Answer
Which lubricant should I use?
Water-based lubricant is the safe choice with every toy material and with condoms. The one rule to remember is that silicone-based lubricant should not be used on silicone toys.
For: Anyone unsure which type to buy.
The default answer
Water-based lubricant works with every material and washes off easily, which is why it is the one to buy if you are only buying one. It is also the only kind safe with condoms alongside silicone.
Its drawback is that it dries out, so you use more of it. That is a fair trade for not having to think about compatibility.
- Water-based — safe with everything. Dries faster, so reapply.
- Silicone-based — lasts longer, but must not be used on silicone toys.
- Oil-based — not for use with condoms, and harder to wash off toys.
The one rule worth memorising
Silicone-based lubricant can begin to break down a silicone toy surface over time. If your toy is silicone, use water-based, every time.
TPE toys are more forgiving but still prefer water-based, since oil can degrade them faster.
Ingredients to avoid
Warming, cooling and numbing additives, added fragrance, and glycerin are all worth skipping — they irritate some people and numbing agents in particular mask the feedback you want. Plain is better. The [full lubricant guide](/blog/how-to-choose-a-lubricant/) covers the rest.
Read further
- Water-based, silicone or oil: how to choose a lubricantWater-based works with everything, silicone lasts longer but damages silicone toys, and oil has its own rules. Here is which one to use with what, and why most people should start with water-based.
- How to choose a body-safe toySilicone, TPE and ABS behave differently with heat, cleaning and lubricant. Match the material to how you will use and clean a toy before you buy.