How to use a water-based lube

How much and where

Start with a little, a short press of the pump, and add more as you go: a water-based lube slowly soaks in and dries, so a second press later is normal. Warm it between your fingers for a few seconds if the bottle sits on a cold nightstand.

Our label gives the direction in one line: apply the amount you want to intimate areas, and store the bottle at room temperature, 68 to 77 °F. Keep it out of your eyes and ears, and away from children.

Condoms: read this part

Our lube label says it plainly: it has not been evaluated for condom compatibility and may damage condoms. So treat it as untested with condoms, whatever kind you use.

In the United States a personal lubricant is a Class II medical device regulated by the FDA, and the FDA definition of the device says a given lubricant may or may not be compatible with latex, polyisoprene or polyurethane condoms. Compatibility is tested product by product, with its own standard. The World Health Organization notes that water- and glycol-based lubes are generally accepted as compatible with latex, but a general note is not a test of a particular bottle. If you rely on condoms, use a lube whose own label says it has been tested with your type of condom.

Why oil and latex do not mix

On this point every agency we read agrees. The CDC tells you to use water-based lube with condoms and warns that oil-based products like baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly or cooking oil weaken latex and make the condom break. The FDA wording for latex condom labels says the same about vegetable oil and mineral oil, and the WHO note lists coconut oil among household products to keep away from latex.

Our massage oils are plant oils: sweet almond, macadamia, jojoba, coconut and sunflower. They are for massage, not for sex with a latex or polyisoprene condom.

What is in the bottle

Six ingredients, in label order: Purified Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Sodium PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid. The label adds that it is not made with petrochemicals, glycerin or parabens. Hydroxyethyl cellulose is what turns the water into a gel, and potassium sorbate is a preservative: the WHO note explains that every water-based lube needs one to stop microbes growing, and that preservatives can irritate some people.

The WHO note explains two numbers that lube makers talk about. Osmolality is how concentrated a lube is compared with the cells it touches. WHO suggests an ideal ceiling of 380 mOsm/kg, accepts 1,200 as an interim limit, and says the figure depends mostly on glycols such as glycerin and propylene glycol. A pH of about 4.5 matches a healthy vagina. Our label does not print either number, so we do not claim one. If your skin is sensitive to lubes, those are fair questions to bring to your doctor.

With toys

Our product notes say the lube is made for toys. A water-based gel is the usual pick because it leaves nothing behind when the toy is washed. Follow the care instructions of the toy itself, and wash both the toy and your hands with warm water when you are done.

When to stop and call a doctor

Stop if you feel burning, itching or a rash. Our label says to discontinue use and consult a physician if irritation occurs, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that lubricants are one of the things that can cause contact dermatitis of the vulva. ACOG suggests water-soluble lubes for people with vaginal irritation or sensitivity.

MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, says a water-soluble lubricant may help with dryness during sex, and to see your provider if dryness, burning, itching or painful sex does not go away when you use one. Nooky lube is not a contraceptive and contains no spermicide.

The water-based lube in the Nooky assortment comes in a 16 or a 32 fl oz pump bottle. Both sizes are on the lube page, with the label printed in full.