Just as you might bring a fine bottle of wine to a dates house, bringing a fine bottle of lube can enhance the evening even more. Nobody appreciates dry chafing intimacy, well hardly anybody. However, choosing the right bottle of lube can be just as challenging, if not more so, than selecting the cabernet. Different wines compliment different meals. Similarly, certain lubricants tend to pair well with certain activities.

The three main types of lubrication are: Water Base, Silicone, Oil Base

Water based Lubrication is the most versatile lubrication. It may used vaginally and anally and may be used with any toy. Water based lube is condom and dental dam compatible. Flavored lubrication is usually water based. Flavored lubrication may contain sugars or aspartame which can disturb the PH balance of the vagina and result in a yeast infection or other irritation. Thus, Pink Bunny recommends flavored lube for oral sex only. Just make sure to lick it ALL off!

Water based lube will dry so you may need to reapply. During the drying process this type of lube can become sticky. This stickiness can range from, slightly tacky to Elmer's glue. As a general rule, the thicker the lubrication the stickier the drying process is. The upside to thick lube is more cushioning for activities such as anal sex.

Pink Bunny water based favorites: Liquid Silk, absolutely never sticky and I give it out as Christmas presents. Pjur Eros Aqua, super concentrated and very smooth.

Silicone Based lube is probably the most common type of lubrication on the market. Most condoms are lubricated with silicone, you may also use this type of lube with dental dams. Equally suited for vaginal or anal sex, this is the lube to use when you don't want to reapply. Silicone will stay wet for a very long time. In many cases you will need soap and water to clean up. Silicone can stay slippery even in water which can make little trysts in the hot tub or pool even more romantic. Using silicone lube in the shower can make the floor VERY slippery.( A little side note on the shower, please use water or silicone based lube for shower sex NOT SOAP! Soap can be very drying and can disturb the PH balance of the vagina.)

Silicone is NOT compatible with all toys and care should be taken when pairing silicone lube with a toy. Silicone lube and silicone toys can bond together and ruin an otherwise premium toy. Soft jelly toys, Cyberskin, or any other toy made of soft mystery materials may be damaged by silicone lube. With these toys I would recommend water based lubrication. Silicone is fabulous for use with metal, glass or even hard plastic toys. This is also a great lube for masturbation.

For women who are very sensitive and can't use most lubes, I recommend trying silicone. The ingredient list in good silicone lube is usually relatively short, often times only three or four ingredients. Whereas water based lubrication can have quite a few ingredients. This means fewer items to trigger irritation.

Pink Bunny silicone favorites: Pjur Eros, super concentrated and ultra slippery. Swede Woman Sensitive, PH balanced for her.

Oil Based lubricants will last all night and are very viscous. As a lubricant for anal sex and male masturbation, oil is fantastic. As a general rule, I recommend oil to men only. Oil can be thick and change the PH balance of the vagina. Some women use oil based lubricants and have no problems what so ever. For the rest of us, water or silicone will be the most appropriate choice. Oil based lubes are NOT CONDOM OR DENTAL DAM COMPATIBLE! Oil can break down a condom or dental dam in seconds!

Spermicidal Lubrication should only be used to prevent pregnancy. Some condoms use a lubricant with Nonoxynol-9, a spermicide.  Nonoxynol-9 does destroy sperm cells, unfortunately it doesn't distinguish between a sperm cell and the wall of a vagina or rectum. Using this spermicide can cause irritation and microscopic lesions which can increase your risk of transmitting an Sexually Transited Infection (STI) such as HIV.

So be polite, use this information to help you choose the right lube for your rendezvous. Or, just treat yourself to an evening in with a good lube.