The sex toy industry operates in a regulatory grey zone that surprises most consumers. In the United States, Europe, and most markets, sex toys are not classified as medical devices and are not subject to pre-market safety review. Manufacturers can put nearly anything in a toy and sell it legally.
This matters because sex toys are used on some of the most sensitive, mucous-membrane-rich tissue in the body — tissue that absorbs substances readily. A phthalate-containing toy used internally is not a theoretical concern. It’s a real exposure pathway.
Here’s how to navigate it.
The Safe List
Platinum-Cured Silicone ✅
The gold standard. Platinum-cured silicone is non-porous, hypoallergenic, flexible, body-temperature-warming, and compatible with all lubricants except silicone-based. It can be sterilized by boiling.
How to identify it: toys using platinum silicone will specify “platinum-cured” or “medical-grade silicone.” Pure silicone passes the flame test — hold a flame briefly to the toy; silicone turns black with soot that wipes off cleanly, and doesn’t melt. Blended materials melt or smell chemical.
Price indicator: platinum silicone toys typically start around $50–60 for simple designs and $100+ for complex ones. If a toy claims to be silicone and costs $8, it isn’t platinum silicone.
Brands known for consistent platinum silicone: Lelo, Dame Products, Njoy, We-Vibe, b-Vibe.
ABS Plastic ✅
Hard, non-porous, phthalate-free plastic used in most quality vibrator bodies. ABS is body-safe for external use and for toy surfaces that contact skin. It’s not appropriate for internal insertion on its own (too rigid), but is commonly used for handles, controllers, and vibrator bodies where a silicone tip handles skin contact.
ABS is compatible with all lubricants and easy to clean with soap and water.
Borosilicate Glass ✅
Non-porous, completely inert, can be sterilized by boiling, and compatible with all lubricants. High-quality glass toys (Pipedream Icicles, Glas, Crystal Delights) use borosilicate glass — the same material as Pyrex cookware, which can withstand thermal shock.
Temperature play is a unique benefit: glass holds temperature well when warmed or cooled before use.
Concern about breakage is common but largely unfounded with quality borosilicate pieces. Do inspect glass toys for chips or cracks before each use.
Stainless Steel ✅
Non-porous, extremely durable, compatible with all lubricants, and sterilizable. Steel toys (Njoy is the benchmark brand) are heavy — which is both a feature (the weight contributes to stimulation) and a consideration for extended use.
Stainless steel is the preferred material for anal toys by most practitioners because the non-porous surface is genuinely hygienic.
The Unsafe List
Jelly / Rubber / “Cyberskin” / “Realistic” Materials ❌
This category includes a variety of phthalate-containing or porous materials marketed under trade names like Cyberskin, UR3, Fanta Flesh, and “realistic skin.” The defining characteristics: soft, flesh-like texture at a price point ($10–30) that should be impossible with premium silicone.
Phthalates are plasticizers used to soften PVC. They are endocrine disruptors with established links to hormonal disruption in animal studies and concerning associations in human epidemiological data. More immediately: these materials are porous and cannot be sterilized, meaning bacteria accumulate regardless of cleaning.
If a toy smells strongly of chemicals in the package, that smell is the phthalates off-gassing. It doesn’t get safer with use.
Recommendation: Avoid entirely for any use that involves mucous membranes. External use on intact skin is less concerning but still not ideal.
“Soft Silicone” Without Specification ❌ (Use Caution)
“Silicone” without “platinum-cured” or “medical-grade” qualification is a yellow flag. Some manufacturers blend silicone with other materials to reduce cost, calling the result “silicone” while the actual silicone content is low. Blended materials may be porous.
When in doubt, the flame test provides information (see above), or contact the manufacturer and ask for material safety documentation. Legitimate premium brands have it.
Cleaning by Material
Platinum silicone (no vibrator/electronics): Boil for 3 minutes, or run through top rack of dishwasher without detergent.
Platinum silicone (with electronics): Wash with soap and warm water; wipe with isopropyl alcohol-based toy cleaner.
ABS plastic: Soap and warm water; toy cleaner spray.
Borosilicate glass: Boil for 3 minutes, dishwasher, or soap and water.
Stainless steel: Boil, dishwasher, or isopropyl alcohol wipe.
Porous materials (jelly, rubber, cyberskin): Cannot be sterilized. Soap and water removes surface debris; pores retain bacteria regardless.
The Lubricant Compatibility Summary
- Platinum silicone toys: water-based lube only (silicone lube degrades silicone)
- ABS plastic: water, silicone, or oil-based
- Glass: water, silicone, or oil-based
- Stainless steel: water, silicone, or oil-based
When in doubt, water-based lubricant is compatible with everything and is the safe default.
The sex toy industry’s lack of regulation puts the research burden on consumers. We publish materials guides as part of our commitment to helping readers make genuinely informed purchasing decisions — not just reviews of which toy feels best.