Sex toys are such a fun aspect of our masturbation, sex and work lives! Toys can add a little extra something to videos and cam shows; whether it be a dildo to suck or sit on, or a vibrator to make you squirt on camera. And not only do they feel amazing; fans love seeing toys in use!

Choosing a sex toy isn’t always as easy as deciding to buy one though. The sex toy market is huge and unregulated, meaning you’re likely to pick up a dangerous toy from your local sex store without knowing it’s unsafe. I’ve been reviewing sex toys for just over two years now and have put many different objects in and around my genitals, so I'm here to give you a guide to safe sex toys!

Materials

I get so sad when I see videos with models using toys made from unsafe materials in their videos! We all deserve the BEST for our genitals, and while it may be easy to say “well it’s just a toy…”, sex toy materials can actually have an impact on our health. The most common sex toys you see in stores are made from materials can cause genital burning, frequent yeast infections, headaches, cramps, and nausea.

• Recommended Materials: 100% pure silicone, medical grade stainless steel, wood (with medical grade finish), Aluminum, glass, natural stone, ceramic, and ABS-plastic.

• Materials to Avoid: Jelly/Jellee/Gel, Rubber/“skin safe” rubber, Cyberskin, Vinyl and PVC, TPE, TPR, Elastomer, TPR-silicone, SEBS, “silicone blends”.

Some of the bad materials listed aren’t necessarily toxic but are porous, which means they can harbor mold and bacteria and are impossible to disinfect (even if you’ve washed it a bunch).

Toy Design

There’s a variety of toys for assholes, including butt plugs, anal beads, dildos, and vibrators. No matter what you decide to choose, get something that has a flared base twice the diameter of the insertable end. A flared base prevents toys from getting stuck inside you as the rectum has a habit of sucking things inside it (which results in uncomfortable doctors visits).

Sizing of insertable toys can be important too, especially if you’re not used to that type of penetration. Bigger dildos are always super fun ideas, but sometimes trying to sit on them can be an issue if they’re *too* big. Check out a toy’s dimensions (listed on toy store websites) to make sure you are comfortable handling them.

Where to Buy

Purchasing from Amazon always seems like the best way to go, because fans can purchase off your wish lists, there’s fast shipping and you can order toys amongst your everyday items too. But what most people won’t tell you is that there’s a lot of counterfeit activity happening through Amazon. Even if you’re buying a high-end good quality sex toy from there, there could be a chance you’re getting a fake made out of dangerous materials. Don’t waste your money and look to sex toy bloggers for their recommended stores, who will take your customer service needs seriously, support the work that you do, and won’t sell you a fake product. Plus independent businesses have wishlist options available too!

Cleaning & Storage

There’s a popular sex toy myth that cautions against storing your toys together, which isn’t true in most cases. If you have any of the toy materials listed in my recommended materials list, then you will have no issue with allowing your toys to touch in storage. However, if you do have toys with materials from the materials to avoid list, they will most likely fuse together and melt over time.

For cleaning, you don’t need any special toy cleaner (that's all chemicals anyway). You can use mild soap and warm water to wash toys before and/or after use, or you can even pop your non-electronic silicone toys into the dishwasher (without any dishes) to clean.

I know cheaper sex toys made from not-so-great materials can be appealing, but, trust me, investing in a quality sex toy is worth it, especially because you’ll be able to use it the rest of your life! Luckily there are some great affordable body safe sex toys out there too, and hopefully, I’ll be back soon with a list for you all!

GwenAdora