This lube is literally eating your sex toys

This article was originally written by Gigi Fong for Hypebae.

A few years ago, the world learned that coconut oil was not only great for hair and skin care, but it could also be used as a lubricant for sex. At that point it made us wonder, “d-mn, what can’t coconut oil do?” Slight problem though, coconut oil isn’t compatible with many forms of pleasure.

Oils and oil-based lubricants have many benefits. They can be used to provide more slip and less friction during sex and they can also double as massage oils. But, oil-based lubricants aren’t safe for sex toys or condoms.

Many toys that are advertised as silicone are actually made of silicone and other plastic materials, that are not oil safe. As a result, oil-based lubricants wear out condoms and slowly deteriorate sex toys. Also, coconut oil can disrupt the pH balance of your vagina so it’s best to avoid that, as well. Sexologist Dr. Sadie Allison shared with Well + Good: “Oil can also trap unwanted bacteria in a woman’s vagina, which can lead to infection. If you’re using latex condoms and/or are sensitive, the safest choice would be a water-based lubricant.”

Other lubricants to avoid

Flavored lubricants are another option you should avoid when shopping for your next go-to lubricant. They’re created with sugars that can lead to a yeast infection so it’s ultimately not worth it. Silicone-based lubricants are safe for condoms, but damage sex toys made with silicone products.

Sex toy safe lubricants to try

Water-based lubricants are your best bet when it comes to pleasure. Due to their make-up, they don’t damage sex toys or condoms, making them perfect for a wide range of pleasure from sex toy-free solo sex to partnered sex that pulls out all the stops like silicone toys and condoms for protection. A great affordable option is Walgreen’s Water-based Lubricant ($6.29 USD).

However, sometimes I prefer a more discrete, luxurious and aesthetically pleasing experience. In that case, Playground‘s lubricant is a new personal favorite. In comparison to the many lubes I test as a sex and dating editor, Playground’s lube has a thicker consistency and smoother slip than most water-based lubes. This means that you won’t need to reapply it as much which is essentially how you run out of product sooner than expected. It also contains hyaluronic acid which is great for vaginal dryness — without disrupting your pH. There are scented and unscented options and although I prefer unscented, Playground’s After Hours smells like the most divine essence of vanilla and champagne.