KY Jelly has been around for years (since 1904, if you trust Wikipedia). While it's not as hip or trendy as Maximus, Pink Water, or some of the newer brands, there's a reason it has been around for so long - it works in so many ways. KY is a water-based personal lubricant that has the classic applications as a sexual lubricant, remedy for vaginal dryness, or aid for light anal play. It's safe to use with condoms, a variety of different, common toy materials, it's affordable, and one 4 oz tube goes a long way!

But, the reason I come back to KY Jelly is it also has a number of off label uses that help me in a pinch. If you've ever had trouble getting a ring off your finger or an earring into your ear lobe, a dab of KY will make either task ten times easier. Have you gone running and had chafing on your inner thighs? Rub a little KY between your thighs to ease the friction (and take a little with you, if you need to reapply). If your zipper gets stuck, KY can lubricate and get your zipper moving again. It removes sticky price tags, untangles necklace chains, and can moisturize dry skin in a pinch. I know it's not as tame to parade in front of guests as something like Vaseline, but it gets the job done!

The texture has a medium viscosity as a gel typically does. It is smooth and slippery but not runny. If you put a pea sized dab on your finger it won't go rolling off and is easy to spread and place it where you want it (and not where you don't). It feels a bit like if you've ever gotten raw egg white on your finger and rubbed your fingers together (very slippery).

Because it is water based, the longer you use it, the stickier the texture will get since the water will evaporate. For this reason I wouldn't recommend it for extended anal play, but it is easy to reapply in other contexts if the lube begins to dry up on you.

The bottle, just as shown in the picture, is an inverted triangle with the flip cap at the bottom. It's easy to open with one hand, the plastic is very flexible and easy to squeeze, and the texture of the gel allows you to easily squeeze as much or as little as you need. The bottle design also means lube is waiting for you at the opening and there's no hassle with tipping or banging to get the lube to come down (but you'll never get every drop out of the tube either).

I wouldn't taste this if you can help it. It's supposedly tasteless, and is harmless if ingested in small amounts, but it wasn't designed to be eaten. This lube is also odorless and colorless. It's the Plain Jane of the lube world but I'm also not allergic and have never had a negative reaction to it. For someone with sensitive skin, that is a big deal.

KY can be a great lubricant if you're using it for less than 20 minutes or to give a little boost to your personal lubrication. If you need a little touch of lube to enjoy a vibrator, to boost your natural lubrication for PIV sex with your partner (especially if you are already a little wet), or to insert Ben Wa balls, KY can take care of your needs.

After 20 minutes (or sooner with very vigorous play), I find the lube begins to dry out and lose that slip and slide it provides. It's easy enough to remedy with additional lube but it's not really fun to have to reapply. If you're going for marathon sessions or need it for more than light anal play, I'd suggest a longer lasting lube that won't interrupt the fun.

The box is plain with some information about the product on the outside in a few languages, but if you're buying it, you know what to do with it. It's so plain and discreet you could easily walk by it and not give it another glance. It's nothing special but it is recyclable!

My favorite and most common use for this toy is to insert my Luna Beads or with a clitoral vibrator. For these applications, KY satisfies my needs and I am pleased with its performance.

Lube seems to be a very personal decision when it comes to sexual play and there are a lot of great ones on the market. It's important to tailor your lube to the play you intend to use it for.