I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but here in Australia we’ve had some pretty lengthy and intensive lockdowns over the past year and a half. In fact, I’m even in one right now, with my home of Melbourne seeming to consistently cop some of the worst of it. But while most of us have been learning the ups and downs of day drinking and watching far too many Godzilla films, some people have clearly been a little bit more productive. In addition to the recent wave of Aussie independent toy makers I discussed in my review of the Faux Phallus Agapanthus, there has also been an even bigger emergence of sexual wellness brands, particularly those that focus on lube. In the span of just a few short months, four new Australian-made lubricants have entered the picture, with three of them being based right here in Melbourne (that’s Lucy Lube, FIGR, LBDO, and Sydney’s Get Frenchie). So whilst I am planning on doing a round-up of all four soon, today I’ll be taking a closer look at one in particular, Lucy Lube!
The Brand
Lucy Lube, or just Lucy for short, is a brand new Melbourne-based sexual wellness company from power duo Claire Colclough and Alan McCarthy that launched last month in June. As you can probably guess from the name, Lucy focuses on lube, with their flagship (and currently only) product being their water-based personal lubricant. Born out of the desire to provide a high-quality product while also helping to reduce the shame and stigma surrounding lubricant, they’re here to challenge the status quo whilst providing products that enhance pleasure and intimacy. Plus, with an emphasis on using only the best of ingredients to ensure they don’t mess with the vaginal pH balance, alongside sustainable approaches such as compostable postal satchels and local manufacturing, shopping with Lucy is a win-win. Currently their lube’s discreet shipping is available both Australia-wide and to New Zealand, and for those who plan to go through a lot of it they make things easy with their subscription service, which delivers a discounted bottle right to your door every three months!
Product Description
Lucy’s personal lubricant has a lot going for it. Designed as an all-rounder for any situation, it was envisioned to be the “ultimate bedroom addition”. So, on that note, not only is it paraben and glycerine free, which is a must for any lube I use, but it is also TGA accredited and vegan. Being water-based then means it is ready for any activity, including being compatible with all sex toys, while being specifically formulated with a pH of 4.3 allows it to be used within the vagina without disrupting the balance. For those who are curious, a list of ingredients is available on both the product page and the bottle’s label, but its short length is a refreshing change to what I commonly see. No petrochemicals, alcohol, or scents are included either, and the liquid itself is clear and free from any flavouring. At the moment only one size is available, which is a fairly standard 70mL, and this can be purchased directly from their website for just $24 AUD.
Packaging
My order with Lucy for their personal lubricant was placed on the 12th of June and I received it by the 18th. The package was completely discreet, with no mention of the contents, and the sender simply listed as “Get Lucy”. Inside, the bottle was then beautifully gift wrapped over the top of enough bubble wrap to keep it safe, and also included was a lovely thank you note which spoke about proper disposal of the packaging. The bottle itself is then very stylish, with frosted glass and a large label featuring the company’s branding and information on the lubricant. Plus, the use of blue, orange and white as a colour palette, alongside simple graphics, allows for it to be completely gender neutral, and this is only reinforced by the entirely gender-free descriptions, which I love. A clear plastic lid then ensures no accidental spillage can occur, and this can be quickly removed at any time to access the pump dispenser, which makes accessing the lube so much easier than other styles of lid and is always my personal preference. In addition, the silkiness of the label also blends really well with the surface of the glass, allowing the bottle to feel really good to hold, as weird as that sounds. As for the size, this is also ideal, and the whole thing really blends in well with the skincare products I already keep near my bed, making it perfect for those who need to be discreet.
First Impressions
At this point in my life, the most important aspect of lube for me is the consistency. After all, there’s nothing worse than applying it to a dildo only for it to run right off and onto me. Similarly, I’m not a big fan of super thick lubricants, which can mask any intricate texture a toy may have. So when I first squirted some of the Lucy Lube onto my finger and saw it was that perfect balance between thin and thick, I was incredibly happy. Being initially similar to a gel, the lube first clumps up into one spot, without running or streaking. In fact, in small amounts not even gravity will get it to move. But as soon as the clump becomes too big or is given a gentle nudge, it will begin to spread out. The twist, however, is that once you actually begin to lather it over the surface of your toy, it almost instantly transforms, so much so that it’s as if the viscosity changes completely. Suddenly it feels thin and water-like, and any hint of that clumping gel-like substance is gone, allowing you to spread it out evenly across the item. No lubricant I’ve tried has ever been able to pull off such an ideal mix of these two consistencies, and for Lucy’s first attempt I’m immensely impressed. Plus, with no scents to put me off or any sort of stickiness, Lucy Lube also dries cleanly with no residual residue, and I even find that when applied to somewhere like my hand it leaves my skin feeling softer.
My Experience
Using Lucy Lube alongside my toys has been perfect. Since the lubricant is so spread out during actual play, it blends really well with my own vaginal fluids and feels very natural. Because of this though it can also feel somewhat thin, and so vibrators, as well as dildos that don’t feature a lot of texture such as the Tantus Vamp Super Soft or Uberrime Ripley Alien, are ideal for use with this lubricant. This is as toys that are heavily textured, such as the Darque Path Cthulhu, won’t have the cushioning they require and can come off as scratchy. After application I simply swirl Lucy Lube over the toy with my fingers, which is my preferred method, and once inside of me I haven’t experienced any issues, such as irritation from the ingredients. Rather, the lubricant allows toys to glide with ease, and once play is over I don’t find that it feels messy, allowing it to instead just dry naturally. The only thing I think that could be improved upon, although this is just me being picky, is that the amount that comes out of the pump dispenser is quite small, and so I often find myself pumping quite a few times before I have an amount I am happy with for use. Plus, it also kinds of shoots out, rather than coming out slowly, which has led to it hitting me, instead of the toy that’s directly under it, more than a few times. But those are both just packaging relating issues, and haven’t really made that big of an impact to my actual use of the lube. Finally, while I didn’t test it for anal play, I do believe it would work well, however the thinness just means that it is not ideal.
Final Thoughts
While I don’t review them all that often, lubricants obviously play a massively important role in my job and I go through a lot of them. So I can quickly separate the good from the bad, because when all my focus needs to be on the toy I am testing, I don’t have time for sensations to be dulled or masked. After all, lubricant is there to enhance pleasure, not take away from it. It’s clear that Lucy gets that, and even though it’s barely more than a few weeks old, their flagship product couldn’t be more in line with what I look for in a good water-based lube. With a consistency that ensures no spillage can occur, while also being thin enough to easily spread out into a gentle layer, Lucy Lube allows you to experience smooth penetration without the feeling of a barrier, instead adding seamlessly with your natural fluids. Plus, with such a wonderful brand ethos and a focus on things such as sustainability and sourcing quality ingredients, there’s so much to be excited about with this new brand, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
You can get the Personal Lubricant directly from Lucy Lube for just $24 AUD!
This post was sponsored by Lucy, but as always, all opinions are my own. Affiliate links have been used in this post.