Quick answer: Body-safe sex toy materials are non-porous, meaning bacteria and fluids can't penetrate the surface. The safe list: medical-grade silicone, stainless steel (304 or 316), borosilicate glass, and ABS hard plastic. The avoid list: TPE, TPR, jelly rubber, PVC, and anything labelled "silicone blend" without specifics. Porous materials trap bacteria no matter how well you clean them, and some contain chemicals like phthalates that have no business being inside your body.
You probably know what your moisturiser is made of. You've read the back of a sunscreen bottle at least once. But the vibrator in your bedside drawer? Most people couldn't tell you what it's actually made of if you put a gun to their head. And considering where it goes, that's a weird gap in the things we pay attention to.
Why material matters more than you think
Sex toys interact with some of the most absorbent, sensitive tissue on your body. Mucous membranes, the tissue lining your genitals, anus, and mouth, absorb chemicals more readily than regular skin. If a toy is leaching phthalates, heavy metals, or other questionable compounds, those chemicals have a direct route into your bloodstream.
A 2006 study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that some jelly rubber sex toys released phthalate concentrations high enough to exceed EU safety limits within minutes of contact. The study didn't make many headlines, but it probably should have. In Australia, sex toys aren't recognised as medical devices, so they don't face the same material testing that, say, a silicone catheter would.
That's the reason material matters. Not because we want to scare you out of using toys, quite the opposite. We want you using good ones, confidently.
The body-safe materials: what to buy
Medical-grade silicone
This is the one you'll see most often in quality toys, and for good reason. Medical-grade silicone is the same material used in surgical implants, baby bottle nipples, and menstrual cups. It's non-porous, hypoallergenic, free of BPA and phthalates, and won't degrade with regular use.
What it feels like: smooth, slightly matte, has a tiny bit of drag on skin (less so with lube). Warms to body temperature quickly. Doesn't have a chemical smell.
How to clean it: warm water and mild soap after every use. If the toy has no motor, you can also boil it for 3-5 minutes or run it through the top rack of a dishwasher (no soap in the dishwasher, the heat alone does the job).
How to spot it: the packaging should say "medical-grade silicone" or "platinum-cured silicone" specifically. If it just says "silicone" or "silicone blend", be cautious. Every VUSH toy lists its exact material on the product page, see for yourself in our vibrator collection.
The silicone-on-silicone issue: some silicone toys can react with each other if stored touching. The surfaces become tacky and degrade. This is why individual storage bags matter (more on this in our storage guide).
Stainless steel
Specifically surgical-grade stainless steel, 304 or 316 grade. Non-porous, non-reactive, incredibly durable. Will genuinely last a lifetime if you don't drop it on a tile floor.
What it feels like: heavy, cool (unless you warm it), very smooth. The weight is part of the appeal for many people.
How to clean it: soap and water, boil, or autoclave. It's the easiest material to fully sterilise. Works with any type of lube, silicone, water-based, oil-based, whatever.
Where you'll find it: mostly in butt plugs, kegel balls, and massage wands. Less common in vibrators because the weight makes them impractical as handheld motorised toys.
Borosilicate glass
Lab-grade glass. The same type used in Pyrex cookware and chemistry beakers. It's tempered, which means it can handle temperature changes and moderate impact without shattering. (No, it won't break inside you. That fear is understandable but unfounded with proper borosilicate products.)
What it feels like: completely smooth, hard, cool. Some people run it under warm or cool water before use for temperature play.
How to clean it: anything. Soap and water, boil it, put it in the dishwasher. Compatible with all lube types. Non-porous, so nothing gets absorbed.
Where you'll find it: dildos, plugs, and massage wands. Often beautifully designed, glass toys tend to look like art pieces.
ABS plastic
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. You don't need to remember the name. It's the hard plastic used in LEGO bricks, keyboard keys, and the handles of most vibrators. Non-porous and body-safe, though usually not the part of the toy making direct contact with your most sensitive areas.
What it feels like: hard, smooth, room temperature. Usually found as the housing or handle rather than the contact surface.
How to clean it: warm water and soap. Can't be boiled (it's a thermoplastic, heat will warp it). Wipe down is usually sufficient since it's rarely the insertable part.
The materials to avoid (or at least be cautious about)
TPE and TPR (thermoplastic elastomers / rubbers)
These are the most common materials in cheap sex toys. They feel softer and more skin-like than silicone, which is their selling point. The problem: they're porous. Microscopic holes in the surface trap bacteria, body fluids, and mould. No amount of cleaning fully removes what gets in.
TPE and TPR are also less chemically stable than silicone. Over time, they can become sticky, develop a persistent odour, or start to break down. Some contain phthalate plasticisers (more on that below).
If you already own a TPE/TPR toy and it's in good condition, you can continue using it with a condom as a barrier. But when it's time to replace, go silicone.
