JO H2O anal lubricant by System JO - review by ~LaUr3n~

JO System has developed a water based, anal lubricant that feels pretty darn close to a silicone based one. It is super easy to clean up but really does the job at being a heavy duty lubricant for all your anal play needs. It also absorbs nicely and can moisturize the skin. This JO lubricant is safe for the body by being L-Arginine and petro-chemical free. Note that this lubricant does contain parabens, an ingredient that has been considered a moderate hazard. Parabens are used as preservatives in many food items and are allowed by the FDA in regulated amounts. In some trials parabens have been linked as a carginogen and or irritant. Glycerin is also an ingredient to not. It can cause irritation or infection in some females. Usually this is when the product is used vaginally. If you are using it anally, you should not have a problem if you know that you have a sensitivity to this ingredient. I am happy to report that this lubricant caused absolutely no irritation for me.

Here are the ingredients (off of the bottle): Propyl Paraben, Methyl Paraben, Sodium Carboxy, Methyl Cellulose, Glycerin, Purified Water

JO's Anal Personal lubricant is comparable to silicone lubes that are on the thinner end. I'd say it is thicker than most water based lubes. This helps keep the lubricant in place and not drip everywhere. It is clear and feels very slick and smooth. What is interesting is that it seems to thicken up a bit when exposed to air, but it doesn't get sticky like most lubes that thicken. It is an excellent moisturizer and might be able to be used as a massage oil too. It has left my hands feeling soft after use.

This lubricant has a moderate smell of something synthetic, plastic perhaps. It also kind of smells like generic Vaseline lotion. It is light and can't be smelled unless it is up close to your nose. The taste is strong at first, but decreases as it absorbs. It is sort of bitter or sour. I don't recommend trying oral after using this lubricant.

ANAL TOYS:
JO's Anal Personal lubricant performed wonderfully with my anal toys. I first tried it out with a bulbous anal probe that requires a lot of lubricant. I felt that I did not need to use a whole lot when compared to just using my silicone lubes. It eased insertion and made probing/thrusting easy. It stayed in place and didn't drip. I did not have to reapply either, and I used the toy for at least twenty minutes. Clean up was easy. I only needed one baby wipe to wipe the lubricant from my body.

ANAL SEX:
For anal sex this lubricant worked really well too. With lots of friction and skin on skin contact we found that we did have to reapply, however it was only once. My partner nor I experienced any rashes or other things of the sort. It cleaned off of us easily, and we both felt that it made our skin feel soft.

VAGINAL TOYS:
The lubricant worked best with harder materials like glass and 100% silicone. I did not like how it made the surface of softer materials feel. I prefer silicone lubricants for those if possible. It still worked just fine, it just is not a favorite. I prefer this for anal play and I should since it is an anal lubricant.

VAGINAL SEX:
While this does work fine, we prefer to not use it for vaginal sex due to the taste. We do not want to have to wash it off if we decide to throw in some oral. Overall, this really could be an all purpose lubricant though.

The packing is very simple, and in a way, I feel it looks medicinal because of this. It is available in three sizes: 2.5, 4.5, and 8 fluid ounces. I have the 4.5 ounce size and I think it will last a very long time since only about a dime sized dollop needs to be used. They come in clear, plastic bottles that have black push open tops. They are easy to use and can be opened and dispensed with one hand. In my experience they are safe for travel and have not leaked either. The bottle says "Meet your new best friend", H20 Water based JO, and then Anal Personal Lubricant sideways. If it's on a night stand it is obvious as to what it is, but in a bathroom or cabinet amongst other toiletry items, it blends in and does not demand attention.

The shelf life is long as well. My bottle says it will expire 03/2011. Considering I got this mid last year, that's a good amount of time to be able to use this in.

This is safe for use with all condom types.

I am giving this lubricant 4 stars. I love how it feels after being used and that it makes my skin feel smooth. For anal toys, it rocks and is easy to clean up. It does have a taste though, so using it vaginally is only good if you don't plan on having oral sex any time soon after. The use of parabens in the ingredients might be a concern for some even though it did not cause any irritation for me.