4 Lube Fouls (and How to Have Hot, Fun, Slippery Sex)

Lube is pretty fantastic. The first time folks try it can often be revolutionary. Like, “OMG sex just got so much better!”

Sure, it can be a little messy and it sure is disappointing when you reach over and find an empty bottle on your nightside table, but the following mistakes are the biggest problems we have with lube.

Check out these three common errors we make with lube (and one piece of common sense).

1. Not Offering or Asking for Lube

Let’s admit it: we’ve still got a lot of lingering issues around sex in our society. Unfortunately, this is not surprising given the debate over sex education, the stigmas associated with different kinds of sex, and the continual discouraging of even talking about sex openly.

In some ways, sex in society is moving in the right direction... but we’re not there yet.

Lube is a perfect example of the challenges that a suppressed sexual society faces. Adding lube to a sexual situation should be an easy thing. “Can I have some lube?” “Do you want some lube?” These are pretty innocuous questions that can make all the difference! But, many folks are still learning to request or suggest adding some slippery to their sexy.

Why the hold up?

Well, there’s the perception of sexual dysfunction. If you’re not wet enough, it must mean you’re not turned on—even though your brain and body say otherwise!

Getting to know your body, how it reacts, and what you need for the best sexual experiences is paramount. Whether someone is playing with your self-lubricating bits, such as your vulva or vagina, or non-self-lubricating stuff, like your clitoris, penis or anus, different circumstances require different amounts of lubrication. There is never anything wrong with needing a little extra slip and slide to any type of play!

There’s also the problem of lack of sex education. If your partner isn’t getting wet, it doesn’t mean try harder at what you’re doing. Our bodies react in different ways, and we can’t even count on consistency.

A better tact is to ask if what you’re doing is okay or if you could do something differently, including offering lube. The simple response could be “Yes, but please use some lube.” Now, that seems quite easy when you read it here, right? But we’ve all been in sexual situations where we feel a little awkward and insecure. However, you and your partners owe it to each other to put these words on your lips whenever they are needed.

2. One Lube for All Needs

Hopefully this doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, but here it goes: not everyone has sex the same way.

Shocking, I know!

Or, really, not shocking at all. Of course we have sex in lots of different ways, that’s just one of the great things about sex! People are touching, licking, stroking, inserting, massaging and hurting each other in countless different ways, and no one lube out there is going to fulfill all of your wet and wild needs.

There are a few main lube formulations and these different offerings all have advantages and disadvantages, depending on what you want to use them for. Here’s the rub:

Water-based lubricants, like Wet Water-Based Premium Lubricant, are very versatile, can be used in any kind of sexual play, feel great on the skin, are easy to clean up and are safe to use with latex condoms. However, water-based lubricant does have a tendency to dry out during longer sessions and will immediately wash off if used for shower sex.

Silicone-based lubricants, like Wet Platinum, are more concentrated, long-lasting, often requiring just a few drops. They can be used with latex condoms, in/around water and are great for anal sex. However, silicone-based lubricant cannot be used with silicone sex toys, as they will degrade the silicone in the toy. Silicone-based lubricants can also be a little more messy to clean up.

Oil-based lubricants are also long-lasting, work well with water and anal sex, and can moisturize your skin while you use it for sex. However, oil-based lubricant should not be used with latex condoms as it will degrade the latex, making the condom ineffective!

These are the lube basics, but you will find a much wider variety of specialty lubes also available. If you’d like to mix things up a bit, you can also find hybrid lubes, like Wet Elite Hybrid Lubricant, lube for sensitive skin, lube infused with hemp extract, CBD and many more.