Lubrication is often used with masturbation, vaginal and anal sex. Lubricants are sold under many brand names but usually fall into one of three categories.
Water based lubricants are preferred by many people since they rarely cause skin reactions and usually do not cause issues when used with condoms. However, water based lubricants usually break down quickly and can often stain fabrics like clothing or sheets.
Silicone based lubricants are the second most common personal lubricant because it usually lasting longer than water based lubes and is safe to use on most condoms - most pre-lubricated condoms use silicone based lubricants. Silicone lubricants can usually be cleaned up with water and a mild soap. Do not use silicone based lubricants on silicone toys. It causes the surface of the toy to deteriorate, creating cracks and holes, making the toy hard to clean and have a great place to grow bacteria.
Oil based lubricants are rarely sold as personal lubricants but are easily available under brand names like Vaseline. Unfortunately, for most people the low cost is the only advantage of oil based lubricants. Since the oil base is not water solvable, oil based lubricants are hard to clean up. This can result in skin irritation and development of odor. Oil based lubes are also known to break down the latex used in most condoms and some sex toys.
Talc is not really a lubricant but it is listed here since it is often used instead of lubricants to put on latex or rubber outfits.
In addition to the base material of the lubricant, manufacturers have created several ways to distinguish their products.
If manufactured lubricants are not available, a number of common household products can be used instead.