Lubricant or Moisturizer? What's the Difference?

These two get confused constantly, and using the wrong one for the wrong moment is one of the most common, and most fixable, reasons intimacy still feels uncomfortable.

Lubricant

Used in the moment, right before or during sex. They have immediate action and promote temporary relief of vaginal dryness and pain during sexual activity. They don't address the underlying dryness, it just makes things more comfortable while you're using it.

Vaginal Moisturizer

Used regularly, a few times a week, whether or not you're having sex. It's designed to improve tissue hydration over time, more like a daily skincare routine than an in-the-moment fix. The Mayo Clinic suggests that they can help restore some moisture to your vagina. You may have to use the moisturizer every few days. Its effects tend to last a bit longer than those of a lubricant[1]. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recommends to Never use petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline®) or a product made of 100% petrolatum as a moisturizer. It can irritate your vagina and vulva. It also can raise your risk of getting a vaginal infection[2].

Which One Do You Actually Need?

Many women benefit from both, used differently. The health care professionals suggest that if discomfort is a fairly new or occasional thing, a good lubricant during sex may be enough. If dryness is a daily, ongoing presence, a moisturizer used consistently, alongside lubricant when needed, tends to make a bigger difference. We would always recommend consulting with your healthcare professional to discuss treatments.

One Practical Note

Our vibrators have not been tested with silicone lubricant.

This page is general guidance, not medical advice. A gynaecologist, general practitioner, or pelvic floor physical therapist can give you an assessment specific to you.