Sex Toy Safety Facts

Does The Material That a Sex Toy is Made of Really Matter? Absolutely!

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There are almost as many sex toy materials as there are sex toys. Well, not really, but you get the point! In almost all instances the material you choose will determine the level of enjoyment you receive from your sex toy purchase.
You want to select a product that's made from material that will give you optimum pleasure and is quality enough to remain intact and give you a consistently enjoyable experience over time. That’s called R.O.I. for you business buffs! Choosing the proper material will greatly increase your overall experience with the sex toy while choosing the wrong material can lead to dissatisfaction with the sex toy. As I’ve said many times, these things are expensive and non-returnable so you want to get the best experience possible out of all your sex toys!

There is no one definitive answer to the question, “What is the right material for me?” The only way to find the right material is to experiment and educate yourself about all the different materials that are available. As people finally begin to realize just how important sex toy materials are to both pleasure and safety; we are beginning to see an increase in the amount of new materials introduced to the market. Knowing why sex toys are made from certain materials and how those materials perform will greatly increase your enjoyment of sex toys and ultimately your sex life!

We’ll keep you updated on all of the new materials coming out, but if you have any questions please don’t ever hesitate to contact us!

Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR):

Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) is a material similar to latex, but does not actually contain latex. It is more durable than latex and will not be damaged by silicone lubrication. There has been discussion about the safety of sex toys made with latex and jelly. There are also many people who have latex allergies and cannot use latex sex toys at all. The sex toy industry seems to have solved the issue with the advent of TPR. My boyfriend and I both consider Thermoplastic Rubber to be far superior in quality to jelly and on par in quality with silicone. The most recent TPR toy we’ve used in the Invisi-Rider Enhancer. TPR is less expensive than latex and jelly which helps keep the prices of these sex toys down. TPR is very easily sanitized, hypoallergenic, and phthalate free. Talk about a trifecta! To top it all off you can use TPR sex toys with either a water-based lubricant or a silicone-based lubricant.

Realistic Sex Toy Materials:

Undoubtedly, the most well-known “realistic” sex toy material is Cyberskin. Sex toys made from Cyberskin and other realistic materials (UR3, Ultraskin, etc) both warm up quickly and retain body heat to increase the realistic feel of the sex toy. If you're looking for a sex toy that feels as soft as skin these are the kinds of toys for you. Our favorite dildo, The Club Jenna Dream Dong is made from UR3 Realistic material and we LOVE it!!

Unfortunately, realistic materials tend to be more porous making them difficult to fully disinfect. You should always be careful when sharing sex toys made from realistic materials with your partner(s) to avoid spreading and contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s). Realistic sex toys also tend to require special care when cleaning, and a light application of corn starch or Cyberskin Renew (which is basically talc powder-we just use Baby Powder) which is included with just about all of the realistic sex toys on the market.

When using realistic sex toys, be sure to use a water-based lubricant as silicone lubricants will often damage the exterior surface of the toy.

Glass Sex Toys:

Afraid of glass sex toys? There really is no need to be! Glass Vibrators and Glass Dildos are made from Pyrex glass which is very strong and resistant to chipping. Glass sex toys are quite safe for regular use. As opposed to the materials of realistic sex toys, glass is non-pourous and extremely easy to disinfect. Most can be boiled and even run through the dishwasher without harming the product (Just make sure the kids won’t be home for a while!). Glass is very smooth and very hard. Glass sex toys transfer vibrations extremely well which makes them an ideal candidate if you seek powerful vibrations.

Silicone:

Silicone sex toys (No, we're not talking about fake breasts!) are a crowd favorite because they combine two great characteristics. Silicone is soft and supple like some of the realistic materials while also being quite durable. Silicone can withstand up to 400 degree heat before melting and do not degrade over time. Silicone is easy to disinfect. However, there is a downside. There’s alwayyyys a downside. Silicone tends to be an expensive material to work with and thus the end product tends to be higher in price. You should also never use a silicone-based lubricant with silicone toy. Use a water-based lubricant instead.

Plastic:

Plastic sex toys are generally hard and inflexible which is ideal for transferring vibrations to the user. Plastic is relatively non-pourous. This makes plastic a good choice for sharing because it can be disinfected between uses for maximum cleanliness. Plastic may be a good material if you like your sex toys to have a solid, hard feel to them. You should be aware that the adult toy industry is always advancing. In plastic sex toys, additives determine the final level of elasticity of the material. Some additives may produce a rigid vibrator while others may produce a vibrator that bends and flexes fairly easily. Additives and such are constantly evolving so keep this in mind before swearing off of plastic sex toys for good!

Jelly:

Sex toys made of jelly are soft and a good choice if you desire a feel that's softer than materials like metal, glass or hard plastic. Jelly is relatively porous and is very difficult to disinfect, though it is much easier than most of the realistic materials. We highly recommend that sex toys made from jelly be stored in a cool place with good circulation as products made from jelly can be damaged by prolonged and/or excessive heat. We also recommend using a condom with your jelly toys as they often contain phthalates. Also, if you have an allergy to latex please be careful with jelly products as they may contain latex. You must use a water-based lubricant with jelly sex toys.

Latex:

Latex is the former reigning champion of lifelike sex toy materials. It’s since lost that title to ever more realistic material like Cyberskin. Latex sex toys have not thrown in the towel however and are still quite popular. Latex is inexpensive and pliable. These qualities are reflected in the price of most latex toys (A big PLUS for you!). Latex is another porous material that virtually cannot be fully disinfected. You can use a condom with these toys if you’re especially concerned with cleanliness. Some people are allergic to latex and cannot use latex sex toys.

Liquid Skin:

Liquid Skin is used in the Clone-A-Willy penis replication kits (Except the “Chocolate version”). You insert your penis into a tube that is filled with a molding material that creates a cast of your penis. You then add the Liquid Skin rubber material to the cast and allow it to set. The result is a dildo that matches the penis that created the cast. The manufacturer dubs it a "silicone-like material that is hypoallergenic and non-toxic". Sexyadultmedia has not been made aware of any negative side effects from the use of Liquid Skin or the Clone-A-Willy products. We have used this product ourselves and did not experience any side-effects. Liquid Skin is compatible with any type of sexual lubrication on the market, including silicone lube which makes things easier on you.

Recommended Cleaning Methods

Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR)

- Soap and Water before and after each use, Sex Toy Cleaner after each use.

Realistic Sex Toys

- Mild Soap and Water before and after each use, Cyberskin Cleansing Solution after each use, Dusting of Talc Powder after each use.

Silicone

- Soap and Water before and after each use, Boiling Water after each use.

Latex

- Mild Soap and Water before and after each use, Sex Toy Cleaner after each use

Plastic

- Soap and Water before and after each use, Rubbing Alcohol after each use.

Jelly

- Mild Soap and Water before and after each use, Sex Toy Cleaner after each use.

Liquid Skin