Perhaps you’ve already learned a fair amount about various types of lube and their prospective uses. If not, I have a lovely little video on the topic that can be found here: Never Enough. Today I am going to tell you a lot more specifics about Silicone Lube, what it’s made of, its advantages and disadvantages, and finally, its various uses.
Silicone based lubricants are described as any personal lubricant that includes the ingredient dimethicone as a major component. Higher quality silicone lubricants may list it first or earlier in the list to indicate that it is the primary substance in the lube. Dimethicone is a synthetic substance related to plastic that has many of the qualities of its cousin plastic but in a liquid or gel format. It is a polymer which means it is like being composed of lots of little units like bricks. When you cross link a polymer, you are putting mortar on the bricks. The units bind together and form a solid, thus making it inert.
ADVANTAGES:
Silicone is totally inert, which is an element that does easily react with other chemicals which means it does not alter PH levels. Maintaining your body’s normal PH level helps to prevent infection naturally. Silicone does not absorb into the skin and blood stream. It stays on the surface.
Since these lubes contain no water, they never dry up, so they’ll stay slick for a long time.
Unlike oil, silicone lubricants are safe to use with latex condoms because they don’t break down the material.
Hypoallergenic, silicone is great for people with sensitive skin.
Silicone lube is highly concentrated, so you only need to use a tiny dab, depending on your use.
They can be used for full body massages, and they’ll leave your skin super soft.
Since they won’t break down in water, they can be used in the shower or bath (or even underwater – if you’re into that;)
Women experience all kinds of microscopic damage and trauma to vaginal tissues during sex. Those small tears and irritations can create openings for viruses that live in the bloodstream, such as HIV. A personal lubricant helps to reduce the friction and therefore the amount of damage. Silicone Lube is certainly no exception.
Silicone lubes do not contain glycerin, sweeteners or oils.
DISADVANTAGES:
You can’t use silicone-based lubricants with silicone rubber sex toys including Cyberskin, Futurotic, NeoSkin, or EuroSkin as they’ll break down the material.
They are more expensive than water- or oil-based lubes, but since you use less, the price is pretty comparable.
They can leave a coating on your skin that some people don’t like.
Some people say most taste bad (I find they have little to no flavor at all).
One major issue with most people is that cleanup is not easy, like some people claim, and it’s difficult to get off your bedding and other fabrics.
One area that can be considered an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on your desire is that since silicone lubricants are much less likely to drastically change the PH level of the vaginal environment they do NOT interfere with contraception. Other types of lubes can change the ph level which can not only potentially lead to infections, but can also interfere with conception. Depending on your desire, you may wish to not have the ph levels being interfered with.
Here are Some Sexy and Practical Uses of Silicone Lube:
Sexy Uses:
Be smooth! Instead of shaving cream, try a layer of silicone lube. It’ll help your razor glide smoothly and cut the hairs closer. It can also minimize razor burn and those red bumps.
If you have any latex clothing, it may have come with a bottle of silicone lube to keep it polished. (although there are less sticky options that create great shine out there!)
Shine your shoes! Works well to add a water-repellant coat to your boots and what have you.
Sexy massage!
Slippery wrestling matches.
Masturbation, Penile/Vaginal and anal sex and fisting! Lasts for a long time so good for all forms of pleasure. Great for anal sex. Especially great for anal sex because the anus does not create it’s own lubricant. You can also mix a bit of water based lube with it to create more viscosity.
Non Sexy uses:
Cut down on static cling and chaffing with silicone lube.
Since silicone lube doesn’t get washed away easily by water, you could use it to slick yourself up before a swim meet. It’ll help cut any drag when you’re in the water. It can also work on boats and water skis, too.
Use silicone lube to seal a wood. If your wood has a finish, or you’re planning to add a finish, don’t use silicone lube. It can turn your finish into a sticky, mess.
The same ingredients found in silicone lube can often be found in hair products. Use silicone lube to smooth out your skin or your fly-aways.
Is that squeaky door bugging you? Drip some silicone lube on the hinges and forget about it.
Clean Up of Silicone Lube:
A nasty business, the clean up of silicone lube. That is why many people resist using it. There is not a lot of research out there, mostly in the textile industry, but between that research and 13 years of rampant usage, here is what I found:
Isopropyl alcohol will remove it readily from wooden floors, countertops etc. Spray, wipe with paper towels, then go over again with cleanser like 409 or Simple Green. Bedding can be challenging – if you put down under pads or old towels and still get it on your bed, try spraying it down with the isopropyl alcohol before using a pre-spotter like Oxy Clean or Shout. The accuracy depends on the amount of lube, what other fluids may have stained the bed, and how long it sat before washing. The effectiveness of silicone lube cleaning is really about getting to it with the right product in a timely fashion.
Like other lube, silicone lube comes in a huge variety of options, including silicone lubricants with warming or tingling mechanisms added, or with scents. They don’t generally come flavored because silicone based lubricants are inedible. Although they won’t harm your body, they are inert substances and won’t be digested. They also tend to be more expensive than water or oil based lube simply because their main ingredient is much more expensive to obtain than water or natural oil. Like most lube, silicone lubricants come in a variety of sizes, ranging from trial packets to thousand milliliter pump bottles, ensuring that there is an option within your price range.
You can find a variety of silicone lubes at your neighborhood sex shop or online. Good Vibrations is awesome! My favorite silicone lube is called “Gun Oil” – how could you not love that?
Addendum:
Ingredients to top selling silicone based lubricants:
Uberlube
Dimethicone, dimethiconol, cyclomethicone, and tocopheryl acetate.
Gun Oil
Dimethicone, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, Demethiconol, Cyclomethicone
Pjur
Cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, dimethiconol
Wet Platinum Lubricant
Dimethicone, Hexamethyl Disiloxane, Docosamethyl decasiloxane, Tocopheryl Acetate
Resources:
Cleaning of silicone lube products, (primarily non “personal”, but very useful)
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Domina, Presenter, and Kink Coach, Eve Minax delights in proliferating carnal knowledge. She acts as Lead Staff Instructor for the Cleo Dubois Academy of SM Arts since 2002 and has exercised her pedagogical skills at a variety of conferences around the United States. Minax is a certified Sex Educator (SFSI), Urban Tantrika, and Bondassage Practitioner. Among other distinctions she recently co-authored “Bondassage: Kinky Erotic Massage Tips For Lovers” with Jaeleen Bennis. Previously, she wrote a regular column and hosted a kinky video program on Carnal Nation. Minax works consistently with SeriousBondage.com and self produces her own videos. Other studies include an MA in Cultural Studies focusing on Sexuality, NLP, NVC, DBT and she speaks French fluently. Always exploring, Minax maintains a loving and extended leather family throughout the world. You may find more information on her websites: eveminax.com, mistressminax.com, and you can follow her on Twitter and on Facebook .