Lube: Water-Based, Silicone and Anal Personal Lubricants
How to Choose a Personal Lubricant
A personal lubricant is defined by its base, and the base decides everything else: how long it lasts, what it can touch, how it washes off. Four lubricant formulations cover almost every situation.
- Water-based lubricant works with condoms, silicone toys and sensitive skin.
- Silicone lube lasts longest, and silicone-based lubricants survive water.
- Hybrid lubricant blends both bases for a creamier lubricant texture.
- Oil-based lubricant suits external massage, never latex condoms.
A thin lubricating liquid spreads fast and feels light. A thicker lubricant gel stays where you put it. The best lube is whichever one matches your material and your session length. Not sure? Our staff answer this question a hundred times a week, sans gêne, sans jugement.
Water based lube is what most people mean when they say lube, and it is the default for a reason. It is easy to clean, rinses off with water, leaves no residue on sheets, and stays compatible with every material we sell. Our water-based lubricants run from travel bottles to 16 oz pump.
The trade-off is evaporation. Water-based lubricants absorb into skin during longer sessions, so you reapply the lube. Many water-based lubes now carry aloe vera for comfort, and the better lubricants skip glycerin entirely.
Silicone Lube and Hybrid Lubricant for Longer Sessions
A silicone-based lube is the most long-lasting formula we sell. Silicone lubricant outlasts water-based formulas by a wide margin. One pump of silicone lube keeps its slickness through an entire session, and this lubricant is water-resistant, which makes silicone-based lubricants the shower and bath choice. Pjur, Swiss Navy and our own Intimité line all offer one.
Two things to know. Silicone-based lubricants degrade silicone toys, so pair them with glass, metal or ABS plastic. Silicone lubricant also needs soap to wash off, unlike an easy to clean water-based lube.
Hybrid lubricant splits the difference: a water base with silicone suspended in it, giving a lotion-like texture that lasts longer than water alone. Browse the silicone-based lubricants to compare.
Oil-Based Lubricant, Massage Oils and Arousal Gel
Oil-based lubricant belongs on skin, not inside condoms. Oil destroys latex condoms within minutes, which rules this lubricant out for anyone relying on condoms. For hands-on work it is excellent: our massage oils include the Monoï Touch My Body fluid from Love to Love, which doubles as a glide.
Kama Sutra builds kits around the same idea, treating massage as foreplay rather than preparation. Arousal gel is a different animal. A stimulating gel like HighOnLove's O'Gel increases blood flow and sensation rather than reducing friction, so it layers over a lubricant instead of replacing it.
64 lubricants, 14 brands, free discreet shipping on qualifying orders. Neutral packaging, no branding on the box, or pick your order up free at designated pickup points.
Anal Lube, Flavored Lube and Edible Lube
Sex lube is not one product. Some situations need a purpose-built formula. Anal lube, flavored lube and edible lube each solve a specific problem that an all-purpose bottle handles badly, and all three sit in the same aisle at every Eros location.
Formats are tools. Match the tool to the job and everything gets easier.
Anal Lubricant Texture, Cushion and When to Reapply
The anus produces no natural lubrication. An anal lubricant is therefore thicker than a standard gel lubricant, holding its cushion under pressure instead of thinning out, and our anal lubricants come in both water and silicone bases.
Use more anal lube than you think you need. Reapply the moment you feel drag, because discomfort is the signal to add more lubricant, never to push through. Pjur Back Door and Sliquid Sassy both build in extra viscosity for this, and both hold up through long intimate moments.
Warming Lube and Flavoured Picks from Shunga and Toko
Flavored lube sweetens oral play without wrecking a condom, provided you choose a sugar-free flavored lubricant. Shunga's Toko Aroma line runs melon mango and champagne strawberry at $21.99, and the flavored and edible products collection extends into edible gels and body paints.
Wicked and Sliquid both run flavoured lines with the same sugar-free logic. Warming lube adds heat on contact. The sensation builds as you move, and a little goes far.
Lube Compatibility with Condoms and Sex Toys
Compatibility is where most people get it wrong, and the mistake costs either a toy or a condom. Three material rules cover it. Water-based lubricant works with everything. Silicone lube attacks silicone toys. Oil attacks latex condoms.
Any intimate lubricant is only as good as the materials it respects. Our staff cross-check this at the till whenever someone buys lube and sex toys together.
Latex Condoms, Polyisoprene and Water-Based Formulas
Latex condoms and polyisoprene condoms both break down on contact with oil, including coconut oil and massage butter. Water-based lubricants are the safe default with every condom we carry, and silicone lubricant is fine too.
