Water-Based Lubricants
These form the majority of lubricants on the market - condom friendly and often formulated to mimic the pH of the human body. You'll find them in varying degrees of viscosity. 'Light' lubes tend to be thinner and offer a lower level of lubrication. Ideal for women
who produce good amounts of self-lubrication and just want a 'top-up'. You will often find light lubes marketed as 'Womens Formula' or something similar. 'Gel' lubes are much thicker and last longer. Ideal for higher levels of lubrication. You need to experiment to find your
preference. There are many ‘optional extras' added to waterbased lubes. A good example is aloe vera - used for centuries as a skin soother. There are many other additives such as ginseng which (in strong enough concentrations) may have other benefits. A big advantage of waterbased lubes is that they are readily adsorbed by the body
and are generally 'non-sticky' when they dry. However, they don't stay slippery as long as silicone lube formulations and so may not always be the best choice for anal sex or waterplay. However, for most purposes a water-based lube will probably be your first choice.