Stone-carved dildos and Cleopatra's mythic wooden box of bees aside, lubricants may be the oldest and most undervalued of all sex toys. Perhaps because of its association with a variety of unpleasant medical procedures, lubricant doesn't always top the list of favorite sex toys. Yet lubricant makes almost every kind of sex play more comfortable and versatile. Finding the right lubricant, particularly now that we're being marketed to from all sides, is another story. This list offers an overview of some of the best and most innovative lubricants from the past and present.
KY Lubricants
Image courtesy of Condomania
The lubricant that started it all, KY Jelly (as the original was formulation was known) was developed for medical use not sex play. This meant it was excellent under "single insertion" conditions, but less than ideal for penetration that included more than one stroke. Nonetheless, generations grew up experimenting with KY Jelly, and the company has vastly improved on its original product with several lines of lubricants designed specifically for sex play.
Astroglide
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Astroglide was the first widely available lubricant specifically designed for sex play (as opposed to medical use) and grew in popularity to a large extent because of recommendations by health-care practitioners. A vast improvement on the medical model, Astroglide was thin, slippery, and designed to mimic natural vaginal lubrication. Recently Astroglide has introduced a formulation without parabens or glycerin, designed to reduce the chances of allergic reactions and yeast infections.
Probe
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For over 20 years, Probe has offered roughly the same simple and unique formula. It is known for having the fewest ingredients of any water based lubricant, and for using a natural preservative (people sometimes react to chemical preservatives in lubricants). Its stringy consistency is like no other, commanding both loyal fans and disbelief that anyone would want lubricant that feels like saliva.
Eros
Eros was the first silicone lubricant to break into the water based lubricant market. It has been often imitated but remains a benchmark for quality silicone based lubricants. Long lasting, condom compatible but versatile enough to shine rubber clothing and good for underwater sex, Eros holds an important place in the history of lubricants, even if its high price feels a bit behind the times.
Slippery Stuff
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Corporate legend has it that the formula for Slippery Stuff was originally taken from a product designed to make getting wetsuits on and off easier. Slippery Stuff is unique both because of its gel consistency which still feels thin when used, and because it was the first widely available glycerin-free lubricant. It is thought that glycerin in lubricant can encourage yeast infections, particularly for those prone to such infections.
Liquid Silk
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UK made Liquid Silk was the first "hybrid" lubricant, one that is water based but includes a small amount of silicone. The result was the first completely non-tacky water based lubricant, which is great both for use during sex and also as a massage cream. Liquid Silk also has the reputation as looking something like male ejaculate, and gets used in porn when the "money shot" isn't quite so money.
O'My
Image courtesy of Come As You Are
O'My water based lubricant deserves a place on our list for its marketing innovations as much as its lubricant. From the beginning O'My used catch phrases like "good for women" and "all natural" to sell their product, catching on quickly to the importance of the so-called women's sex stores in generating word-of-mouth buzz. In feel and function O'My is very similar to other popular thin consistency water based lubricants. It was also the first lubricant to use hemp in its formulation, which felt like more of a marketing gimmick than a tangible benefit.
Pre-Seed
Image courtesy of Come As You Are
Pre-Seed is the first commercially available lubricant designed specifically not to interfere with sperm. Most people, and even many health-care practitioners, don't realize that lubricants have a negative impact on sperm motility (the ability of sperm to swim to their final destination). And while lubricants are not a form of contraception, for people trying to conceive, using a regular lubricant is counterproductive. Pre-Seed was designed for people having difficulty conceiving, as a way to reduce at least one barrier to the goal.
Men's Cream
Image courtesy of Condomania
The only oil based lubricant on our list (which also means it's the only product not safe to use with condoms) Men's Cream was one of the first products on the market designed specifically for male masturbation. Given the ubiquity of that particular sexual practice it's surprising it took so long for a company to realize that ordinary water based lubricants are not well suited to the job (they dry out and they get sticky). Because its oil based, Men's Cream doesn't dry out and it allows for a lot of friction, while keeping everything slick.
Pink
The newest lubricant on our list, Pink silicone lubricant is notable for several innovations which have less to do with its formulation than its marketing (although the formula is great, and Pink is a wonderful light feeling silicone lubricant). The manufacturers of Pink took a major step in integrating lubricant into everyday living by offering their product in a beautiful hand blown Italian glass bottle, one that fits in on your dressing room table as well as it does in that box under the bed. Pink also has a smart spray dispense mechanism. Lubricants like Pink highlight how far we've come from tubes of KY Jelly on the pharmacy shelves.
