System Jo has an astonishingly large collection of lubricants to choose from. They are also readily available, and can even be found at your local Walgreens. It is such a large collection it can be difficult to wrap your head around and figure out what is going to be best for you. On the plus side, your local adult store should carry a wide range of the small and inexpensive single use packages so you can find out if you like it or not before you invest in a full bottle.
This month we test a representative sampling of their unflavored lube lines. Next month, we’ll cover their flavored lubes, and we have scheduled a taste test with several volunteers of their unique line of Gelato flavored lubes, from one of the largest selections of flavored lubes we have ever seen.
Many of these come in pump bottles, which are my personal favorite. It has never happened to me, but I have heard reports of pumps failing, something possible with anything mechanical. I have some extra pump lids and you can buy replacement pumps very cheaply, so this is not an issue for me.
Besides the different basic types of lubes, they have additional features, which include Warming (creates a warming sensation), Cooling (creates a menthol fueled cool sensation) and Jelly (a much thicker lube). We all pretty much know what a menthol cooling sensation feels like, but the warming sensation can vary a lot from lube to lube. In this case, they use a resin derived from a fruit extract – capsicum annuum. The fruit is more commonly known as red chili. Some people are very sensitive to these warming lubes, to the point of discomfort, so always try a little bit of it first to see how you and your partner react. I would suggest doing this when you are not in the moment, because if you do have a reaction to it, it will definitely take you way out of the moment. The Jelly has three versions, from thick to thickest: Light, Original and Maximum. The three different thicknesses share the same ingredients, but the amounts of each vary.
We’ll take a closer look at the different formulations, and include ingredient listings so that you can more easily compare products:
JO Premium Silicone Lubricant
Silicone lubricants should not be used with silicone toys as they can cause the material to break down, but they are long lasting and hold up in water. If you are going to have sex in the pool or Jacuzzi, these will do the job better than anything. Silicone lubes also do not get sticky or stringy and tend to be long lasting. The downside is that it can stain sheets and can be difficult to wash off.
Jo® Premium is a silicone-based personal lubricant.
Ingredients: Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Dimethiconol.
Jo® Premium Warming
Ingredients: Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Capsicum Frutescens Resin.
Jo® Premium Cooling
Ingredients: Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Menthol
Jo® Premium Jelly Light
This is the first silicone based jelly lube on the market.
Ingredients: Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer.
JO H2O Water Based
Water based lubes are safe for condoms and silicone toys. This formulation does not contain animal-based glycerins, good to know for the Vegans among us. Using a plant derived glycerin also makes it more PH friendly and less likely to cause problems for those who have sensitive skin. What makes this formulation unique is that it is designed to be similar to a silicone lube without the disadvantages. It is very thin, like a silicone lube. It has no odor, and just a slight sweet taste typical of glycerin based lubes. While surprisingly long lasting, it is much easier to clean off than a silicone lube. Like a silicone lube, it can also stain sheets, so lay down a towel or use sheets that you don’t care about. Washing the sheets shortly after use may also help, before the lube dries completely.
This is highly rated for use with silicone toys. Despite having glycerine, which often gets sticky, these seems to stay slick longer.
The chief concern for many is the inclusion of parabens. Parabens have been in use in shampoos, mascara, deodorants, eye shadow, foundations, body lotions and tons of other products for over 70 years. They can cause skin irritation in some people with very sensitive skin. There are also cancer concerns. Many people completely avoid parabens in lubes because of this.
However, there is some basic science based info that you should also consider. The data on whether parabens pose a risk is not clear in that the risk is more an issue of concentration rather than individual usage. Parabens are so commonly used in a wide variety of products that occasional use in a lube is probably not going to make a dramatic increase in the amount of parabens in your body. Completely eliminating your expose to parabens would require you to avoid a wide range of products, not just a lube. While there does appear to be some correlation with a link between cancer and paraben exposure, causation has not been proven. There is no scientific evidence that parabens in low dosages (such as found in lubes and cosmetics) cause cancer, and there is no evidence of a specific concentration leading to cancer, although it can not be proven that it does not. . For the bigger picture, science also can not demonstrate that paraben exposure in higher concentrations is completely safe. Whether or not to use a paraben containing product is a personal decision, although eliminating the use of just one, such as a lube, probably will make no difference at all unless you have a skin reaction to it.
