How to use lube: types, benefits & application tips

Lube is one of those products that quietly makes everything better — whether you're flying solo or with a partner. It's especially useful whenever your body's own lubrication isn't quite enough on its own, which, for the record, happens to almost everyone at some point and has nothing to do with how turned on you are.

Using lube well can make a real difference to your sexual health and overall comfort. Beyond simply preventing friction and discomfort, it tends to open the door to a more satisfying, more relaxed experience — and plenty of people find that once lube becomes part of the routine, their confidence in the bedroom goes up right along with it.

There are a handful of genuinely good reasons to keep a bottle within reach.

Lube reduces friction, which is the main thing standing between you and a comfortable experience — particularly if you have sensitive skin or experience vaginal dryness, both of which can make sex uncomfortable or even painful without a bit of extra glide. Vaginal dryness is far more common than people tend to admit, and it has nothing to do with how attracted you are to your partner — lube simply closes the gap.

Beyond comfort in the moment, less friction also means less risk of small tears or irritation, which matters for your longer-term sexual health, not just how tonight goes.

A good lube doesn't just remove discomfort — it can genuinely turn the volume up. Smoother movement means penetration feels easier, and reduced friction can actually heighten sensitivity in erogenous zones, which is exactly why so many people report deeper, more intense orgasms once lube enters the picture.

Less friction also means less risk of damage to the delicate skin in the genital area, which helps protect against the kind of small tears that make you more vulnerable to irritation and infection. A good lube also helps the skin hold onto its own natural moisture, which is part of what keeps things feeling comfortable long after you've finished.

Lube isn't just for penetrative sex. It's essential for anal play, where the body produces no natural lubrication at all, and it's just as useful with sex toys — keeping movement smooth, boosting sensation, and helping your toys last longer by cutting down on wear from friction.

Not all lube is created equal. Here's a quick breakdown of the main types.

Water-based is the most popular choice, largely because it's so easy to use and works with virtually everything — all condom types, all toy materials, no exceptions. It washes off with water alone, leaves minimal residue, and in a pinch, you don't even need to wipe it off, since its moisturising properties mean it's gentle on skin either way.

Our Glide, long-lasting lubricant is a water-based formula built to last longer than typical water-based lubes usually do, taking a cue from the staying power of silicone without the downsides. It's also fragrance- and flavour-free, which makes it a solid pick if you have sensitive skin or allergies.

Silicone lube is known for its staying power and silky texture, which makes it ideal whenever you need lubrication to last — long sessions, or anal play, where there's no natural lubrication to fall back on.

It's also waterproof, so it holds up well in the shower or bath. The trade-off: it's harder to wash off, can leave marks on fabric, and isn't compatible with silicone toys (the two materials degrade each other).

Oil-based lube suits massage and external use particularly well. Thanks to the oils involved, it tends to feel genuinely nourishing on the skin, with a richer, thicker texture that holds up beautifully for longer massages or extended sessions.

The catch: it isn't compatible with latex condoms, and it can be tricky to wash out of fabric — so it's not the most practical all-rounder, even if it feels lovely in the moment.

Learning how to use lube well is mostly a matter of a few small habits.

Before you start, pick the right type for what you're about to do, and make sure your hands and the areas you're applying it to are clean — this keeps the lube working as effectively as possible and helps avoid irritation or infection.

Be generous. For vaginal sex, apply it to the vulva, vagina, and the penis or toy in play. For anal sex, apply it around the anus and to whatever is doing the penetrating.

Top it up as you go if things start to feel less smooth — there's no such thing as being too generous here. More is almost always better than not enough when it comes to avoiding friction and discomfort.

Rinse off any leftover lube once you're done to avoid irritation, and clean any toys you used. Doing this after every session keeps things hygienic and lowers the risk of irritation or infection down the line.

We get asked the same handful of questions about lube again and again, so here they are, answered properly.

Water-based lube works with every condom and toy material, is easy to wash off, and won't leave marks — though it does tend to need topping up sooner, since it's more easily absorbed. Silicone lube lasts much longer and feels silkier, but it's harder to clean up and isn't safe to use with silicone toys.

As a rule of thumb: water-based suits everyday use and sensitive skin best, while silicone comes into its own for long sessions or anything involving water. Trying both is honestly the easiest way to find your favourite.

Yes — most lubes are safe with condoms, as long as you steer clear of oil-based ones. According to the NHS, oil-based products like lotion or moisturiser can cause latex condoms to break down and fail, so water-based or silicone lube is the safer choice whenever condoms are involved.

That depends on the activity and your own preference. Start with a small amount and add more as needed — when in doubt, use more rather than less, since that's what actually prevents friction and discomfort.

Experimenting with different amounts is the easiest way to work out what feels right for you, and to make sure you've always got enough lubrication for a comfortable, enjoyable experience.

Glide is our water-based lubricant, built to deliver the long-lasting glide you'd normally expect from silicone — without any of the trade-offs. It's suitable for vaginal and anal play alike, and safe to use with all condom and toy types.

What makes Glide different:

• Long-lasting glide: despite being water-based, Glide is formulated to keep working through long, intensive sessions rather than needing constant reapplication.
• Easy to wash off: unlike silicone lube, Glide rinses away cleanly with water, so clean-up afterwards is simple.
• Vegan and condom-safe: fully vegan and compatible with every condom type, so there's nothing to worry about on the compatibility front.
• A natural feel: designed to feel like, well, you — so it disappears into the experience rather than sitting on top of it.

Lube is a small addition with an outsized effect on comfort and pleasure — whether you're exploring solo, with a partner, or with a toy in the mix. Once you've found the type that suits you, it's honestly hard to go back to sex without it.

Curious how lube fits into anal play specifically? We've written a full guide on anal sex tips worth a read too.