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Cyberskin: The Mimic
A space-age combination of latex and silicone, CyberSkin is unquestionably the most realistic material on the
market. Quickly warming to body temperature and mimicking the elasticity and
softness of human flesh, CyberSkin has the amazing look and feel of real
skin. This material in its many shapes and forms is a stunning replication of
the human composition.
And, according to a Greenpeace study it is
100% phthalate free. Drawbacks? It's soft, sexy qualities also make it
porous, making it difficult to clean. It does contain small amounts of latex,
and while this only affects 2% of the entire population, it can be extremely
irritating for sensitive individuals.
Also, thousands of lower-quality imitators
have flooded the market and there is no guarantee that their products are
phthalate free as well.) Just remember that only licensed Cyberskin products
will feature the
Cyberskin logo.
Lastly, Cyberskin Sex Toys are extremely
porous, so always follow with an anti-bacterial sex toy cleaner- and no sharing!
Lubricant Recommendation: Water-based formulas only.
Elastomer: No smell, no taste, no phthalates!
Elastomer is the hot new word in sex toy
materials because it's a less-expensive option to silicone. Like silicone,
elastomer is hypo-allergenic, phthalate-free, latex-free, and ideal for
people with chemical sensitivities. And, unlike silicone, most elastomer sex
toys can be used with any kind of lubricant: water-based and silicone formulas.
The drawbacks to elastomer? Elastomer is
extremely elastic and tends to be less durable than silicone. And because it
is porous, it can never be completely disinfected. That means you should
always use an anti-bacterial sex toy cleaner on your elastomer sex toy after
each and every use and cover it with a condom if you plan to share it.
Glass and Pyrex Sex Toys: The Showstoppers
A 100% green sex toy material, glass is
beautiful to behold and artistic in design. No additives, no allergens and
absolutely no chemical residues. High quality glass can generally be taken to
high or low temperatures for erotic hot/cold fun.
You can use it with virtually any lubricant:
water-based or silicone. And, if you own a glass sex toy you might start
thinking about who you'd like to “bequeath” it to, because with proper care
it will outlive you!
The drawbacks: You'll find an incredible
variety of glass dildos but glass vibrators are few and far between. And,
customers may like (or dislike) glass sex toys for their heavy feel and hard,
slick surface. And, despite the durability of glass sex toys they can shatter
on hard surfaces, so no juggling!
Hard plastic Toys: Good Vibrations
With all the other options on the market,
why bother with a hard plastic sex toy? Vibration! Because they are not
coated with a soft "buffer", the vibrations of hard plastics can be
much more intense than soft toys. Hard plastics do lack the elasticity or
real feel of soft materials but the popularity of vibrators like the classic Pocket Rocket and the
Lelo Lily
prove this isn't a drawback for most women!
Lastly, hard plastic sex toys are non-porous and disinfected easily.
Lubricant Recommendation: All lubricants are suitable for hard plastic sex toys, including silicone formulas.
Jelly Sex Toys: The Phthalate Debate
What is jelly? Well, if you've purchased
more than one sex toy in the last 10 years you probably own a jelly toy.
Unlike the stuff you spread on toast, Jelly rubber is made of polyvinyl chloride
or “PVC.” This comprises 98% of the sex toys market because it is soft,
translucent and easy to produce. If your soft adult toy and does not
specifically state otherwise, it is most likely made from rubber jelly.
Despite their widespread use, there is
growing controversy surrounding the safety of jelly toys due to their phthalate content. Phthalates
are chemical-softeners that give hard plastic materials softness and
flexibility. You'll find phthalates in just about everything: flooring, wall
coverings, food containers, shower curtains - even our food and water
contains them. So what's the big deal?
Your health, for one. Though the CDC contends the health
hazards of phthalates to humans have not been definitively established, for
some years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has regulated phthalates
as water and air pollutants. And, there is a growing body of research that
suggests phthalates may pose health risks to health and reproduction.
Before you race to your sex toy box in alarm,
keep in mind that most exposure to phthalates is thought to come from
ingestion, not dermal contact. Recently, the Danish Environmental Protection
Agency released a report on the safety of phthalates in sex toys. According
to the report, titled
Survey and Health Assessment of Chemical Substances in Sex Toys, using sex toys with
phthalates for one hour a day or less poses no health risks unless you are
pregnant or nursing.
While it's logical to use adult toys without
these substances, the cost of phthalate-free materials like ceramic, silicone
and glass may be prohibitive to those on a tight budget. If you do own a
jelly sex toy that you can't currently afford to replace, simply cover it
with a fresh latex condom each time you use it. Due to jelly's high porosity
level, you will want to disinfect your jelly sex toy after each and every use
with an anti-bacterial sex toy cleaner.
When you are ready to make the financial
jump to a new toy, you might consider choosing a hard plastic model. Hard
plastic sex toys may lack the flexibility of jelly toys but they are
inexpensive, translate vibration beautifully and do no contain phthalates.
Lubricant Recommendation: Water-based formulas only.
Silicone Sex Toys: The High Roller
Why do we love silicone? How do we count the
ways: Silicone is an inert, latex-free, non-porous material that features the
soft, elastic properties of jelly without the odor or chemical residues. It
translates body heat and vibration beautifully, and, with a little TLC a
silicone sex toy can last a lifetime. So why aren't all toys made of
silicone?
Price! Silicone is far more expensive than
jelly. And because it has become such a popular ingredient, many sex toy
manufacturers have jumped on the silicone bandwagon. Unfortunately, our laws
state that it is legal for a product to contain only 10% silicone and be
labeled as a “silicone product.” Sex toys made from these silicone hybrids should
be treated like any other jelly toy – covered with a condom and
disinfected after use.
Don't know if a “silicone sex toy” is the
real thing? For starters, if it comes at a price that's too good to be true
it probably isn't 100% silicone. Stick with products from dependable sex toy
manufacturers like Tantus, Fun Factory, Evolved, Vibratex and Nexus.
Many customers may find the price of these
brands prohibitive, but we trust these companies to label their materials
honestly. And, considering the short lifespan of cheaper toys the durability
and quality of silicone products more than makes up for the cost.
Lastly, silicone can withstand extreme
temperatures, which means you can easily disinfect your non-vibrating
silicone sex toys in boiling water or even the top rack of your dishwasher.
Lubricant Recommendation: Because silicone
lubricants can “bond” with silicone sex toys, we recommend using these toys
with water-based lubricants.
TPR: Thermo-plastic-what?
(See elastomer.) “TPR” or thermoplastic
rubber is less porous than Cyberskin, but far more porous than Silicone.
Basically, it is a phthalate-free version of jelly.
Lubricant Recommendation: Water-based formulas.
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