Jelly rubber
The term "jelly" in the sex toy world usually means PVC softened with plasticisers, often phthalates. Jelly toys are soft, cheap, brightly coloured, and almost always porous. They frequently have a strong chemical smell out of the box, that smell is off-gassing, and it's your first warning sign.
Avoid. If you have one, use a condom over it or retire it.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
PVC on its own is rigid (think: plumbing pipes). To make it soft enough for a sex toy, manufacturers add plasticisers. The question is always which ones. Phthalates are the cheapest and most common softeners, and they're the ones with the health concerns.
Some PVC toys are marketed as "phthalate-free", which is better but still leaves the porosity problem. PVC is porous regardless of what softener is used.
Latex and rubber
Natural rubber and latex are porous and can trigger allergic reactions in people with latex sensitivities. They also degrade with oil-based lubricants. Not the worst material on this list, but not recommended when better options exist at similar price points.
What are phthalates and should you actually worry?
Phthalates are a family of chemicals used to soften plastics. They're everywhere, in food packaging, vinyl flooring, shower curtains, and yes, cheap sex toys. The concern isn't casual skin contact. It's prolonged contact with mucous membranes, which absorb phthalates into the bloodstream.
Research has linked phthalate exposure to endocrine disruption (messing with your hormones), reproductive health concerns, and increased risk of certain cancers. The European Union has restricted six types of phthalates in toys and childcare articles since 2005, but sex toys aren't covered by that regulation in most jurisdictions.
The practical takeaway: buy non-porous materials and this becomes a non-issue. Medical-grade silicone, steel, and glass don't contain phthalates and don't need them.
How to tell what your toy is actually made of
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Check the product page or packaging for specific material names. "Medical-grade silicone", "platinum-cured silicone", "316 stainless steel", "borosilicate glass", these are specifics you can trust.
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Watch for vague terms. "Body-safe material", "skin-like", "satin touch", "colour blend", these mean nothing technically and often indicate cheaper materials.
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Smell it. A strong chemical smell out of the box is a red flag. Quality silicone has little to no scent.
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Check the price against the material claim. A "silicone" vibrator for under $15 is almost certainly not pure medical-grade silicone. The raw material costs more than that.
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Look for brand transparency. Reputable brands list exact materials per product. If a brand can't (or won't) tell you what their toy is made of, that tells you something.
The flame test (and why you probably shouldn't bother)
You might have seen advice online about holding a flame to a toy to test if it's real silicone. True silicone chars white; fake silicone or TPE melts or burns black. It does work in theory, but you're damaging your toy to find out, and the results can be ambiguous with blended materials. A better test: buy from brands that are transparent about materials in the first place.
Related reads
More from this series: Sex Toy Care & Safety Hub · Cleaning Your Toys Guide · How to Store Sex Toys · When to Replace Your Sex Toy
FAQs
Is "body-safe" a regulated term?
No. Any manufacturer can print "body-safe" on packaging without meeting a specific standard. In Australia, sex toys aren't classified as medical devices, so there's no mandatory material testing. The term is essentially marketing. Look for specific material names instead.
Is silicone always safe?
Medical-grade or platinum-cured silicone is safe. But "silicone blend" can mean anything, it might be a small amount of silicone mixed with TPE or other fillers. If the packaging isn't specific, assume the worst.
Can I use silicone lube with silicone toys?
Generally not recommended. Silicone lube can bond with the surface of silicone toys, causing them to become tacky and degrade over time. Water-based lube is safe with all materials. If you really prefer silicone lube, do a patch test on the base of the toy and wait 24 hours.
I bought a cheap toy and it smells weird. Should I throw it out?
A strong chemical smell means the toy is off-gassing, releasing volatile compounds. If you can't air it out after a few days and the odour persists, yes, replace it. At minimum, don't use it without a condom barrier.
Are all expensive toys body-safe?
Higher price usually correlates with better materials, but it's not a guarantee. A $200 toy from a reputable brand is almost certainly medical-grade silicone. A $200 toy from an unknown brand on a third-party marketplace could still be TPE. Price is a clue, not proof. Material transparency is what matters.
Where can I check independent material testing for sex toys?
There's no centralised public database, unfortunately. Some sex education bloggers and reviewers independently test toys for phthalates and material composition. Dangerous Lilly and Hey Epiphora are two well-known reviewers who have written extensively about material safety. For official health guidance, check with your local sexual health service.
Sources
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Nilsson, N.H. et al. (2006). Mapping, emissions, and environmental and health assessment of chemical substances in sex toys. Danish Ministry of the Environment, Survey of Chemical Substances in Consumer Products, No. 77.
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Sathyanarayana, S. et al. (2008). Baby care products: possible sources of infant phthalate exposure. Pediatrics, 121(2), e260-e268. — methodology for phthalate detection applicable to consumer products.
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European Commission (2005). Directive 2005/84/EC restricting phthalates in toys and childcare articles.
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Sexual Health Victoria — sexual health support in Australia.