The Best Lubes of 2025, Tested and Reviewed by Cosmopolitan Editors

Here at Cosmopolitan, we take pride in our long and iconic history of providing readers with the expert-backed info and advice you need to live your best sex life. But of all the sexual wisdom we’ve imparted over the decades, one of the most important sex tips we never get tired of handing down is surprisingly simple: Use lube. That’s because no matter what kind of sex you’re having, who you’re having it with, or how many times you’ve done it before, it can almost always be improved with a little extra lubrication.

In addition to increasing comfort and wetness during penetrative sex, reducing unwanted friction during hand jobs, and making oral even more fun (and potentially tastier), the right lubricant can also enhance playtime with your favorite toys, double as massage oil, or even enhance arousal. And with so many different ways to use lube, best believe there’s a wide variety of options out there. So to help you pick the very best products, we’re proud to present Cosmopolitan’s third-annual Lube Awards, featuring our top editor-tested-and-approved recs for all your lubrication needs.

Over the course of three months, Cosmopolitan’s sex and relationships editors nominated 32 personal lubricants, sex oils, and arousal gels across 14 categories, prioritizing both new-to-us brands and tried-and-true favorites. We tested each one for effectiveness, experience, and ease of use and analyzed ingredients lists, prioritizing body-safe, nontoxic materials—all to bring you this expertly curated selection of the very best lubes that deserve a place on your nightstand.

Happy Lube Awards season to all who celebrate! Now go forth and get lubricated.

System JO Xtra Silky

$32Babeland

Pros

• Long-lasting
• Lightweight
• Fortified with Vitamin E

Cons

• Not compatible with silicone sex toys

The lube universe has expanded over the years to offer a truly diverse variety of different types and formulas—but if your primary criteria is long-lasting slickness, a classic silicone-based product remains the go-to. This lightweight pick from System JO has a smooth, natural feel that lasts as long as you need it to but never sticks around longer than you want it to. Fortified with Vitamin E, it also gives your skin a little hydration boost, which is always a plus.

2024 Lube Award-Winning Brand

Playground Free Love

$18Playground

Pros

• Compatible with most toys and condoms
• pH-balanced and vaginal microbiome–friendly
• May reduce vaginal health issues

Cons

• May not be as long-lasting as other formulas

If there is but one bit of lube wisdom we may impart, let it be this: When in doubt, go water-based. These products are reliably safe to use with toys and most condoms, making them a versatile bedside-drawer staple with which you can almost never go wrong. This gentle formula from Playground also claims to reduce and prevent UTIs and common vaginal health issues like BV—which is a huge plus for those of us who have been personally victimized by the delicate ecosystem that is the vagina.

Goop Sex Oil

$55GOOP

Pros

• Moisturizing
• Jelly formula keeps oil from feeling greasy or runny
• Chic and discreet bottle design

Cons

• Not compatible with condoms

This sleek pick from Goop feels (and smells!) ultra-luxe—and unlike a lot of other oil-based intimate products, this unique jelly formula doesn’t feel greasy. Rich and moisturizing, this luxurious oil is designed for full-body use, making it ideal for a steamy pre-sex massage and whatever it leads to.

Intimate Earth Oral Flavored Glide

Now 45% Off

$25 $14Adam & Eve

Pros

• Water-based
• Multiple flavor options
• Not sticky

Cons

• Some reviewers say the scent lingered longer than desired

You may think saliva renders lube more or less negligible when it comes to oral sex—but you would be incorrect! A little lube can seriously enhance the oral sexperience for both the giver and receiver, and a flavored pick definitely makes things more fun for the former. Intimate Earth offers a variety of juicy, natural-tasting flavors that don’t taste or smell too sweet or artificial. (We love the Cheeky Apples flavor!)

Cake Aloe Lube

$18Cake

Pros

• Hydrating formula helps with vaginal dryness
• pH-balanced + clean ingredients = good for sensitive vaginas
• Compatible with toys and latex condoms

Cons

• Like most aloe-based lubes, the slickness doesn’t last as long as silicone-based lube, so you might have to reapply a few times

If hydration is what you seek, then an aloe-based lube is for you. Vaginal pH–friendly, compatible with most condoms, and safe to use with toys, Cake’s Aloe Lube is an ideal all-purpose pick that’s lightweight and naturally moisturizing. Perfect for both partnered and solo sex, this slick and never sticky option delivers a natural-feeling glide that washes off easily.

2024 Lube Award-Winning Brand

LubeLife Peaches & Cream Anal Delight

$10LubeLife

Pros

• Water-based formula makes this a versatile option
• Flavor tastes sweet and natural, not too artificial like some other flavored lubes
• Marketed specifically with analingus in mind, which makes it a unique addition to the flavored lubiverse!

