The 22 Best Lubes for Anal Sex, According to Sex Experts
When it comes to anal play, there's no such thing as too much lube.
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Anal lube is as essential an ingredient for anal sex as communication is for healthy relationships, as extra mozzarella is for any Italian dish.
Lubricant reduces unwanted friction, which, in turn, increases pleasure. While this is true for sex acts that don’t involve the anus, lube is extra important for anal sex. Why? Because "unlike the vaginal canal, the anal canal never self lubricates," says Carol Queen, PhD, a sex educator with Good Vibes and the co-author of The Sex & Pleasure Book: Good Vibrations Guide to Great Sex for Everyone. "If you don’t add in a little store-bought slip-and-slide into the mix, it will be difficult and painful to insert anything from a pinky finger to a penis," says Dr. Queen. Worse, Dr. Queen adds that it can actually be dangerous to penetrate the booty dry, as the tissue lining the anal canal is delicate and prone to tearing, irritation, and inflammation. Pass!
What Is the Best Type of Anal Lube?
The good news: The best anal sex of your life is just a dollop (or three) of anal lubricant away. But, what's the best lube for anal sex? Dr. Zhana Vrangalova, Ph.D., NYU professor of human sexuality and a sexpert for LELO says more is better. "I generally subscribe to the 'too much lube is almost enough' view when it comes to anal sex,” she says. So, don't be afraid to reapply "as soon as it seems like it's drying out and there's more friction.”
Alicia Sinclair, founder of sex toy brand b-Vibe, shares the same opinion as Dr. Vrangalova. "When it comes to anal lube, the thicker the better," says Sinclair. "Thicker lubricant provides a slight cushion to the penetrative body part or toy, and won’t need to be re-applied as often."
Typically, silicone lubricant is the thickest type of lubricant. “It contains dimethicone, dimethiconol, and cyclomethicone," says Sinclair. "This creates a consistency that is thicker and more 'buttery' than water-based lubes.” That said, if you're using sex toys, she suggests avoiding silicone-based lubes and using high-quality, water-based lubricant or gel instead. Sinclair also notes that oil-based (like coconut oil based) options also work well so long as you’re not using condoms, as oil can erode latex.
Ahead, we put together a list of the 22 best anal lubes based on our interviews with sex experts in 2024.
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