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Definitive Guide to Sex Toys Materials

Sex toys have managed to push the spectrum of sexual pleasure over the years. Every time you see a dildo or a vibrator, orgasm must be the first thing that comes to mind. One thing you might have never thought about, though, is the material used to make these sex toys. In this article, we will be looking at the materials that are used to create these tools of pleasure, and which ones might be perfect for you.

Porous and Non-Porous Sex Toy Materials

There are two main distinctive sex toy material categories. These are non-porous and porous sex toys. You might not have known it, but the material is essential in the pleasure pathway. That is why let’s find out a bit about the materials to make the perfect decision.

Porous Sex Toy Materials

Porous sex toy materials used to be popular in the early days, but the popularity seems to fade away over the years. People realized that they might not be as safe as they thought them to be. Porous materials are pretty difficult to clean, and, most of the time, they tend to be a good spot for bacteria. It has made other people suggest that they may be unsafe. It is not entirely true, though.

Porous sex toys cannot be sterilized. It means they tend to be a little off on the hygiene side. The best way to use porous sex toys is to make sure you use protection. The last thing you would want is to get an infection from your bout of pleasure.

On the positive side, though, porous sex toys are cheaper than non-porous ones. The effectiveness in terms of pleasure is equally the same, but if you want the raw sex toy experience for that orgasm, going with non-porous sex toys is the way to go. Besides the price, porous sex toys tend to give a realistic feeling due to their flexibility. Depending on what you are looking for in a sex toy, porous sex toys might be the pathway to unlimited sexual pleasure. Jelly and TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) are among the most common porous materials.

Non-Porous Sex Toy Materials

These have become the trademark materials in modern sex toys. It is a big advantage in terms of safety and hygiene because you can sterilize non-porous sex toy materials. Over the years, one material that has been quite trendy in this category is stainless steel. It might come off as a surprise, but if you know how extensive sex toys are, you should not be surprised.

One thing that has propelled non-porous sex toys over the years is the fact that, due to the possibility of sterilization, you don’t need to use a condom. It means you can get an undiluted dose of pleasure. It has seen a shift from contemporary sex toys from porous materials to safer non-porous materials. If safety is a concern for you, then these have to be your choice.

The biggest drawback, though, when it comes to these sex toys from non-porous materials that they are quite expensive. There is always a price to pay for safety and, well, more pleasure. If we were to recommend, we would recommend sex toys that are made from non-porous sex material. It is both for safety and pleasure reasons. Examples of non-porous materials include stainless steel, silicon, and glass.

Sex Toy Materials

Now that the two distinctive groups of sex toy materials are out of the way, we can get an in-depth look into the actual materials that are used to make your favorite pleasure tools. There are variable sex toy materials that are available. We will help you choose the right sex toy made from the perfect material. You need to read it if you are a fan of sex toys.

Phthalates

It is one material that features prominently in many sex toys. Phthalates are said to be dangerous, and some researchers claim that phthalates cause infertility, and they tend to interfere with sperm production. The studies have not been conclusive, though, and it might be the main reason why they have not been banned. It is quite a good idea to avoid sex toys with phthalates.

Plastic

Plastic has been one of the most common materials over the years: from plastic bags to electronics. And, well, it has also managed to push through on the sex toy market. The main reason why plastic sex toys have become very popular might be because of the price point. Plastic is quite flexible and has been used in a variety of sex toys.

If you get to sex toy shops, chances are you might find several plastic sex toys. There are plastic dildos, vibrators, and penis pumps. It is mainly because plastic is very malleable and pretty safe. The main reason why plastics are safer than most materials that are used to make sex toys is that plastic sex toys do not have phthalates at all. We have already talked about phthalates, and you already know why you wouldn’t want those in your toy.

Advantages of Plastic Sex Toys

  • They are cheaper (it means you can get more for less);
  • They are safer compared to rubber;
  • You can sterilize them;
  • They are lightweight.

