A question that comes up a lot from people looking at Honey, our personal lubricant, is whether they need lube at all when they don't feel dry. It usually comes with a hint of worry, as if using lube would say something about their body.
Using lube says nothing of the kind. Plenty of people with no dryness at all use it simply because things feel more comfortable with it. This article covers how common it is, the moments people reach for it, what it can't fix, and how to try it if you never have. For the different kinds of lube, our general guide to personal lubricants has the overview.
In this article
- The short answer
- How many people use lube, and why
- Why natural wetness isn't a fixed amount
- The moments people reach for it
- Trying lube for the first time
- What lube can't fix
- Choosing a version of Honey
- Frequently asked questions
The short answer
You don't have to be dry to use lube. You can use it whenever it makes things more comfortable or more fun, and using it says nothing about your body or your desire.
There are also moments when lube is close to a must: with most toys, with condoms for some people, and during times of life when the body makes less moisture than before. We go through those below.
How many people use lube, and why
Lube is far more common than its reputation suggests. In a nationally representative survey of American adults published in 2014, 65.5% of women reported ever having used lubricant, and 20% had used one in the past 30 days. Lube was most often used during intercourse and partnered sexual play.
The reasons women gave are worth reading closely. The common ones were to make sex more comfortable, fun and pleasurable, and to decrease discomfort or pain. Dryness is one reason among several, and pleasure sits right next to comfort on the list. The researchers suggested clinicians share with patients that lube use is common and used for pleasure as well as comfort.
A 2021 systematic review, done to inform a World Health Organization guideline, came to a similar place. Across 21 studies of people's values and preferences around the world, it found that most individuals supported lubricant use for reasons of comfort/reduced pain and sexual pleasure. Two randomised trials in the same review found that using lubricant improved women's sexual well-being.
Why natural wetness isn't a fixed amount
A lot of the worry about lube comes from the idea that natural wetness is a fixed amount, and that less of it signals a problem. Natural moisture is less tidy than that. It changes from day to day and across a lifetime.
Hormones play a big part. Cleveland Clinic ties a lot of dryness to estrogen, which falls naturally with age and around menopause, and it names breastfeeding, some hormonal birth control, cancer treatment and certain antidepressants as other things that can lower moisture.
Time matters too. Natural moisture can fade as sex goes on, and a lube that was optional at the start can feel very welcome later. None of this means something is wrong, and reaching for a little help at those moments is common.
The moments people reach for it
Here are the situations where people most often add lube, and which version of Honey fits each one.
| The moment | Why lube helps | Which Honey fits |
|---|---|---|
| Using a toy | A toy doesn't make its own moisture, so glide comes from the lube | Aloe, which is compatible with all toy materials |
| Using condoms | Extra glide means less friction on the condom | Either; both work with latex and polyisoprene condoms |
| Longer sex | Natural moisture can fade as time goes on | Either; silicone lasts longer |
| After childbirth or while breastfeeding | Hormone changes can mean less moisture | Aloe, which rinses off with water |
| Around menopause | Falling estrogen often means less moisture | Either; ask a doctor if dryness lasts |
| On some medications | Some medicines can reduce moisture | Either; mention it to your doctor |
| In the shower or bath | Water rinses water-based lube away | Silicone |
With toys
Toys are the clearest case, because a toy glides more comfortably with lube than without. The plug and kegel ball pages on our store call for water-based lubricant only. Our plugs, vibrators and kegel balls are medical-grade silicone, so the aloe version of Honey is the one to pair with them; silicone-based Honey is not recommended with silicone toys.
With condoms
Lube and condoms go well together, as long as the lube is the right kind. The World Health Organization's advisory note on lubricants mentions a study in which not enough lubrication or dryness was the second most frequent explanation people gave for condom breakage.
Oil-based products weaken latex, so use a water-based or silicone lube. Honey works with latex and polyisoprene condoms in both versions. Our guide to lube with condoms and toys covers every material.
After childbirth, around menopause, and with some medicines
The NHS lists pregnancy or breastfeeding, menopause and certain medicines, such as hormonal contraceptives or antidepressants, among the causes of vaginal dryness. In those seasons, lube during sex is a simple, common step. Our articles on vulvar care after birth and dryness in perimenopause cover the rest of the picture, including when to see someone.
Trying lube for the first time
If you've never used lube, it can feel like a bigger step than it is. A few things make the first time easy.
- Start with a water-based lube. It rinses off with plain water and works with every toy and with latex condoms, so there's very little that can go wrong.
- Check the label. On intimate skin, it helps to pick one with no fragrance and a short ingredient list.
- Warm it in your hand first. A small amount on your fingers for a few seconds takes the chill off.
