One of the things that we have discovered over time testing lubricants was how personal the choice is. What one person raves about does not work at all for someone else. The only way to really know is to try them, which is why the little packets of lube are so useful. Keeping that in mind, the Sliquid line does come in the small .17 oz packets, and before you use them, note the little mark in the upper right corner. Tear there and the packets open easily tearing off just the corner for easy application. A quick look ahead of time will keep you from fumbling when you really need it.

The Sliquid Naturals line of personal lubricants includes 13 different products, and we’ll try and at least give you a starting point to figure out which ones you might want to try. What they have in common is that they are all 100% vegan and free of parabens, DEA, gluten, glycerol, glycerine, PEG, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and sulfates.

They promote their products as the alternative for women who might be sensitive to the ingredients in other products, and based on the ingredients, that seems to hold up. They are non-toxic and hypoallergenic. Not all perceived reactions from lubes, such as rashes or itching, are actually caused by lubes, but they get the blame anyway. Yes, it is prudent to discontinue use if you have a bad reaction, but you should also think about anything else new that might have been incorporated into your lovemaking, including different condoms, which are often pre-lubed and might be causing a reaction.

The Sliquid H2O is their base product, and like most of their other products, it is water based and easy to clean up. It a little thicker than you might expect, almost gel like. This is because they use plant cellulose as a thickener rather than more common ingredients like glycerine. It has little in the way of smell and only a slight taste- a tiny bit sweet but very subtle and not unpleasant. I can’t say that this is the longest lasting of the water based lubes we have tried, but like water based lubes in general, a little extra moisture such as saliva will slick it up again. By doing this, you don’t have to keep adding more lube.

We have noted that some are confused by exactly what we mean by reapplying moisture, so here is what you do. With oral sex or fingering, the solution is obvious. For intercourse though, put a big dose of saliva on your fingers and then apply it to the penis or on your fingers for manual penetration. Some people also have a little cup of water bedside. This is not an issue with Sliquid, but with all water based lubes, which do dry out. You can either keep applying more lube, which is expensive, or apply more moisture. If you have serious vaginal dryness issues, a silicone lube or hybrid may be worth exploring.

As Sliquid H2O dries there is just a slight tackiness, but much less than we typically see with water based lubes. It is also less stringy than many other water based lubes we have tested. Stringiness is when you touch the lube on the skin with a finger, pull it away, and it adheres creating a string of lube between skin and finger.

Sliquid Swirl is their flavored line. We rate them near the top of the flavored lubes in flavor. Our favorite was the Pina Colada. Another favorite is the Cherry Vanilla. They taste like what they are supposed to taste like, without any additional weird flavor tones or aftertaste. Additional flavors include Green Apple Tart, Blue Raspberry, Pina Colada, Pink Lemonade & Strawberry Pomegranate.

Silicone based products do differ from water based products in many ways. Sliquid Silver is surprisingly thin, even a bit runny, but will last a long time. As is typical for silicone lubes, you probably don’t want it in your mouth, since it will leave your mouth feeling unnaturally slick for a long time. You also can’t use them with silicone based toys.

Sliquid Silk is a hybrid product- part water based and part silicone based. It is white, as these tend to be, and is generally not a good choice for oral sex as there is a taste, not a good one. The smell is not unpleasant. Like other hybrids, it does look a bit like come. It is long lasting, like silicone, but unlike silicone, it won’t stain sheets. It reportedly will not harm silicone toys, but this is a claim we did not test. Try at your own risk (but let us know).

Sliquid Sassy contains extra plant cellulose to make it a little thicker and more gel like. The target market for this is anal sex, as it is a general belief that thicker lubes are better for anal sex. Other than the extra thickness, this is just the same as the H2O.

With this large a line, there were many products that we did not try. Sliquid Sea adds Carrageenan, Wakame, and Nori. The ingestion of Carrageenan, a seaweed extract, is still a little controversial, as it may cause gastrointestinal inflammation (although that claim is still unproven). It is in a lot of foods, and might or might not be a problem for some people, but the tiny amounts you might ingest through oral sex are unlikely to cause discomfort.

The data on Carrageenan’s ability to inhibit HPV is actually pretty solid. You can read the 2006 study on Pubmed for yourself. However, its effectiveness as a microbicide is still being studied and is not conclusive, but is very, very promising. Without looking at a scientific study of the effectiveness of Sliquid’s formulation as a microbicide, we can’t say medically that it is effective in preventing the transmission of HPV. However, it may well be based on the current state of research on Carrageenan in general.

Wakame is another type of seaweed that is known for it anti-inflammatory properties and an ability to stimulate the production of collagen and dermal fibroblasts, and is also a great hydator. Nori is the same type of seaweed in sushi rolls, and also reportedly has similar skin healing properties. However, the science on this is still in the early stages. The bottom line is that this stuff is probably quite good for your skin.

Sliquid Satin adds Aloe Vera and Vitamin E along with Carrageenan. These make it an effective moisturizer.

Sliquids Sizzle has a little bit of menthol. I am not a fan of menthol based lubes, known for providing both a warming and cooling sensation. You may feel differently and this could be right up your alley.