Body-safe materials: what you need to know!
Here we are - all geared up and excited about discovering new products to enhance our intimate play in every way we can. Woooo! But, do we actually know what we are putting in, on, or around our bodies?
What does “body-safe” mean? How do we make sure our sex toys and sexual wellness accessories are not carrying or transferring harmful chemicals and bacteria.
Let’s dig in on how we can be SURE that we are using body-safe products so we can all pump and be pumped about the materials we’re putting near our intimate parts.
First, let’s define body-safe: In its simplest form, body-safe products are items that are non-toxic and non-porous. An easy example would be medical-grade products that are safe to implant or insert permanently into your body. They do not have chemicals or materials that will leach into your body or generally cause allergic or adverse reactions.
Many sex toys are made with materials that are toxic with prolonged use over time (kinda the point of a sex toy, right?) Other toys are made with materials that are porous, meaning they have microscopic ‘holes’ in the material where sneaky bacteria, fungus, or even STIs can hide.
So, how in the name of silicone valley are you supposed to tell what a toxic or porous toy even is? We’re glad you asked!
As we mentioned, toxic toys are made of materials that can leach harmful chemicals into your body. One of the most common offenders in sex toys is Phthalates, which are used primarily in plastics to increase flexibility, durability, and transparency. Not only will these degrade or break down over time, but prolonged exposure has been linked to some nasty stuff (you can read more here if you’re interested).
What toxic materials to look out for:
Toys that generally have Phthalates are PVC, Jelly Vinyl, or Jelly Rubber. Chances are if you’ve purchased an intimate accessory in the past 20 years, you will have come across these materials. They are jiggly, and generally have a rubbery smell (although - beware, they may not always. It is important to read what the toy is made of). youBLOOM does not carry any products that contain or are made from Jelly Rubber or PVC because of this.
Cyberskin is a proprietary elastomeric material (a combination of silicone and PVC) with a texture similar to skin, which is used for dildos, vibrators, and other intimate accessories. Because of the use of PVC, toys made with Cyberskin can be toxic and are also very porous.
Ok, we’ve covered toxicity, but what makes a toy ‘porous’?
Many of these same toxic materials can also be porous, meaning their surfaces have small empty spaces or pores that can allow bacteria, fungus, STIs, or even chemicals from cleaning products, to remain in the material of the toy and be reintroduced to your body even after a thorough clean. As you can imagine, this is problematic when using products in your most intimate areas. While porous toys CAN be used safely (with a barrier method), we discourage folks from using these products when possible and always push for proper care and storage of these toys.
The main porous materials to watch for include:
Jelly Rubber, Jelly Vinyl, and Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR). So, in addition to containing toxic materials, these toys are ALSO porous and can hideaway nasty bacteria and other things. Another reason to steer clear, in our opinion (again - to be clear, BLOOM does NOT recommend using these products)
Elastomer. This is a soft, elastic material that is phthalate-free, latex-free, and non-toxic BUT is unfortunately porous (although less porous than our toxic friends listed above). Again, if using these products with a partner (or solo), we recommend using a condom to make sure you’re not exposing yourself to any unexpected bacteria. Wash with soap and water after use and let air dry.
At the end of the day. The only materials that can truly tout the title of body-safe are silicone, ABS plastic, medical-grade stainless steel, and tempered glass - all of which you find (happily) in our store. None of these materials have been shown to hold onto or leak any harmful bacteria, microbes, chemicals, or viruses and can be easily cleaned and sterilized (for a full guide on cleaning your toys check out our Cleaning Your Toys post).
Silicone is arguably one of the safest materials to use for sex toys and accessories. You’ll hear medical-grade or food-grade to describe the safest silicone products. They are non-porous and hypo-allergenic. These toys are also super easy to clean! The only thing to consider: silicone toys must be used with either a water-based lube or a hybrid lubricant as silicone-based lubes will slowly deteriorate the material over time.
With ‘silicone’ toys be on the lookout for phrases below which are misleading:
silicone feel
blended silicone
partial silicone
novelty only
Glass toys are not only super-safe, but they are also SUPER fun! Because glass retains both heat and cool (not simultaneously, mind you) - these toys are great for temperature play. Glass toys should be made from a strong tempered glass, known as borosilicate (aka, Pyrex!). They’re non-porous and very easy to clean between each use and safe with all kinds of lube. Glass toys should be inspected for cracks and chips before each use.
Watch for painted glass products - external paint could be toxic and come off over time. Ensure any products that you are using are not painted.
Stainless steel is another favourite material for intimate accessories! Similar to glass, it is non-porous, a good conductor of both warm and cool, and easily washable. Stainless-steel toys have a nice weight to them and are very durable, so they’re sure to last a long time. They are also safe to use with any lube!
Watch for: Metals toys that are highly magnetic! Your stainless-steel toys should not be highly magnetic.
It’s incredibly important to source your sex toys and wellness accessories from a reputable source. We highly discourage using Amazon for these products as it is largely unregulated and any seller can claim anything. Look for trusted brands and retailers and always check to see what the toy is made of - AND make sure you’re using the right kind of lube (read more about that here).