This matters beyond comfort. Adequate lube reduces the friction that causes condom breakage and micro-tears during intercourse, and intact condoms are what prevent STIs. Read the ingredients panel before you improvise with something from the kitchen.
Silicone Toys, Silicone-Based Lubricant and Easy Cleanup
Silicone-based lubricant bonds to silicone toys and leaves them permanently tacky. The fix is simple: use water based lube with silicone toys, and save silicone lube for glass, steel and adult toys made of ABS.
Cleanup follows the same logic. Water-based lube rinses clean and is non-staining on fabric; silicone lubricant needs warm soapy water. Our toy care and accessories range covers both, with sprays and storage bags.
- Water-based lube: safe with all toys, all condoms
- Silicone lube: glass, metal and ABS toys only
- Oil-based: external skin only, no latex
- Hybrid: safe with condoms, check the toy label
Our teams help you choose in person, with zero awkwardness. Bring your toy's material and we will match the formula.
Body-Safe Ingredients, pH and Sensitive Skin
Body-safe means the lubricant respects the tissue it touches. Two numbers govern that: pH and osmolality. Vaginal pH sits near 4.5, rectal pH near 7, and a lubricant far outside that range irritates. Sexual health starts with what you put on tissue, which is why we read labels before we recommend.
Glycerin, Parabens and Why Osmolality Matters
Glycerin is a sugar alcohol that draws water and can feed yeast, so anyone prone to infections should choose a glycerin-free lubricant. Parabens are preservatives that many shoppers with sensitive skin avoid on principle.
Osmolality measures how strongly a personal lubricant pulls moisture out of your cells. The World Health Organization recommends staying under 1,200 mOsm/kg; high-osmolality lubricants dehydrate delicate tissue. Look for hypoallergenic labelling, and patch test on your inner arm if your skin reacts easily.
Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera and Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is common and it is not a personal failing. Hormonal shifts around menopause, postpartum recovery and breastfeeding all reduce natural vaginal lubrication, as do antihistamines and hormonal contraception.
Hyaluronic acid holds moisture in tissue rather than sitting on top of it, which is why it appears in vaginal lubricants and intimate moisturizers meant for daily use. A water-based gel also makes a menstrual cup easier to insert and remove. Aloe vera soothes, and these vaginal lubricants double as daily moisture. For anyone rebuilding comfort after childbirth, our pelvic floor health range pairs naturally with a gentle water-based gel.
Lubricant FAQ
What is the best personal lubricant for sensitive skin?
The best personal lubricant for sensitive skin is a water-based formula without glycerin, parabens or added fragrance, with osmolality under 1,200 mOsm/kg. Aloe-based lubricants like Pjur Aqua Aloe Vera suit reactive skin well. Patch test any new product before a full session.
Can I use silicone lubricant with silicone sex toys?
No. Silicone lubricant chemically bonds with silicone toys and degrades the surface, leaving a sticky texture that will not wash off. Use a water-based lubricant with silicone sex toys, and reserve silicone lube for glass, metal or ABS.
Is water based lubricant safe with latex condoms?
Yes. Water-based lubricant is safe with latex condoms and polyisoprene condoms, and it is the formulation health agencies recommend alongside barrier protection. Oil-based lubricant is the one to avoid, since oil weakens latex condoms fast.
How much lube should I use, and when should I reapply?
Start with a coin-sized amount and add more as needed. A gel lubricant needs less than a liquid because it stays in place, and pleasure rarely suffers from using too much. Reapply as soon as you notice drag or dryness, which happens sooner with water-based formulas because they absorb. Most unopened personal lubricants keep a shelf life of one to three years.
Shop Personal Lubricants Online or in 28 Quebec Boutiques
Eros is the largest erotic boutique network in Quebec, family-owned, with stores from Gatineau to Rimouski. Sexual wellness shopping should feel ordinary, so discretion is built into every order. Order personal lubricants online with free discreet shipping over $59 anywhere in Canada, or reserve for free pickup. Orders leave our warehouse within 24 business hours. Ton plaisir, tes règles.
Astroglide, Swiss Navy, Pjur and Sliquid
Astroglide, Swiss Navy, Pjur, Sliquid, System Jo, Durex, Wet and K-Y all sit on our shelves alongside Shunga and Toko. Fourteen brands make personal lubricant for us, which means you can compare a $9.99 starter lube against a premium silicone lubricant without leaving the aisle.
The Eros House Line and Discreet Delivery
Our house line, Eros Zone, puts quality at an accessible price. Every order ships in plain packaging with no visible branding, and your privacy holds from checkout to doorstep: your name appears nowhere on the outside of the box. Free pickup is available at designated pickup points across Quebec.
Free gift and free discreet shipping on qualifying orders. Explore 64 lubes and ask us anything.
