13 Best Lubes in 2025, According to Experts and Shoppers
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Penetration, hand jobs, masturbation, fingering—if you’re having any kind of sex, you can (and should) use lubricant during it to reduce friction and make things more comfortable, Allison K. Rodgers, MD, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility doctor at Fertility Centers of Illinois, tells SELF. But if you haven’t found your go-to yet, searching for the best lube can be daunting: It’s easy to feel like there are as many different kinds as there are ways to use it. So how do you choose the right one?
The good news is, when shopping for lube, you don’t need to reach for the fanciest (or most expensive) tube on the shelf, Dr. Rodgers says. Focus on finding one that won’t irritate your skin—just like any other product you slather on. The next step is learning which type is best for you and your favorite bedroom activities: water-, silicone-, or oil-based (more on this later).
To track down the top options, we turned to the experts and researched dozens of lubes from brands like K-Y, Pjur, and Lola. Our favorites are super slippery, easy to use, and definitely worth adding to your bedside drawer.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Bloomi Natural Water-Based Lubricant
- Best for Beginners: LOLA Personal Lubricant
- Best for Masturbation: Maude Shine Organic
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Good Clean Love Bionude Ultra Sensitive Personal Lube
- Best for Latex Condoms: K-Y True Feel Lube
- Best Anal Lube: Pjur Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant
FAQs
Why should you use lube?
The short answer? Because it makes most positions feel better. Dr. Rodgers notes that lube creates glide, preventing the friction created by your hands, a toy, or a partner from causing irritation. Lube can also help soothe an itchy, dry, or uncomfortable vagina—and it’s a must for anal sex because your anus can’t lubricate itself.
What should you consider when shopping for lube?
Choose your lube based on what you want to use it for. Water-based lube is great for almost all types of sex—plus, it’s safe to use with latex and silicone products, according to Dr. Rodgers. It usually comes in a thin, slippery liquid or gel form that’s “easier to clean off than silicone-based [lubes] and much safer with toys and condoms,” Rosara Torrisi, PhD, an AASECT-certified sex therapist and the founding director at the Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy, tells SELF. One downside is that water-based lube tends to get sticky as the water evaporates during use, so it needs frequent reapplication; you can remedy any tackiness by adding a few drops of water to refresh it.
According to the experts we spoke with, silicone-based lube is an excellent choice for anal sex and hand jobs because it’s longer-lasting than water-based and less absorbent (requiring fewer reapplications). It’s also hypoallergenic, which makes it great for sensitive skin, Dr. Rodgers says. FYI: You can use this kind of lube with latex condoms, but never with silicone sex toys because it can degrade their material.
Lastly, there are oil-based lubes like coconut oil, baby oil, and petroleum jelly, which are popular because they’re cheap and easy to find at most drugstores. But oil can cause latex condoms to break—and petroleum jelly can potentially lead to vaginal infection. So if you do opt for oil, use it with a latex-free condom like this option from Skyn ($9).
Which ingredients should you avoid in lube?
When it comes to reading a lube label, Dr. Rodgers recommends avoiding parabens, petroleum, and any fragrances or flavors, which can be harsh on your skin. (None of the picks on our list contain any of these.) If you’re prone to yeast infections, make sure that your water-based lube doesn’t have glycerin in it. This ingredient is a byproduct of sugar, which may alter vaginal pH by producing an overgrowth of yeast, leading to infection.
In general, “avoid products that report that they heat you or warm you,” Dr. Rodgers says. “This is likely an irritant that’s causing burning of the tissue—that’s why it’s warm!” Also, don’t use food or whipped cream as lube: She says this can also cause irritation and increase your risk of infection.
Shop the best lubes
Dive into our top picks, recommended by experts, SELF staffers, and reviewers, below.
Best Overall: Bloomi Smooth Water-Based Personal Lubricant
TargetBloomi
Smooth Water-Based Personal Lubricant
Pros
- Discreet packaging
- Latex-safe
- Hydrating and long-lasting
Cons
- Smaller tube than most of our other top picks
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.
- Other notable ingredients: Slippery sunflower seed extract
- Size: 3 oz.
Best for Beginners: Lola Personal Lubricant
AmazonLola
Personal Lubricant
Pros
- Discreet packaging
- Can be pumped with one hand
Cons
- Smaller than most of our other top picks
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.”
- Other notable ingredients: Hydrating propanediol, pH-balancing citric acid
- Size: 1.7 oz.
Best Anal Lube: Pjur Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant
AmazonPjur
Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant
Pros
- Latex-safe
- Long-lasting
- Flavor-, fragrance-, and glycerin-free
Cons
- Incompatible with silicone sex toys
- Pricey
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.
- Other notable ingredients: Softening, non-greasy jojoba; moisturizing dimethicone
- Size: 3.4 oz.
Best for Masturbation: Maude Shine Organic
MaudeMaude
Shine Organic (4-oz.)
