Sex Toys 101–What the Heck Are They Made Of?

Sex toys have become so popular that companies have started using a variety of materials to satisfy its expanding clientele. There is no right or wrong as far as what material toys are made of…it is all a matter of personal taste. The best way to find the best material for you is to buy an inexpensive toy made from each of the materials and give them a try. Then you can move on to bigger and better things. Here is a breakdown of the most popular materials:

CyberSkin – This material is exceedingly realistic and warms during use.  These are normally the priciest toys and they require more maintenance to keep them in great condition, but definitely worth the money.  Water based lubrication is best used on CyberSkin toys. Petroleum based and silicone based lubes will ruin CyberSkin toys easily.

Jelly and Vibrating Jelly – This material is like a jelly/gummy material and have a slight squishy feel. These toys are among the cheapest available, but you have to be prepared for the plastic beach ball smell (a major turnoff for some people). These toys should always be used with a condom because it is almost impossible to properly clean them by using the normal soap and water or soaking in boiling water methods. You also need to replace these toys every four to six months because of the cleaning issue.

Rubber – Not to be confused with jelly versions, rubber toys are made from a rubbery, slightly stiff material. These can not be used by people who have the latex rubber allergy.  This is my least favorite type of toy because they wear out very fast and feel totally unrealistic.

Silicone – This is non-porous and very smooth material, and these toys give you the best bang for your buck (no pun intended). Silicone toys are on the more expensive end of the sex toy price range, but they don’t normally cause irritation, allergies and feel pretty real (but not as real as the CyberSkin models). They are also easy to clean (you can even run the non-battery operated toys through the dishwasher cycle). Silicone toys should not be used with silicone based lubrication.

So there you have it. I hope this gives you a basis for choosing your next toy. Whichever type you choose, make sure you take proper care of it and keep it sanitary.