At Femplay we try to provide as much information about the products you are looking to purchase to help you make an informed decision. The materials used in sex toys are important for a variety of reasons and a certain degree of care should be taken to ensure you have chosen the right materials for yourself, particularly if you suffer from any allergies or sensitivities to certain materials.
Below is a list of the materials that are used in the sex toys that are available in today’s market, their pros and cons and any important information you should be made aware of.
Silicone
Sex toys made with silicone are becoming more and more common as we become more discerning about our sex toys and what goes into them. Silicone has many benefits over other sex toy materials and is generally considered to be a premium product.
Vibrators and dildos made from silicone are completely non-toxic, non-porous, and hypoallergenic and can be cleaned easily with soap and warm water. They can even be boiled for complete sterilisation, although this is only possible for a solid silicone dildo; A vibrator that has any other material, controllers or motors CAN NOT be boiled.
A silicone sex toy is very durable and will not fade or deteriorate like other vibrator materials can over time.
A fantastic benefit of a silicone sex toy is how quickly it will warm to your body temperature and hold that heat. They can even be warmed up in warm water prior to use to avoid that initial cold shock!
However; To avoid possibly damaging the silicone, it is highly recommended that you do not use silicone lubricants with silicone toys. There are several silicone lubricants that state they are safe to use with silicone toys though if you desire to mix the two.
Glass
There is something luxurious about glass sex toys. No other material manages to feel as silky and smooth, coupled with the satisfying weight that only glass or steel can give.
We do have many customers who are hesitant to try glass toys due to concerns about them breaking. However, the Borosilicate Glass used in these toys (commonly known as Pyrex) is very resilient to breakages and can withstand very high or low temperatures without being affected so they are very safe to use. That being said, an extra degree of care is recommended during handling and cleaning as a fall onto tiles or other hard surfaces could definitely spell the end for your toy!
Totally non-porous, glass is very hygienic and extremely easy to clean with warm soapy water or even boiled.
Like Silicone, it can be cooled or heated to suit your preferences, but make sure you don’t heat it too much as glass is very good at retaining heat! This is important to remember too if you choose to clean it in boiling water, it will still be way too hot to handle for some time after you remove it from the water.
Glass is compatible with any type of lubricant.
ABS (Plastic)
ABS is a very common and readily available form of plastic. It is smooth, hard and non-flexible. A vibrator made from ABS is non-porous and always phthalate free. Being plastic, ABS is also very tough and durable.
ABS is sometimes coated in a silky finish called a PU coat. Different manufacturers may give this coating their own names on occasion, like Refined Touch, Velvet Touch etc… PU Coating gives the plastic a velvety feel somewhat akin to many silicone products. This is a very thin coating though, so the vibrator will still be hard and inflexible like the plastic underneath.
Compatible with all lubricants and easy to clean with warm soapy water.
PVC
Extremely common in the sex toy world, PVC comes in a variety of forms, from super-soft squishy jelly through to a totally solid plastic feel. In sex toys however it is almost always a nice squishy rubbery consistency which is somewhat flexible. PVC is usually the material manufacturers use when creating realistic dildos that are as close to the real thing as you can imagine. Aesthetically, it can be quite beautiful too, due to its’ versatility when it comes to colours. The colours and designs are almost limitless, ranging from opaque pinks to transparent blues right through to ultra realistic skin tones.
PVC is compatible with all types of lubricant and easily cleaned in warm soapy water.
TPE/TPR
Due to its’ tear-resistance and soft, flesh-like feel, TPE and TPR are most often used in sex toys aimed at men. It can replicate the feel of real skin amazingly but is typically too soft to mould an erect penis from so it’s perfect for cock rings and masturbation sleeves for men, particularly if it’s warmed in warm water prior to use for an amazingly realistic experience.
TPR/TPE can be cleaned with warm soapy water.
It is recommended that you use only water-based lubricants with TPE/TPR products.
Stainless Steel
Not particularly common in sex toys, Stainless Steel is a very unique and elegant material for toys. The weight of the steel is something you won’t find in other materials, making it particularly well suited for exercise orientated toys like Duo Balls and other Kegel exercisers.
Stainless Steel is virtually indestructible, non-porous and hypo-allergenic and can be cleaned with warm soapy water or boiled. Please be aware that if you do boil it, it will retain that heat for a long time, so don’t be tempted to touch it!
All lubricants are compatible with stainless steel.
Latex
Due to the number of people with allergies and the number of readily available alternatives, latex is now almost non-existent in sex toys. There are still a few cases where latex is the best material for the job, but if you or your partner have allergies to latex then it’s best to steer clear.
By Jenifer Grant