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What's in My Sex Toys? - A Guide to Materials

Guides
01 Mar, 2024
Tags
Guide sex toys materials educational

Today, sex toys come in all sorts of styles and materials. Our guide breaks down the most common ones used in vibrators, dildos, BDSM gear, and more.

Picking the right material is usually just about what you're into, but sometimes things such as allergies or sensory aversions can make it more difficult. 

To help you, we've laid out all the details so you can choose what suits you best.

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ABS Plastic

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a tough plastic that feels smooth and can take a good beating. It's the same tough material used in products like car bumpers, gold clubs and even Lego.

You'll spot ABS plastic in some of our lots of toys, from ben-wa balls to the handles of some silicone vibrators.

ABS is useful because it's compatible with water, silicone, or oil-based lubes. Cleaning up is also easy, give it a wash with soap and water or a sex toy cleaner, but keep in mind that you need to watch out for any non-waterproof electrical components.

Glass

Glass sex toys, like dildos and butt plugs, are made from a smooth and sturdy glass that's safe for playtime.

Most are crafted from borosilicate glass, the same stuff used in kitchenware like Pyrex, making them super strong and durable.

Even though they can break if dropped, they won't shatter into sharp bits like regular glass. Instead, they break into bigger pieces.

If your glass toy does happen to though, it's no longer safe and cannot be used again due to risk of injury.

One cool thing about glass toys is they're perfect for temperature play. Just pop them in warm or cold water before using them for an extra thrill!

Latex

Latex starts life as a milky fluid that's sourced from certain plants before it's made into the stuff we know and love.

It's a well known fetish favourite due to it's body conforming nature and glossy aesthetic use for kinky gear, gloves, and condoms.

While it's generally safe for use, some folks are allergic. If you ever get a rash or feel weird using latex toys, condoms or clothes, you should stop using them and seek advice from a medical professional.

Luckily, you can find many latex-free alternatives to your favourite items in our store.

Leather

Leather is a sturdy, bendable, and long-lasting material made by treating animal skins to prevent decay. It's sourced from a range of animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and more.

You can find leather in all sorts of things like clothes, shoes, bags, furniture, and sports gear, and it can stick around for ages. People have been making leather for over 7,000 years, and nowadays, China and India are the top producers.

If you're vegan or vegetarian, you're in luck, because these days there is also a wide variety of your favourite toys and apparel made from faux leather that give a similar look and feel to the real thing. There's no need for FOMO here. 

Metal

No surprises here!

Metal is tough, durable, and has that edgy vibe many adore.

Just like glass, it's great for temperature play—cool it down or warm it up for added excitement.

Stick to stainless steel or other alloys, but be careful with nickel and zinc since they can easily discolour or trigger allergies in people with sensitivities.

PU Coating

Polyurethane (PU) coating is gaining traction in sex toy manufacturing. I

It begins life in liquid form and is sprayed over a solid object. Depending on the spraying technique, it gives it a smooth outer texture that can appear either shiny or matte. 

It's not flexible as silicone, but PU offers a similar silky feel and is commonly found on many fun-sized vibrators.

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) isn't just for fetish stuff—it's super versatile!

You can find it in clothes, solid dildos, and vibes, in a whole rainbow of colours.

Some PVC products used to have phthalates, but nowadays, they're using different stuff.

Just double-check the product descriptions before you buy—anything without phthalates will be clearly labelled and we provide this information in our Specifications drop down on our product pages.

Silicone

Our namesake, Silicone rubber, is tough yet soft, feeling smooth on the skin.

It can take a proper good pounding and handle a lot of action while staying flexible. That's why it's a top choice for sex toys.

You'll find many high-quality massagers and dildos made of solid silicone or with a silicone coating over ABS plastic.

Whether you prefer solid silicone or silicone over ABS is totally up to you.

Oh, and remember to use water-based lube with silicone toys to keep them in top shape! Silicone and oil- based lubricants can damage silicone and make your toys unsafe to use.

Suede Leather

Suede is a type of leather with a fuzzy, napped finish and comes from the softer underside of animal skin, making it more flexible but unfortunately less durable.

It's mostly used for aesthetic purposes. 

TPE/TPR 

Thermoplastic Elastomer or Thermoplastic Rubber (TPE/TPR) blends are safe and flexible rubbers used in a ton of toys, especially lifelike dildos and male masturbators.

They don't need phthalates to soften them up, so they're always phthalate-free. And they're super strong, so they can be made really soft without falling apart.

These days, a lot of masturbators and strokers are actually made from TPE/TPR blends, giving them that realistic skin feel.

 

The information in this blog is not intended to replace medical advice. Check out our disclaimer and read about how we're not doctors!

If you have any questions regarding the materials in our products, you can contact us via the contact page or drop us an email on info@siliconesecrets.co.uk.

 

 

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