Sex Toy Materials

What's my toy made of, anyway?

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

• Silicone
• VixSkin Silicone
• Silicone/Rubber Mixes
• Elastomer
• Jelly Rubber and Phthalates
  
• Soft Vinyl
• Hard Materials (hard plastics, acrylics, Lucite, glass, metal, ceramic)
• TPR (Thermo plastic rubber)
  
• TPE Plastic (Emotional Bliss toys)

Silicone

• Silicone toys are non-porous and can be disinfected. Even textured toys are easily cleaned.
  




Silicone Rock Chick






Colored Trustex Condoms



• To clean you can boil them for 5-10 minutes, pop them in your dishwasher, or wash with soap and water. Boiling will most thoroughly disinfect your silicone toys.  Do not boil silicone vibrators like the Heartbreaker.  The Rock Chick and other silicone toys with removable vibes can be boiled.
  
• If you disinfect silicone toys between uses, you can share them with a partner; otherwise, use condoms. Non-lubricated condoms like Colored Trustex or Kiss of Mint are best for silicone toys.
  
• 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. You can get rings in the plumbing section of the hardware store, or order the 4-Ring Pack selection from us.
  
• Do NOT use silicone lubes like Eros with silicone toys as it can 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-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 soap and water.

Silicone toys vary in their density — some are very soft (like Mistress) 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 craftsman-like 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.

VixSkin Silicone

Handcrafted by popular silicone dildo manufacturer Vixen Creations, VixSkin is nothing less than a major innovation in sex toy design. These toys boast the superior hygienic qualities of silicone while retaining the realistic look and feel of real skin. Because they are made of 100% silicone, VixSkin dildos are easy to clean, unlike more porous materials which can harbor bacteria. VixSkin toys are backed by a lifetime warranty from Vixen Creations.

Elastomer

• Elastomer is slightly porous and cannot be disinfected..
  
• To clean, wash with soap and water.
  
• Elastomer is phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, soft, and durable.
  
• Use with condoms if sharing or for easier cleanup.
  

Elastomer is being used in sex toys as a soft material that is phthalate-free.  It is porous, unlike silicone, and cannot be disinfected.  People who are concerned about avoiding contact with rubber softeners might choose elastomer toys as good soft alternatives.

Elastomed is a non-porous synthetic blend, which is a safer form of rubber. The Smart Balls Teneo toys are made of silicone and elastomed.

Silicone/Rubber Mixes

• Pure silicone toys are non-porous, but when silicone is only one of many ingredients, you should treat them like jelly rubber toys.
• The benefit of having a silicone mix is that the material will last longer without breaking down or tearing.
  
• They may contain rubber softeners such as phthalates, which have been associated with negative health effects.
• Use with condoms for safety and to aid in cleanup.
• Do not use silicone lube with silicone/rubber mix toys as it can melt the toy. Be sure to use a condom over the toy if you want to use silicone lube.

Silicone is such a popular sex toy material that manufacturers of less-expensive sex toy options have realized that it can increase their sales to have the packaging say that the toy is silicone.  By law, it only has to have 10% of a material to be called that material (just like with 10% fruit juices).

Because we want our customers to make informed decisions, we hope that you will check before buying something labeled silicone.  You should be able to trust that the product is truly capable of being disinfected.

Jelly Rubber

• Jelly rubber toys are made of soft, porous material that cannot be disinfected.
• Clean them with soap and 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.
• Latex, which some people are allergic to, is often an ingredient in jelly rubber toys. Some jelly rubber toys may contain rubber softeners such as phthalates, which have been associated with negative health effects. Read up on the latest news and research on phthalates.
• Use with condoms for safety and to aid in cleanup.
• For more detailed information about jelly rubber, please read our detailed jelly rubber article.

People who prefer soft materials over hard or who want to limit their sex toy spending might go for jelly rubber over other materials. These toys have a shorter lifespan than those made of silicone or vinyl.  We strongly recommend using a condom on them every time. This creates a barrier between you and the toy that will greatly reduce your contact with its ingredients.

Soft Vinyl

• Vinyl is a porous material, but slightly less so than jelly rubber.
• Vinyl lasts longer than jelly rubber, but not as long as silicone.
• Clean vinyl toys with soap and water; do not boil.
• Use with condoms for safety and to aid in cleanup.

Vinyl materials have a more solid feeling than jelly rubbers and are less porous, but we still suggest condom use because vinyl is somewhat porous.  Vinyl toys are midway between jelly rubber and silicone in most ways, and can be an alternative to jelly rubber without being as expensive as silicone.

Hard Materials

Hard Plastic, Lucite, Acrylic, Glass, Metal & Ceramic

• These materials do not contain phthalates.
• Clean with 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 phthalate-free and 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 if only used by one person.

Babeland carries toys made of all different kinds of hard plastic. Basically all these plastics are common, safe materials which require the same care.

ABS plastic is a mix between elastomer, rubber, and hard plastic which is durable and recyclable. See below for other types.

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.

Aluminum

Tantus Alumina is made of 100% aeronautic grade aluminum and designed to play anatomically with your bodies pleasure zones. Aluminum is a lighter metal than stainless steel, it doesn't feel so heavy. Each toy is anodized, which not only adds to the beauty, but increases corrosion resistance and wear resistance. Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, and makes up about 8% by weight of the Earth's solid surface, so it is recyclable and safe.

TPR Plastic: Thermoplastic Rubber

This light-weight, flexible material is what Babeland chose for its new and improved Nubby G vibrator and the Babeland Odyssey Tickler. It's phthalate-free, easily washed, supple, and pliable to the touch.

TPE Plastic

• TPE stands for Thermoplastic Elastomer
• Emotional Bliss toys are made of a non-porous TPE, so it is easily cleaned and abrasion-resistant.
  



Ramsey Rabbit

• Ramsey Rabbit vibe is made of IntraMed (c) which is a Thermoplastic Elastomer-base material that has been formulated to give a silicone-like feel. It is non-porous, eco-friendly, phthalate-free material that can be sterilized and compatible with all lubricants.
  
• Excellent flexural fatigue resistance
• Excellent resistance to chemicals & weathering
• High impact strength

Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding your new toy. You can call toll-free to (800) 658-9119, or send a message to Customer Service.