Here's something most retailers don't tell you: the sex toy industry is almost entirely unregulated in the United States. There is no FDA oversight of sex toys. There are no mandatory safety standards. Manufacturers are legally free to say almost anything about what their products contain — and some of them do exactly that.
This matters because the materials in your toy come into direct, prolonged contact with some of the most sensitive and permeable tissue in your body. What's in them matters. Here's what to actually look for.
The Two-Category Framework: Porous vs. Non-Porous
Every sex toy material falls into one of two camps.
Non-porous materials have no microscopic openings in their surface. They can be cleaned and sanitized completely. Bacteria and body fluids don't penetrate them. These are the only materials that are truly body-safe for repeated internal use.
Non-porous materials include:
- Medical-grade silicone
- ABS plastic
- Borosilicate glass
- Stainless steel
Porous materials have microscopic holes in their surface that trap bacteria, mold, and body fluids. No matter how thoroughly you clean them, you cannot fully sterilize a porous toy. Using one repeatedly introduces those contaminants back into your body each time.
Porous materials include:
- Jelly rubber
- PVC / vinyl
- TPE (thermoplastic elastomer)
- TPR (thermoplastic rubber)
- "Realistic" rubber
- Anything described vaguely as "soft skin" or "ultra-realistic"
The rule of thumb: if the material isn't explicitly named as silicone, ABS, glass, or steel, it's probably porous.
Phthalates: The Chemical You're Trying to Avoid
Phthalates (pronounced "THAL-ates") are a class of industrial chemicals used to soften rigid plastics and make them flexible. They're common in PVC, vinyl, and jelly rubber sex toys — and they're absorbed through skin.
The science on human health impacts is still developing, but animal studies have linked phthalate exposure to hormonal disruption, liver damage, testicular injury, and developmental abnormalities in fetuses. A 2005 study tested 16 randomly selected sex toys and found phthalates in four of them — along with phenol, toluene, and other compounds linked to reproductive harm.
The most direct signal: if a toy has a strong chemical smell out of the box, it almost certainly contains phthalates. Reputable manufacturers don't have this problem because they don't use phthalates.
What to look for instead: toys explicitly labeled phthalate-free and made from named, non-porous materials.
The Materials Worth Knowing
Medical-Grade Silicone
This is the gold standard. Medical-grade silicone meets the same FDA biocompatibility standards as surgical implants and catheters. It's:
- Non-porous — can be fully sterilized
- Phthalate-free and free of harmful chemical additives
- Hypoallergenic for most people
- Soft, flexible, and skin-comfortable
- Durable — it won't degrade from body heat, lubricant, or repeated washing
- Easy to clean: warm water and mild soap is sufficient; boilable for 3–5 minutes for full sterilization
How to verify it's real: The listing should say "medical-grade silicone" explicitly. "Silicone-feel" or "silicone-blend" are red flags — they can mean the outer coating is silicone over a cheaper porous core.
One compatibility note: silicone-based lubricants will degrade silicone toys. Always use water-based lubricant with silicone toys.
ABS Plastic
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a hard, body-safe plastic. It's the same material used in medical devices and food-safe containers. For sex toys, it's most commonly found in vibrator housings, handles, and bullet-style toys.
- Non-porous
- Phthalate-free (in quality formulations)
- Transmits vibration exceptionally well — which is why it's the preferred material for vibrator motors
- Compatible with all lubricant types (water-based, silicone-based, oil-based)
- Easy to clean: soap and water, alcohol wipe for sterilization
ABS is typically rigid, so it's not the material that makes a toy comfortable against skin. That's silicone's job. Most well-designed toys combine both: a silicone external surface and an ABS motor housing.
Glass and Stainless Steel
Borosilicate glass (the kind used in laboratory equipment) and medical-grade stainless steel are both excellent non-porous materials. They're completely non-reactive, compatible with all lubricants, and can be sanitized by boiling or bleach solution.
They're also firm, which means they're better for specific forms of stimulation (G-spot, temperature play) than as general-use vibrators. Glass and steel toys don't typically vibrate; they're more often used as dildos or manual stimulators.
If you're sensitive to silicone or prefer firmness over softness, glass and steel are strong alternatives.
What to Avoid (and How to Spot It)
Jelly rubber: Almost always porous, almost always contains phthalates. Often smells strongly chemical. Strong colors (bright red, purple, pink) don't mask the risk. Avoid entirely.
PVC/vinyl: Porous and historically linked to phthalate use, though phthalate-free PVC does exist. Still porous. Not recommended for internal use.
TPE/TPR: Porous materials that are increasingly common in "realistic" or "skin-like" toys. Some are marketed as phthalate-free, which is better — but they still can't be fully sterilized. If using a TPE/TPR toy, use a condom over it.
"Novelty item" labels: This is the legal loophole that lets manufacturers sell toys without safety disclosures. If a product's packaging says "for novelty use only" and says nothing about materials, that's intentional obscurity. Walk away.
How to Shop Safely
The checklist before any purchase:
- Is the material explicitly named? (Medical-grade silicone, ABS plastic, borosilicate glass, or stainless steel.)
- Is it labeled phthalate-free?
- Does the brand publish its material specs transparently?
- Does the product description avoid words like "jelly," "realistic rubber," "soft skin," or "ultra-realistic" without material clarification?
- Does it have any smell through the packaging?
At EmberGoods, every product in our shop meets these criteria. We don't carry anything we wouldn't be comfortable recommending to our own people. If you want to see exactly what any of our products are made from, it's in the product description — because that's information you deserve to have before you buy.
→ Shop body-safe toys. Every product in our shop is medical-grade silicone or ABS plastic.