If you're buying a toy, using condoms, or both, the lube you choose matters more than it seems. The wrong one can weaken a condom without any visible sign, or slowly change the surface of a toy. The right one simply works, and the rules for choosing it are short.
This article goes through condoms first, then toys, then the two versions of Honey, our personal lubricant, and what each pairs with. It's about compatibility only. For what toys are made of and which materials are body-safe, our article on whether your sex toys are safe covers that ground.
In this article
- The short answer
- Lube and condoms
- Lube and toys
- How to patch test a lube on a toy
- The full table
- Which Honey goes with what
- After you use it
- Frequently asked questions
The short answer
Water-based lube is the one that works with nearly everything: latex and polyisoprene condoms, and every toy material, silicone included. If you only keep one lube in the house and you use toys, make it water-based.
Silicone lube is also safe with latex and polyisoprene condoms, and it lasts longer, but it isn't recommended with silicone toys. Oil-based products, from massage oil to petroleum jelly, should never go near a latex or polyisoprene condom.
Lube and condoms
Condoms are made from a few different materials, and each one reacts to lube a little differently. The box always says which material you have.
Latex condoms
Latex is the most common condom material, and it has one firm rule: no oil. The World Health Organization's advisory note on lubricants, written with UNFPA and FHI360, is clear that latex condoms lose strength quickly when exposed to oil-based lubricants. The same note says water-based and silicone lubricants are compatible with latex.
The trouble is that many oils don't look like lube. The WHO note lists household products that should not be used with latex condoms, including baby oil, coconut and other cooking oils, mineral oil, suntan oil, petroleum jelly and body or hand lotions. The CDC gives the same advice: don't use oil-based products like baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly, or cooking oil, because they can cause the condom to break. The NHS says to use water-based or silicone-based lubricant instead.
This also applies to oil-based skin products, such as a balm or body oil you've put on earlier in the day. If you're about to use a latex condom, keep oils off the area.
Polyisoprene condoms
Polyisoprene is a synthetic rubber, often chosen by people who are sensitive to latex. It feels similar to latex and has the same weakness. The WHO note says polyisoprene condoms are just as sensitive to oil-based lubricants as are latex condoms. Water-based and silicone lubes are the safe choices.
Polyurethane condoms
Polyurethane is a plastic, and it's the most forgiving of the three. According to the WHO note, almost any lubricant with proven safety for human use can be used with polyurethane condoms. Even so, follow what the condom box says, because the box is written for that exact product.
Both versions of Honey are listed as compatible with latex and polyisoprene condoms. If you use polyurethane condoms, check the condom's own package, since that's where its maker says which lubes it takes.
Lube and toys
With toys, the question is mostly about silicone. Most quality toys today are made of silicone, and silicone lube is the one kind that's not recommended with them.
Why silicone lube and silicone toys don't mix
The usual explanation, given by toy makers, is that the silicone in the lube can react with the surface of a silicone toy. Over time the surface can turn tacky or rough, and a surface like that is harder to keep clean. We haven't found a published study that measures how often or how fast this happens, and it likely varies from toy to toy. Because the change can't be reversed, the safe habit is to keep silicone lube away from silicone toys.
That's why silicone-based Honey is not recommended with silicone toys. Aloe-based Honey, which is water-based, is compatible with all toy materials, silicone included.
Glass, stainless steel and hard plastic
Hard toys made of glass, stainless steel or hard plastic (ABS) are less fussy. Our own page for Flush, an enema bulb, says any lube works on its ABS tip, though water-based is best because silicone lube is hard to wash off. For any other hard toy, follow the maker's instructions, since that's where they say which lubes it takes.
Our toys
Our plugs, vibrators and kegel balls are made of medical-grade silicone. The plug and kegel ball pages say to use a water-based lubricant only, and that's the version of Honey we pair with them.
How to patch test a lube on a toy
If you're not sure whether a toy is silicone, or you want to try a new lube on a toy you love, a small test on the toy itself is a sensible precaution. This is our suggestion, not a standard method, and it's most useful for a toy whose instructions don't say which lubes it takes.
- Pick a spot you won't use, such as the base or the underside of the handle.
- Put a single drop of the lube there and leave it for at least an hour, or overnight if you can.
- Wipe it off and wash the spot with water and a little mild soap.
- Feel the spot once it's dry. Compare it with the rest of the toy. You're checking for tackiness, roughness, a dull patch or any swelling.
- If anything has changed, don't use that lube with that toy.
A test can show a problem, but it can't promise there won't be one later. If the toy's maker says no silicone lube, follow that, test or no test.
