Lubricant is the easiest way to make sex, solo play and toys feel smoother and more comfortable. This guide explains how to use lubricant step by step: what lube actually does, which type to pick, how much to apply, and how to use it with condoms, toys and anal play. It also covers what you can use as lube in a pinch, what to avoid, and where to buy lube in Canada.
In this guide
- What lube does
- The main types
- Reading the label
- How to use lube, step by step
- How much to use
- With condoms
- With sex toys
- For anal sex
- Shower, massage and solo play
- Mistakes to avoid
- Bringing it up with a partner
- What you can use as lube
- Where to buy lube in Canada
- When to see a doctor
- FAQ
What is lubricant, and what does sex lube do?
A personal lubricant is a gel or liquid that adds glide to skin, toys and condoms. Its main job is to cut friction, so touch and penetration feel smoother and less likely to sting or chafe.
Your body makes its own moisture, but the amount shifts with arousal, stress, hormones, medication, age and simple timing. Vaginal dryness is common at every age. Reaching for a bottle is not a sign that anything is wrong.
Lube also tends to make sex feel better. In an Indiana University study of 2,453 women, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, pleasure and satisfaction ratings were significantly higher when a water-based or silicone-based lubricant was used than when none was. Genital symptoms were rare, and less likely with lube.
There is a safety side too. Less friction means less risk of small tears, and the right formula helps condoms do their job. NSW Health's Play Safe program puts it simply: "using lube also reduces the chance of your condom breaking!"
What are the main types of personal lubricants?
There are four: water-based, silicone-based, oil-based and hybrid. The base decides how long the glide lasts, how it cleans up and what it is safe to use with.
| Type | Feel | Latex condoms | Silicone toys | Cleanup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water-based | Light to thick; can dry out | Safe | Safe | Rinses off with water |
| Silicone-based | Silky, very long-lasting | Safe | Avoid | Needs soap |
| Oil-based | Rich, slow to absorb | Never | Usually fine | Hard to wash out |
| Hybrid | Creamy, mostly water | Check the label | Check the label | Mostly rinses off |
If you are unsure, water-based is the safe starting point. Our silicone vs water-based lube guide compares the two in depth, including pH and osmolality on the label.
What should you check on the label?
Turn the bottle over. The back tells you far more than the front, and three things matter most.
- The base. Water, silicone, oil or a blend. This decides the condom and toy rules above.
- The condom notes. Good brands say which condom materials they have tested with, such as latex, polyisoprene or polyurethane.
- The ingredient list. Shorter is usually gentler.
A 2024 practice article in the British Columbia Medical Journal recommends "avoiding products containing glycerin, parabens, propylene glycol, fragrance, flavor," along with products that claim special pleasure-enhancing effects. Words like "hypoallergenic" or "pH balanced" are marketing terms unless the brand backs them with a number or a test, so lean on the ingredient list instead.
How do you use lube, step by step?
Pick a formula that suits what it will touch, warm it, apply it to both surfaces, and top up early. Here is the full routine.
- Choose the base. Water-based for silicone toys and everyday use. Silicone for long sessions, the shower, or glass and steel toys.
- Patch test a new bottle. Dab a little on your inner arm and wait a day. Skip anything that itches or turns red.
- Warm it first. Squeeze it into your palm and rub your fingers together for a few seconds. Cold gel straight from the bottle is a mood killer.
- Apply to both sides. Coat the body and the toy, penis or condom, not just one of them. Glide works best when both surfaces are slick.
- Go slowly at first. Give the gel a moment to spread before anything speeds up.
- Reapply before you need to. Add more as soon as anything starts to tug or drag. Waiting until it hurts is the most common mistake.
- Clean up. Water-based rinses off with warm water. Silicone needs mild soap. Wash toys too, then let them dry fully.
Keep the bottle within reach before things start. Hunting for it mid-moment is how people end up skipping it.
How much lube should you use?
More than most people expect. Start with about a coin-sized amount and add more as you go. A thin water-based gel needs topping up sooner than a thick one or silicone.