JO® H2O Original
Ingredients: Glycerin, Water (Aqua), Cellulose Gum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
JO® H2O Warming
Ingredients: Glycerin, Water (Aqua), Cellulose Gum, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Extract, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
JO® H2O Cooling
Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Water (Aqua), Cellulose Gum, Menthol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
JO® H2O Jelly
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Cellulose Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA
JO Hybrid Lubricant
Sometimes you want chocolate, sometimes you want peanut butter, and then sometimes you’ll just grab a peanut butter cup to get both. This lube is the equivalent of that for silicone and water based lube. It gives you some of the best of both worlds. But not all of the best.
All of the hybrids we have tested, this being no exception, are thick, creamy, white, and are reminiscent of come. Some companies even use that as a marketing feature. While hybrids might seem like the perfect solution, not everyone likes them. Some don’t like the consistency or that it looks like come. Of course, a lot of people love them. It comes down to a very personal choice and you have to try them to find out.
They throw a curve with their silicone free selection of hybrids. That does seem counter-intuitive. It smells like coconut due to the addition of coconut oil, which you do not find in their classic hybrid. It does have the same white creamy texture. It does not get sticky and lasts a long time, making it very good for solo masturbation. You need only a small amount, and it will stay slick for quite awhile, certainly longer than any other water based lube we have tried.
Note the word oil in the previous paragraph. Oil of any type and condoms do not mix. Rub oil on an inflated latex condom vigorously and the condom will burst in about 60 seconds. Nothing is perfect. It seems like no matter how good a lube is, there are always trade-offs. Unlike their original formula with silicone, this hybrid without silicone is not latex compatible at all (although non-latex condoms like the FC2 Female Condom made from nitrile, Trojan NaturaLamb made from lambskin, and Trojan Bareskin Non-Latex Supra made from polyurethane would all be fine with this hybrid, as these materials are not affected by oil). This is not a deal for couples who are not using condoms in their sexual relationship, but is a definite sticking point for those who do. They should stick to the classic formula or use one of the suggested alternative condom types.
Jo Classic Hybrid
Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Water (Aqua), Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Cellulose Gum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Polyacrylate Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG- 18/18 Dimethicone
Jo Silicone Free Hybrid
Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Flavor (Aroma), Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate 13, Cellulose Gum, Raphanus Sativus (Radish Seed) Extract, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, PEG-45M.
Jo Classic Hybrid Cooling
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Flavor (Aroma), Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Cellulose Gum, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Seed Extract, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Menthyl Lactate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine Lactate, PEG-45M, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-67
Jo Classic Hybrid Warming
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Flavor (Aroma), Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Cellulose Gum, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Seed Extract, Niacin, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Dipropylene Glycol, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, PEG-45M, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Menthyl Lactate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine Lactate, Polyquaternium-67
I was first introduced to the word agape in Bible study class. For you heathens unfamiliar with the word, it refers to the love of God for man and the love of man for God. The noun form comes from the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) but its roots go back to the Greeks in the time of Homer, when it meant affection. In ancient usage it could also refer to the love of a spouse, although generally in a non-sexual context (we have eros for the sexual context).
This Agape is a different context. It refers to the love of a lube that more closely mimicks a woman’s natural lubrication. It is a lighter formulation with a pH close to the natural pH of vaginal fluids. The WHO recommends a pH for lubricants of 4.5, and this is right in the ballpark.
It also has an osmolality that is close to the natural vaginal secretions. It refers to the amount of dissolved particles per unit of water in a solution. Think of the word osmosis and you get the idea. It has to do with the way a fluid interacts with cells, and how they try to reach equilibrium. This is an area of growing research. Currently, the WHO recommends an osmolality below 1200 mOsm/kg. Agapé is between 241 and 251 mOsm/kg, which is a very good range. High ranges have been linked to irritation, and irritated tissues are more susceptible to disease transmission.
Unfortunately, osmolality and pH are not usually listed on the bottle. Most sources site the 2012 WHO study listing of commercial lubricants, but since many new products have been added and some have been reformulated that is a little out of date. If you want to better understand the science behind all this, I suggest reading The Science of Lubricants, which does a good job of explaining the basics.
JO Agapé Original
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
JO Agapé Cooling
Ingedients: Water (Aqua), Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Gluconolactone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid
JO Agapé Warming
Ingedients: Water (Aqua), Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Capsicum Annuum Resin
System Jo has become a major player in the extremely competitive lube market with quality products that we have no hesitation in recommending. They have an OTC (over the counter) drug license from the FDA, all of their products are certified organic and are not animal based.
Lube preference is quite variable from person to person, but the information here should help you decide which of these you might want to try. Overall, we have found their products to get positive responses from our testers.
This does not get us through all of the different lubes Jo has to offer. Next month we will evaluate their flavored lines. In the future, we will also look at their line of lubes designed for anal sex, and their lines of lube just for men and just for women.