🧪 Why Material Matters

When it comes to intimate products, what’s on the outside counts just as much as what’s inside. Material choice affects not only comfort and sensation—but also hygiene, durability, and your body’s overall reaction.
Let’s break down the essentials, one question at a time.

💖Q1: What materials are most common in female pleasure toys?

You’ll typically see these:

• Silicone: The most popular choice today—body-safe, flexible, smooth, and non-porous.

• TPE/TPR (Thermoplastic Elastomer/Rubber): Very soft, stretchy, and cheap—but porous, oily, and easily damaged. It also can’t hold fine textures for long.

• Glass: Hard, sleek, fully non-porous, and temperature-responsive (great for warm or cool play).

• Metal (often stainless steel or aluminum): Extremely durable, non-porous, and offers intense pressure or temperature play.

• ABS Plastic: Hard plastic often used for handles or bullet vibes—non-porous but less luxurious in feel.

💬 Forum feedback note: Many users on Reddit and Rednote report that TPE toys feel nice initially but quickly start to “sweat oil” or degrade, especially when used with oil-based lubes.

🧩Q2: Are there different “grades” of silicone—like medical or food grade?

Yes. “Grade” usually refers to how pure and safe the silicone is for contact with the body.

• Food-grade: Certified safe for food contact—clean and stable but not necessarily tested for long-term body insertion.

• Medical-grade: Ultra-pure, biocompatible silicone that meets medical testing standards (used in implants, catheters, etc.).

• Platinum-cured: This term refers to the curing process—using a platinum catalyst instead of peroxide. Platinum-cured silicone is cleaner, longer-lasting, and safer for sensitive skin.

🧠Q3: Are there other ways to classify silicone besides “grade”?

Definitely. There are a few more dimensions manufacturers use:

• By curing process:

  • Platinum-cured → Most stable and body-safe, minimal by-products.

  • Peroxide-cured → Older method, can leave trace residues and more odor.

  • Tin-cured → Rare today, not recommended for body-safe toys.

• By hardness / elasticity:

  • Measured in Shore A scale (lower number = softer).

  • For example, Shore A 00-20 feels very plush and flexible; Shore A 40 feels firm and structured.

• By layering design:

  • Some toys use dual-layer silicone—a firmer outer shell for structure, and a soft inner silicone for cushiony comfort.

💧Q4: Does higher-grade silicone mean softer? What about oil seepage?

Not necessarily. Grade and softness are two separate things.

• Softness depends on how the silicone is mixed—specifically the ratio of components, filler content, and curing temperature.

• Grade describes purity and safety, not texture.

💦 About oil release (“bleeding”):
All silicone, even premium kinds, may release a trace of silicone oil over time—this is normal.
But there’s a clear correlation between quality and oil level:

• Lower-quality silicones (especially peroxide-cured or mixed with cheap fillers) tend to exude oil faster and in larger amounts.

• High-purity, platinum-cured silicone has much lower oil migration—its surface stays drier and cleaner for longer.

Bonus term: “Liquid silicone” or LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) means the silicone was injected as a fluid into a mold, often resulting in a super-soft texture. Some high-end toys even use dual-layer LSR—a firmer outer shell with a soft inner gel for natural flexibility.

⚙️Q5: How is silicone actually made? What determines its feel?

Silicone toys are made from two main components: Part A and Part B, often called A+B silicone.

1. The two parts are mixed together (often with pigments).

2. The ratio determines crosslinking density—this affects softness, elasticity, and rebound.

3. The mix is vacuum-de-aired (to remove bubbles), poured or injected into molds, and cured by heat.

4. Finally, it’s trimmed, post-cured (for odor removal), and tested.

🔍The key takeaways:

• More crosslinking → firmer, less oily.

• Less crosslinking → softer, stretchier, but potentially tackier.

• Curing agent choice (platinum vs. peroxide) largely defines safety and longevity.

💡Q6: Can I use silicone-based lube with silicone toys?

In most cases, it’s not recommended—silicone lube can partially dissolve or soften silicone toys.
Water-based lubes are safest for any silicone toy.
Oil-based lubes (like coconut oil) are fine for glass or metal toys, but not for TPE or silicone ones.

✨Final note: A great toy isn’t just about vibration or design—it starts with the material that touches you first. Knowing what’s inside lets you choose what’s truly safe for your body.