Lubricant Guide

Water-Based or Silicone Lube? What Retailers and Brands Should Stock

Personal lubricant sits naturally alongside condoms, and the type you stock or launch shapes how customers use it. Water-based and silicone lubes each have clear strengths, and a few important differences.

This guide compares water-based, silicone and hybrid lubricants, explains condom and toy compatibility, and covers the quality points that matter if you are building a range or launching your own brand of lube. Buying lube for yourself? Read the EXS guide to water-based vs silicone-based lube.

Lube and condoms: the rule that matters most

The NHS advises people not to use oil-based lubricant with latex condoms, and to use water-based or silicone-based lubricant instead. CDC guidance also warns that oil-based products such as baby oil, lotion and petroleum jelly can cause condoms to break.

That makes water-based and silicone lubes the two main choices for any range sold alongside condoms. Using a condom-compatible lube can also make condoms more comfortable and help reduce friction.

Water-based lube: the all-rounder

Water-based lube is the most versatile type and the easiest to recommend to most customers.

Compatible: safe with latex and non-latex condoms and with silicone toys.
Easy to clean: washes off skin and fabric with water.
Gentle: often available in fragrance-free and paraben-free versions.
Versatile: the base for most flavoured and warming lubes.

The main drawback is that it can dry out with use, so people may need to reapply. Ingredients such as glycerin and glycols help with texture and glide, but they also raise a lube’s osmolality, which is covered in the quality section below.

EXS clear lube bottle next to its retail pack — Water-based lubes like EXS Clear Lube are the everyday choice for use with condoms.

Silicone lube: long-lasting glide

Silicone lube is made from silicone fluids rather than water, so it does not absorb into the skin or evaporate in the same way.

Long-lasting: a small amount lasts much longer than water-based lube.
Water-resistant: stays slippery in the shower or bath.
Condom-safe: compatible with latex condoms, as the NHS guidance above confirms.

There are trade-offs. Silicone lube is harder to wash off skin and fabrics, and most toy makers advise against using it with silicone toys because it can damage the surface. Clear labelling on these points helps customers choose correctly.

Hybrid and flavoured lubes

Hybrid lubes combine a water base with some silicone, aiming for the easy clean-up of water-based lube with longer-lasting glide. They often have a creamy texture. As with any formulation, compatibility with condoms and toys should be confirmed by testing rather than assumed.

Flavoured lubes are usually water-based, which makes them a natural partner for flavoured condoms. The EXS range includes strawberry and chocolate flavoured water-based lubes alongside an unscented version.

Quality points if you are launching a lube

If you are building your own brand, these are the points to discuss with your manufacturer:

Condom compatibility Ask for compatibility testing with latex condoms, for example to ASTM D7661, rather than relying on a claim.

Osmolality High osmolality can irritate delicate tissue. Procurement specifications based on WHO and UNFPA guidance set a ceiling of 1,200 mOsm/kg for water-based lube.

pH Check the pH is suitable for the intended use and documented in the product specification.

Ingredients Paraben-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and vegan formulations are increasingly expected.

Shelf life Lubes carry expiry dates, so confirm stability data and how long the product lasts once opened.

Regulatory route Many lubes are medical devices needing CE or UKCA marking, while others are sold as cosmetics. In the US, personal lubricants are FDA Class II devices.

Our guide to condom regulations in the UK and EU explains how medical device rules work in more detail.

Lube formats and packaging

Unbranded lubricant bottles ready for private label packaging — Private label lubes can be supplied in bottles, tubes, sachets, tubs and sprays.

The format affects how and where a lube sells:

Pump bottles: easy one-handed use, good for larger sizes.
Tubes: portable and familiar for retail shelves.
Sachets: single-use, ideal for pairing with condoms, trial packs and public health packs.
Tubs and sprays: useful for specialist ranges.

LTC Healthcare can supply all of these formats for private label lube, branded on every tube, bottle and sachet.

What to stock: matching lube to customers

Everyday use with condoms Water-based lube, unscented.

Longer sessions or shower use Silicone lube, clearly labelled for use away from silicone toys.

Flavoured condom buyers Flavoured water-based lube.

Sensitive skin Fragrance-free, paraben-free water-based lube.

The EXS range includes Premium Clear water-based lube in unscented, strawberry and chocolate versions, plus Silk Lube and Clear Lube in 250ml sizes. See the full EXS product range.

Lube for retailers: FAQs

Can you use silicone lube with condoms?
Yes. The NHS recommends water-based or silicone-based lubricant for use with latex condoms. Avoid oil-based products with latex condoms.

Which lube is best for sensitive skin?
A fragrance-free, paraben-free water-based lube with a moderate osmolality is a common choice. Anyone with a known allergy should check the ingredients list.

Is silicone lube safe with toys?
Most toy makers advise against silicone lube with silicone toys. Water-based lube is the safer general choice for toys.

Does lube expire?
Yes. Lubricants carry an expiry date, and they should be stored and rotated like condoms. Our guide to condom storage and expiry dates covers stock rotation.

Stock or launch a lube range

LTC Healthcare supplies EXS lubricants to retailers and distributors and manufactures private label lube, with paraben-free, hypoallergenic and vegan formulations available. Our lubricants are condom-compatible and suitable for all skin types.

Private Label Lube Wholesale Supply