Personal Lubricant vs. Vaginal Inserts: Which One’s Best for You?

Let’s normalize talking about vaginal dryness. Whether it sneaks up during sex, hits you postpartum, or creeps in thanks to your birth control or a stress spiral, dryness happens — and it’s more common than most of us think.

The good news? You have options. Two of them, to be specific, the most popular tools in the vaginal wellness toolkit: personal lubricants and vaginal inserts, AKA vaginal suppositories. They both add moisture, but they serve different purposes. So, how do you know which one is right for you? What is a personal lubricant vs. vaginal inserts?

To answer all of your burning questions, let’s break it down with the help of Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Jacqueline M. Thielen, plus Playground’s very own OB/GYN specialist, Dr. Shyama Mathews, below.

Lubes vs. Inserts: What's the Difference?

First, let’s clear something up: lubricants and vaginal moisturizers aren’t the same thing.

“Vaginal moisturizers are used regularly to maintain vaginal moisture,” As Dr. Thielen says in her Mayo Clinic article, “Lubricants are used during intercourse to reduce friction and increase comfort.”

Translation?

• Personal lubricants are your go-to for sexy time — quick, slippery, and oh-so-satisfying in the moment.
  
  

• Vaginal inserts (like Playground’s Miracle Melts) are for deep hydration, tissue support, and long-term vaginal comfort.
  
  

They’re not competing — they’re meant to be complementary to one another. 

Personal Lubricant: For When You Want to Glide Into the Moment

If you’ve ever Googled best lube for women, you know the options are endless. Water-based, silicone-based, organic, warming, CBD-infused — whatever your vibe, there’s a lube out there for you.

Lube is fabulous for:

✔️ Making sex smoother and more comfortable
✔️ Enhancing solo play
✔️ Preventing microtears from friction
✔️ Dealing with temporary dryness due to stress or cycle changes

Our faves are Playground’s Free Love — which is scientifically proven to help reduce and prevent UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and other common vaginal health issues —  and our Mini Escape, which feels (and smells) like you’re taking a sexy vacation.

Remember, though, that while personal lubricants provide instant relief, Dr. Mathews points out, they don’t address the deeper causes of dryness. If you find yourself reaching for lube constantly — even outside of sex — that might be a sign your body needs more ongoing hydration support.

Vaginal Inserts: Your Long-Term Hydration Strategy

This is where vaginal suppositories come in. Think of them like a deep-conditioning treatment for your vaginal tissue.

Playground’s Miracle Melts are a perfect example: soft, easy-to-insert capsules that deliver hyaluronic acid right to the source. These ingredients don’t just sit on the surface — they help hydrate vaginal mucosa, improve tissue elasticity, and soothe irritation from within.

According to Dr. Thielen, “One of the most effective nonhormonal treatments is a vaginal moisturizer… My personal favorites are vaginal moisturizers with hyaluronic acid.”

Hyaluronic acid is the same skin-loving molecule found in your favorite face serums — but vaginally, it’s a total game changer. It holds up to 1,000x its weight in water, draws moisture into the tissue, and helps prevent the thinning and fragility that often come with hormonal changes, stress, or medication.

TL;DR: What Should You Use?

Can You Use Both?

Absolutely! So if you decide to use both, we highly second that.

Sure, these two products play different roles, but using them together is the ultimate power move. While lubricants handle in-the-moment comfort and pleasure, vaginal suppositories work in the background to support long-term vaginal wellness.

You don’t have to wait for painful sex or a full-on UTI to start taking care of your vaginal health. Whether you're postpartum, perimenopausal, pill-popping, or just a little parched — you deserve a routine that keeps you comfortable, confident, and turned on.

So grab the lube, pop in a Miracle Melt, and give your body what it actually needs.