Sex Toy Materials Explained: What’s Safe and What to Avoid

When it comes to exploring pleasure, confidence and safety should always walk hand-in-hand. Yet, so many people purchase sex toys without ever thinking about the materials inside them. It’s easy to get swept up in excitement, shape, colour, or vibration strength and forget to ask the most important question: “What is this toy actually made of?” The truth is that sex toys enter some of the most sensitive parts of your body, and the material they’re crafted from can impact not just your comfort but your long-term health. Some materials are wonderfully safe, smooth, and body-friendly; others, unfortunately, are not.

This guide is here to empower you, not overwhelm you. With warmth, honesty, and a fierce sense of care for your well-being, let’s explore the different sex-toy materials and discover what’s safe, what’s questionable, and what you should avoid entirely. You deserve pleasure that feels good during and after the moment.

Safe Sex Toy Materials

These materials are recognised as body-safe, meaning they’re non-porous, hypoallergenic, and designed to treat your body with the respect and gentleness it deserves.

1. Medical-Grade Silicone
   

   Silicone is often regarded as the gold standard for sex toy materials, and it’s easy to see why. High-quality silicone feels incredibly soft and skin-like, creating a natural, comforting connection during play. Beyond its luxurious texture, silicone is also non-porous, meaning it does not trap bacteria inside tiny microscopic holes the way cheaper materials do. This makes it safer, cleaner, and easier to maintain. Silicone is also hypoallergenic, an important detail for people with sensitive skin or allergies. Many users appreciate that it warms quickly to the body and retains that warmth in a soothing way that feels intimate and natural. With the right care—mainly washing it with warm water and avoiding silicone-based lubes—silicone toys can last for years. Not just good for your body, silicone is a long-term investment in your pleasure journey.
   
   

2. Stainless Steel
   

   Stainless steel toys bring a different kind of allure—one that’s strong, elegant, and precise. These toys have a satisfying weight to them, offering a deeper kind of pressure that many find intensely pleasurable, especially for G-spot or prostate stimulation. Stainless steel is completely non-porous and incredibly easy to sanitise; a quick boil or thorough wash makes it fully safe again. Because it’s compatible with every kind of lubricant, it offers flexibility and freedom during use. Many people also love that stainless steel is perfect for temperature play. Warm it up for a soft, sensual experience, or cool it down for something teasing and electric. It’s a material that exudes luxury but also reliability—trustworthy, durable, and endlessly pleasurable.
   
   

3. Borosilicate Glass
   

   Glass toys have a special kind of beauty. When made with borosilicate glass (a more durable, heat-resistant type like Pyrex), they’re not only stunning but also completely body-safe. The surface is perfectly smooth, making them glide effortlessly and comfortably. They’re fully non-porous, easy to clean, and resistant to scratches when handled properly. Much like stainless steel, glass toys lend themselves beautifully to temperature play, allowing sensations to feel fresh, adventurous, and deeply sensual. Whether clear, colourful, or artistically shaped, these toys add elegance to your pleasure collection.
   
   

4. ABS Plastic
   

   ABS plastic is another body-safe material, though not as luxurious as silicone or glass. It’s a hard, smooth plastic commonly used in bullets, vibrators, and the handles of more expensive toys. While it doesn’t have the soft, skin-like feel of silicone, ABS plastic is non-porous, lightweight, and affordable, making it a great option for beginners. It’s widely available, easy to handle, and compatible with every kind of lubricant. If you’re exploring sex toys for the first time, an ABS toy is a gentle, safe way to start.
   
   

5. Wood (Properly Sealed)
   

   Wood may sound surprising, but high-quality, properly sealed wooden toys are both safe and beautiful. When crafted carefully and coated with body-safe sealants, wooden toys become smooth, sturdy, and elegantly unique. Each piece often feels like a work of art. What people love most is how naturally responsive wood is to temperature warming quickly and feeling earthy and grounding in the body. The key, of course, is ensuring the brand uses legitimate medical-grade sealants. When it does, wood becomes not just safe but wonderfully sensual.

Unsafe Sex Toy Materials

Some materials aren’t outright dangerous but aren’t ideal either. They require extra cleaning, extra care, or additional protection. If you choose them, you should do so with awareness.

