The lube guide
Can you use Vaseline as lube?
It's 3 a.m., you're out of lube and there's a jar of Vaseline in the bathroom. Here's why it's the wrong call for anal, and what to reach for instead.
What Vaseline actually is
Vaseline is petroleum jelly: a blend of mineral oils and waxes. It's 100% oil, it's great for dry skin, and it was made for the outside of your body. It was never designed to be a sex lube, and it shows.
Why it's a bad lube for anal
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It breaks condoms
Oil weakens latex. Within minutes a latex condom can thin out and tear, and you won't feel it happen. If you use latex condoms, anything oil-based is out.
On PrEP? PrEP protects against HIV, not against other STIs, so a broken condom still matters.
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It goes on patchy
There's nothing in it to make it glide. It's thick, it clumps as you go, and it leaves dry spots. Friction on dry spots is how small tears happen, and small tears are exactly what you want to avoid.
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It won't wash out
Petroleum jelly doesn't dissolve in water. It sits inside and between your cheeks for a day or more, and a greasy film is a good place for bacteria to hang around.
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It stains
Oil leaves marks on sheets, towels and underwear that a normal wash won't lift.
What to use instead
- Water-based. Safe with every condom and every toy, and it rinses off with water. It dries faster, so keep the bottle close and reapply.
- Silicone. Stays slick far longer, works in the shower and is condom-safe. Test a drop on silicone toys first.
- Hybrid. Water and silicone together: the cushion of a cream with an easier clean-up.
- Oil-based lubes made for sex. Long-lasting and thick, but not with latex condoms.
Vaseline alternatives
Our picks
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Pick a product
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02Water-based, made for anal
Pjur Analyse Me Water Based Personal Lubricant - 100ml
£17.00
See itA water-based formula with more cushion than a standard water lube, so it feels closer to silicone. Safe with condoms and toys.
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03Longest-lasting
Pjur Analyze Me! Relaxing Anal Glide Silicone
From £25.00
See itSilicone glide made for anal play, with jojoba. It lasts through long sessions and in the shower, and it's safe with latex condoms.
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04Best hybrid
Spunk Hybrid Lube
From £8.00
See itCreamy like an oil, rinses like a water-based. For guys who want thickness without the mess.
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05The thick one
Boy Butter Original
From £12.00
See itThe classic cream: coconut oil and silicone, whipped. Thick and long-lasting, and far easier to wash off than Vaseline. Not for latex condoms.
Quick questions
Can I use Vaseline to jerk off?
On the outside, in a pinch, yes. It's greasy and it stains, so keep it away from toys and condoms. A water-based or hybrid lube feels better and cleans up in seconds.
Is coconut oil any better?
It's gentler than Vaseline and washes off more easily, but it's still oil, so it breaks latex condoms. Fine for solo play or with a partner you don't use condoms with.
Which lubes are safe with condoms?
Water-based and silicone lubes are safe with latex condoms. Anything with oil in it (Vaseline, coconut oil, body lotion, oil-based lubes) is not.
Which lube is safe with silicone toys?
Water-based always is. Silicone lube can soften some silicone toys over time, so test a drop on the base first or stick with water-based.
How much lube do I need for anal?
More than you think. The ass doesn't make its own lubricant, so apply it generously to both of you (or to the toy) and add more as soon as the glide fades.
Keep reading
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