These are the starting points we suggest to customers. They are not rules, so adjust to your body.
| Situation | Base we suggest | Starting amount | Top up when |
|---|---|---|---|
| External touch, foreplay | Water-based | A fingertip or two | Skin starts to drag |
| Vaginal sex | Water-based | About a coin-sized amount | Glide fades or it feels tacky |
| Condom use | Water-based or silicone | A drop inside the tip, more outside | Any friction at all |
| Silicone toy | Water-based | Coat the tip and your body | The toy stops sliding easily |
| Anal sex or play | Thick water-based gel or silicone | Generous: more than you think | Before every change of pace |
| Shower | Silicone | A small amount | Rarely; water does not rinse it off |
A simple rule: if you are wondering whether to add more, add more. Too much is easy to wipe off. Too little is how irritation starts.
How do you use lube with condoms?
Use water-based or silicone, never oil, and apply it to the outside of the condom once it is on. A tiny drop inside the tip can add comfort too.
The CDC's condom guidance is clear about oils: "DON'T use oil-based products like baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly, or cooking oil, because they will cause the condom to break." Telehealth service Ro suggests you "put a little bit inside the condom, at the very tip, to ease friction." Keep it to a little, because too much inside can let the condom slip.
Non-latex condoms vary. Some silicone formulas are not suited to polyurethane condoms, so read both the condom box and the bottle.
What is the best sex toy lube?
A water-based formula is the safest sex toy lube, because it works with every toy material. Silicone formulas are fine with glass, stainless steel and hard plastic, but they can damage silicone toys.
Planned Parenthood says "water-based lube is a safe bet to use with any sex toy (and any condom)." It also warns, "Don't use silicone lube with silicone sex toys (unless you put condoms on them)." Most vibrators, plugs and dildos are silicone, so this matters more than people think.
Put the gel on the toy's tip and on your body, then start slowly. Afterward, wash the toy and let it dry before storing it. Our guide to cleaning sex toys safely walks through each material.
How do you use lube for anal sex?
Use a thick water-based gel or a silicone formula, apply generously, and reapply often. The anus needs all of its glide from the bottle.
As Ro explains, "the rectum doesn't produce its own natural lubrication the way the vagina does." Thin formulas dry quickly here, so a denser gel that stays put is easier to work with.
Avoid numbing gels. Pain is a signal to slow down, and dulling it makes injury more likely. If a silicone plug or dildo is involved, stick to a thick water-based gel. Our anal toys for beginners guide covers pacing and sizing.
How do you use lube in the shower, for massage or solo play?
Match the base to the setting. Each one has a small catch.
- In the shower: silicone holds up under running water, while water-based rinses away fast. Silicone also makes the floor slippery, so use a bath mat.
- For massage: some silicone formulas double as massage gel. Oils feel lovely on backs and shoulders, but keep them away from latex condoms. Our massage oil guide explains which oils are safe for sex.
- For solo play: a few drops on your fingers or a toy is plenty to start. Masturbation sleeves and strokers usually need more than hands do.
What lube mistakes should you avoid?
Most bad first experiences come from a handful of habits. Fix these and almost any decent bottle will feel better.
- Using a tiny dab. It dries out in minutes. Start generous and top up early.
- Pairing silicone lube with silicone toys. Over time it can leave the surface gummy or rough.
- Reaching for oil with a latex condom. Oil weakens latex, and a broken condom defeats the point.
- Pushing through stinging. Stop, rinse with water and try a plainer formula.
- Treating "tingling" as "working". Warming and cooling formulas are fun for some people and irritating for others. Keep them as extras, not your everyday bottle.
- Keeping an old bottle forever. Formulas can separate or change once they pass their date.
How do you bring up lube with a partner?
Keep it light and practical. Lube is a comfort tool, not a verdict on anyone's body or skills.
Try framing it as something to try together: "I picked up something that might feel nice, want to try it?" works better than an apology. Let your partner feel the texture on their hand first. If you both like it, it can simply become part of the routine.
What can you use as lube if you have none?
