Lubricant is the cheapest thing you will buy for a device, and the one most likely to damage it. The rule is short: match the lubricant to the material of the surface it touches, not to personal preference alone.
Here is the compatibility map, what goes wrong when you get it wrong, and how to clean up a mistake.
The three lubricant types
- Water-based. Water-soluble, compatible with silicone surfaces, compatible with latex and polyisoprene condoms. Absorbs into skin and air, so it dries out and needs reapplying. The safe default for almost everything.
- Silicone-based. Lasts much longer, does not dry out, and is the go-to for extended use or water play. The problem: silicone lubricant and silicone surfaces are chemically similar enough that they can bond, leaving a persistent film that soap will not fully remove, and over time a tacky or dull surface.
- Oil-based. Coconut oil, mineral oil, and similar. Long-lasting, but it degrades latex condoms — a real safety issue, not a convenience one — and it is harder to clean off silicone surfaces than water-based.
There is also hybrid lubricant, which is water-based with a small amount of silicone added for longevity. It behaves like water-based but carries a reduced version of the silicone risk. If a surface is silicone, treat hybrid as "probably fine but not the safest choice."
The compatibility table, in words
- Silicone surface + water-based lube — the default. No risk to the device, no risk to a condom.
- Silicone surface + silicone lube — avoid. Degradation and a film that will not come off.
- Silicone surface + hybrid lube — usually fine, but not what we would recommend for regular use.
- Silicone surface + oil-based lube — works, but harder to clean; avoid if you are also using latex condoms.
- ABS plastic body + anything — ABS is chemically tough. The concern is not the plastic, it is any seam or port the lubricant can get into.
Nearly every device in this category, including all six of ours, is an ABS body with a silicone contact surface. That means: the part that touches you is silicone, and silicone lubricant is the one to leave alone.
What actually happens when you use the wrong one
Not a dramatic melt. Silicone lubricant on a silicone surface typically causes:
- A persistent film that feels slippery no matter how many times you wash it.
- A dull or slightly tacky surface over weeks, which then holds dust and lint more readily than a smooth surface would.
- In rare cases, swelling or softening of the surface where the exposure was heavy and prolonged.
It is cumulative rather than instant, which is why people do not notice until the surface has changed. And it is not reversible: you cannot restore a silicone surface that has bonded with silicone oil.
If you have already used silicone lube on it
- Wash with mild, fragrance-free soap and warm water, using your fingers rather than a cloth. Do not scrub — abrasion makes it worse.
- Rinse thoroughly until the surface stops feeling slippery, then dry completely.
- Do not use alcohol or solvents to try to strip the film. They dry out the silicone and leave a rougher surface that holds residue better.
- Repeat once after a day. If the surface still feels tacky after two washes, the exposure was heavy — the device is still usable, but expect it to attract lint.
Practical buying advice
- Buy water-based first. It is the only type that is safe with every surface and every condom.
- Check the ingredient list for "dimethicone," "cyclomethicone," or "dimethiconol." Those are silicones. If they appear in a product labelled "water-based," it is really a hybrid.
- Skip flavoured and warming lubricants for device use. The additives that create warming sensations are often the ones that irritate, and they leave residue in seams.
- Do not use silicone lubricant "just on the outside." Contact surfaces are exactly where it ends up.
- Water-based lubricant plus a silicone device and a latex condom is the only combination with no compatibility caveats at all.
One thing worth separating
Device compatibility and body compatibility are different questions. A lubricant can be perfectly safe for a silicone surface and still irritate skin — glycerin, propylene glycol, and warming agents are common culprits. If a lubricant stings, that is not a device problem and no amount of rinsing fixes the formulation. Switch products.
Our devices have a silicone contact surface, so the guidance above applies to all six: Bloom, Aura, Nova, Halo, Paw, and Pulse. The cleaning routine that keeps them in good condition is in how to clean a device properly — rinse the contact surface, wipe the body, keep the charging port dry.
Questions about materials or care? Email mengziqi@nexajoy.shop and we will answer within one business day. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging within 5–8 business days, with a 14-day return window on unopened items and a 12-month warranty.
Written by the NexaJoy team. General information only — not medical advice.