What Are Better Lube Alternatives To Jojoba Oil?
Although jojoba oil can be safe as lube in many sexual circumstances, you may prefer using a store-bought personal lubricant.
Luckily, there are plenty of options to choose from, including:
Here’s a cheat sheet for selecting the best lube based on how you intend to use it:
| Lube Type: |
| Oral Sex |
| Vaginal Sex |
| Anal Sex |
| Condom Types |
| Sex Toy Types |
| Bath/Shower Use |
| Does It Stain? |
If you’re not sure which one will meet your needs (or intended use), read our in-depth lube guide or take our lube quiz to find the answer.
Let’s take a quick look at the four main categories of lubricants.
Water-based lubes are water-soluble and they typically have a texture that closely resembles your body’s natural lubrication.
Water-based lube is safe to use with any type of condom, diaphragm, dental dam, and sex toy material — which is why they are so popular.
If you are planning a long sex session, you’ll likely need to reapply water-based lubes often.
They can also be reactivated with a little water when needed, however, they are not suitable for use in the shower or bathtub because they’ll rinse away easily.
To learn more about water-based lubes, we tested and reviewed the safest and best water-based personal lubricants to help you find your perfect partner.
- Silicone-Based Lubricants
Silicone-based lubes last a lot longer than their water-based counterparts.
They are also equally safe for condoms of all types.
Silicone personal lubricants tend to have a thicker consistency and silky-smooth texture, but it is noticeably different from your body’s natural lubrication.
That said, their heavier, cushiony texture makes them particularly good for anal sex play.
Remember that silicone-based lubes can’t be used with silicone sex toys. The lube may damage the material and nobody can have fun with a corroded sex toy.
Our review of the best silicone-based personal lubes explores all of our hand-picked and tested recommendations of the safest products available to purchase now.
Oil-based lubricants are made from natural oils that are body-safe for vaginal and anal sex. Some of these oils can be organic, but not always.
Many oil-based lubricants include nut-based oil ingredients, along with those derived from seeds or flowers. Always check labels carefully if you or your partner have allergies or sensitivities.
The texture of oil-based lubes is similar to silicone-based lubes. They are another great choice for anal sex — just remember to avoid using them with latex or polyisoprene condoms.
Additionally, they are not compatible with dental dams, although oil-based lubes generally shouldn’t be used during oral sex because they can pose a choking hazard.
If you want to find out more about them, we have tested and reviewed the best oil-based personal lubricants on the market.
- Natural And Organic Lubricants
Natural and organic personal lubricants can be water-based or oil-based.
Your choice will depend on how you plan to use it.
As with other oil-based lubes, natural and organic products made using oils derived from nuts, seeds, or flowers should be avoided by those who have allergies or sensitivities to such ingredients.
Through our independent research, we tested and reviewed the best and safest natural and organic lubricants that are available.
- Are There Any Safe Home Lube Alternatives?
If it’s an emergency — we’ve all been there, right? — you might need a lube alternative that can be found around the house.
Don’t panic, there are some safe options you might have at hand:
Remember that oil-based lube alternatives should not be used with latex or polyisoprene condoms, diaphragms, or dental dams because the oil will degrade their material, rendering them ineffective against STIs or unintended pregnancy.
To avoid experiencing a potentially irritating reaction, do a patch test on the skin of your inner elbow to watch for reactions before using it on your genitals.
