A water-based lubricant should always be a vital part of any sexual experience. A good quality water-based lube will reduce friction, mitigate any damage to the vaginal walls, and most importantly, it just feels fantastic. Lube should always accompany any sexual action you partake, whether it means vaginal sex, anal sex, or sex with sex toys. They are inexpensive and the best water-based lube will make a world of difference in the way you experience sexual pleasure. There is nothing better in this world than some silky smooth and slippery sex. However, the Durex water-based lube which you will find in most supermarkets is a terrible choice, and I wanted to write this article to show you that there are far better choices out there, if you know where to search.
For those of you who are new to the world of lubes, let me give you a quick rundown. There are three basic types of lubes: oil-based lubes, silicone-based lubes and water-based lubes. The first two are thicker and have more viscosity than water-based lubes, and they are great for regular sex. However, they should never be used with sex toys, as they leave stains and residue inside silicone materials. If you are noticing that your toys are developing a sticky and gross look, then wrong lubrication should be your very first concern. The best lube for sex toys will always be a water-based lubricant, as they truly are the all-around pick. They can be used for vaginal and anal sex, on sex toys, or for masturbation. They really are perfect for any sex scenario. They leave no stains, they are very easy to clean up and they last a very long time. If you are unsure which type of lube is the best for you, then I would definitely recommend you to give water-based lubes a chance.
Top 10 Water-Based Lubes (Reviewed & Updated June 2018)
Here is a quick rundown of the water-based lubes which I consider being the best for each sexual activity:
1. ID-Glide Water-Based Lubricant – The Best Water-Based Sex Lube
One bottle of ID-Glide water-based lubricant will last you months, or even years, as it doesn’t dry up even after an hour of use. It feels silky smooth, natural and extremely pleasurable, and it has no smell at all. After trying this lube you will never want to return to anything else. Overall it’s an excellent pick, and it’s easily the best water-based sex lube I have ever tried.
Price: (8.5 oz)
Pros: Great silky smooth texture; very long-lasting; has no smell or taste.
Cons: Contains glycerin; rather expensive.
The ID-Glide water-based lube performed excellently in every category I tested it in. Firstly, it had no smell whatsoever. Most lube makers claim that their product has no smell, but usually, it’s a flat-out lie. The ID-Glide Water-Based Lubricant, however, truly has no smell or taste whatsoever. Or, well, it tastes and smells exactly like water. As you would expect from a water-based lube.
While it’s more on the expensive side than some of the other water-based lubes on this list, I can say from personal experience that it’s more than worth the price tag. Not only is it the best water-based lube for use with sex toys, but it’s also one of the best water-based lubes for anal.
I don’t have a single negative thing to say about it, other than the fact that it has glycerin inside. Glycerin by itself is nothing bad though unless you have allergies. The fact that this water lube has glycerin as an ingredient could actually be called a positive as well, as it makes the lube very long-lasting. However, those of you who are prone to allergies might be better off buying a glycerin-free lube, as glycerin can cause irritation in the skin. If you tend to have problems with allergies and you have sensitive skin in general, you might be better off with the second best water-based lube on this list – the Sliquid H2O.
2. Sliquid H2O Original Glycerin & Paraben-Free Lubricant
This water-based lube was created for men and women who have easily irritable and sensitive skin. That’s because this lube contains no Glycerin or Paraben. Also, adding water causes this lube to reactivate, which makes it very long-lasting. It has no allergens and because of this, it’s the best water-based lubricant for you sensitive lovers out there.
Price: (8.5 oz)
Pros: Glycerin-free; Paraben-free; reactivates with added water
Cons: Dries up quickly without added water, expensive price
This water-based lube is from one of my favorite brands of lube – Sliquid! The Slqiuid H2O is just fantastic. It’s very easy to clean, it’s very pleasurable and it lasts for a very long time. You only need to use a tiny bit of it to get nice and slippery in all the right places. While it does not last nearly as long as the ID-Glide or Astroglide, it’s okay, because once it dries up, you can splash a little water on your skin, and it will become all nice and slippery again. No need for lube reapplying.
