Slippery When Wet

The Low Down On Lubes

Moisture is essential to any kind of sex—rubbing dry on dry skin will quickly show you how uncomfortable sexual activity can be without it. Moisture prevents micro-abrasions in our most sensitive areas that can happen from sexual friction, as well as heightens sensation. Jenne from Clitical.com illustrated it well when she described her “finger on lip” test... first run your finger over your dry lip, then lick them and try again... and you'll understand why moisture is so important.

For most of my sexual life, I'd thought (incorrectly) that our own vaginal moisture, or saliva as a second runner up, was enough. Lube is more than just moisture... it's formulated to be more slick than our natural juices, and to give a bit of padding between surfaces in motion.

LUBRICANT TYPES

There are basically 2 different kinds of lube

Waterbased
Silicone based

Water-based

Lube as we know it descended from a cellulose/water combination called Surgilube, released in the 1950s and still common today for “medical applications,” translation, one-time insertion. What about KY-Jelly, you ask? It was designed to aid with medical examinations, and it tends to gum up quickly when used for sex play; though KY has designed actual sexual lubes since.

The majority of lubes are water-based; they are a great all-purpose lube because they are condom safe, generally don't stain (depends on if coloring has been added or not), and can be flavoured easily. Because they are water-based, they dehydrate (dry up), but remember that the slippery ingredients are still there... so a quick dunk of your hand in a glass of water on your bedside table, touch the lubed area, and you're back in business.

Water-based lubes are thicker than silicone lube because water molecules are thicker than silicone molecules, so are often recommended for anal sex (more padding back there is a good thing), though some prefer silicone lube because it doesn't dry up as quickly. Water-based lube cleans up easily with soap and water, though some of the better water-based lubes will just soak into your skin (and double as a moisturizer with the right ingredients).

The only across-the-board disadvantage to water-based lube is that it's water-based, so it dehydrates quicker than other types of lubes. Most water-based lubes are glycerin-based; glycerin can turn into a sugar when added to the vagina, causing yeast infections for those of us that are prone to them .Unlike silicone lube, which is made out of inert ingredients, water-based lubes can contain ingredients that might react with our bodies, depending on what we are sensitive to.

Silicone based

Silicone is clear, thinner, and feels... slick. If you just touch the cap of the lube bottle, you'll feel how slippery it is without even having to put it on your skin. Though it tends to be more expensive, a little bit goes a long way, so your bottle will last twice as long as a similar-sized bottle of water-based lube.

Silicone molecules are smaller than water molecules, therefore, you stay a little more in-touch with what you're rubbing against and don't have as much padding; personal tastes dictate whether this is a good or bad thing. Because silicone isn't naturally occurring in the body, it doesn't absorb like water-based lube can; though you might think this is a bad thing, when you factor in that your body expels foreign substances, silicone lube is actually out of your system faster than you might think. Silicone is inert, which means it won't change your pH balance or react with your body's chemistry.

Because it's not water-soluble, it's also the perfect choice for using in or under water, too, though be careful... it will make the floor of your shower super-slick too. It also makes a great massage oil because it doesn't dry up before you're done with it (try it as a shave cream, or to make your latex clothes shine, too!). Soap and water will wash it off with a little effort.

Also, the only thing that bonds to silicone is silicone; so using silicone lube with lower-quality silicone toys can gum up the surface. To be clear, this is toys that use lesser-grade of silicone (called “tin” silicone, I've only found it in Vixen Creation toys) or a combination of silicone and other materials (like many of the new products created by the big toy companies; if a toy smells, it's not 100% silicone). All Tantus Silicone and Fun Factory toys are made with “platinum” silicone (medical-grade quality silicone) and don't have any issues. If you are unsure what type of toy you've got, do a spot-test on a small area; if it's going to gum up, it will do so immediately.

Warranty and Repairs:

Be Daring the Adult Shop supply care instructions with all purchases of vibrating products and also offer a 30 day repair warranty on all vibrating products sold.  This entitles the customer to return to store any item which is shown to be faulty within 30 days of purchase for repair or replacement.

CAUTION: DISCLAIMER

The information provided to you is not professional advice. No-one should act in reliance upon any of this information without first obtaining independent advice from a health professional familiar with their particular state of health and fitness.