This water-based lube from System JO is designed for anal sex. It’s intended to feel like a silicone lube with the benefits of being water-based. I actually think it works well for vaginal play, but it’s not my first choice for anal play. You may like it, but it’s a matter of personal preference.

JO’s H2O anal lubricant has a nice consistency. For an anal lube, it’s almost the consistency I look for. It’s just a little thinner than a gel. I prefer the thickness of the original Astroglide or KY gels. H2O is a little more of a liquid than those products, but in fairness, JO never labels it as a gel. It will run down your hand if you pour some in your palm, but not in an instant so you have time to redirect it to prevent a mess in the bedroom (or anywhere else).

There’s not much taste or smell to this product. It’s basically what you would expect to smell from most unflavored lubricants. There’s a little bit of a sweet smell and taste, but nothing overwhelming that’s going to really influence your play time.

H2O has the following ingredients: Propyl paraben, Methyl paraben, Sodium Carboxymethyl cellulose, Glycerin, and Purified water. You probably know your body better than others. Parabens have never affected my wife or I, but there are some people who can’t use a product containing them. If you are unsure you may want to consult your doctor or pharmacist and stop using the product if a negative reaction occurs.

So does H2O meet its lofty claims? Eh, kind of. This is an overall, solid addition to JO’s lubricant lineup. It’s great that this lube is water based and can be used with pretty much any toy or latex condom. I haven’t yet used a silicone lube to truly compare them to H2O, but I can say is silky and smooth, at least for a short time. Never sticky or tacky, that’s where I start to disagree.

I find after a short time of using this lube that it becomes somewhat sticky/tacky. It’s not unpleasantly so, but it’s enough that I feel like I either need to re-wet the lube or get more to bring back that slick feeling. . I start to notice it not being as slippery in as little as 10 minutes or so. Some people may like that it’s not so slippery during use. I prefer lubes that start slippery and stay slippery.

One of the nice things about this lubricant is that it can be used for anal play or vaginal play. It will actually work well for vaginal play since a woman’s natural wetness will help keep the lube from getting as tacky. The anus, however, is not self-lubricating so the tackiness becomes more of an issue. You can still use this product for anal play and it will still get the job done for most people. For me, however, it’s just not as slick as I prefer for my ideal anal experience.

I also need to mention that this product does not work well in the shower. While that may seem like a “duh” statement, I can explain. My wife and I like anal play in the shower. With gels like Astroglide or KY you can use them in the shower without them washing off, for the most part, until you are done playing. This lube seems to wash off almost immediately even if you aren’t standing under the water spray. It just seems like any moisture on your skin will start washing this product away before you are ready for it.

As you can tell from the pictures submitted on the product page, there’s nothing fancy about the packaging for this lubricant. It’s simple, but attractive enough while getting all the important information across. It’s not discreet, however, with “anal” written in big red letters and words like genitals and lubricant written on the bottle.

The bottle is easy to use. It has a pop-top cap that is easily opened with a thumb or finger. A gently squeeze of the sides will easily bring the desired amount out of the bottle. The lube comes out at a nice pace. It’s thick enough that you aren’t going to lose half the bottle with one squeeze, but thin enough that you don’t need a crushing squeeze to get anything out.

The bottle I received was shipped with other items and was put in a plastic bag to prevent leaking on to the other items. I have not had a problem yet with leaking. I make sure the product isn’t laying on its side for an extended amount of time (beyond the amount of time I’m using it). So far the bottle seems to keep its contents inside until you’re ready for it to join you.

Overall, this is a fine addition to JO’s lineup of sexual lubricants. I would prefer this product be a little thicker like a gel. Am I taking off for that? No. That’s my preference and JO never labels H2O as a gel so that’s not a fair comparison. I am taking off because they do claim it never gets sticky/tacky. It’s not too tacky you can’t use it anymore, but it definitely becomes tackier than when you first pour it out of the bottle. It’s still a good lube for vaginal play and some will like it more than I do for anal. I prefer JO’s H2O flavored lubes for vaginal and a gel lube like Astroglide for anal play. I won’t have a problem using the product up until it’s gone, but for me it’s probably not a lube that I will reorder.

Overall, this is a fine addition to JO’s lineup of sexual lubricants. I would prefer this product be a little thicker like a gel. Am I taking off for that? No. That’s my preference and JO never labels H2O as a gel so that’s not a fair comparison. I am taking off because they do claim it never gets sticky/tacky. It’s not too tacky you can’t use it anymore, but it definitely becomes tackier than when you first pour it out of the bottle. It’s still a good lube for vaginal play and some will like it more than I do for anal. I prefer JO’s H2O flavored lubes for vaginal and a gel lube like Astroglide for anal play. I won’t have a problem using the product up until it’s gone, but for me it’s probably not a lube that I will reorder.