Warming & Cooling Lubes
Some people seek out warming and cooling lubes since they can provide interesting sensations on the surface of the skin. Warming lubes often contain small amounts of capsaicin, the hot and spicy substance found in hot peppers. (For a lot of people, capsaicin is too much to handle, especially when used over time.) Some manufacturers will use vanillyl butyl ether to create a warming sensation instead of capsaicin since it is less likely to induce negative side effects. Cooling lubes usually contain some amount of either peppermint oil (AKA “mentha piperita extract”) or menthol, which is just synthetic peppermint oil.
Overall, the key ingredients in warming and cooling lubes are body-safe. However, we don’t recommend warming and cooling lubes to be used consistently. Once in a while? Sure, yes. Every day? Maybe not. The ingredients necessary for warming or cooling lubes to work are too intense for most people to use comfortably all the time. And, if you have sensitive skin or mint allergies, we recommend you avoid them. If you’d like to use a warming or cooling lube, we recommend you look for one that does not contain parabens, glycerin, or propylene glycol. For example, you could try Sliquid Organics Warming Lubricant, Sliquid Naturals Sizzle Added Sensations Warming Lubricant, or Blossom Organics Warm Sensation Lubricant. Aloe Cadabra Peppermint Tingle and Sliquid Organics Sensation are both solid potential options for cooling lube, too.
Lube for Sounding
For urethral play, plugging, and sounding, it is imperative to use sterile, surgical lube, lest you risk contracting a UTI. “Sterile, surgical lube” might sound like an intimidating title, but it’s actually not; it can be purchased pretty inexpensively at most drugstores or on Amazon.
