Pjur and Sliquid are the two brands that come up whenever someone who knows what they are talking about recommends lube. They arrive at quality from opposite directions, and which suits you depends on something quite specific about your skin rather than on which is better.
Two different philosophies
Sliquid subtracts. The core Naturals line is built around removing things: no glycerin, no parabens, no propylene glycol, vegan, ingredient lists short enough to read on the bottle. The pitch is that most lube problems come from additives, so remove them.
Pjur engineers. A German pharmaceutical company applying formulation science, with concentrated silicones where a few drops outperform a palmful of anything else. The pitch is performance per drop.
Neither is marketing. Both are genuinely what the products do.
Which to buy
Buy Sliquid if: you have reacted to lube before, you are prone to yeast infections, you have sensitive skin generally, or you want something you can hand anyone without thinking about it. Also if you use silicone toys constantly, since the water based range is entirely toy safe.
Buy Pjur if: you want maximum longevity, you do shower or bath sex, you find water based formulas too thin, or you want the lowest cost per use over time. The concentrated silicones last considerably longer than the bottle size suggests.
Buy both if: you own silicone toys and also want a long lasting option. Sliquid H2O for toys, Pjur Basic Silicone for everything else. That combination covers essentially every situation for about forty dollars.
The picks
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Sliquid Naturals H2O is the benchmark water based lube and the most recommended bottle in the store. Pjur Basic Silicone is the best value silicone we sell. Pjur Woman Nude and Sliquid Organics Natural are the sensitive skin picks from each brand. Pjur Aqua is the denser water based option, and Sliquid Silver is their four ingredient silicone.
Full ranges in our Sliquid review and Pjur guide.
Where each falls down
Sliquid water based formulas absorb and need reapplying, like all water based lube. If you find yourself reaching for the bottle every few minutes, that is the trade.
Pjur silicone cannot touch silicone toys, and the packaging looks like medical supplies, which some people find unromantic. The concentrated bottles also look expensive until you work out the per use cost.
And the third option
Wicked sits between them on price with a much broader range including flavours, warming and hybrids. If you want one brand covering every category rather than the best in two, that is the answer. Our hybrid guide covers the middle ground.
FAQ
Is either worth the premium over drugstore lube? For sensitive bodies, unambiguously. For everyone else it is a modest upgrade in feel and a real one in ingredient quality.
Which is better for anal? Pjur Back Door or Analyse Me for longevity, Sliquid Sassy for a thicker water based option. Our anal guide covers when to pick which base.
Are both condom safe? Yes, water based and silicone both.
Cheapest way to try both? Sliquid Sparkle at ten dollars and Pjur Aqua at twenty. Under thirty to sample both philosophies.
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