It’s not thick and it’s sort of runny in viscosity, which could cause spilling when you open it bottom-up by accident. It never sticks and it’s hypoallergenic so it will never irritate your skin. This water-based lube was created for those of us who have allergic reactions to glycerin-based lubes. Skin irritation during sex is a no Bueno, so consider this the best water-based lube for you if you have sensitivity and allergy problems.
1. Paloqueth Water Based Lubricant
All-around excellent water-based lube. It’s perfect for anal play, sex toys, vaginal sex, male masturbation… everything. I tried very hard to find a reason to complain but I just couldn’t. For me, it’s the top contender for best water-based lube ever.
Price: $9.99 on Amazon (8 oz)
Pros: Cheap price, long-lasting, very smooth, easy to clean up, no smell, perfect amount of thickness.
Cons: –
The name Paloqueth may sound more like a dinosaur species than a brand of lube at first, but it really is just lube. Well, actually, it’s not just lube, it’s the best lube there is! This water-based lube performed excellently in every situation I tested it in. It had the best viscosity out of any lube I have seen, and only a tiny bit of it was enough for me and my girlfriend to experience back door pleasure for half an hour. No reapplying was ever needed. Fantastic!
I really don’t have anything bad to say about this water lube, as it’s odorless, tasteless, cheap and very easy to clean up after sex. It has never left any stains or residue on any surface I have tried it on (and I have tried it in EVERY possible scenario), and it was one of the most pleasurable lubes I have ever experienced. I can recommend this top rated water-based lube to literally everyone.
4. Astroglide Lubricant
Best budget water-based lube. It’s for men and women who like to adventure with sex toys or anal play. It has a high glycerin content, which makes it the longest lasting lube on this list. It’s safe to use with all sex toy materials, it leaves no residue whatsoever and overall it feels perfect. However, for vaginal sex I would not recommend it due to the high glycerin content.
Price: $14 on Amazon (12 oz)
Pros: Very cheap, incredibly long-lasting, enjoyable, fantastic water-based lube for anal sex and sex toys
Cons: High glycerin content (not good for vaginal sex)
The one and online galactic lube – the Astroglide! It’s one of the most famous and top rated water-based lubes in the world, and it’s for a good reason. The Astroglide is long-lasting, non-sticky, and it’s perfect for anal play or any type of male masturbators. However, it’s not meant for vaginal sex due to the high glycerin content. It could cause irritation on the skin, especially during active and long sex sessions. For vaginal sex, you are better off with either a glycerin-free lube, like the Sliquid H2O, or one with only a small amount of glycerin, like the ID-Glide. For such a low price for such a fantastic product, you really can’t beat the Astroglide. Best water-based lube for sex toys, period!
5. Slippery Stuff Gel
This water-based lube is nice and thick. It will stay wherever you put it and it’s super slippery, just like the name suggests. It contains no glycerin, so it’s another great choice for those of you with sensitive skin. It’s also incredibly cheap considering its high quality, so I can definitely recommend it.
Price: $22.95 on Adam&Eve or ~$15 on Amazon (16 oz)
Pros: Very slippery, thick texture, no smell, no staining, no taste, easy to clean up, glycerin-free formula
Cons: Dries up fairly quickly, slightly too sticky for my liking
The Slippery Stuff lube feels excellent. It’s very easy to clean up, so when you have kids or guests in the house you can do a quick and nice slippery huff and puff, clean up in seconds, and continue with your day. It leaves no stains, it has no smell and it has no taste at all. This is a great pick overall, but I have to say, the price is rather expensive. For such a price price you could get yourself enough Astroglide to swim around in!
For those of you, however, who have a skin on the more sensitive side, you should definitely consider this water based lube. Thanks to the paraben and glycerin-free formula used, it will never cause any irritation, no matter where or how you have sex.
6. Shibari Premium Personal Lubricant
One of the most top rated water-based lubes in the world. It has great value, it feels nicely slippery and the price is fantastic. It feels silky smooth, it does not leave any stains, but it dries too quickly for my liking, and it’s too sticky for me.
