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Even though vaginal dryness is a normal symptom of perimenopause and menopause, it can still be frustrating and painful.

First, let’s break down why it happens. “Menopause brings about a significant hormonal shift,” including a drop in estrogen production, Amanda Olson, DPT, a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor and sexual health and the author of Restoring The Pelvic Floor, tells SELF. “Estrogen plays a critical role in natural lubrication, vaginal tissue elasticity, and blood flow—so, as levels decline, the vaginal walls can become thinner, drier, and less able to retain moisture,” she says.

Also key? Hydration levels. “Menopause can be accompanied by symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, which can lead to dehydration,” board-certified ob-gyn Sarah de la Torre, MD, tells SELF. “Dehydration impacts all mucosal tissues in the body, including the vagina, contributing to dryness.” Certain medications—including antidepressants and birth control pills, which are often prescribed to combat other menopause symptoms—can make the issue worse, she adds.

Less natural lubrication may lead to friction, irritation, and discomfort during sex, Dr. Olson says. Luckily, using the right lube can help: “Store-bought lubricants can dramatically enhance comfort and pleasure, helping to mitigate any dryness or discomfort,” she explains.

Below, find our favorite lubes for menopause that come highly recommended by doctors and sex experts—plus, advice on how to choose the best one for your bedside collection.

Our top picks

• Uberlübe Luxury Lubricant
• Stripes Oh My Glide
• Coconu Oil-Based Organic Lubricant
• Replens Silky Smooth Silicone Personal Lubricant
• Good Clean Love Almost Naked
• Sliquid Satin
• #LubeLife Ultra Slick Smooth Silicone Lube
• Playground Naked Love
• Cake Toy Wonder
• Lubify Luxe Lube Neroli
• Let’s Spin Intimacy Gel
• pJur Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant

What to consider when shopping for lube

Before you add a lube to your digital cart, you’ll want to make sure it can meet your unique needs and preferences. Here’s what to keep in mind as you shop.

How we picked the lubes on this list

First, we spoke with board-certified ob-gyns and a few other experts to get their recommendations for easy-to-use lubes that feel great and won’t irritate your skin. Then, we researched options from popular brands like Cake, Stripes, and more, paying special attention to their ingredient lists. I also included some of my personal favorites—and as someone who’s tested over 100 lubes, I know what makes one good (and not so good).

Shop the best lubes for menopause

Browse expert-recommended picks from top brands below.

Uberlübe Luxury Lubricant

Pros

• Simple, long-lasting formula
• Contains soothing Vitamin E
• Sleek bottle
• Versatile
• Unscented and latex-compatible

Cons

• Can’t be used with silicone toys or polyurethane condoms

A silicone-based product with just four ingredients, “Uberlübe is one of the most body-friendly lubes on the market,” Dr. Howard says. The formula contains vitamin E, an ingredient that can help nourish and condition sensitive skin.

Another perk? You may not have to reapply this pick: “It’s very long lasting,” she says. And since it isn’t wet or sticky, it won’t have you making a beeline straight for the bathroom to wash up, she adds. This multipurpose gel can even be used on other body parts, according to Dr. Howard—smooth it onto your thighs or underarms to prevent chafing, or even try it as a hair wax (now that’s what we call a smart buy).

Stripes Oh My Glide

Pros

• Sleek bottle
• Non-sticky, long-lasting formula
• Fragrance- and flavor-free
• Pump dispenser is easy to use

Cons

• Can stain sheets and skivvies
• Not safe to use with latex barriers
• Pricey

Dr. de la Torre recommends that people in perimenopause seek out a lubricant with coconut oil. “It’s naturally moisturizing, gentle, and a great option for those who need something that’s skin-friendly and unlikely to cause irritation,” she says. Stripes Oh My Glide is made with a blend of oils, including coconut, avocado, and castor seed, that works overtime to restore moisture and relieve discomfort.

The formula is flavor- and fragrance-free—plus, it stays slippery without getting too sticky. “This is the perfect lubricant because it feels completely natural!” one Stripes Beauty reviewer wrote. “It lasts long and really helps when needed!” (Quick reminder: Oil-based lubes can’t be used with latex barriers—so if you’re using condoms with your partner, try one of the other options on this list.)

Coconu Oil-Based Organic Lubricant

Pros

• Moisturizing coconut oil base
• Free from many potential irritants
• Works with most sex toys
• Amazon shoppers like the smooth texture and neutral taste

Cons

• Not compatible with latex barriers
• Pricey

Coconu’s oil-based lube is packed with nourishing oils and free from potentially aggravating alcohol, petroleum, parabens, gluten, fragrances, and dyes. It’s one of Lisa Finn’s top picks for solo or partnered play (and she confirms it’s compatible with toys too). A few things to note, according to Amazon shoppers: It feels super soft (almost silky), doesn’t have much of a taste or smell to it, and a little goes a very long way.

Replens Silky Smooth Silicone Personal Lubricant

Pros

• Works with all barriers
• No taste or smell
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Texture may be too thin for some
• Not for use with silicone toys

Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an ob-gyn at Yale-New Haven Hospital, recommends Replens to SELF for its highly moisturizing formula. The silicone base has a thinner feel that’s similar in texture to some water-based options. While it won’t offer the same cushioning as more gel-like lubes, it’s ideal for those who really want to feel their partner.

