Lemondrop

Using lube during everyday sexual activity, not just the kind that requires special, er, entry, can be amazing. A good squirt or two can enhance everything from standard sex to touching yourself. (Hint for him: A drop in the tip of a condom before it's rolled on increases sensitivity.)

Feeling the sticky stuff makes me feel like I'm extra wet, which really does get me more turned on. When my V-zone feels too sensitive to be rubbed, a slick coating that lets fingers slide right across it makes me feel like my lady-button is at once protected and being touched more directly.

According to an old-school seducer and sex-writer friend, Astroglide used to be the go-to greaser, considered the best lube out there. These days there are as many sex balms as there are candy bars at the A&P, but it's always good to revisit a classic. As the market grew, so did Astroglide's offerings -- after all, you gotta diversify. With this in mind, I tested several types of Astroglide.

Click here to read Sadie's reviews of each "flavor."


Taste is an oft-overlooked factor for lube -- if you like to intersperse oral with your intercourse you'll likely get a tongueful of lube. So I'm taking that into consideration in reviewing the first two types.

Regular Astroglide: It's very liquidy, making it particularly good for handjobs, straight up sex and lubing up your vibe. Although standard Astroglide smells like the inside of a plastic water bottle, it has a strangely sweet flavor when it first hits your tongue (just a spoonful of sugar ... ). Astroglide eventually dissolves into a manageable chemical soupiness that's easily ignored. Of course, taste isn't a factor when you're alone (unless you have some scary flexibility) making traditional Astroglide the perfect choice for solo sex.

Sensual Strawberry Astroglide: This stuff is a bit thicker than the standard Astroglide. That'd make it good for anal (experts recommend a heavier, long-lasting lube for fifth base), but only if you want said act forever associated with strawberry Jolly Ranchers. The strong scent overpowers any of the sweaty, organic smells that are so integral to sex. If your nose isn't particularly sensitive, you may be able to ignore it; otherwise, skip. Sensual strawberry doesn't evoke the ripe fruit and flirty flings of summer so much as a sun-melted popsicle mixed with melted Styrofoam.

Both Astroglides came in ergonomic plastic containers that suggest the slope of a woman's hips and torso -- interesting, if a bit overt. The regular lube calls itself a "personal lubricant and moisturizer," although I'm not sure who favors the latter use.

You'll have to tune in to future Orgasms to learn about the Astroglide X (a "premium" personal lubricant), the glycerin- and paraben-free version (I'll compare that to other allergen-free lubes) and the special warming liquid ("the same smooth feeling as original Astroglide but with a soft, warming sensation"). For now, stick with regular Astroglide; you won't be sorry.

Sadie Faye reviews sex advice and accessories each week on Lemondrop. Got orgasm questions? Is there a product or technique you've been curious about but want someone to try out first? Ask her in the comments or e-mail her.