Given its performance, I feel this lube is definitely worth a try. However, there might be silicone lubes that perform just as effectively, while providing a better value. For that reason alone, I rated it 4 out of 5 stars.
Published:
Pros
No smell, informative packaging, stays slick in the shower, increases sensitivity
Encounter Lasting is a silicone lubricant designed for vaginal or anal penetration. I wouldn't recommend it for oral use. I didn't taste it, but I can't imagine it would taste very good!
This product is one of five lubricants in B. Cumming's (love the company's name, by the way!) Encounter line. It is the only 100% silicone lubricant they carry. Be sure to check their Website for more information about all the products they sell.
Encounter Lasting is glycerin and paraben-free. This was good news for me, since although I am not sensitive to any ingredients that I know of, I try to stay away from parabens and other chemicals for health reasons. The ingredients as listed on the packaging are as follows: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol. These three ingredients are silicone-based polymers and rate relatively low on the toxicity scale available on Environmental Working Group's website, Skin Deep.
This being the first silicone lube I have tried, I can't exactly compare it to anything. To me, it feels relatively thin, but with a more velvety/silky texture than the water based lubes I own. It does not feel greasy or leave an oily sheen on the skin. Also, I'm happy to report that the packaging claim is correct: It DOES last in the shower. In fact, when you are ready to remove it, be prepared to SCRUB it off with soap and a wash cloth!
I did not detect any smell whatsoever in this product. Again, I didn't taste it, but I am pretty sure it would not be a pleasant experience, and silicone is not that good to ingest anyway.
The good thing I have to say about this product is that it did last, even in the shower, as advertised. The bad news, given the size of the bottle and the price, is that we had to use a lot of it to get the proper lubricating effect. If it gives you any idea, just a couple of uses and we are already halfway through the bottle. For this reason, I think I will stick to my water based lubes for everyday use, and just use the Encounter Lasting for shower play, which we do very rarely. I just can't afford to spend $15 on lube that only lasts 3-4 uses!
To remove it after you're done, you do have to use soap and a wash cloth. I found that even with soap and my hand, it didn't come off all the way. That's a testament that it really is lasting!
Encounter Lasting lube comes in a sexy little bottle shaped somewhat like a woman's body, curves and all. The label is both attractive and informative. It states that the formula is certified vegan and preservative-free. It would be nice if it had a warning against using it with silicone toys, but it does not. I had assumed that it was not condom-friendly, but apparently it can be used with condoms. Yay!
Having not used silicone lube before, I was surprised to discover an unexpected benefit: it definitely increases sensation. When used for vaginal intercourse, I felt like my vagina had suddenly quadrupled its nerve endings. Score! I am tight anyway, but as many women know, I can't say that being tight necessarily translates into having lots of internal sensation. This product increases the sensation so I can enjoy penetration a lot more. I can't say for absolute certain that all silicone lubes increase sensation, but this one did. I will be interested to try other brands to see if they do the same thing.
Encounter Lasting performs as advertised, and has an added benefit of increasing sensitivity. I just wish the bottle was a little larger for the price.
We used Encounter Lasting in a variety of scenarios; in and out of the shower, for PIV sex, and with non silicone toys. I did not feel like it was thick enough to try for anal, but that's a personal thing. In all applications we tried, Encounter Lasting performed beautifully. I was most impressed with its staying power in the shower. Once applied, we did not have to re-apply during the session (our sessions are 20-30 minutes, the penetration part) but we did have to use a fair amount of the lube, I would say a quarter sized glob.
Follow-up commentaryI don't like it anymore4 months after original review
This does not get used anymore. Not that it's a bad product, but I just find that I prefer the water-based lubes.. at least for vaginal sex, which is what we do 99.99% of the time.
This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer. This review is in compliance with the
FTC guidelines.