Good Clean Love Almost Naked

Pros

• Safe to use with all toys and barriers
• Sensitive-skin friendly
• Thicker formula
• Anal-safe

Cons

• Mild lemon-vanilla scent may not appeal to all

This water-based lube was previously recommended to SELF for those with sensitive skin by Rosara Torrisi, PhD, an AASECT-certified sex therapist and the founding director at the Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy. It’s latex-safe and made with pH-balancing ingredients that can help restore your vagina’s microbiome.

I love how natural and comfortable this lube feels—I almost always forget I’ve slathered it on. Also nice: It’s infused with aloe vera that soothes and gently moisturizes your skin, Dr. de la Torre says.

Sliquid Satin

Pros

• Compatible with toys and barriers
• Thick, for a water-based lubricant
• Tasteless and odorless
• Budget-friendly
• Larger bottle than others on this list

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers say it dries quickly

Sliquid is to store-bought lubricant what Hitachi is to vibrators—read: well-trusted. The brand’s Satin formula is a water-based option that has a more gel-like consistency.

“Its thickness allows it to hold to the walls of the body, providing a cushion that can make penetration more comfortable,” Finn says. “Satin also contains aloe, so it can be used as a moisturizing lubricant or as a vaginal moisturizer outside of sex,” she adds. Best of all, you don’t need much to get the job done.

#LubeLife Ultra Slick Smooth Silicone Lube

Pros

• Super thick formula
• Works for vaginal and anal play
• Safe to use with latex barriers
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Can stain bedsheets, according to Amazon shoppers

Excellent news: Lube doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to be really good, Catherine Hansen, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn and head of menopause at Pandia Health, tells SELF. This budget-friendly, silicone-based one contains just two ingredients (moisturizing dimethicone and dimethiconol, another type of slippery silicone) that work together to make sex more comfortable.

It’s vaginal- and anal-safe, and you can use it with latex condoms. Just keep it away from any silicone sex toys—and note that it may stain your sheets, according to Amazon reviewers.

Playground Naked Love

Pros

• Contains hydrating ingredients
• Free from potential irritants and fragrances
• Compatible with sex toys and barriers
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Some Playground reviewers say it dries quickly

Research shows that people going through menopause may be prone to bacterial vaginosis (BV) because as your hormone levels drop, it’s easier for the balance of good and bad bacteria in your vagina to get thrown out of whack. Meaning: You may notice that your previous go-to lubricant now causes irritation or a reaction.

If you’re looking for a new one to try, this one from Playground is made with hydrating hyaluronic acid, moisturizing vitamin E, and citric acid (which helps balance your vagina’s pH). We like the sleek bottle and easy-to-use pump—Playground shoppers like the slippery consistency and sensitive skin-friendly formula.

Cake Toy Wonder

Pros

• Thick, jelly-like consistency
• Won’t drip all over the place
• Also great for anal sex

Cons

• Mild scent may not appeal to all

Toy Wonder is a long-lasting lube that’s designed to be used with sex toys—including those made from silicone. After testing this one out, I noticed that it’s very thick and jelly-like (similar to the consistency of shampoo), so it won’t drip all over you, your partner, or your sheets. Bonus: It’s also anal-safe, and you won’t have to constantly reapply it (take it from me).

Lubify Luxe Lube Neroli

Pros

• Convenient pump top
• Airless tube is great for travel
• Formula contains multiple moisturizing ingredients

Cons

• Scent is subtle, but may not appeal to all
• On the pricier side

Luxe Lube Neroli “is a very well-formulated silicone-based lubricant that I highly recommend,” says Dr. McBride. It’s made with hero ingredients squalene, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E to soothe dryness, plus it has a convenient pump top (and comes in a small tube that’ll fit nicely in your nightstand).

If you’re looking for a lube you can take with you on the go, this one is a nice choice—the tube is airless, so it’s less likely to drip or explode in your suitcase. Just note that neroli and cedarwood oils give it a slight scent.

Let’s Spin Intimacy Gel

Pros

• Contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and aloe
• Non-sticky formula
• Easy to use pump dispenser
• Sleek bottle

Cons

• Expensive

This lube comes highly recommended by Dr. de la Torre for its hyaluronic acid- and aloe-rich formula, “which soothes and nourishes to calm irritation and promote comfort,” she says. “It also washes off easily and won’t leave any residue on your skin or sheets.” We’re fans of the easy to use pump top, nonsticky feel, and fancy bottle (totally worth the investment, in our opinion).

pJur Back Door Silicone Anal Lubricant

Pros

• Comes in a larger bottle than most other lubes on this list
• Waterproof
• Shouldn’t dry down tacky

Cons

• Can’t be used with silicone butt plugs
• Expensive

Experts have recommended pJur’s anal lube to us in the past for its reliability: “It stays put, which is exactly what you want when you’re in the moment,” Emily May, PhD, an AASECT-certified sex therapist and writer at Private Sugar Club, told SELF. That includes in the bath or shower—the silicone-based formula is waterproof.

It also has a great texture and is easy to use, according to Lovehoney shoppers: “So nice and slippery, I love the silky feel of it!” one wrote. “I also like that it isn’t super tacky after it dries either.”