KissMeGoodnight Article Series: Sex Toys
What Sex Toy Is Right For Me?

What Are The Best Materials for Sex Toys?

When you go shopping for sex toys, you must realize that most of the time you get what you pay for. Toys vary in quality and workmanship, and some toy materials are more desirable for certain purposes. You probably want to get the best value for what you spend, so you need to understand why some materials are better than others. Here is a guide to the most common materials for sex toys to help you make the best buying decisions.

Most knowledgeable people will tell you that silicone toys are the top of the line. Silicone is highly suitable for sex toys because it is non-porous, hypo-allergenic, and durable. The material is extremely versatile and can be molded into realistic shapes or abstract forms. Toys also come in a rainbow of colors to complement your aura or match your home decor. Silicone is easy to clean, an important selling point for many people. It conducts vibration well and also absorbs and retains body heat. The main drawback may be price - silicone toys are usually more expensive than other toys. But if quality and durability are priorities, you can't go wrong with silicone.

Another widely used material for sex toys is jelly rubber. This substance is flexible but not as smooth or realistic-looking as silicone. Jelly rubber has the primary advantage of being cheap. It does have its drawbacks, though. Jelly toys don't really stand up to long use. The material is semi-porous and can be hard to keep adequately clean. In addition, jelly rubber contains phthalates, which are known to be carcinogenic. Phthalates can also cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. For all these reasons, it's recommended to use a condom over jelly rubber toys.

Latex rubber is the most common material for sex toys. It is widely used because it is cheap and easy to work with, but some people object to the smell of latex rubber and quite a few are allergic to latex. As a result, it is gradually being replaced in the market by newer and less offensive materials. Toys made from latex rubber are not very durable and won't last through years of use. But because such toys are relatively inexpensive, you can experiment with several different styles or sizes of latex toys without emptying your bank account. As a material, latex is porous and not as easy to clean as silicone. Like jelly rubber toys, latex toys are best covered with a condom before use.

Plastic is another widely used and inexpensive material. Plastic is particularly suitable for vibrators because it's durable and conducts vibration well. It's also hard, smooth, and easy to keep clean. However, plastic toys can break if dropped or banged against a hard surface.

Glass and acrylic toys are specialty items that are often valued for their visual appeal as much as their utility. Such toys are designed to be beautiful as well as functional, and they are usually quite expensive. Glass (actually medical-grade Pyrex) and acrylic toys are very hard, very durable, and easy to clean. Metal is another uncommon sex toy material and its use is mostly limited to cock rings, balls, and BDSM accessories.

One of the recent advances in sex toy construction is the invention of material that mimics the feel of human skin and flesh. Toys with this as a component are sold under various tradenames such as Cyberskin, Softskin, or Ultraskin. The material is very soft, elastic, and porous, but because it is so delicate it is rather easy to tear or damage. It's also difficult to clean, requiring a special toy cleaner for the job. Condom use is recommended with these toys to keep them cleaner and help them last longer.

Depending on your needs, you may be just as happy with a cheaper toy as with a high-end version. Just make sure you know what you're getting when it comes to materials and workmanship. That way you will have realistic expectations about how long your toy will last and how easy it will be to keep clean.

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