What is Body Safe Material?
Body Safe Material: Body safe material means any substance used in a sex toy that will not irritate, poison, or otherwise harm skin and internal tissue with normal use, such as medical grade silicone, ABS plastic, glass, or stainless steel.
Also known as: Body safe silicone, Non toxic toy material, Skin safe material.
Body safe material is a term you will see on almost every toy listing, and it is worth actually understanding instead of just trusting the label. It refers to what a toy is made from, and whether that substance is safe to touch skin, mucous membranes, and in many cases the inside of your body for extended periods. Some materials are inert and easy to clean. Others can irritate tissue, harbor bacteria, or contain chemicals that were never meant to sit against something as sensitive as genital skin.
This matters more in sex toys than in almost any other product category, because the material touches some of the most absorbent and sensitive tissue you have. A toy that looks fine and feels fine on the shelf can still be made from something that is porous, low grade, or blended with additives you would not want near your body. Learning to spot body safe material takes a little practice, but once you know what to look for, shopping gets a lot less stressful.
What Does Body Safe Material Actually Mean
At its core, body safe means a material will not react with your skin or cause harm when used as intended. That includes not leaching chemicals, not causing allergic reactions in most people, and not breaking down into your body over time. It also means the surface can be cleaned thoroughly enough that bacteria, lube residue, and body fluids do not build up inside it.
The term is not officially regulated the way food safety or medical device standards are in many countries. Sex toys are often sold as novelty items, which means a company can print body safe on a box without much oversight. That is exactly why knowing the actual material names and their properties matters more than trusting marketing language alone.
Good body safe materials share a few traits. They are non porous or close to it, free of phthalates, latex free unless clearly labeled otherwise, and stable at body temperature. They do not have a strong chemical smell, and they do not feel tacky or sticky over time, which is often a sign of a breaking down jelly or rubber blend.
How to Tell if a Sex Toy Material Is Body Safe
Start by reading the actual material name on the product page, not just the word safe. Medical grade or platinum cured silicone, ABS plastic, borosilicate glass, and surgical grade stainless steel are considered reliably body safe by most sex educators and toy makers. Hard wood sealed with a food safe finish is also sometimes used in handcrafted toys, but its safety depends heavily on the quality of the sealant, so it is worth asking the maker directly how the piece was finished. If a listing only says silicone blend, jelly, rubber, or skin like material without naming a specific compound, treat that as a caution flag.
A simple smell and touch test helps once the toy is in your hands. Body safe silicone has almost no odor and feels smooth, slightly grippy, but never tacky. A strong chemical or rubbery smell often signals a lower grade material with additives you do not want against your skin. If the surface feels sticky after a few uses or starts to look dull and cracked, the material is degrading and should be retired.
You can also do a light pinch and stretch test on silicone toys. Quality silicone returns to its shape without leaving a dent or discoloration. If it stays warped or the color changes where you pressed, that suggests fillers were mixed into the silicone, which lowers both safety and durability.
How to Clean and Care for Body Safe Toys
Even the most body safe material still needs regular cleaning, since anything that touches skin or body fluids can carry bacteria. Non porous materials like silicone, glass, and stainless steel are the easiest to keep clean because bacteria cannot burrow into tiny surface gaps. Warm water and a mild toy cleaner, or plain unscented soap, are usually enough for everyday care.
Some non porous materials can also be sanitized more thoroughly between partners or uses. Solid silicone toys without a motor can often be boiled briefly or run through a top rack dishwasher cycle without soap, glass and stainless steel toys with no electronic parts can usually tolerate boiling water too. Always check the manufacturer's specific care instructions first, since motorized toys, textured toys, and toys with any electronic components should never be submerged or boiled unless the maker states that rating clearly.
Lube compatibility ties directly into material safety. Water based lube is the safest default for every toy material, since it will not degrade silicone, damage finishes, or interact with the toy in unexpected ways. Silicone based lube can break down many silicone toys over time, so check the manufacturer's guidance before pairing the two. Letting toys air dry fully before storing them, and keeping them in a breathable bag or box away from other toys, helps any material last longer.
What Happens if a Toy Material Is Not Body Safe
The most common issue with non body safe materials is that they are porous. Porous materials have microscopic gaps in their surface that trap moisture, bacteria, and lube residue no matter how well you clean them. Over time this can lead to odor, discoloration, and a toy that harbors bacteria even right after washing.
Some lower grade materials also contain phthalates, which are chemical softeners once common in jelly and rubber sex toys. Many retailers, HotCherry included, have moved toward phthalate free product lines, and reputable brands now list this clearly. If you already own an older toy that feels soft, jelly like, or has a strong plastic smell, it is worth retiring it and covering it with a condom if you plan to keep using it while you transition to safer materials.
