Some examples of homemade lubrication include:
- Unsalted Butter
- Crisco Shortening
- Vaseline or petroleum jelly
- Baby oil or mineral oil
Over the years, the wife and I have tried just about every conceivable lubricant on the market - some have stood the test of time, while some have come and gone. Out of the ones we have tried, I will break them down into two groups: Drugstore/medical brands which are FDA approved, and Sex shop brands. Both are generally safe, and each has their merits and drawbacks. Generally, a good lubricant is suitable for all forms of play.
Speaking, most drugstore/medical brands are water-based, and wash off easily with water. They contain ingredients which are for the most part benign, though some brands contain chlorohexine gluconate as a perservative. Frequent use can present a problem for some women as glycerin can lead to vaginal yeast infections if used too frequently. In terms of consistency, most are good for both vaginal and anal play. Brands which can be found at your local pharmacy include:
- K-Y
- Surgilube
- Taro Gel
- Lubafax
The other category is adult store brands, some of which are sold in various pharmacies. These vary greatly in terms of formulation, and consistency - which can be broken down into three subgroups - Water based, oil based, and silicone based. In my opinion, I would avoid all oil based lubricants like the plague as they can coat the anus or vagina, and disrupt the natural processes. Most silicone based lubricants are extremely slippery, but they suffer the drawback of being way too thin - for erotic massage they work fine however. Another concern with short chain silicones is whether or not they have the ability to enter the bloodstream which has been subjected to debate although cimethicone is used in various FDA approved stomach remedies. The only silicone based lubricant which I have found to be of adequate consistency is Pjur Original Gel Bodyglide.
The water-based category merits an explanation in itself. This category comes in forms ranging from liquid to gel, and comes in flavors as well. The water based lubricants are the safest category, and the most commonly used. The general rule is - the thicker the better. I have found that some brands do not keep their lubricity well with body heat, or break down easily with friction. My top recommendations, are in the following order:
- Sex Grease
- Slippery Stuff Gel (Glycerin Free)
- Doc's Ultra Lube
- Colt Slick
- Adam & Eve Signature Lube
Brands which we have tried, and are simply absolute rubbish include:
- Maximus (Breaks down with friction and body heat)
- ID Glide
- System Jo products
- Moist
- Elbow Grease
There is also the category of lubricants with added ingredients, such as de-sensitizing and warming gels. Most de-sensitizing formulations contain benzocaine, which is good for introductory play, but often blunt the pleasure associated with BDSM play. On the other hand, there are a number of warming formulations available, and most work very well for vaginal use. I have yet to find any commercially available products good for anal use since the K-Y warming gel was reformulated without lactic acid two years ago - instead it contains propylene glycol which the body converts to lactic acid. There are some products which contain menthol, however the concentration is too low to have an effect. This is where I find that someone could come and fill an unmet need and such a product could be formulated with a non-toxic mild organic acid and/or menthol. In medical litterature I came across a woman using Ben Gay and Vicks for this purpose - Not recommended! Methyl Salicyclate and especially Camphor should never be taken internally as they can cause liver damage!
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