The four types of lube, and what each one does.

Lube is a liquid or gel that cuts friction during sex. It comes in four types. Water based works with everything and washes off. Silicone lasts longest and is fine with condoms but not silicone toys. Oil lasts long and ruins latex condoms. Hybrid is water based with a little silicone. Most people do best with water based.

What lube does.

Lube reduces friction. That is the whole job. Less friction means less rubbing, less soreness afterward, and fewer condom failures, which is why the WHO publishes guidance on which lubricants to pair with condoms. It also makes sex comfortable when the body is producing less lubrication of its own, which happens for ordinary reasons: stress, antihistamines and antidepressants, hormonal birth control, breastfeeding, and menopause.

What lube does not do is treat the cause. If dryness is there every day, a vaginal moisturizer used every two to three days does more than any lube used during sex. If there is pain, bleeding or recurring infection, see a clinician. Lube is comfort, not treatment.

The comparison table.

Type	Lasts	Condom safe	Silicone toy safe	Washes off	Osmolality applies
Water based	Shortest, reapply as needed	All condoms	Yes	Water	Yes
Silicone	Longest	All condoms	No	Soap and water	No
Oil	Long	Polyurethane and nitrile only	Yes, not porous toys	Soap, may stain	No
Hybrid	Longer than water based	Usually all, check the label	Usually, check the label	Mostly water	Yes

Water based.

The default, and for most people the only type they need. Water based lube is safe with latex, polyisoprene, polyurethane and nitrile condoms, safe on every toy material, and rinses off with water. It evaporates, so it needs topping up, and a drop of water revives it.

Because it is a water solution it has an osmolality, and that number separates a good water based lube from a bad one. Vaginal tissue sits around 260 to 290 mOsm/kg. The WHO says a lube should ideally measure 380 or under. Many famous brands measure in the thousands, which is why some people think they are sensitive to lube. Good Clean Love Almost Naked, at 240 to 269 mOsm/kg and pH 4.7, is our benchmark. The ranked list is best water based lube.

Silicone.

Silicone lube is dimethicone and related silicones, with no water. It does not evaporate or absorb, so a few drops last an hour. It is safe with every condom. It has no osmolality or pH, because there is nothing dissolved in it, which makes it the most comfortable option for thinning or fragile tissue.

The one rule: keep it off silicone toys, which it can soften and ruin. It also needs soap to come off skin and can mark fabric. Uberlube is our pick, with three silicones and a little vitamin E. See best silicone lube.

Oil.

Coconut oil, olive oil, purpose made blends like Coconu Oil Based, and petroleum products like Vaseline all count. Oil lasts, feels rich, and has no osmolality. It is fine on silicone, glass and steel toys.

Two problems. Oil destroys latex and polyisoprene condoms within minutes, per the WHO advisory, and only polyurethane and nitrile condoms tolerate it. And oil lingers inside longer than water based lube, which a minority of people find leads to irritation or yeast flares. Petroleum jelly in particular is the one most clinicians say to skip. Food grade plant oils are the better end of the category. See lube and condoms.

Hybrid.

A hybrid is a water based lube with a small percentage of silicone blended in. The idea is water based convenience with more staying power, and it mostly delivers that. It rinses off with water, give or take a little residue.

Two things to know. Because it is mostly water, it has an osmolality, and hybrids are not exempt from the WHO thresholds, so look the product up before assuming it is gentle. And because it contains silicone, some manufacturers advise against using it on silicone toys. Check the label. We do not currently list a hybrid on our index.

Which one to buy.

• One bottle, no fuss. Water based, low osmolality. Good Clean Love Almost Naked.
• Dryness that is there every day, or menopause. Silicone during sex (Uberlube), plus a vaginal moisturizer between. See lube for menopause dryness.
• Showers, baths, long sessions. Silicone.
• Silicone toys in the picture. Water based, no exceptions.
• No condoms, no toys, and you like the feel of oil. Coconu Oil Based or plain coconut oil, with a towel.
• Condoms in the picture. Water based or silicone. Never oil with latex or polyisoprene.

How much to use, where to put it and when is in how to use lube.