The ID Guide to Sensationally Smoooooooth Sex

Written & kindly supplied to Trulyg by ID Lubes UK Distributor Jane Bowles

Commercial lubricants are the slippery secret of sensational sex. Unfortunately, says Californian sex therapist Marty Klein, only a fraction of couples use them. If you are one of those that miss out on the erotic treasure trove of sexual lubricants and think lubes are only for masturbation, anal play and frigid housewives then you should take five minutes to read this.

Why lubricants are good for men Gay men have long known about and enjoyed the use of lubes in their sex lives however in many heterosexual relationships, lubes are considered a woman’s thing. Wrong.

Men too can have great fun applying them to their lovers or using them on their penises when with their partner or alone. Lubricants can also add an erotic dimension when applied to the scrotum or a neat little trick is to put a drop of silicone lubricant on the head of his penis just before rolling on a condom. This really heightens his enjoyment whilst wearing a rubber.

Why lubricants are good for women Lubricants can really set the passion wheels in motion. Start by using it on her breasts, flavoured are great for some licking and sucking whereas silicone will feel beautiful and as an added benefit will act as a moisturiser! He could also put a little dab on his finger before he begins stroking her clitoris. Often vaginal lubrication doesn’t finds its way there before direct stimulation so any man’s touch will feel rough no matter how soft his hands. There are women who believe they lubricate naturally and therefore “don’t need a lube”, but they shouldn’t knock it before they try it. Every couple who have sex will find their love-making benefits from the use of lube.

Are lubricants safe with toys? Yes, in fact many sex toy instruction sheets recommend the use of lubes with their toys. A little lube applied to the toy and to where it is going will make it a far more enjoyable experience. Beyond that, lubes are toys in themselves. They help spur couples to be more sexually playful. The only rider is that silicone lube should not be used with silicone toys.

Doesn’t using a lube act as an interruption? Well, it does take a second to squeeze some lube onto your hands and then apply it, but when one lover reaches for the lube, the other knows something very pleasurable is about to happen and rather than being an interruption, that moment of erotic anticipation can make you even hotter.

When lubricants can be used to help maintain a healthy, happy sex-life. There are times in a woman’s life, just after childbirth, different points within the menstrual cycle or after menopause when lubrication can be given a helping hand and yes lubricants are a fun, simple and highly effective way to continue enjoying a healthy sex-life. Stress, tiredness, use of over the counter drugs and the pill can also contribute to dryer than normal sex, but because a vagina doesn’t get lubricated it doesn’t necessarily provide a barrier to intercourse. This can lead to tiny tears in the vagina which as well as being sore leaves it more vulnerable to infection. As for men, the effects can be more damaging in the long term. As the body repairs tiny tears in the penis it sometimes lays down an inflexible tissue which if it continues can ultimately lead to a bend in the penis

Aren’t all lubes the same? No, no, no! Using the wrong lube is akin to putting machine oil in your car. Take a look below to help you choose the kind that’s right for you. Sexual lubricants come in four basic forms: 

Water-based. Available in both flavoured and unflavoured mixtures, water-based lubes do not stain, are safe for use with latex and all barrier birth control methods, and rarely cause irritation. While they can dry out during extended sex, water-based lubes are quickly revived with a spritz of water or a dollop of saliva. Because of their versatility and effectiveness, water-based lubes are the form of lube recommended most often by experienced couples. ID Sensual Glide is the number one rated water-based lubricant in America and is proving one of the most popular lubes in the UK. 

Flavoured. These are water-based lubricants with a twist. Wonderful for oral sex they can make foreplay great fun and tasty too. Make sure the lubricant you choose does not contain sugar as this can cause yeast infections in women. The world’s top selling flavoured lubricants, ID Juicy Lubes come in twelve flavours, Big Banana, Bubblegum Blast, Wild Cherry, Caramel Cream, Chocolate and Raspberry, Cool Mint, Fresh Peach, Passion Fruit, Pina Colada, Luscious Watermelon, Strawberry and Kiwi and Vanilla Cream. So there should be one that takes your fancy! (Also available in sachets so you can have a different flavour every night!)

Silicone-based. The Rolls-Royce of lubricants, silicone based lubes retain their lubricating properties better and longer than water-based lubricants and are highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Another benefit is that they are completely waterproof, making them ideal for underwater use. ID Millennium is the only 100% pure grade silicone lubricant making it ultra, ultra long lasting. Silicone will not harm latex and is perfectly safe for internal use as silicone molecules are too big to enter the body through the skin or body linings.

Oil-based. Oil-based lubes tend to stain fabrics and can be difficult to wash off but they are very long lasting and never become sticky. They do however destroy latex so should never be used with condoms, diaphragms or cervical caps, (except for Durex Avanti which are polyurethane.) Oil-based lubricants are great for anal sex and male masturbation. They are not recommended for vaginal use. ID Cream is a brand new oil-based product specially formulated for men to enhance the pleasure of masturbation.

Whichever lube you choose it is worth unscrewing the cap to check the bottle has a security seal. All ID products meet this health standard.