Disadvantages of Plastic Sex toys

  • Plastic sex toys look and feel cheap;
  • They are rarely flexible;
  • They are not durable.

Verdict

If you want a sex toy that will deliver pleasure without necessarily breaking your bank, then plastic sex toys might be the best for you. If you want something that feels premium and lasts longer, do not go for plastic.

Jelly

From the inception of sex toys, one of the most popular materials has been jelly. The main reason why jelly has been a well-known material in sex toy production is that it is quite close to the flesh. It means that dildos made from rubber feel nearly the same as the real thing. The addition of phthalates to the rubber makes the jelly extra flexible. It means that it can be molded into nearly any shape, and it is one of the main reasons why it is a popular choice for sex toy developers.

Another reason why sex toy enthusiasts fell in love with jelly is the price. Jelly sex toys are very cheap.

Advantages of Jelly sex toys

  • Jelly sex toys are cheap;
  • Jelly sex toys are flexible and can be shaped into anything;
  • Durable.

Disadvantages of Jelly Sex Toys

  • Made with phthalates, which may not be safe;
  • A strong rubber odor.

Verdict

If you want a sex toy that is close to the real thing, then jelly sex toys are the perfect pick. The fact that they are cheap is also a bonus. The health concerns are something you have to worry about, though. As long as you use condoms, you are safe.

Stainless Steel

le wand swerve solid stainless steel double-sided dildo
It is one of the materials that we never thought we would see in the sex toy niche. We are glad, though, that it finally came around. Stainless steel has made a lot of sex toys hard enough. The most popular stainless steel sex toy are dildos, butt plugs and nipple clamps.

Advantages of Stainless Steel

  • Stainless steel is easy to clean;
  • Stainless steel is safer than jelly and TPE;
  • Stainless steel can be used for temperature play.

Disadvantages of stainless steel

  • Stainless steel is expensive.

Verdict

Stainless steel is a good material for sex toys. The fact that it is quite malleable means it can be made into a number of shapes. If you have enough money, opting for a stainless steel sex toy might not be a bad idea.

Silicon Sex Toys

lelo liv 2
The most popular sex toy material at the present moment is silicon. It is softer than plastic and harder than jelly. It means it is the in-between material. In terms of built quality for the money, silicon is the best.

Despite being soft, silicone materials are not porous. Unlike jelly, silicone sex toys are odorless and tasteless. It makes it a premium choice. A silicone dildo is the best dildo on the market.

Advantages

  • Silicone sex toys are odorless;
  • Silicone sex toys are durable;
  • Silicone sex toys are soft.

Disadvantages

  • They are expensive.

Verdict

Buy silicone sex toys!

Glass

lovehoney beaded sensual glass dildo
Welcome to the premium section of sex toy materials! Glass sex toys have become quite popular over the years as people have been willing to spend more money on their toys of pleasure. And glass has been on the top of the premium sex toy materials list.

The main reason why most people tend to love glass sex toys is that you can use them for temperature play. If you want your solo play with your toy to be excessively warm, glass can do just that. If you want to get chilled, glass can do that as well. It makes it quite the perfect tool for sexual pleasure experiments.

Advantages

  • Glass sex toys are odorless;
  • Glass sex toys are tasteless;
  • Glass sex toys can be used for temperature play;
  • They are durable.

Disadvantages

  • They are expensive;
  • Rigid.

Verdict

Glass sex toys have the top-tier built quality and premium feel. If you have a huge bank account, then you definitely should opt for these.

The fact that there is a variety of options means you can get safe materials for sex toys and generally materials that are good for sex toys.

Iva Vichrová

Author: Iva Vichrová

Iva spent her early 20th working in a sex shop so you can be sure that her recommendations are backed by serious scientific research. Well, maybe not scientific but definitely thorough. Now, after using tens (or even hundreds) of various sex toys, Iva is happy to share her experience.

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