Sex Toy Materials

All about sex toy materials.

Sex Toy Materials

What's my toy made of, anyway?

There are six basic types of materials found in sex toys:

Silicone
Synthetic Polymers

Jelly Rubber
Cyberskin
Vinyl

Hard Materials (Hard Plastic, acrylics, Lucite, glass, & metal)

Silicone

Silicone toys are non-porous and can be disinfected.
To clean you can boil them for 5-10 minutes, pop them in your dishwasher, or wash with anti-bacterial soap and water. Boiling will most thoroughly disinfect your silicone toys.
If you disinfect silicone toys between uses, you can share them with a partner; otherwise, use condoms.
Silicone dildos can break at the base if they are forced into too-small rings. Be sure you have the right size harness ring for your dildo.
Do not use silicone lube with silicone toys as it will cause a chemical reaction and will melt the silicone toy. Be sure to use a condom over the toy if you want to use silicone lube.

Silicone is a popular sex toy material for many good reasons: it's non-toxic, non-porous, hygienic, pliable, and comes in many vivid colors. It warms to the body and retains heat. It is also extremely durable. Because silicone can withstand high temperatures, you can boil silicone toys (as long as there is no vibrator unit inside) for 5-10 minutes or put them in your dishwasher to disinfect them. They also clean well with anti-bacterial soap and water.

Silicone toys vary in their density—some are very soft while others are more rigid, but they are all pliable. The variation depends on how much silicone is poured into the mold. Silicone also carries vibration like a dream. You'll find that silicone items are often more expensive that sex toys made of other materials. Not only is the material more expensive than plastics or rubbers, but silicone toy makers are often small businesses that don't mass produce their products on an assembly line but create them in more craftslike settings. You will find the higher price worthwhile because of the longer life-span of silicone and its ability to be disinfected for use with more than one partner.

I have environmental allergies. What sex toys are safe for me to use?
Silicone is hypoallergenic. We recommend silicone toys to anyone who is concerned about having a reaction to rubber and vinyl materials or scents or for people who know they do not want to use condoms on their sex toys.

Synthetic polymers

What is "jelly rubber"?

Jelly rubber is a soft plastic, porous material that is composed of different ingredients including latex and phthalates (pronounced "thall-eights"). Phthalates are a family of chemicals that are used as plastic softeners or solvents, and can be found many places in our daily environment. Some questions have been raised about whether jelly rubber sex toys containing pthalates can pose a health risk, as there have been studies done on the effects of phthalates found in common household items and items such as children's teething rings. Because no research has been done on jelly rubber sex toys, we do not have conclusive information on the long or short-term effects that phthalates have on bodies when used orally, vaginally or anally.

How can I protect myself?

Toys In Babeland encourages the use of high-grade, non-porous and/or phthalate-free sex toys (such as silicone), many of which can also be disinfected and are more hygienic all the way around. We realize however, that while these toys are our preference, they can also be more expensive. If you have a jelly rubber toy, or are interested in purchasing one, please know that we strongly recommend using a condom on it every time. This creates a barrier between you and the toy that will greatly reduce your contact with its ingredients. Always use a condom when sharing toys with other people. Since jelly rubber toys are porous, they cannot be disinfected. Please clean them with a mild soap and warm water, and store in a cool, dry place away from other objects. If your toy is not waterproof, please take care not to get water in its battery pack or cord.

Alternative Sex Toys Materials

Not all sex toy materials contain phthalates. If you’re concerned about reducing your exposure to phthalates from sex toys please consider purchasing one made from any of the following materials: Silicone, stainless or surgical steel, acrylic, Pyrex, or hard plastic. Always refer to the care and cleaning information that comes with your toy, or please ask one of our Sex Educators for advice.

Food for Thought

We would also like you to consider the other sources and places that we are all exposed to phthalates--they can be found in: Cosmetics like hairspray and deodorant, flooring, adhesives, wallpaper, furniture, raincoats, shower curtains, some medical devices, children’s and pet’s toys, as well as other, similar products containing PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

For more information please check out the following resources:

Cyberskin

Cyberskin toys are made of porous material that cannot be disinfected.
They may contain chemical agents such as phthalates, which have been associated with negative health effects.
Use with condoms for safety and to aid in cleanup.
Powder with corn starch after use to keep the toy from getting sticky. Don't use talc powder (which is associated with cervical cancer and should never be put in the vagina).
Do not use silicone lube with cyberskin toys as it will cause a chemical reaction and will melt the toy. Be sure to use a condom over the toy if you want to use silicone lube.

Sex toys made of these products are often more realistic-looking and -feeling, as the cyberskin in particular boasts a remarkably flesh-like texture. Using a condom just adds to the feeling of having the real deal! Cyberskin products should be powdered with corn starch after cleaning to prevent stickiness. Don't use talcum powder, as that has been associated with cervical cancer in women. Also, many of the rubber toys are less expensive than their higher quality silicone cousin, and we want to make sex toys available to everyone's wallet. Condoms are the best way to keep them clean.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a porous material.
Clean toys made of vinyl with anti-bacterial soap and water; do not boil.
Use with condoms.

Vinyl materials have a more solid feeling than jelly rubbers and are less porous, but we still suggest condom use because vinyl is somewhat permeable to bacteria and yeast.

Hard Materials

Hard Plastic, Lucite, Acrylic, Glass & Metal

These materials do not contain phthalates.
Items made from these materials are non-porous.
Clean with anti-bacterial soap and water.
Use condoms if sharing.
Do not boil plastic, Lucite or acrylic toys.
Glass retains temperature extremely well and requires only a little lube for a super-slippery effect.

Hard plastic, acrylic, glass, metal, and pure latex toys are non-porous and phthalate-free and all have firm, smooth textures. Some may be a cheaper alternative to silicone toys. Hard plastics are significantly less porous than rubber toys and can be used without condoms as long as you are diligent about cleaning them afterwards with anti-bacterial soap and water.

We try to carry Pyrex and laboratory-quality glass that will not shatter if dropped. Examine your toy before each use. If you notice a crack in your glass toy, stop using it—you wouldn't want to risk having it break during use. Lucite and acrylic are shatter-free and harder to break, but it is possible to crack them. You can boil glass, but do not boil plastic, acrylic or Lucite toys.