- Use a little, then add more. You can always add more. Put some on both surfaces, skin and toy or condom, for the best glide.
- Keep a towel nearby. It's less about mess than about not having to think about it.
Buyers who had never used lube before told us how it went. One titled a review "This lube got me into lube" (L., verified buyer, January 2024). Another wrote: "I had never used a lubricant before and it worked perfectly." (Y., June 2026)
What lube can't fix
Lube adds glide, and for a lot of moments that's all you need. Its job ends at a few clear points, and knowing them saves you from waiting on the wrong fix.
Pain that keeps coming back. If sex hurts even with plenty of lube, that's worth a visit to a doctor or a pelvic health physiotherapist. Lube can hide friction, but it won't change whatever is causing the pain.
Dryness most days, outside of sex. Lube is made for the moment. Cleveland Clinic describes vaginal moisturizers as a separate product, used every few days, and a doctor can talk through other options if those aren't enough.
Signs to see a doctor. The NHS suggests booking a GP appointment when dryness has lasted a few weeks and what you've tried at home hasn't helped, when it gets in the way of daily life, or when there's unusual discharge or bleeding after sex or between periods.
A reaction to the lube itself. Even a short, fragrance-free formula won't suit everyone. Stinging, burning or itching that lingers after sex is a sign to wash the lube off with plain water and set it aside, and a pharmacist or doctor can help if it hasn't eased after a few days.
Choosing a version of Honey
Honey, our lubricant made in Montréal, is sold in two versions. Neither has fragrance, parabens or alcohol, and each comes in a 4 oz (118 mL) flip-cap bottle.
The aloe version ($29 CAD, $22 USD) is the one we'd suggest for a first lube. It's water-based and pH-balanced, made with aloe, oat, chamomile, calendula and green tea, and it rinses off with water. It works with latex and polyisoprene condoms and with every toy material, silicone included.
The silicone version ($32 CAD, $24 USD) stays slippery longer than a water-based lube and holds up in the shower or bath. It also works with latex and polyisoprene condoms. Keep it away from silicone toys, where it isn't recommended, and expect it to take more washing to come off. Our comparison of the two goes through the choice point by point.
Over 1,250 bottles of Honey have sold, and you choose your version on the Honey product page.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to use lube?
Yes. In a nationally representative US survey, 65.5% of women said they had used lubricant at some point, and 20% had used one in the past month. The most common reasons were to make sex more comfortable, fun and pleasurable, and to reduce discomfort. Using it says nothing about your body or your desire.
Does needing lube mean something is wrong?
No. Natural moisture changes from day to day, with time, and across life stages such as breastfeeding and menopause. Many people use lube with no dryness at all. If sex is painful even with lube, or dryness lasts for weeks outside of sex, that's the point to see a doctor.
Should I use lube with a toy?
Usually, yes. A toy doesn't make its own moisture, and most glide more comfortably with lube. Our plug and kegel ball pages say to use a water-based lubricant only. If your toy is silicone, choose a water-based lube; silicone-based Honey is not recommended with silicone toys, while aloe-based Honey works with all toy materials.
Do I need lube with condoms?
Many condoms come lubricated, but extra lube can make them more comfortable, and the WHO notes that dryness is a common explanation people give for condom breakage. Use a water-based or silicone lube, never an oil, with latex. Both versions of Honey are compatible with latex and polyisoprene condoms.
Which lube is best for a beginner?
A water-based lube with no fragrance and a short ingredient list is the easiest start. It rinses off with plain water and works with every toy material and with latex condoms. Start with a small amount, warm it in your hand, and add more as you go. The aloe version of Honey fits that description.
How much lube should I use?
Start with a small amount on your fingers, and add more whenever it starts to feel less slippery. Putting a little on both surfaces works better than a lot on one. With water-based lube, a few drops of water can also bring back the glide when it starts to feel tacky.
Sources
- How many US women have used lubricant, and why: Herbenick and colleagues, Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2014, PubMed 24521034
- Values and preferences around lubricant use, systematic review for a WHO guideline: Kennedy and colleagues, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 2021, PubMed 35315312
- Causes of vaginal dryness: Cleveland Clinic, Vaginal dryness
- Causes, and when to see a GP: NHS, Vaginal dryness
- Dryness and condom breakage; lubricants compatible with latex: World Health Organization, UNFPA and FHI360, Use and procurement of additional lubricants for male and female condoms, advisory note, 2012
About this article
Written by the Peach & Cream team, based in Montréal. Published October 15, 2026. Last updated October 15, 2026. Product facts come from the Honey product page and labels; buyer words are quoted exactly from reviews on our store. This article is general information, not medical advice. Honey does not treat or prevent any condition.