Lube is a great addition to sex or masturbation — but there are so many lube options out there that it can be almost overwhelming to find the one that’s right for you. Silicone? Oil-based? Water-based? Flavored? Warming? Scented? And now the choices are getting even more complicated, since many people are adding “natural” onto the list of things they want from their lube.
Most lubes you can buy in a store are safe, but some people prefer to use ones with all-natural ingredients, particularly if they have sensitive skin or allergies. Store-bought options often contain ingredients including glycerin or parabens, and some people find these make their skin itchy or irritated.
The thing is, fans of natural lubes tend to really love them. “I love the consistency — it isn’t sticky, it feels like silk, lasts a long time, and doesn’t really have any smell at all,” wrote one reviewer of Maude’s organic Shine lube. “I didn’t have any effects from it afterwards. and I usually have to rush to wash any remnants off or it creates a rash. Perfect!”
A quick primer on responsible lubricant use: Water-based lubes are generally safe to use with toys and condoms or dental dams. Many natural lubes, however, are oil-based, which means they break down latex condoms. Other use aloe vera, which contains naturally-occurring latex that might irritate those with a latex allergy. To be safe and avoid unwanted pregnancy, check the label to see what the specific brand’s guidelines are when mixing lube with barriers (or sex toys; silicone-based lubes can’t be used with silicone toys).
Here, some of the best organic lubes on the market.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
This aloe-based lube is safe to use with toys and condoms, and it’s fertility-friendly too, meaning it’s formulated without ingredients that can harm sperm and it’s pH balanced. Plus, the gorgeous bottle will look chic on your nightstand.
Maude shine organic, $, available at Maude
Dame’s water-based organic lube has aloe vera and green tea extract to provide glide during sex without irritating skin or disrupting vaginal pH.
Dame Products Alu, $, available at Dame Products
This arousal oil has a clean formula with USDA-certified organic ingredients. Plus, Bloomi claims that their oil is infused with botanical aphrodisiacs, to help increase sexual arousal and make sex even better.
Bloomi Bloomi Arousal Oil, $, available at The Bloomi
This water-based lube also contains aloe leaf juice, and it’s fertility-friendly. If you’re a fan, you can sign up to have a new one delivered once every month or every other month.
Lola Personal lubricant, $, available at Lola
Common Bond’s lubricant is made with 500mg of full spectrum CBD, it’s natural, hydrating, and free from fragrance and additives.
Common Bond Lubricant, $, available at Standard Dose
This USDA-certified organic hydrating lube contains coconut oil to enhance your body’s natural lubrication, and can also be used as a massage oil.
Coconu Oil Based Personal Lubricant, $, available at Coconu
Elevated packaging? Check. Vegan? Check. Actually works? Check, check, and check.
Nécessaire The Sex Gel, $, available at Nordstrom
This organic lube contains aloe vera and quinoa, and it’s super-hydrating. (If you use latex-free condoms, take care: It’s safe to use with polyisoprene condoms, but not polyurethane ones.)
Love Wellness Sex Stuff Personal Lubricant, $, available at Ulta
This organic and hypoallergenic moisturizing lubricant is made with agave extract and soothing chamomile.
The Honey Pot Company Moisturizing Water-Based Lubricant, $, available at The Honey Pot Company
Good Clean Love is one of the most affordable natural lubes out there. It’s aloe vera-based and fertility-friendly.
Good Clean Love Almost Naked Personal Lubricant, $, available at Amazon
This coconut oil-based lube also contains vanilla essence and beeswax. (Oil-based = not safe to use with latex condoms or dental dams.)
Woo More Play Coconut Love Oil, $, available at Anthropologie
Designed by birth and postpartum doulas Wyld Womyn, this lube contains rice bran oil, grapeseed oil, morninga oil, meadowfoam seed oil, and broccoli seed oil. It’s vegan, but not safe to use with condoms.