Skin irritation, itching, or unusual discharge after using a toy can sometimes be linked to material sensitivity, though these symptoms can have other causes too. If you notice ongoing irritation, it is worth speaking with a doctor or another qualified specialist rather than guessing at the cause yourself.
Porous vs Non Porous Materials: Quick Comparison
| Porous Materials | Non Porous Materials | |
|---|---|---|
| Common examples | Jelly rubber, PVC, some elastomers, thermoplastic rubber | Medical grade silicone, glass, stainless steel, ABS plastic |
| Can trap bacteria | Yes, even after cleaning | Greatly reduced, surface wipes clean |
| Recommended use | Use with a condom, do not share without one | Can often be shared between partners after proper cleaning |
| Sanitizing method | Cannot be fully sanitized at home | Many can be boiled or washed on a top rack, check manufacturer guidance |
| Typical lifespan | Shorter, may degrade or smell over time | Longer with proper care |
Types of Body Safe Material
These materials show up again and again on body safe toy listings, each with slightly different feel and care needs.
- Medical grade silicone: Smooth, non porous, and hypoallergenic for most users, the most common body safe material in modern toys.
- Borosilicate glass: Fully non porous and compatible with any lube, prized for its firm feel and easy sanitizing.
- Surgical grade stainless steel: Non porous, heavy, and temperature responsive, often used in plugs and wands.
- ABS plastic: Hard, non porous, and commonly used for the shells of vibrators and remote controls.
- Sealed hardwood: Can be non porous when properly finished with a food safe sealant, though quality varies more than with silicone, glass, or steel, used in some handcrafted toys.
Key Things to Know
- Body safe materials are non porous and additive free, which matters because porous materials trap bacteria that cleaning alone cannot fully remove.
- Medical grade silicone, glass, stainless steel, and ABS plastic are the most widely trusted body safe options, so look for these names specifically on product listings.
- Water based lube is compatible with every toy material, while silicone lube can break down many silicone toys, so checking compatibility protects your toy and your body.
- A strong chemical smell, tacky surface, or warping after gentle pressure are warning signs of a lower grade material, and noticing them early helps you retire a toy before it causes irritation.
- Sex toy cleaners and proper drying extend the life of body safe materials, since trapped moisture is one of the main causes of bacteria buildup even on non porous surfaces.
FAQ
What is the safest material for sex toys?
Medical grade or platinum cured silicone, borosilicate glass, and surgical grade stainless steel are considered the safest and most reliable materials by most sex educators and manufacturers. They are non porous, which means they do not trap bacteria the way softer rubber or jelly materials can. Each has a slightly different feel, so the best choice often comes down to your comfort preference rather than one being universally better than the others.
How do I know if my sex toy is body safe?
Check the product listing or packaging for a specific material name rather than a vague term like skin safe blend. Body safe materials will usually be named directly, such as silicone, ABS plastic, or stainless steel. If the toy has little to no odor, feels smooth rather than sticky, and holds its shape when gently pressed, those are good practical signs alongside the labeling.
Is silicone always body safe?
Not automatically. Medical grade or platinum cured silicone is widely considered body safe, but some cheaper products labeled silicone blend mix in fillers that lower quality and safety. A strong smell, a tacky texture, or discoloration after light pressure can suggest the silicone is not pure. Buying from a retailer that names the specific silicone grade helps you avoid this guesswork.
Can non body safe toys be used with a condom?
Yes, using a condom over a porous or uncertain material toy is a reasonable way to reduce direct contact with a surface that cannot be fully sanitized. The condom acts as a barrier, and you should change it between uses or partners just as you would in any other context. This does not make the toy fully body safe, but it does greatly reduce the risk of bacteria buildup against your skin.
Do body safe materials need special cleaning?
Non porous body safe materials are actually easier to clean than porous ones, usually needing just warm water and a mild toy cleaner or unscented soap after each use. Some solid, non electronic silicone, glass, and stainless steel toys can tolerate boiling or a top rack dishwasher cycle, but always confirm with the manufacturer's instructions first. Toys with motors or electronic parts should never be submerged unless the maker states a specific waterproof rating.
Why do some sex toys smell like chemicals?
A noticeable chemical or rubbery smell is often a sign of a lower grade material, sometimes one containing phthalates or other additives that soften plastic. This smell tends to fade with cleaning but often returns, and it can be a signal that the material is not ideal for long term or internal use. If a toy has this smell right out of the package, it is worth reconsidering whether the material is truly body safe.
Related Terms
Sources
- WebMD: “the FDA doesn't regulate most products sold as sex toys”
- Planned Parenthood: “it’s best to use one made of a body-safe, non-porous material”
- PMC (peer-reviewed, NIH): “Some unregulated vibrators made of jelly rubber have been found to contain phthalates”
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