1. TPE and TPR (Thermoplastic Elastomers/Rubbers)

These materials are often used to create toys that feel soft, stretchy, and lifelike. They can mimic skin in a way that silicone sometimes doesn’t. However, their softness comes at a cost: TPE and TPR are porous materials. This means bacteria can seep inside, even with washing, making them harder to keep hygienic. They also tend to degrade faster, becoming sticky or discoloured over time. While they may be tempting because they’re cheaper and realistic, they aren’t a long-term safe choice. If you do use them, covering the toy with a condom can offer a layer of protection.

2. Jelly Rubber

Jelly rubber toys are common in lower-priced adult shops, and while they may look fun, colourful, and budget-friendly, their material quality is questionable. Jelly is soft, flexible, and inexpensive, but it often contains phthalates and chemical softeners that can irritate or harm the body. A strong, plasticky smell is usually the first sign that something is off. Because jelly rubber is highly porous, it’s extremely difficult to clean thoroughly, making it unsafe for internal use over time. If cost is the concern, it’s safer to opt for ABS plastic or a basic silicone toy instead.

Materials to Avoid Completely

These materials may appear in “novelty” sex toys or cheap sets, but they’re harmful and unsafe and should not come in contact with the inside of your body.

1. PVC (Especially Phthalate-Filled PVC)

PVC is commonly used in inexpensive sex toys, but the problem lies in the softeners (often phthalates) added to make the material bendable. These chemicals can leach out during use and disrupt your body’s natural balance, causing irritation, discomfort, or long-term health issues. PVC is also porous, meaning no matter how much you wash it, bacteria linger. If a toy smells like a shower curtain or cheap plastic, that’s a warning sign. Your body deserves better.

2. Latex (For Internal Toys)

While latex is safe for condoms, it’s not recommended for internal toys. Latex allergies are incredibly common, and many lovers don’t even know they’re allergic until they have an unfortunate reaction. Latex toys are porous, degrade quickly, and can trap bacteria. For anything that enters the body, it’s best to skip latex altogether.

3. “Mystery Materials” and Novelty Items

If a product says “for novelty use only”, it’s essentially admitting that it is not safe for actual sex. These toys often include unregulated materials, cheap dyes, chemical-laced coatings, or plastics that leach toxins. They’re meant to look cute not to actually be used. Always choose toys from reputable brands that clearly state their materials.

How to Recognize Body-Safe Toys Instantly

Even without being a materials expert, you can spot a body-safe sex toy with just a few simple checks. One of the easiest tests is the smell test; if the toy has a strong chemical or rubbery odour, it’s usually not body-safe. High-quality materials like silicone or glass won’t carry harsh scents. Packaging also matters: trustworthy brands proudly list their materials instead of hiding behind vague marketing terms like “jelly” or “soft rubber”. The phrase “novelty use only” is a red flag you should never ignore. Price can also be a clue. While not every affordable toy is unsafe, extremely cheap toys often use low-quality materials that won’t treat your body well. A safe toy is not just an expense—it’s an investment in your comfort and health.

Caring for Your Toys (Because Safety Doesn’t End After the Purchase)

Even the safest materials require proper care. Cleaning your toys before and after every use ensures they remain hygienic and last longer. Non-porous toys made from silicone, steel, or glass can be washed with warm water and mild soap or sanitised through boiling or bleach solutions. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions first, but generally, these toys are easy to keep in excellent condition. Try storing each toy separately in its own bag or pouch to prevent material reactions or dust buildup. And don’t forget about lubricant compatibility; while water-based lube is safe for all toys, silicone lube can damage silicone toys, and oil-based lubricants should never be used with latex. Treat your toys with care, and they’ll take wonderful care of you in return.

Choosing Safe Materials Is a Form of Self-Love

Selecting the right sex toys isn’t just about pleasure; it’s about honouring your body. When you choose body-safe materials, you’re saying to yourself, “I deserve comfort, safety, joy, and peace of mind.” Safe toys allow you to relax fully, explore your desires freely, and enjoy sensations without fear or hesitation. Pleasure should never come with risks, and understanding materials ensures that you’re in complete control of your experience.

Sex toys should empower you, never endanger you. When you prioritise safety, you create space for pleasure that’s deeper, more trusting, and far more fulfilling. Your body is precious. Your pleasure is sacred. And choosing high-quality materials is one of the simplest but most meaningful ways to show yourself love.