Written by Caitlin Chow-Ise (she/they), Creator of @thes3xtalk

Lube is always the most important purchase at any sex shop. Without lube, you can forget about any toys or partnered sex. So, if you’re not already investing in lube, read on!

You might be wondering, what does lube do? Well, as the name implies, it is a lubricant for sexual activity. Lube often comes in a liquid or gel form. Lubrication is ultra-important during sex. Sometimes our bodies naturally produce it, but most of the time, we could use some store-bought lube to help us out. And there’s no shame in that! There are plenty of reasons for dryness or lack of lubrication, which I will touch on later in this article. What you need to take to heart is that lube is our best friend, and I am confident that if you asked another sex educator about it, they would say the same thing. Lube helps us out by reducing friction (thus reducing tearing in condoms), increasing sensation, and making things more pleasurable for all involved.

There are several types of lube, and luckily for us, Sedure carries two of the three main types. At Sedure, you can find both water-based and oil-based lubricants. (Sedure does not carry a silicone-based lube, but I will still be going over what that is in this article.)

First, there is water-based lube. Often featuring aloe as an ingredient, this lube is the most versatile of all. Water-based lube is for use with anything, making it great for sensitive skin. It is often on the thinner side, which can be nice. However, that also means that water-based lubricants are not especially long lasting, and might require a lot of reapplying.

Next up is oil-based lube. This is, as its name implies, oily and slick. Folks love oil-based lubricant for erotic massages, hand sex, and for long lasting coverage. However, oil-based lube should be used with caution. Anything containing oil is not to be used with latex barriers like condoms and dental dams. Additionally, oil-based lube is more bacteria-heavy, meaning there is an increased likelihood of infections with use.

Last but not least is silicone-based lube. Silicone lube is especially viscous and long lasting. These qualities make it a great choice for shower sex and anal sex. It is important to note that silicone lube is not to be used with silicone toys, as that silicone on silicone action will degrade your toys over time.

In my opinion, everyone should use lube during sex, whether or not you’re naturally wet. Lube makes things feel better! And regardless of which lube you use, store bought WAP is hot. It’s all about finding what works best for you in each situation.

At Sedure, you will find three wonderful brands of lubricant: Coconu, Dame, and Good Clean Love. Coconu is available in both water- and oil-based formulas. Alu by Dame is water-based, and so are both lubes made by Good Clean Love. Please, feel free to experiment with different brands of lube— not every lube of the same base is the same! For example, there can be big differences between different brands of water-based lube. Give yourself some time to find your favorite. Once you find that holy grail, it will be hard to go back to a lube-less life.

A quick note on wetness vs dryness:

Wetness is not an indication of arousal. You can be aroused without experiencing vaginal wetness, and you can also experience wetness without being aroused.

If you are aroused and experiencing dryness, don’t fret. There are a lot of reasons for vaginal dryness. For one, SSRIs (Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft, etc.) can dry you out, in addition to lowering libido and chances of orgasm. I know first hand that this can be difficult, but I promise that you are not broken. Those medications are important for your wellbeing, and again, there is nothing wrong with using lube.

At the end of the day, we could all use a little bit (or a lot) of lube in our lives. As sex educators say, when in doubt, add more lube. So, go get some for yourself now! You deserve it.