Cons

• Flavor may be overpowering for some

When you think flavored lube, you probably think oral sex. But this peaches and cream–flavored treat from LubeLife has other oral pursuits in mind—namely, rimming. While there’s technically no reason you couldn’t use this water-based option for blow jobs or any other activities that may call for a flavored lube, we love that this product is specifically designed for mouth-to-butt stuff. LubeLife never skimps on flavor, and this genuinely tasty addition to the brand’s catalogue turns tossing salad into dessert.

Hey Sweet Cheeks Backside Glide Water + Silicone Hybrid

$22Hey Sweet Cheeks

Pros

• Hybrid formula combines the best of water- and silicone-based lubes
• Creamy, long-lasting texture

Cons

• Not safe for use with all toys
• While it lasts longer than water-based products, it may not last as long as exclusively silicone-based lube

Many experts recommend silicone-based lube for backdoor play because it tends to be thicker and longer-lasting than most other formulas. But for those who love the lightweight feel and easy cleanup of a water-based lube, a hybrid formula is the answer. Combining the versatility of a water-based lube with the longevity of silicone, this best-of-both-worlds option from Hey Sweet Cheeks is your backdoor bestie.

Smilemakers Generous Gel

$10smilemakerscollection.com

Pros

• Affordable
• Safe for use with toys and condoms

Cons

• Like most water-based lubes, it may not last as long as desired and may dry with some stickiness

With so many luxe lubes on the market these days, you may be tempted to side-eye a more affordable product. But trust us, lube doesn’t have to be pricey to be high-quality. This water-based pick from Smilemakers delivers a reliably smooth, body-safe glide for just $10.

2024 Lube Award-Winning Brand

Glissant Love Glissant Huile D’Amour

Now 36% Off

$55 $35glissantlove.com

Pros

• CBD-infused
• Buildable, spray-based formula
• Safe for oral sex

Cons

• Not super long-lasting, so you may need to reapply frequently

If you’re someone who loves the calming effects of CBD, just wait till you see what it can do for your sex life. This CBD-infused intimate oil can help you relax, unwind, and get in the mood. And because it’s Glissant, it comes in a sleek and chic bottle that could easily be mistaken for a high-end perfume or skincare product.

Cosmopolitan x PlusOne Coco Motion Personal Lubricant

$13TargetAlso Consider

$33myplusone.com

Pros

• Hydrating formula
• Smells like coconuts!
• Rich, never greasy formula

Cons

• Not compatible with polyurethane condoms or silicone toys.

In a list of the best lubes out there, we’d be remiss not to include our own (because if we didn’t think it was the best, we obviously wouldn’t have made it!). The Coco Motion lube from our All Yours collection with PlusOne is made with coconut oil, which makes it super moisturizing and naturally good-smelling. Plus, this 2-in-1 formula doubles as a massage oil.

Medicine Mama Intimate Glide

Now 15% Off

$25 $21medicinemama

Pros

• Super hydrating
• Made with organic ingredients
• Gentle on sensitive skin

Cons

• Water-based formula may not last as long as desired

This organic aloe and water-based lubricant is ultra-hydrating with a lightweight yet long-lasting feel that mimics your body’s natural lubrication. We love that Medicine Mama prides itself on using only high-quality ingredients, including hyaluronic acid for enhanced moisturizing properties.

Pjur Water-Based Toy Glide

$21Pjur

Pros

• Safe for use with toys
• ProEasy cleanup
• Compatible with natural rubber latex and polyisoprene condoms

Cons

• Not compatible with polyurethane condoms

Water-based lube is generally compatible with most toys. But if you want to make sure you’re protecting your precious playthings, this toy-specific formula from Pjur is peace of mind in a bottle. This water-based pick is specially designed for use with all sex toys and vibrators of all different materials.

Epiphany Clit Arousal Serum

$34Epiphany

Pros

• Stimulates with a warm, tingly sensation
• Moisturizing without being goopy or sticky
• Creates a gradual increase in arousal

Cons

• Some reviewers found it didn’t produce as much stimulation as desired

Arousal gels work to increase oxygen delivery and blood flow to the genitals, which helps to enhance sensitivity and vaginal secretion. This fan favorite from Epiphany has long been a best-seller among Cosmo readers, providing tingly, warm sensations that can seriously turn up the volume on stimulation.

KY Warming Liquid

Now 50% Off

$25 $13Romantic Depot

Pros

• Liquid gel formula provides warming sensation
• Low price point

Cons

• Some reviewers found it too sticky

A warming lube quite literally heats things up in the bedroom with the sensation-enhancing novelty of temperature play. It also has the benefit of ensuring you never accidentally give your partner the unpleasant surprise of cold lube to their most sensitive bits—which is a plus!