Lubrication makes sex better — an effortless glide means less irritation, more pleasure, and a deeper, longer-lasting connection with your partner. Although our bodies produce natural lubrication when we’re aroused, it isn’t always enough to make intimacy the magical experience it can be. Dryness during sex is extremely common, and can occur for many reasons, including aging, childbirth, common medications, and sometimes for no reason at all. Dryness doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you, it doesn’t mean you’re not into your partner, and it isn’t anything to be ashamed of — but it is something you can plan for, by keeping a convenient all-natural personal lubricant ready by the bed. But what’s the best all-natural lube to use? There are a few things to keep in mind. First, the most common type of personal lubricant on the market is a water-based lube, which is easy to clean up, safe to ingest, and won’t damage latex condoms or toys. There are other types of personal lubricant out there: Silicone-based lube can last longer, but also degrades toys and stains your sheets and clothes, while oil-based lube degrades latex condoms and is associated with an increased risk of yeast infections. Overall, natural water-based lubricants are the best personal lubricants for most people. Unfortunately, many personal lubricants include ingredients that you won’t want anywhere near your most sensitive tissues. Moreover, the wrong lube can disrupt the vagina’s delicate pH (acid-base balance) and osmolality (salt balance), damaging vaginal tissue and again inviting infections. That means the best water-based lubricant is pH-balanced, iso-osmolar, paraben-free, and petrochemical-free. Furthermore, women are increasingly looking for water-based lubricants, which can bring you a seductive slide without the health concerns that come with so many conventional lubes. If you like to use your mouth during sex, look for an edible lube, and if you or your partner have allergies, you might want to make sure you have a hypoallergenic lube.

A good lubricant enhances any kind of sex, whether anal or vaginal, partnered, or solo, with or without toys. In a study of over 2,400 women, water-based personal lubricants were associated with increased pleasure and satisfaction in vaginal sex, solo sex, and anal sex. Of course, an all-natural lube is crucial when there is little or no natural lubrication, but as a rule wetter is better — even if you have enough natural vaginal lubrication to get by, an added dollop of natural lubricant can supercharge your encounter, turning acceptable to ecstatic. In fact, the psychological link between lubrication and arousal means that a lubricant can serve as an aphrodisiac. There is a common myth that arousal has to come first, then sex; although we recommend becoming aroused early and often, the truth is that arousal can go hand in hand with gentle, lubricant-assisted touching and play. Just because you aren’t producing natural vaginal lubrication doesn’t mean you don’t want to have sex! Bringing some lube into the picture can jump-start your body’s arousal reaction and help you feel more sexy. Some women also use a lubricant as a daily vaginal moisturizer to ease dryness after birth control or menopause. Although there is nothing wrong with using all-natural lubricants this way, there is also a class of vaginal gels that are formulated slightly differently and make ideal vaginal moisturizers.

The benefit of using an iso-osmolar lubricant instead of a petrochemical-based hyperosmolar lubricant is that you can get the vaginal lubrication you need for intimacy without compromising your health. The vaginal ecosystem is delicate and introducing the wrong substances can put you at risk for bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections, and other mishaps. To avoid all that, look for a lubricant that mimics natural vaginal lubrication, also known as an iso-osmolar or iso-osmotic. Studies show that personal lubricants that don’t match vaginal salt balance (“hyperosmolar” lubricants) can damage both cervical cells and rectal cells, which may increase your susceptibility to a variety of infections. On the other hand, natural lubricants that do match your salt balance (“iso-osmolar” lubricants) leave cells healthy. You don’t need any cell damage in the most sensitive parts of your body — so reach for the iso-osmolar lube!

Almost Naked® is made with organic aloe vera while BioNude® is made in a base of hydroxyethylcellulose.The differences are mostly preference related. Almost Naked has a thicker viscosity and is naturally scented with real lemon and vanilla (some people prefer/don't prefer scent, so that's a big difference between the two). BioNude is a thinner viscosity and has no scent. It is hypoallergenic and designed for those with flavor or aloe sensitivities.