The basic differences between water based and oil based personal lubes are the ingredients in the lubricants. Water based lubricants contain xanthan gum or agar agar.
These are natural thickeners which are found in plants that give the lubricant it’s smooth texture. Oil based lubricants often contain plant based oils such as sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil.
Water based lubricants are also easy to wash off and can be used with latex products. Unfortunately, because they are water based, these lubricants may need to be applied more often because they evaporate faster than other types. Since many water based lubes contain glycerin, some people may experience irritation.
Oil based lubricants are naturally moisturizing and usually last longer than water based lubes. Some women may find them to be a good choice if they are sensitive to certain additives commonly found in water based lubes. Users should be aware that oil based lubricants cannot be used with latex products because the oil degrades the latex.