Pros
- Silicone- and latex-safe
- Long-lasting
Cons
- May feel sticky after it dries, according to reviewers
Maude makes one former 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.
- Other notable ingredients: Hydrating propanediol
- Size: 4 oz.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Good Clean Love Bionude Ultra Sensitive Personal Lube
TargetGood Clean Love
Bionude Ultra Sensitive Personal Lube
Pros
- Silicone- and latex-safe
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- Small tube
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.
- Other notable ingredients: pH-balancing lactic acid
- Size: 3 oz.
Best Oil-Based: Foria Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD
UltaForia
Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD
Pros
- Silicone-safe
- Dropper to control application
Cons
- Not safe with latex
- May irritate those sensitive to tree nuts
- Pricey
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.
- Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing coconut oil
- Size: 3.8 oz.
Best for Latex Condoms: K-Y True Feel Lube
AmazonK-Y
True Feel Lube
Pros
- Flavor-, fragrance-, and glycerin-free
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Not safe for silicone toys
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.
- Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing dimethicone
- Size: 4.5 oz.
Other great options
Still haven’t found your perfect match? Keep scrolling to shop even more highly rated lubes.
Coconu Water Based Personal Lubricant
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coconu.comCoconu
Water Based Personal Lubricant
Pros
- Flavor-, fragrance-, and glycerin-free
- Lightweight
Cons
- May need to be reapplied more often
- Pricey
This water-based lube is a great option for anyone with sensitive skin—it’s free of alcohol, glycerin, petroleum, parabens, gluten, phthalates, fragrances, and dyes. Plus, it’s designed to feel like your natural lubrication. We also like that the bottle doesn’t scream lube, so if you leave this one on your bedside table, it certainly won’t raise any eyebrows.
“I’ve tested a lot of lubes, and I keep going back to this one because it’s one of only a few that doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin,” says one SELF writer. “Like any water-based lube, it can dry out quickly, but it’s worth reapplying for the benefit of an easy cleanup (no sheet stains), and the fact that it just never causes any issues.”
- Other notable ingredients: Antimicrobial, antioxidant-packed coconut water
- Size: 3 oz.
Sliquid Silver Luxury Silicone Lubricant
AmazonSliquid
Silver Luxury Silicone Lubricant
Pros
- Comes in a wide range of sizes
- Waterproof
Cons
- Incompatible with silicone sex toys
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 also makes multiple formulas (water-based, oil-based, hybrid) for different needs.
- Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing dimethicone
- Size: 4.2 oz.
Lelo Personal Moisturizer
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dermstore.comLELO
Personal Moisturiser
Pros
- Natural feel
- Fragrance- and glycerin-free
Cons
- May need to be reapplied more often
- Small tube
Another water-based option, this lube from Lelo is made with aloe leaf juice for a long-lasting, slick feel. It’s also free from glycerin, parabens, and fragrances, and will work with any toys or condoms you want to use. “It took me a while to find a moisturizer that didn’t make my sensitive skin uncomfortable, but this one has worked amazingly since the first try,” wrote one Lelo reviewer.
- Other notable ingredients: pH-balancing citric acid
- Size: 2.5 oz.
Dame Aloe Lube
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dame.comDame
Aloe Lube
Pros
- Natural feel
- Contains extra moisturizing ingredients
Cons
- May need to be reapplied more often
This water-based lube’s unique formula combines moisturizing ingredients like aloe leaf juice and propanediol with hemp seed and green tea extract to help calm inflammation. “This product seems very similar to one’s own natural lubrication. It’s extremely gentle,” wrote one Dame reviewer.
- Other notable ingredients: Hydrating linseed and oat kernel extract
- Size: 4 oz.
Playground Naked Love
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amazon.comPlayground Naked Love
Pros
- Free of irritants
- Contains extra moisturizing ingredients
Cons
- May need to be reapplied more often
- Smaller bottle
Naked Love was developed with the sensitive vag in mind. If you get UTIs or yeast or BV infections easily, Playground’s water-based lube (which is free of petroleum, glycerin, and fragrance) is worth a try. Packed with hydrating skin care ingredients like vitamin E and propanediol, this lube will feel silky smooth during the action and may even leave your skin feeling softer than when you started.
- Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing hyaluronic acid
- Size: 3.7 oz.
Aloe Cadabra Water-Based Personal Lubricant
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amazon.comAloe Cadabra Water-Based Personal Lubricant
Pros
- Doesn't feel sticky
- Slightly flavored
Cons
- May need to be reapplied more often
- Small size
This lube is 95% organic aloe leaf juice, which gives it the slippery, long-lasting feel that reviewers love. “The texture is smooth and feels great, enhancing the experience without being overly slick or greasy,” wrote one Amazon shopper. It’s also free of parabens, petroleum, and glycerin. One drawback to note if you have sensitive skin: It does contain vanilla flavor oil.
- Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing safflower oil
- Size: 2.5 oz.
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
