Choosing the Right Lube: Silicone vs. Water-Based
What’s the difference between silicone and water-based personal lubricants? Most lube falls into one of these two categories — silicone or water-based (H2O) – so understanding the difference will help you choose the right lube for your sensual care needs.
All personal lubricants will enhance your intimate experience, but which lube is the best for you and your partner?
Review these basic facts to find out!
SILICONE: LONG-LASTING WATERPROOF FUN
Silicone lubricants, such as System JO Premium, use silicone as the primary ingredient. These lubricants are popular because they’re very smooth, less likely to feel sticky or tacky, and last a long time because they don’t absorb into the body. Just a little silicone lube goes a long way!
But not all silicone lube is created equal. Silicone is made of sand, which means a low-quality silicone lube can be “grainy” and potentially cause fissures, or micro-tears, in the body. This puts you at increased risk of irritation and infections.
That’s why System JO only uses 100% premium pharmaceutical grade silicone in a formula recommended by doctors and sexual health experts.
What else do you need to know about Silicone Lubricants?
Pros
- Silicone lube is waterproof, so you can use it in the bathtub, shower, pool or Jacuzzi.
- Silicone lube lasts much longer than water-based lube.
- Silicone lube feels silky-smooth to enhance your sensual experience without becoming sticky or tacky.
- 100% latex compatible and great for safer sex with condoms, dental dams or gloves.
Cons
- You need soap and water to clean up silicone lube. If it spills, it’s very important to clean up immediately because silicone lube can pose a serious slip hazard.
- Silicone lube isn’t compatible with silicone toys. Silicone lubricants can cause silicone toys to dissolve and become porous, breaking them down over time and allowing growth of bacteria.
WATER-BASED: THE BEST CHOICE FOR TOYS
As the popular alternative to silicone, water-based lubes are preferred by many because they’re super easy to clean up and they’re safe to use with any toy. They use water as the primary ingredient.
Water-based lube rinses off without any soap and it also absorbs into the body – this is safe, but it means you may need to reapply more often than silicone lube. Quality also varies widely among water-based lubricants. Some brands use animal-derived glycerin, which has been linked to yeast infections and other irritations in women.
System JO H2O lubricants only use vegetable-derived glycerin so they won’t cause such problems. Like our JO Premium products, our water-based lube is also 100% pharmaceutical grade and manufactured to meet strict FDA medical safety guidelines.
Our H2O lube is just as silky-smooth as silicone and never gets sticky or tacky.
Pros
- Rinses off with just water for super easy cleanup.
- Safe to use with any kind of toy. (However, it’s always a good idea to check the manufacturer’s instructions that come with your toy to ensure that there are no special restrictions or warnings.)
- 100% latex compatible and great for safer sex with condoms, dental dams or gloves.
Cons
- Not as long lasting as silicone because it absorbs into the body.
- Not waterproof.
THERE’S A PERFECT LUBE FOR EVERYONE
Of course, picking silicone lube vs. water-based lube is just the beginning. Within each category, you can also choose from varieties like Anal, Warming, Cooling, Flavored, Hybrid and Organic – as well as personal lubricants specially formulated for men and women.
Just think about your sensual preferences and needs (and your partner’s), then try different lubes until you find the one (or more) you love best. Whether you’re young, old, male, female, straight or gay, there’s a perfect System JO lube for you.