab work backs this up. In a 2012 study, highly concentrated gels damaged cervical and colorectal tissue samples. Near-body-concentration water-based lubes and both silicone lubes tested were the safest (Dezzutti et al., 2012).
pH matters too. A healthy vagina runs at pH 3.8–4.5 and the rectum is closer to neutral. WHO suggests about pH 4.5 for vaginal lube and 5.5–7 for anal lube. Few brands publish osmolality, so use ingredients as a guide. Glycerin-free and propylene-glycol-free formulas such as Sliquid Sassy, pjur Naked and Wicked Simply Aqua Jelle ($27.95) are where we send customers with sensitive skin. Silicone is another good option: it contains no water, so Überlube notes it has no pH or osmolality and doesn't interfere with vaginal pH.
Warming, cooling, tingling and flavored lubes add ingredients, so patch-test them on your inner arm first. If irritation, unusual discharge, itching or pain continues after you stop using a lube, see a doctor or sexual health clinic.
Lube for anal sex
The anus doesn't self-lubricate, so use more lube and a thicker one. Silicone lasts longest. Thick water-based gels such as JO Anal Thick (from $19.95) are easy to clean up and safe with silicone toys. Avoid numbing products, because pain is a signal to slow down. Shop anal lube, read our best lube for anal guide, or start with how to use a butt plug.
Stains and clean-up
- Water-based: rinses out of skin and fabric with water.
- Silicone and hybrid: wash skin with soap. Pre-treat fabric with a drop of dish soap before laundering.
- Oil: wash skin with soap and launder sheets promptly, before oil sets.
- Toys: clean after every use. See our guide to cleaning sex toys.
Which lube should you buy?
| If you want | Choose | Try |
|---|---|---|
| One bottle that works with everything | Water-based | JO H2O |
| Sensitive skin or recurring irritation | Glycerin-free water-based | Sliquid Sassy ($18.95), pjur Naked ($29.95) |
| Long sessions, shower sex, anal | Silicone | Überlube (from $32.95), pjur Original 10 ml ($8.95) |
| Long-lasting and toy-friendly | Hybrid | Wicked Simply Hybrid (from $23.95) |
| Massage into sex without latex | Oil | Wicked Coconut Oil ($23.95) |
For more picks by situation, read the best lube for sex and how to use lube. Using condoms? Our condom size chart lists which ones are latex-free. Browse every bottle in lube. Orders ship in plain packaging, with free standard shipping over $75, and staff at our seven boutiques can help you choose.
Sources
- WHO/UNFPA/FHI360, Use and procurement of additional lubricants for male and female condoms: advisory note (2012)
- Dezzutti CS et al. Is wetter better? An evaluation of over-the-counter personal lubricants for safety and anti-HIV-1 activity. PLoS One. 2012
- Brown JM et al. Intravaginal practices and risk of bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis infection among a cohort of women in the United States. Obstet Gynecol. 2013
- Cleveland Clinic, "Lubricant Alternatives: What To Use and What To Avoid"
- Überlube, product page and compatibility notes
- Planned Parenthood, Condoms (lube compatibility)
