THE REVIEW: " Makes your pleasure feel like satin," one reviewer notes. "I sometimes deal with friction, especially with internal toys, and this really helps. It adds more sauciness to the pleasure you already feel!"

Oil-based lubes: Lubes formulated with oil can last a long time, but they do get absorbed into the body, explains Villero. “It can also be difficult to wash the oil out of fabrics if there is spillage,” she adds. Whenever we talk about anal sex, questions about poop inevitably pop up, so it can be helpful to know going in what you can expect. So first, let’s walk through what actually happens inside your body when you poop. Food starts in your stomach, where it gets broken down. Then it passes through your small intestine, where it gets digested even more. The remaining food waste—that’s poop—gets stored in your large intestine, which is a long tube also known as the colon, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.There’s also a hybrid (part water, part silicone) toy-safe lubricant that increases the lubricity. We like this variety of lube because it offers enhanced lubrication and a slippery feeling in addition to the benefits mentioned above for traditional water-based lubes. Not all water-based lubes are created equal, however. Our team of medical experts recommends Flip Lube because it’s iso-osmolar, meaning it won’t dehydrate your cells, which reduces your risk of irritation, tearing, and ultimately, STD transmission. Hybrid lubes are all the rage. You get the staying power of a silicone lube, with all the compatibility of a water-based formula. Thanks to its silky-smooth texture, BabeLube Silk glides on like a dream and will never disappoint. Feel free to use it with your favorite anal sex toys—it won’t cause any pesky damage to silicone toys, as long as you clean it immediately after use.

Beyond the base of the lubricant, there are other things to keep in mind when looking for a go-to option. Mason recommends a high-viscosity, long-lasting lube for extra comfort. Jojoba oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or sweet almond oil are also good ingredients to look for, per the Cleveland Clinic. A fragrance-free lube is ideal for everyone, but if you have sensitive skin or you've been sensitive to lube in the past, it’s even more important to find an option that’s hypoallergenic and made without fragrances. “Use a high-quality lube, be patient, and take the time to really enjoy yourself and set time aside to get fully aroused for sex,” Gigi Engle, ACS, a certified sex educator and host of Internet Sex Therapy, tells SELF. “The more lube the better. I always say you shouldn’t be thinking there can be “too much” lube. You should want to be on a water slide. It just makes everything better. This applies for all kinds of sex—but is especially important during anal—because the anal doesn’t self-lubricate like a vagina.” What you should avoid in an anal lube Between 32 and 36% of women have had anal sex at least once, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). So whether it's part of your lifestyle or something you've been thinking about trying, you need a high-quality lubricant. This lube is 100-percent organic, vegan, and infused with green tea extracts. Plus, as a water-based lube, it's compatible with all your toys. Megan Madden / Refinery29 for Getty Images Getty Images Types of anal lubricant Water-based anal lube You might notice that lube is often unnecessarily gendered, but Goodparts is changing that with this pure, high-grade, four-ingredient silicone lubricant. Great for folks with sensitivities, this formula is pH-balanced and free from both glycerin and parabens, and since it's formulated from silicone, it'll never evaporate or dissolve in water—meaning it's never absorbed into your skin.If you’re positive you have a G-spot and are excited about the prospect of orgasming from anal, it depends on whether yours is sensitive enough to feel anal penetration. Don’t worry if this isn’t the case for you, because it’s typically not easy for anal to stimulate this area, Dr. Chinn says. With that said, if clitoral stimulation helps you orgasm, you or your partner can add that to the mix during anal to help you get there. As saliva plays a part in oral sex, some people may assume it would be a good lube alternative. However, this could trigger an infection, while there is a risk that someone could pass or receive a sexually transmitted infection. Even if you’re already familiar with "G-Spot" stimulation, you might find this new method of indirect stimulation even more delicious than stimulation via the vaginal canal (and I know many folks who prefer it, in fact). And remember that just because you're focusing on the booty doesn't mean you should neglect other parts of the body: Stimulating the clit with a hand or toy during anal penetration can make for a delightful combo. 9. Remember to have fun. That said, Wright cautions against using a product with ingredients that you wouldn't put in your vagina. "If you’re using enough of it, the chances of a little bit of it getting in or around the vulva or vaginal opening are pretty high, so it’s important that you’re using something that is okay if some creeps over into that area," she explains. When in doubt, the fewer ingredients, the better, Wright adds. You can start by asking your partner to give you a massage or do something else you know will loosen you up. “It takes a bit of time to relax [the anal sphincter],” Dr. Frankhouse says.

All of the experts we spoke to discouraged the use of flavored or scented personal lubricants for anal, vaginal, and oral sex. What’s more, avoid glycerin in your lubes, as it contains sugar, and that can alter vaginal pH, SELF previously reported. Water-based lube is also the best lube for sensitive skin. According to Engle and Dr. Queen, you should also avoid petroleum-based lubricants, and anything with parabens or preservatives. Oh, and please don’t put Vaseline down there. If you use a lube with numbing agents that gives you “tingly” or desensitizing sensations for vaginal sex, Dr. Queen says to skip it for anal play. “Anal sex can be painful when it’s not done right, but you want to listen to those messages and respond accordingly,” she says. “Slow down, add lube, take a break, ask your partner to be more gentle, etc. You don’t want to ignore your body’s signals. If you’re numb, you won’t receive those signals clearly, which can put you at risk.” People ask us at Bespoke Surgical all the time to recommend the best anal lubes, but as you can tell, it truly depends on the situation of use, personal preference, and budgetary requirements. There is no correct answer to the question, but the key is to educate oneself on all the pros and cons of each category and request samples from the manufactures to determine likability before purchasing. The primary thing to keep in mind is that it is always necessary to use lube for anal and it’s worth doing some research to find the best anal lube for your needs. For example, if someone inserts butter into a vagina or anus and does not clean the area properly afterward, the butter may start to spoil and become rancid. This may cause an infection due to bacterial growth. SpitBy now you know that lube is non-negotiable for butt play. A good sex toy, meanwhile, is an ideal tool for getting accustomed to the sensations of being anally penetrated. Even if you’re looking to achieve penetration with a penis eventually, it’s wise to start out with fingers or an anal-safe toy — and, again, so much lube. Lubrication – either natural or synthetic – is necessary for most sexual acts to be carried out comfortably and pleasurably. Natural lubrication is produced by the body during a state of sexual arousal, but it isn't always sufficient, can vary depending on where in her menstrual cycle a woman is and usually reduces over time. As well as vaginal sex, lubricants can also be applied before: Unlike vaginas, [which provide natural lubrication], anuses do not self-lubricate,” board-certified ob-gyn Jacques Moritz, MD, previously told SELF. Anal penetration without adequate lubrication can cause the tissue in your anus to tear, SELF previously reported, which is both painful and dangerous. These tears in the anus area can make you more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections (or STIs), like gonorrhea and HIV, according to Dr. Moritz. What kinds of lube are safe for anal sex? Customer Review:"If you're only keeping one type of lube on hand, this is the one you should have." And along with one of these top-rated anal lubes, Matatas also suggests investing in a good lube applicator or lube shooter. "They help you get lube deeper into the rectum, which is great for making sure you're not just applying lube to the first couple of inches of the rectum if you're penetrating past that," she says. Finn agrees, pointing out that with lube shooters, "you don’t have to worry about more lube getting on your hands or sheets than where you actually want it to go."