Price: $10 on Amazon (8 oz)
Pros: Great price-to-quality ratio, silky and smooth texture, does not contain any glycerin.
Cons: Dries up quickly, leaves surfaces sticky and greasy, the texture is too runny.
This water-based lube works great. It has no smell at all, it’s easy to clean up and the texture is very nice and silky (although runny, almost like actual water). The price is excellent and you get a nice big bottle for the price. Once applied, it is fantastic, actually, you will slide in an out of even the tightest of entrances, and you will enjoy every second of it!
However, I found that it dries up rather quickly and adding water to it has no reactivating effect, and instead it just washed the lube away. It’s a very good water base lube, but it will not last you nowhere near as long as the first picks on this list. Having to reapply lube multiple times during a session can be a little annoying. However, if you don’t mind buying a new bottle every now and then, it’s a solid choice.
7. System JO H2O Water-Based Lubricant
This is another high-quality water lube. It’s not greasy, it leaves no stickiness or stains anywhere, and best of all… you only need a tiny bit of it to get the full effect. Great value for the money.
Price: $14.99 on Lovehoney (4 oz) or $13 on Amazon (8 oz)
Pros: Nicely designed lid, long-lasting, cheap.
Cons: Contains glycerin
The JO H2O water-based lubricant is a straightforward, easy to use and effective lube. The lid is very easy to close, so if you need to reapply lube during sex, you can do it during the action, with just one hand. The truth is, however, that you will probably never even need to reapply this lube, as it lasts an incredibly long amount of time.
This is certainly one of the best water-based lubricants I have ever used. It does contain glycerin, however, so if your skin gets easily irritated during sex, you should go with a glycerin-free lube. For the rest of you, however, it’s an excellent pick.
8. K-Y Jelly Personal Lubricant
This water-based personal lubrication works great. It gets any body part nice and slippery, ready for insertion. I enjoyed this lube very much, and it lasts quite a long after applying. However, it’s very runny, like water. If you don’t mind runniness, however, then this is the best value deal you can get for a high-quality water-based lubricant.
Price: $9 on Amazon (4 oz)
Pros: Great price, nice and soothing texture, causes no irritation, works perfectly overall.
Cons: Chemical smell, causes stickiness after drying, too runny.
The K-Y water-based lube is an excellent value pick for the money. It does exactly what it’s set out to do – it makes sex smoother than ever, there is no irritation on the skin and it leaves no stains anywhere. No fuss, no mess! It also has a very nice and soothing effect on the skin, which my girlfriend grew to love.
It is rather on the runny side though, so if you want a thicker water based lube, then you should look at the alternatives on this list. Also, while it lasted rather long, I found that it could not compete with the ID-Glide in this regard. It lasts just the right amount of time for most sexual scenarios, but if you want a sex marathon, then you do need to reapply every now and then. All in all, it’s a very good water-based lubricant and it gets the job done for a cheap price.
9. Passion Lubes Water-Based Lubricant
A large bottle of water-based lube for an excellent price. It’s just enough volume of lube to make sure you can have nice, slipping and sliding sex every day for a year!
Price: $20 on Amazon (34 oz)
Pros: Huge quantity, great price, works perfectly while it’s fresh, cleans up very easily.
Cons: Strange taste, dries up too quickly, too runny, leaves sticky residue, the bottle pump can be fidgety.
This water-based lube from Passion Lubes is another bestseller on Amazon. Why? Well, because it’s huge… it’s a ton of lube! If you need lube for something other than regular sex and you need a whole bunch of lube all at once, then this is the best value deal you will ever find. It feels silky smooth and nicely slippery like the very best water-based lube. But, it’s only the case when you literally just applied it…
You would think that the large size means that it will last a very long time, right? Well, it’s not as simple as that, sadly. This water based lube dries up quicker than most other lubes on this list, and for any sessions longer than half an hour you will need to reapply it at least three times. Even reactivating it with water does not work, so if you are aiming for a bottle of lube which will last you a year, then something like the ID-Glide is definitely a better choice.
