The right anal lube can make booty play feel amazing. But with so many lubes to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. Here’s our complete guide on how to choose the best lube for anal play.
Why do you need lube for anal play?
The anus doesn’t naturally lubricate in the same way a vagina does, making the need for extra glide an absolute must. Also: Using lube is a key prep step to make sure your experience is comfortable and (most importantly) pleasurable. But like condoms and sex toys, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ for anal lube. Thankfully, our team of sex educators has tried, tested, and narrowed down every type of lube for anal play.
What is the best anal lube?
1. Best lube for anal massage or anal fingering – Coconut oil
If you’re new to anal play, massaging and inserting one finger is THE place to start. Don’t think that you can jump straight to a butt plug or penis — it takes some time. So, what lube should I use when giving an anal massage or if I’m trying anal fingering? Try something as simple as this coconut love oil by Le Wand. It’s versatile, easy to find, and it’s perfect for anal play.
Since this is a natural oil, it can damage and break latex condoms. It’s best to use coconut oil or almond oil when you are in a monogamous relationship and don’t have to worry about STIs — when condoms aren’t an issue. When performing an anal massage, you can use a glove or use your fingers. Remember to keep your fingers trimmed and clean to avoid damaging the sensitive skin in and around the anus. Go slow and slippery.
2. Best lube for anal penetration – Water-based lube
Whether you’re lubing up a toy for solo play, or ready to dive in with penetrative penile pleasure, a natural water-based lubricant is the safest option and is compatible with all toys and condoms.
The b-Vibe Natural Water-Based Lubricant is an excellent choice for those looking for a slick and sensational time without the guesswork of figuring out if it’s compatible with certain toy materials or allergens. Plus, water-based lubes are easy to clean up after and don’t stain your sheets or furniture. If you’re looking to get adventurous, try exploring with warming lubes or a flavored water-based lube.
3. Best lube for analingus – Flavored lubes
We know what you’re thinking, and no. Flavored lubes aren’t recommended because analingus, aka oral sex on the anus, has a gross taste.
Flavored lubes are on the market and appeal to couples because sometimes lube doesn’t taste all that appetizing, and if you’re going to put your mouth down there, you might as well have it taste like strawberries or cherry-vanilla if you’re being specific!
Flavored lubes are formulated with pure-plant glycerin and infused with natural flavor extracts. Using a water-based anal lube will excite your taste buds and appetite for sensual pleasure. Plus, there are no added sugars or artificial sweeteners which makes this anal lube collection a guilt-free, yummy addition to bedroom play.
4. Best lube for anal toys – Check the materials of the toy before applying lube!
First things first: silicone lubes CANNOT be used with silicone toys. Using silicone lube on a silicone sex toy can cause bending, warping, and the ruin of a toy. So use a high-quality, water-based lubricant instead.
Pictured below: b-Vibe Water Based Lubricant
Oil-based lubes like almond, coconut, and even olive oil cannot be used with latex, elastomer, rubber, and silicone toys. Metal, vinyl, plastic, and wood toys are good to go in all lube departments.
So, what lube should I use for anal toys or your much-coveted Le Wand vibes? We recommend using a thick, high viscosity water-based lube for your butt plug or prostate massager.
Try our premium water-based lubricant and enjoy 20% off with the coupon LOVELUBE.
5. Never use anal numbing lubes or creams!
Avoid using products like desensitizing Anal-Ese or numbing creams. Why? It’s like when you go to the dentist, and they numb your mouth. Yeah, it doesn’t hurt at the time but what happens the next day? Your mouth is a bit sore and that’s the same thing when it comes to anal.
If you don’t spend the right time to prep for anal, and it’s totally numb, and your partner is going at it, you’re going to have a pretty irritated butt for a bit. This is why we highly, highly discourage the use of numbing creams. You want to feel what’s going on.
6. Why thicker anal lube is better
Most people find that they prefer a thicker lubricant for anal play because it gives some extra cushion to protect delicate body parts. Look for a thicker lubricant that has a gel consistency, rather than the thinner liquids that are often preferred for vaginas.
Vaginal lubes (also water-based) are generally thinner because it allows them to be washed away or absorbed more easily into the skin or tissues.
FACT: Unlike the vagina, the anus isn’t self-lubricating, so you want to buy a lube that’s thicker to last longer and going to create a better friction barrier. The anus is also tighter than the vaginal opening and you want to ensure that you coat the object that’s being inserted.
7. Different types of lube and ingredients
There are a few general types of lubricants available: water-based lubricants, silicone-based lubricants, hybrid lubricants, and oils. Most of them come in a variety of consistencies. Find out which lube ingredient is best suited for your needs.
Water-Based Lube
A high-quality, water-based lube works well in almost any situation. It doesn’t damage toys, it is easy to clean and rinse away. However, your body will absorb the water out of the lubricant, which means that you’ll need to add more lube every so often. That can make them a bit more work for anal play than some people want.
Silicone-Based Lube
Silicone-based lube never dries out, which is why it’s excellent for anal play. However, they do require soap and water to clean up and if you spill some on the bathroom floor, be sure to wipe it up with a paper towel and spray cleaner or it’ll be slippery for days. Some silicone lubes can damage silicone toys. Why is that? Well, the only thing that sticks to silicone is silicone itself, and this can cause the toy to warp or break. We don’t recommend using silicone lube with our vibrating anal toys. If you do, you should cover your toy with a condom all the way over the base. Also, don’t use silicone lubricants in a pool or hot tub because they’ll damage the pump.
Hybrid Anal Lube
Hybrid lubricants are a blend of water and silicone. They give you the best of both worlds: long-lasting and easy to clean. They’re definitely worth trying.
Oil-Based Anal Lube
Oils such as coconut or almond oil are excellent for anal play, but not if you’re using latex condoms. Oils will make condoms break in about 30 seconds, so if you use them, be sure to go with a different option. Note that using an oil-based lubricant with a silicone sex toy will change the texture of the item and it will become “slick”. Mineral oils such as baby oil or Vaseline will actually dry out the tissues, so we don’t recommend them. Go with a food-grade oil like coconut or almond for a better experience. Avoid products with scents or dyes. The anus is sensitive to ingredients and scented or dyed products can cause irritation or pain.
Temperature Play Lubes
A warming lube or cooling lube is perfect for temperature play – these unique lubricants add a heating or cooling sensation to your sex toys. How wicked is that?
Pictured below: b-Vibe Warming Sensation Lubricant
And the best part is that these water-based lubes are free of alcohol, glycerin, and parabens. They’re non-drying and loaded with Aloe to help extend the life of your sex toy.
8. How to Choose the Best Anal Lube
Each person has individual preferences when it comes to lube, so it might take a little experimenting to find the right anal lube for your body. Most companies make small lubricant bottles or sample sizes, so pick a few of them up at your local sex toy store. The sample sizes are also great for your travel adventures!
Pssst! You didn’t think we’d leave you empty-handed, did you? Visit our Sensual Care section and get 20% off all lubes and other accessories with the coupon code LOVELUBE.
