There are so many varieties of personal lubricants to pick from off of the store shelves that picking the best ones for you and your partner requires some detective work. Personal lubricants can enhance sexual pleasure for both parties involved in many ways. The main purpose of personal lubricants is to reduce friction, thereby reducing discomfort and pain. Added benefits are that some personal lubricants have a warming effect when they come in contact with the skin, and there are some others that are made with glycerin and sugar, giving them various delicious flavors.

While there are many benefits to using personal lubricants, there are some important considerations to think about when choosing the perfect one. Oil based lubes are not recommended at any time that sex toys, novelties, or birth control devices such as diaphragms and condoms are being used. The oil will break down these things. Water based personal lubricants are safe to use with toys and birth control, but often dry out fairly quickly, so frequent applications are common, and recommended. Silicone based personal lubricants last longer than the water based ones, but can be hard to wash off and could cause damage to silicone toys.

Personal lubricants that are flavored are for external use only, for example, for oral sex. Flavored lubrication is not recommended for use inside the vagina or the rectum, because the glycerin in them can cause infections. Personal lubricants that have a warming sensation are generally some of the most popular ones that people really enjoy.

For the most part, silicone based personal lubricants are recommended for anal sex and sex using toys like vibrators and dildos. These lubes are thicker and will stay on longer, which is important because unlike the vagina, there is no natural lubrication here at all. Men who are looking for personal lubricants for masturbating will generally like the oil based ones because they are slicker, but again, do NOT use the oil personal lubricants for vaginal penetration or with condoms or toys. For vaginal intercourse, it becomes a matter of personal preference as to which personal lubricant feels the best (provided, remember, that it is not flavored). Especially if you are prone to yeast infections to begin with, look for the glycerin free products. Always read labels carefully before you buy personal lubricants. Make sure that there is nothing used in the lubricants that you are or may be allergic to. If you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, there is some evidence that the chemicals in personal lubricants are damaging to sperm, so take that into consideration if you need to. Even though there is a whole list of things concerning personal lubricants to watch out for, keep in mind that once you get familiar with the different types, you can experiment more freely and be on your way to entirely new sensations during your erotic encounters.