10. Cleanstream Relax Desensitizing Lube
Best water-based lube for first anal sex for newcomers. It has a very slight numbing effect on the skin, so you will only feel pleasure during your first anal adventures. It’s a must have for any kind of first forays into anal play!
Price: $19 on Amazon (17 oz)
Pros: Slight numbing effect makes it perfect for anal play, it lasts long, and it feels silky smooth.
Cons: Rather expensive and the viscosity is quite runny
This is a very special type of water-based lube, as it’s the key to smooth and comfortable anal sex. Some of you may have already tried anal unsuccessfuly, and you had to stop because it just did not feel comfortable in the slightest, and most definitely not pleasurable in the sligfhtest. However, with this lube, you will find that all the pain of anal strecthing is removed completely, and you will be able to experience anal orgasms for the very first time.
It’s also an excellent pick for women who have very tight vaginas. The feeling of vagina strecthing can be just as painful as first forays into anal play, and the slight numbing effect of the lube will help you immensely, trust me. This is by far the best water-based lubricant for anal play, period.
Why you should trust me
I have five years of experience reviewing sex toys, sex toy accessories and everything else related to sex. I have been testing both expensive and cheap sex toys for a long time period and water-based lube has always gone hand-in-hand with my reviews. I have bought and used over 30 different brands of water base lubes, both during solo use and during sex. I know how lubes differ, how they match up against one another and what to watch out for. I give high ratings only to those products which I truly consider best water based lubes. Affiliate links are placed inside this article, but affiliations had no impact at all on my recommendations in this list.
How to choose the best water-based lube
Choosing the best water-based lube can be slightly confusing at first, as there are so many choices out there. There are organic lubes, there are chocolate-flavored lubes, there are strawberry flavored lubes, there is so much variety that it can be intimidating for a beginner.
However, the choice is very simple in reality. All you need to decide on some key points and you will be all set. Here are some of the key points of consideration when choosing your lube:
Firstly, the price. Naturally the price is the first factor you will be looking at, and it’s always wise to do so. After all, who doesn’t love a bargain? If you want the best budget water-based lube, then I would recommend the Astroglide as your best bet. It’s a fantastic lube and the price is a bargain.
Secondly, the thickness or viscosity is something you should consider. However, when it comes to thickness, every sex enthusiast seems to have a different opinion on what is the best. Personally, I love moderately thick water-based lubes, as they aren’t runny and they usually last a longer time. For myself, I found the Paloqueth lube to be the sweet spot when it comes to viscosity.
Finally, you should buy a lube which is easy to clean up. There is nothing more annoying than having the best sex of your life, climaxing, and then having to spend ten minutes wiping up residue from everywhere around you. The best water-based lubes I have recommended in this list, however, are all easy to clean up, and they leave no stains or residue anywhere. They dry up just like regular water, so you can just feel free and enjoy the moment!
Why get a water-based lubricant?
Water-based lubricants are the most popular type of lubricant for a multitude of reasons. As with any product, there are also cheap water-based lubes which will not perform well in the next points I mention, but rest assured, all of the best water-based lubes in this review are very high-quality and they take full advantage of the positives of water based lubes.
Firstly, they are the one and only option for using with sex toys. Most sex toys are made from silicone, and water-based lubrication is the only kind of lube you should use with silicone sex toys. Other types of lubes will damage the material of the toy and before long, your expensive toy will be completely useless. ALWAYS use water-based lube for sex toys.
Secondly, one bottle of the best water-based lubrications on this list will last you a very long time. Unlike other lubes, water-based lube can be “reactivated” with a bit of water once you have had it on for a long period of time (over half an hour). Once you add water, the lube will be just as fresh as when you applied it, and this way one small bottle can last you up to a year.
Thirdly, they are very easy to clean up and they leave absolutely no smell or stickiness on any surface. A quick rinse with water will clear your body, a toy or any other surface from any leftover lube.
Water-based lubes make any sexual experience much more enjoyable. Just go ahead and give one of the lubes on this list a try. I am 100% confident you will not be left disappointed.
