Personal lubricant, or lube, can enhance both solo and partnered sex, making the experience more comfortable and pleasurable overall. It can protect delicate tissues. And it may be a necessity for those who enjoy anal play or experience vaginal dryness.
While there is no single best lube for every body and every sexual activity, we found Aloe Cadabra Natural Aloe water-based lube to be long lasting, non-sticky, condom- and toy-friendly, and thick enough to work for anal use as well as vaginal use. This formula, primarily consisting of aloe vera gel, has earned FDA clearance and is available in an assortment of flavors.
We also recommend other water-based formulas, as well as silicone, hybrid, and oil-based lubricants suited for vaginal and anal use.
Our pick
This non-sticky, water-based lube is compatible with most types of condoms and sex toys, and it works well for a variety of sexual activities.
Made from 95% aloe vera gel, Aloe Cadabra Natural Aloe is a creamy lube that is pH balanced for vaginas but is also thick enough for anal use. It is safe for use with most condoms (all but polyurethane) and sex toys, offering a lasting glide with little stickiness. Its streamlined ingredients list and low osmolality make it a good choice for people with dry or sensitive tissues, and compared with most lubes made with comparable ingredients, it’s reasonably priced. It’s edible and available in more than a dozen flavors, including watermelon and lemongrass.
FDA 510(k) cleared: yes
Price per ounce: $3.62 (5.5-ounce tube)
Condom compatible: yes, except polyurethane
Toy compatible: yes, all types
Best for: vaginal and anal use (although it is pH balanced for vaginas), vaginal dryness
Our pick
This beloved silicone lube—the best of the five we considered—comes in an elegant glass pump bottle.
Unlike water-based lubes, silicone lubricants don’t require preservatives, so they may be less irritating for some bodies. And silicone lubes don’t lose moisture, making them ideal for anal sex, penile masturbation, and vaginal dryness. Überlube is a superlative silicone lube: It offers a smooth, slippery glide and is easy to dispense from its glass pump bottle, which looks great on a nightstand. It is the most expensive of our picks.
FDA 510(k) cleared: yes
Price per ounce: $10.74 (1.86-ounce bottle)
Condom compatible: yes, except polyurethane
Toy compatible: incompatible with silicone toys
Best for: anal use, penile masturbation, vaginal dryness
Our pick
This water and silicone hybrid blend offers the lasting wetness of silicone, yet it is non-staining and silicone-toy compatible, like a water-based lubricant.
A creamy white lubricant that combines water and dimethicone silicone, Sliquid Silk offers the best of both worlds: long-lasting, non-sticky wetness that is safe for use with all types of condoms and with some silicone toys (unlike pure-silicone lubricants). While it is pH balanced for the vagina, it’s also suitable for anal use and penile masturbation. However, its unpleasant taste may be a drawback for some people.
FDA 510(k) cleared: no
Price per ounce: $3.57 (4.2-ounce bottle)
Condom compatible: yes, all types
Toy compatible: yes, with some silicone toys
Best for: vaginal use, anal use, penile masturbation
Our pick
This oil-based formula stays soft at room temperature, comes in an easy-to-dispense tube, and is formulated for both anal and vaginal use.
Oil-based lubes generally have the thickest texture of all lube types. Blended from a mixture of oils including sunflower, coconut, and shea butter, Coconu Oil Based is a versatile oil-based lube that’s equally suitable for vaginal and anal use. Unlike some oil-based lubes, this formula stays soft at room temperature, with a texture that’s similar to petroleum jelly but melts to a liquid consistency with body heat. Like all oil-based lubes, it isn’t safe for use with latex and polyisoprene condoms or mechanized toys, and it may not agree with everyone’s vaginal biome.
FDA 510(k) cleared: company has filed for consideration, a representative told us
Price per ounce: $8.33 (3-ounce tube)
Condom compatible: only non-latex and non-polyisoprene condoms, such as nitrile, polyurethane, or lambskin
Toy compatible: only non-mechanized toys
Best for: vaginal use, anal use, penile masturbation
Also great
This coconut water-based lube has a thinner, more watery consistency that may blend more seamlessly with natural vaginal moisture.
For those who prefer a thinner lube, with a consistency similar to natural vaginal lubrication, Coconu Water Based offers a lasting, non-sticky glide and, like the Aloe Cadabra formula, is free of ingredients likely to cause irritation. It’s safe for use with condoms and all types of sex toys, but we found that it is not thick enough for anal use. With coconut water as its first ingredient, it was the most neutral-tasting and neutral-smelling of all the lubes we tested, making it a good choice for people who like to switch between oral sex and other activities. However, it’s more than twice as expensive per ounce as our top pick, and it is not suitable for people with coconut allergies.
FDA 510(k) cleared: yes
Price per ounce: $8.33 (3-ounce tube)
Condom compatible: yes, all types
Toy compatible: yes, all types
Best for: vaginal use
Also great
This thick, water-based gel lubricant is pH balanced for anal use but can be suitable for menopause-related vaginal dryness.
Sutil Rich is a superior water-based lube for anal use, though it can also be used vaginally and is a good choice for those with vaginal dryness. Its thick, jelly-like texture offers extra cushion for sensitive tissues, yet it is also safe for use with all types of condoms and toys. Because it is specifically pH balanced for the rectum, it is less likely to cause irritation to anal tissues than lubes intended for the more acidic vaginal environment. However, it is a few dollars more expensive per ounce than our top pick, and people who frequently engage in anal sex may prefer a less expensive option.
FDA 510(k) cleared: no
Price per ounce: $7.25 (4-ounce tube)
Condom compatible: yes, all types
Toy compatible: yes, all types
Best for: anal use, menopause-related vaginal dryness
