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Our pick of the best lubes for sex, self-love and female wellness.
Do you suffer from vaginal dryness, is sex sometimes uncomfortable, or would your love life simply benefit from a bit of extra slip and slide?
There is no shame in seeking help if it benefits your sex life! And trust us, when it comes to keeping your labia happy, lubricant is the answer to almost all woes. The right lube can work wonders in the bedroom, keep your skin soft and transform your orgasm power in the process.
Using lube with a partner during sex or adding a pea-sized drop or two during solo masturbation can sidestep vaginal dryness, make penetrative sex more comfortable and can even help combat chafing if things get really heated.
'Lube is great and I honestly believe it should be used by everyone who wants to experience penetration,' says Kelly Gordon, Head Of Creative at Sex Tech Brand Hot Octopuss. 'It makes penetrative sex comfortable, highly pleasurable and it also means that you can always have a quickie if you don’t have time for foreplay.'
Whatever gets you off, there is likely to be a lube for you. But with so many options to choose from, where do you start?
Lube comes in various forms, so do your research before you make a purchase to ensure you choose the best tool for the job:
From the best water-based lubes for partnered sex, to the oil-based gels ideal for solo sessions, keep scrolling for our pick of the best lubes for every sexual scenario...
If self-care is high on your agenda, new premium lubricant brand Roam will appeal. This luxuriously silky lube is enriched with agave, aloe and jojoba that promises to hydrate your most sensitive parts while you focus on self pleasure! And if you're feeling experimental, they stock excellent lube especially for the back too.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
Designed to mimic the body's natural fluids, water-based lubricants are ideal if you experience dryness or just fancy adding a sensual unguent into the mix. This is a great option for people with sensitive skin too.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
Self-care is important for so many reasons, not least because it makes you feel good. So if you're in the mood for some me-time, this classic lube from Swedish sex tech pioneers Lelo will be just the ticket. It's glycerine and paraben-free and unscented, so it's ideal for sensitive skin. And it's designed to pair with one of the brand's exquisite sex toys, so squeeze a couple of drops onto a Silas Cruise and enjoy the ride...
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
Sex can get sticky, and that's all part of the fun. But if you're in the mood for more of a sensual experience, oil-based lubes tend to feel more luxurious. This deliciously moisturising lube is made from shea butter and almond oil and promises to naturally warm up to your body temperature too.
Type: Oil-based lube Best for: Partnered sex
Hoping for a long night of unadulterated pleasure? This silicone-based lube from Luxembourg sexual wellness brand Pjur is super-concentrated and long-lasting. So, you can use it sparingly and it won't disturb your night of passion, plus it's condom and latex-safe too.
Type: Silicone-based lube Best for: Partnered sex
CBD is big news in wellness circles, with good reason. Research has found that Cannabidiol aids relaxation and increases sensual pleasure during solo or partnered sexual encounters. So adding a glob of this CBD-infused lube from new UK-based sexual wellness brand Quanna to your sensitive bits at bedtime will benefit you all round.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
This saucy little lube is packed with natural ingredients including macadamia oil, aloe vera, and Japanese honeysuckle to boost your senses. And if you get carried away, geranium oil will reduce inflammation and irritation. The party starts here.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Partnered sex
This green tea infused water-soluble lubricant doubles up as a relaxing body massage gel, so you can use it anywhere on your body for a delightfully pliant encounter. It's also designed to maintain your body's natural pH balance, which is good news for candida sufferers.
Type: Hybrid lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
This classic water-based lubricant from German sexual wellness brand Satisfyer is made using an oil and grease-free formula, so it's ideal for friction-free sex. Or if you're flying solo tonight, thanks to its gentle water-based formulation, it works equally well with sex toys too (we recommend the Power Bullet).
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo sex
If you have a big night planned but you suffer from sensitivity and chafing, this brilliant lube comes with the skin-safe benefits of a water-based lubricant, but it's slightly thicker for extra staying power and extended pleasure sessions.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
Eco-warriors need love too! So, if you're looking for a guilt-free lube that doesn't screw the planet, you will approve of this all-natural sex jelly. It's organic, vegan, not tested on animals and made from completely natural ingredients, so whatever naughtiness you get up to tonight, at least you know your lube conscience is clear.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
In the mood for anal sex? Your back door doesn't produce natural secretions, so you will need to come prepared. Fortunately this brilliant water-based lube uses plant cellulose as a thickening agent, so it's extra glossy and luxuriant for derriere adventures.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Anal sex
This silky smooth water-based gel from Swedish brand Smile Makers is designed to be compatible with the brand's excellent sex toy offering (The French Lover ticks our boxes) and thanks to its thicker texture it's also well suited to women who experience discomfort during penetrative sex.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Penetrative solo or partnered sex
If you're in the mood for an extended self-love session, this lovely water-based lube comes in a handy pump bottle, so you can reapply it easily at your leisure! It's also super-smooth and non-tacky, so it will work well with your favourite sex toy – ours is currently the Womanizer Pro40 Clitoral Stimulator, what's yours?
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo sex
Created by an all-female team of doctors, these clever lubricant drops are designed to work in tandem with your vagina’s delicate pH balance while combatting dryness. It's also FDA-approved and hypoallergenic, so good for your skin too.
Type: Silicone-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
Are you ready for this jelly? This 95% organic sex lube is vanilla and lemon flavoured to tantalise all of your senses, plus it's paraben-free and safe to use during pregnancy.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
It's a little known fact that strawberries are an aphrodisiac, so slide this scented and flavoured lube in/onto your lover for an extrasensory night to remember!
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
This delightfully silky lube from sex toy brand Bondara is designed to combat tackiness, so it's ideal for extended sessions with your lover, or just getting to know yourself a little better...
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
Oil-based lubes feel thicker compared to their water-based counterparts but they do also last longer, which is great if you're in for the long haul. This one is also made from 100% natural ingredients and pH balanced, so it will keep your sensitive parts happy in more ways than one.
Type: Oil-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
If you haven't discovered the brand yet, Hanx is best known for its biodegradable vegan condoms made from fair rubber and paraben-free ingredients. This great lube is designed to accompany the brand's famed johnnies, but works just as well for solo pleasure sessions too.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
This aloe vera enriched lube is extra moisturising so it won't dry out your skin, plus it comes with a hint of peppermint to keeps things fresh.
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Solo and partnered sex
Happy birthday to you, squashed tomatoes and stew, this water-based lube smells just like cake, and it feels really nice too! It also tastes rather like patisseries, so it's ideal for oral sex. Or celebrate in style by using it with this excellent Rock my world sex toy kit. It is your birthday after all...
Type: Water-based lube Best for: Birthday sex!