The full table
Here's how the three main kinds of lube line up with the common condom and toy materials. Always check the condom box and the toy's instructions too.
| Lube | Latex condoms | Polyisoprene condoms | Polyurethane condoms | Silicone toys | Glass, steel, hard plastic toys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water-based | Yes | Yes | Yes, per the box | Yes | Yes |
| Silicone-based | Yes | Yes | Yes, per the box | Not recommended | Usually; check the toy |
| Oil-based | No | No | Check the box | Check the toy; not with our plugs or kegel balls | Check the toy |
And here's the same table for the two versions of Honey.
| Honey version | Latex condoms | Polyisoprene condoms | Silicone toys (like ours) | Water play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloe-based (water-based) | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Rinses away |
| Silicone-based | Compatible | Compatible | Not recommended | Good for water play |
Which Honey goes with what
Aloe-based Honey is water-based and pH-balanced, with aloe, oat, chamomile, calendula and green tea. It's compatible with latex and polyisoprene condoms and with all toy materials, silicone included. If you use toys, or you want one lube for everything, this is the one. It's $29 CAD ($22 USD).
Silicone-based Honey doesn't dry out or wash away like water-based lube and is good for water play. It's compatible with latex and polyisoprene condoms. Keep it for skin, condoms and the shower or bath, and away from silicone toys. It's $32 CAD ($24 USD).
Both come in a 4 oz (118 mL) bottle with a flip cap, both are made in Montréal, and both contain no fragrance, no parabens and no alcohol. If you're still deciding between them for reasons other than condoms and toys, our comparison of water-based and silicone lube covers feel, staying power and clean-up.
If you're buying a toy and lube together, sets like Trio with Honey pair a toy with the lube. You choose your version of Honey on the Honey product page.
After you use it
Clean the toy after every use, and let it dry completely before you put it away. Water-based lube comes off with water, which makes this quick. Silicone lube is harder to wash off, which is one more reason to keep it for skin and water play. Our guide to cleaning sex toys covers each material.
If a condom breaks or slips, a pharmacist or doctor can talk you through emergency contraception and testing, and the sooner, the better. If a lube leaves you stinging, burning or itchy for longer than the moment, wash it off with plain water and put it aside, and check with a pharmacist or doctor if that hasn't eased in a few days. For the other kinds of lube, including oils and flavoured ones, see our general guide to personal lubricants.
Frequently asked questions
What lube is safe with latex condoms?
Water-based and silicone-based lubes are both safe with latex condoms. Oil-based products, including massage oil, baby oil, coconut oil, petroleum jelly and body lotion, weaken latex and can make a condom break. The WHO, the NHS and the CDC all give this advice. Both versions of Honey are compatible with latex and polyisoprene condoms.
Can you use silicone lube on silicone toys?
It isn't recommended. Toy makers warn that, over time, silicone lube can make a silicone toy's surface sticky or rough, and the damage is permanent. Use a water-based lube with silicone toys. Aloe-based Honey is compatible with all toy materials, while silicone-based Honey is not recommended with silicone toys.
Is coconut oil safe with condoms?
Not with latex or polyisoprene condoms. The WHO lists palm and coconut oil among the household products that should not be used with latex condoms, and polyisoprene is just as sensitive to oil. If you use condoms, choose a water-based or silicone lube instead.
How do I know if my toy is silicone?
Check the box, the product page or the instructions, which usually name the material. If there's no information, treat the toy as silicone and use a water-based lube, which is safe on every material. You can also test a single drop of silicone lube on the toy's base and check it for tackiness the next day.
Is water-based lube safe with all condoms?
Water-based lube is safe with latex and polyisoprene condoms, and the WHO says almost any lubricant with proven safety can be used with polyurethane condoms. It's the most widely compatible kind of lube. Even so, read the condom box, since it's written for that exact product, and follow what it says.
Can I use lube on a toy that's waterproof?
Yes. Being waterproof only means the toy can get wet and be washed; it doesn't change which lube suits its material. A waterproof silicone toy still calls for water-based lube. If you want a lube for the shower with a silicone toy, aloe-based Honey works, though water will rinse it away faster.
Sources
- Oil-based lubricants and latex; polyisoprene and polyurethane condoms; household products to avoid: World Health Organization, UNFPA and FHI360, Use and procurement of additional lubricants for male and female condoms, advisory note, 2012
- Oil-based products and condom breakage: CDC, How to use an external condom
- Lubricants to use with latex condoms: NHS, Condoms
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, Flush and toy product pages and labels. The explanation of silicone lube on silicone toys comes from toy makers; we found no published study that measures it. This article is general information, not medical advice. Honey does not treat or prevent any condition.