Wyld Womyn WYLD Lube + Massage Oil Unscented, $, available at Smartass & Sass
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Whether you’re on your first date with a new parter or you’ve been together for years, there’s nothing like kissing someone you’re really, really into. And of course, you want to make sure that your partner enjoys kissing you as much as you love kissing them. So, what makes a good kisser? There’s no textbook definition, because different people like different things — one person might love ear kisses, while another might hate them. In fact, the only thing that might make you a bad kisser is if you expect everyone you kiss to like exactly the same things, instead of paying attention to each person’s preferences.
“Great kissing is part knowledge, part attitude, and part skill,” Eric Marlowe Garrison, an AASECT-certified clinical sexologist and author, previously told Refinery29. “There is also no universal definition of a great kiss, so learning how to kiss well is a game of show and tell.”
That said, there are some general tips we can share for inspiration — feel free to modify based on what you and your partner enjoy.
After you’ve received enthusiastic consent and you go to kiss someone, lean in slowly. Instead of immediately jamming your tongue down your partner’s throat, start with a kiss on the lips. If they pull back or freeze, stop. And if you’re not sure if they’d like you to kiss them, you can always ask.
Once you’ve started kissing, add some tongue. Begin by gently touching your tongue to your partner’s. “The tongue is a very strong muscle – it should only be served with finesse,” Andréa Demirjian, kissing expert and author of KISSING: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About One of Life’s Sweetest Pleasures, previously told Refinery29. “Keep it supple and gentle.”
Though it’s not a universal rule, OKCupid data shows that 90% of men and 88% of women prefer long, slow kisses, while 8% of men and 11% of women prefer little, sweet kisses. So a long, slow, French kiss is a good bet.
Once your make-out session is in full swing, add in some neck kisses. Smooch your partner’s neck softly for a few seconds — unless you’d like to leave a hickey, that is. (Hickeys can be fun, but check with your partner to see if they’d like one, first.)
Along with neck kisses, some people love ear kisses. Try lightly kissing or even licking your partner’s earlobe. You can also try using your teeth. Some people love a light bite on their neck, ear, or lower lip.
Sticking with one type of kiss can get boring, so vary it up by moving between French kisses, shorter kisses, and neck kisses. Don’t keep your hands by your sides! Wrap them around your partner, touch their arms, back, or face, or head for one of their erogenous zones.
When incorporated at the right time, this move can be super-intimate and dreamy. The key here is eye contact. Look into your partner’s eyes, then pull back and land a soft, lingering (but still brief) smooch on their forehead. You can round it out with more eye contact if it feels right.
Maybe your ex loved it when you bit their lower lip, but your new partner wants you to keep your teeth away from their skin, thanks. They’re both right — and the only way you’ll know what a good kiss means to your partner is to kiss them a lot and find out what they’re into. And hey, that’s the fun part.
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Very few sex toys reach the level of vibrator fame (not to mention, wicked name recognition) on par with LELO. The iconic Sona, with its curved body and round opening, has been often imitated by competitors — but nothing beats the real thing. Except for when the real thing is on sale.
From May 3 to May 17, the luxe pleasure brand is celebrating Masturbation May (which I guess is A Thing) with a sitewide sale on all of LELO’s bestsellers. Sleek oral sex stimulators, remote-controlled vibes, value bundles, and so much more are up to 50% off, making it the ultimate score. Ahead, we’ve perused the sale picks to bring you the best-of-the-best sex gadgets to add to your œuvre.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
LELO Mia 2, $, available at LELO
LELO SONA 2 Cruise, $, available at LELO
LELO SONA 2, $, available at LELO
LELO SILA, $, available at LELO
LELO ORA 3, $, available at LELO
LELO LELO Beads Plus, $, available at LELO
LELO Hula Beads, $, available at LELO
LELO TIANI 3, $, available at LELO
LELO Tiani 24k, $, available at LELO
LELO GIGI 2, $, available at LELO
LELO Alia, $, available at LELO
LELO SMART WAND 2, $, available at LELO
LELO TOR 2, $, available at LELO
LELO OPERATION ALLGASM, $, available at LELO
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