A proper lubricant is always the safer choice, but some household items work in a pinch. The big rule: anything oily is out if a latex condom is involved.
| Item | Safe with latex condoms? | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Saliva | Yes | Dries fast; fine for a moment, not a session |
| Coconut oil | No | Only without latex; can stain sheets |
| Olive or cooking oil | No | Not recommended; messy and condom-unsafe |
| Petroleum jelly | No | Avoid; hard to wash off and breaks latex |
| Body lotion | No | Avoid; fragrance and additives can irritate |
| Baby oil | No | Avoid with condoms |
| Plain aloe gel | Check the label | Many contain alcohol or fragrance; read the ingredients |
The "No" answers for oils, lotion and petroleum jelly come straight from the CDC guidance above. For the full story on one popular option, read our coconut oil as lube guide. If you prefer plant-based ingredients, our natural lube guide explains what "natural" really means on a label.
Where can you buy lube in Canada?
Most pharmacies and many grocery stores carry a small range of personal lubricants, usually near the condoms. Sex shops and online stores carry far more choice, including glycerin-free, organic and thick anal formulas.
Wherever you buy, read the back of the bottle. Check the base, the condom notes and the ingredient list. A short list without glycerin, parabens or fragrance is a good sign for sensitive skin.
Red Pleasures is an Ottawa-based online store with discreet shipping across Canada and the USA. You can browse our full lubricants collection, or go straight to water-based or silicone formulas. For ranked picks, see our best lube guide.
From the Red Pleasures shop. Four bottles that cover the situations in this guide. Prices were checked against our live store in October 2026.
- Sliquid H2O, 4.2 oz ($14.00): everyday water-based glide, free of glycerin and parabens, safe with silicone toys and condoms according to Sliquid.
- Sutil Rich (from $14.99): a thick water-based gel made at pH 6 for anal use, according to Sutil, and safe with silicone toys.
- Sliquid Sassy, 2 oz ($16.95): a dense water-based anal gel that stays in place.
- Überlube, 50 ml ($21.00): long-lasting silicone for the shower and long sessions. Works with latex and polyisoprene condoms, not polyurethane, and not with silicone toys.
When should you talk to a doctor?
Lube should make things more comfortable, not cover up a problem. Talk to a doctor or a pelvic floor physiotherapist if you have pain during sex that lube does not fix, bleeding, ongoing dryness, or burning that continues after you stop using a product.
Ask too if you are trying to conceive. Some formulas may affect sperm, and a label alone will not tell you.
FAQ
What does lube do?
It reduces friction, so touch, penetration and toy play feel smoother and more comfortable. In one Indiana University study of 2,453 women, pleasure and satisfaction ratings were higher with a water-based or silicone lubricant than without one.
How much lube should I use?
Start with about a coin-sized amount and add more as soon as anything drags. Anal play needs more than vaginal sex, and thin water-based gels need topping up more often than silicone.
Can I use lube with a condom?
Yes, and it helps. Water-based and silicone formulas are safe with latex condoms. Never use oil, lotion or petroleum jelly with latex, because they can make the condom break.
What is the best lube for sex toys?
Water-based, because it is safe with every toy material. Silicone formulas suit glass, steel and hard plastic toys but can damage silicone toys unless the toy wears a condom.
What can I use as lube if I have none?
Saliva works briefly. Coconut oil is an option only when no latex condom is involved. Avoid lotion, petroleum jelly and baby oil, and buy a proper bottle when you can.
Where can I buy lube in Canada?
Pharmacies and many grocery stores stock a few options, usually near the condoms. Sex shops and online stores carry a wider range, including glycerin-free and thick anal formulas.
Why does lube sometimes burn or sting?
Usually an ingredient does not agree with you, such as fragrance, flavouring, warming agents or glycerin. Rinse with water, stop using it, and switch to a plain formula with a short ingredient list.
Does lube expire?
Yes. Check the date or the opened-jar symbol on the bottle, and store it closed, away from heat and sun. Throw it out if it separates, smells different or starts to irritate.
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