The Wet Spot: Lubes for Love and Lust, Part 1

"Lust's passion will be served; it demands, it militates, it tyrannizes."
Marquis De Sade

We all need a little help sometimes, and I’m not just talking about an extra hand. This is where your favorite lube comes in--well, handy. Lubes aren’t just helpful; they also provide a decidedly pleasurable enhancement. Lubes can be fun, and you owe it to yourself to be playing and experimenting with them. Lucky you, today’s lubes come in a wonderfully large assortment, so there’s something for everyone! Do you have any idea what people used for lube 50 years ago? With nothing else available on the market, their choices were limited to either saliva or grease (Eww! Clogged pores anyone? They put that stuff on car parts, right?)

Wet and Wild

Twenty-first century lubes are wonderful substances that have been specifically designed to increase the slick suppleness between all your wonderful moving body parts. And, no, just because your body is turned on, that doesn’t mean you might not need some extra lubrication. Many factors contribute to our natural wetness (or dryness), including your diet, hormone levels and stress. Of course, in the end, lube is absolutely essential for anal play. And believe me, when it comes to sex, the wetter the better!

Today’s designer lubricants are made from a variety of ingredients and come in many different formulations, which contribute to differences in textures, tastes, and uses for various occasions, positions and preferences. There are slippery lubes, scented and flavored lubes, colorful lubes, and even messy lubes. So before you decide which brand is right for you, consider what you’ll be using it for:

H2Oooooh

The vast majority of lubes are water-based, which is a good thing. Brands such as Liquid Silk, Astroglide and Replens are highly versatile, perfect for self-pleasuring, and suitable for both internal and external use. Because the main ingredient of a water-based lube is water (duh!), these lubes tend to be less irritating than other types. Plus, they’re compatible with virtually any material–-latex, silicone, and cyberskin. Sure, they may dry out more quickly than silicone or oil-based lubes, leaving the lubed area feeling tacky; but all you have to do is add a bit of water to the lubed-up area and voila! Nice and wet again. And being water-based, they also make clean-up a snap.

Many water-based lubes come in formulas that can best be described as a liquid (the thinnest consistency), a cream (a bit thicker consistency) and a gel (the thickest consistency of all). Some people prefer liquid lubricants because the consistency resembles the body’s natural juices. Others swear by the creams. For anal play, gels such as Slippery Stuff and Probe are a good choice because they’re heavier and provide sensitive anal tissue with extra-slick protection.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2, in which we explore oils, creams and gels.

In the meantime, if you’re curious (questioning?) about water-based lubes, you owe it to yourself to get out there and test, test, test! Yes, it requires plenty of “hard work” and elbow grease, but I can’t do EVERYTHING for you!

As always, play sexy and play safe.

With Pleasure,

Dr. J