The one thing that most sex toys need from time to time and something essential for a good sex toy review is lube. Because no matter how excited you get we all run out of natural lubricant from time to time. Indeed some sex toys need lube to work. Something that some manufacturers often don’t make clear.

If you’re involved in a marathon sex session, or at a point in your menstrual cycle where your lubrication isn’t as abundant as usual, or if you are indulging in anal sex, masturbation, a playful tit wank or any other slippery fun a good reliable lube is essential.

So as sex toy reviewers you can imagine that we are always on the look out for reasonably priced, safe and long-lasting lubricants to oil the wheels so to speak.

We were approached by Give Lube to review their new range of Lube Tubes. Silicone and water based lubricants in handy flip top bottles that aim to provide safe, high quality lubricants in extremely practical packaging.

We opted to try out the water based lubricant which is both compatible with any sex toy (unlike silicone lubes – some silicone lubes can attack the surface of some sex toys) and is free from glycerine and parabens. Not all water based lubes can say this, the vast majority of water based lubricants contain glycerine as their second largest ingredient – this can cause irritation in some users and means that once opened a lube should be used within a few weeks as glycerine can be a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria.

To try and mitigate this those lubes use preservatives like parabens, which have been linked to breast cancer and hormonal changes in some studies leading many people to try and avoid them. Parabens can also cause skin irritation and dermatitis.

Because Lube Tubes don’t use glycerine or parabens they don’t suffer from these issues, but does that compromise their effectiveness?

I have to say a definitive NO!

Lube Tube lube water based lube is excellent quality. It doesn’t get sticky during use, simply drying slowly ask you play. A little water “refreshes” the lube so without applying any more you can usually revitalise this lube with a little H2O, making it very good value.

It’s a non-staining product making it very practical when you’re using a lot during more challenging play sessions, and it’s not scented or flavoured either which is perfect for users with sensitive skin and mucous membranes. It also has aloe vera and is ph “optimised” to match your body.

The flip top bottle is great for those moments when you need lube fast and don’t want to spoil the moment. It opens with one hand and closed easily and securely so you get the lube when and where you want it without the risk of subsequent spillage. We were sent three different sizes of the lube – 50, 100 and 250 ml. Interestingly the 205 ml size does not have the flip top, it has a more conventional screw top. But you could use it as a refill pack and buy one of the smaller ones to apply the lube.

As well as during sex I tried this lube with a sex toy I was testing recently and found a few squirts lasted until my happy finish, which was a while as it was an exhaustive test! LOL Even when I’d done there was not a hint of stickiness.

We like this lube as you can tell. It’s safe, practical, long lasting and therefore economical.