If you're thinking about having anal sex or engaging in any kind of anal play, your safety and comfort and pleasure should always be at the forefront of your mind. Unfortunately, when it comes to anal penetration, you can't just go in there without any preparation. You're going to need a good quality lubricant especially designed for the anus. Here's why anal lube is so necessary, what the different types are, and the best product for every budget.

Sorry to liken anal sex to food, but if it were a sandwich, then you and your partner would be the slices of bread and lube would be the good stuff inside. Because anal sex without lube would be not only dry, but also pointless. In fact, unlike a sad sammie, lubeless anal sex can actually be dangerous. The friction can cause actual microtears to the skin and anus, leading to infection. No, thanks. So when starting with anal play, the wetter, the better. Sinclair suggests massaging the anus with lube beforehand to warm things up.

Just like sex toys, there are many options for lube and different kinds suit different tastes. Sliquid Organics Natural Lube. Our experts have chosen this because of its natural ingredients and because of how long it lasts. Avoid chemicals and choose this lube. Find a sales price here.

Anal play sans lube can not only be painful, it can also cause some mild bleeding afterward due to any anal tears in the sensitive anal canal tissue. Lubes generally fall into one of three categories: water, silicone, or oil-based. Each have their bennies and drawbacks. Water-based, while not as slick or long-lasting as silicone or oil-based, is safe for use with condoms and toys. Lube that makes butt stuff less painful sounds too good to be true, because it is.