Lubricant: the most underrated thing in the drawer

Valentine's Day might be the excuse. Comfort, confidence and ease should be ordinary rather than occasional.

Whether you are planning a night in or just building a more comfortable intimate care routine, a decent lubricant makes most of it easier. Here is why it is worth keeping one around.

The obvious part

Friction is not romantic. A body-safe lubricant improves glide and lets you pay attention to the experience rather than the distraction.

Reaching for it does not mean anything is wrong. It is a comfort decision, in the same category as a good pillow.

The less obvious part

Lubricant is not only for sex. It is one of the simplest ways to make intimate care and pelvic wellness routines more comfortable — inserting a menstrual disc, using dilators or weights, or just navigating the natural fluctuations that come with cycles, hormonal contraception, postpartum and menopause.

Dryness is extremely common and rarely discussed. Having a bottle in the drawer removes a small obstacle that otherwise quietly puts people off things.

Which type

Not sure whether you want water-based or silicone-based? Our guide to the difference between the two covers it. The short answer: anything involving silicone products — discs, dilators, weights — wants water-based, because silicone lubricant degrades silicone over time.

The everyday one. Bodyotics water-based lubricant is paraben-free, glycerin-free and fragrance-free, and safe with every material including our own discs, dilators and weights. Also sold in three-packs and five-packs. Shop the lube →