If you’ve been a Scarlet reader for any length of time, you probably know your way around a hot sex move or two. But there’s one under-appreciated sex hack that can level up your bedroom game instantly – lube.
No longer just a secret weapon for dry spells, lubrication has become an essential sex accessory. From making toys feel smoother to enhancing oral sex and easing the way during anal play, the right lube can elevate foreplay, improve comfort during sex, and make every touch feel even better.
But not all lubes are created equal, and slapping it on like ketchup just isn’t saucy Here’s your ultimate guide to how to use lube during sex, plus expert tips on choosing the best lubricant for better sex – no matter your style.
10 Sexy Ways To Apply Lubricant
1 From a height
It can be visually stimulating to watch a slick, shiny stream of lubricant trickle straight from the bottle over your lover’s contours. For optimum effect, pour very slowly from a height of no less than 30 centimetres, preferably in a darkened room with the fluid glistening seductively in candlelight
2 Off the chest
Follow instructions in tip one (above), pouring the lubricant directly over your bare breasts from a height, then use your puppies to apply lube to his penis, giving him a cheeky tit-wank in the process. He’ll be mesmerised..
3 Straight from the fridge
For those keen on experiencing hot/cold effects during sex, chilling your lube in advance in a fridge will have delightful results. For extra impact, blindfold your bloke so they won’t know where to expect a chill.
4 By foot
Foot lovers will enjoy massaging their partners’ feet with lubricant. Give them a soak and scrub them with a pumice first and then, once lubed, you can use the bowed arches of your feet placed together to massage a cock or finger and coat it in lube, ready for sex.
5 From the navel
The navel makes a perfect self-warming well from which to dip. Simply deposit lubricant into the navel then trace it down the body with the tip of a finger or a penis. It’s not just the destination, but also the journey that counts: the delicate skin beneath the belly button is said to be an erogenous zone in both men and women.
6 Orally
“The wetter the better” is most men’s motto when it comes to what makes a great blow-job. Flavoured lubricants abound, from Lovehoney’s Blueberry Muffin (https://www.lovehoney.eu/lubes-essentials/lubricants/flavoured-lubes/p/lovehoney-blueberry-muffin-flavoured-lubricant-100ml/84672.html) to Playtime Cocktail Mojito (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Playtime-Mojito-Flavour-Lube-Lubricant/dp/B07F8774WP), so it’s just a matter of picking your poison. We can’t see Jamie Oliver putting them on one of his menus, but they mask any less than pleasant tastes your lover may have and they’re usually palatable enough to be warmed in the mouth, then dribbled erotically over body parts in need of a good lubing.
7 Mazola-style
In 60s America, free thinkers were rather fond of throwing ‘Mazola parties’, which involved plastic sheeting, large quantities of Mazola corn oil and naked people; the ensuing play-wrestling and wriggling of participants would coat all parties in lube ready for action. You can try this at home with your partner, a bottle of your favourite lube and a plastic wipe-clean airbed, or by placing a duvet on the floor and then covering it with cut-up bin bags, joined together by carpet tape.
8 By hand
If you do opt for the simplest method of application, at least take time to warm the lube in your hands first, rubbing it between your palms before lavishing your lover or yourself with the hot and wet treat. And don’t just focus on their (or your) bits. The nipples, abdomen, butt cheeks and everything in between them will also enjoy a bit of slip’n’tickle.
9 With a brush
An old, washed blusher brush makes a divine device for lube application. Long wet strokes over all the body’s intimate bits will make hairs stand on end, and that’s guaranteed.
10 With a sponge
Cut a circular hole slightly smaller than your man’s member in the middle of a small damp sponge, then pour water-based lube over it and slip it on your man so it sits snugly at the base of his penis and acts as a lubed-up cock ring. The extra pressure around his manhood will increase sensation for him, and when you slide down his penis, your clitoris will benefit from extra friction from the sponge, which when squished will release more lube. Lovely!
Know Your Lube
With so many types to choose from it can be tricky to know which lube is best suited to your sex life. From nature’s own to silicone, Scarlet explains which lubricant will work for you.
1. Natural. The body’s own genital secretions and saliva are the first choice of lubricant for most couples, who tend to leave manufactured lube on the shelf until dry spells force them to splash out (geddit?). This is a terrible shame as manmade lubricants can add a whole new dimension to same-old sex acts, enhancing skin-on-skin contact and facilitating aficionado-level hand- and blow-jobs; they’re also essential in anal play as the rectum isn’t self-lubricating in the same way the vagina is.
2. Water-based. Not suitable for use underwater as it is easily washed away. On the flip side it’s the easiest lubricant to clean up, it doesn’t leave slick oil stains on silk sheets and it’s safe to use with toys and latex condoms.
3. Silicone-based. Similar to water-based lubricant, but waterproof so it can be used in the shower, bath, or even in your local lido if you’re that way inclined. On the downside it corrodes silicone toys (often referred to as ‘real-feel’ or ‘jelly’ toys by manufacturers), and is a little more difficult to clean up than water-based lube, but hot soapy water should do the trick.
4. Oil-based. This lubricant, most commonly used for male masturbation and anal toy play, is preferred to water-based lubricant because of its thickness. However, oil-based lubes, and oil-based products found around the home like Vaseline, cocoa butter and baby oil, are not safe for use with latex condoms as they can weaken the material and cause it to tear. Oil-based lubes can also contribute to yeast infections when used vaginally.
5. Warming. These lubes tend to be water-based and latex-friendly, but you must read the label rather than assume this to be the case. The warming sensations usually begin on contact with the skin and blowing on the lube may boost the affect. Some people find the sensation pleasant; others liken it to being attacked with a can of Deep Heat. Always do a skin patch test first. If irritation occurs, wash yourself immediately.
6. Flavoured. Again, these lubricants are most often water-based and latex-friendly, but you must check the label, not only for latex and silicone compatibility, but also for sugar and dye content and ingredients that may affect a person with food allergies. If your intimate areas are sensitive to the sugars in sweetened lubes, the result could be a yeast infection, and if you’re particularly fond of your white Egyptian cotton sheets, you don’t want to go near them with food dye. Opt for clear sugar-free varieties where possible and always read the label.
Recommended Use
| Lube Type | Penetrative Sex | Oral Sex | Anal Sex | Latex Toys/Condoms | Silicone Toys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural (Body’s Own) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Water-Based | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Flavoured) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Silicone-Based | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Oil-Based | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (With silicone toys only) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
For more tips read Sex by Numbers: Everything You Should Know About Sex and a Few Things You Shouldn’t by Sarah Hedley
For more expert sex guides, visit our Sexpertise section.
