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
  
• Cyberskin
• Soft Vinyl
• Hard Materials (hard plastics, acrylics, Lucite, glass, metal)
• TPE Plastic (Emotional Bliss toys)
  

Silicone

• Silicone toys are non-porous and can be disinfected. Even textured toys are easily cleaned.
  
• 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 the Colored Trustex or the 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.
• The Jollie is made of platinum silicone, which can be safely used with 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 the 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 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.

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 cyberskin. 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.

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.

Cyberskin

• Cyberskin toys are made of porous material that cannot be disinfected.
• They may contain rubber softeners such as phthalates, which have been associated with negative health effects. Please see individual product information.
  
• 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 talcum powder (which has been associated with certain kinds of cancer and should never be put in the vagina).
• Do not use silicone lube with cyberskin toys as it can 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.

Most rubber toys are less expensive than silicone toys.  We want to keep sex toys available to everyone. Condoms are the best way to keep non-silicone toys clean.

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

• 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.

TPR Plastic: Thermoplastic Rubber

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

TPE Plastic

• TPE stands for Thermoplastic Elastomer
• It is non-porous in Emotional Bliss toys so it is easily cleaned and abrasion-resistant
• 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.