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Body-Safe Sex Toy Materials: What to Look For (and What to Avoid)

By The BedsideBench Team · Research-based buying guide · Published 2026-10-25 · Updated 2026-10-25

Quick answer: look for a product page that names its materials (for example "body-safe silicone" or "ABS"), states it is free from phthalates, and ideally says it meets ISO 3533, the international safety standard for sex toys. Be wary of vague labels like "jelly", "rubber" or "skin-safe" with no material named. A Danish government survey found that "jelly" toys were typically soft PVC with very high levels of phthalate plasticisers.³

This guide is research-based. It summarises published standards, government test data and peer-reviewed research. It isn't medical advice. If you have allergies or symptoms after using a product, see a clinician.

Why materials matter

Sex toys sit against some of the most sensitive tissue in the body. In 2021, the International Organization for Standardization published ISO 3533:2021, an international standard specifically for "manufactured products intended for sexual use" that come into direct contact with the genitals or anus.¹

The standard covers safety and user-information requirements for both materials and design. A published preview of the standard lists sections on risk management, material safety and biocompatibility.² It says the standard aims to make sure "the materials are safe to use in contact with genitalia, the anus or both" and that users get "sufficient and correct information".²

Practical takeaway: a brand that states ISO 3533 compliance is making a specific, checkable claim. LELO, for example, says its products meet ISO 3533.⁸ A brand that only says "premium" or "luxury" isn't.

The materials you'll see on product pages

Silicone (usually the one to look for)

Most premium couples toys list body-safe silicone as their main skin-contact material. We-Vibe lists body-safe silicone for Sync O, Sync Go and Sync Lite, for example, and says each is "free from phthalates and BPA and made without latex".⁹

There's some evidence that material choice affects hygiene. In a small 2014 study published in Sexually Transmitted Infections, 12 women used a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) vibrator and a silicone vibrator on separate occasions.⁷ Researchers swabbed the toys after use, immediately after cleaning with a commercial cleaner, and 24 hours later:

• On the TPE vibrator, HPV DNA was still detected 24 hours after cleaning in 2 of 5 toys that had tested positive right after cleaning.
• On the silicone vibrator, none tested positive at 24 hours.⁷

It's a very small study, and detecting viral DNA isn't the same as proving infection. Still, it's one of the few direct comparisons published, and it points the same way as manufacturer advice: clean thoroughly, and prefer materials that clean well.

ABS and PC+ABS (hard plastics)

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and PC+ABS (a polycarbonate blend) are rigid plastics. They're often used for housings, buttons and internal structure, with silicone over the skin-contact areas. We-Vibe lists "ABS and body-safe silicone" for Chorus.¹⁰ LELO lists "PC+ABS plastic, body-safe silicone" for TIANI Harmony.⁸

Hard plastic is only as safe as its formulation and manufacturing. In the Danish survey, one hard ABS vibrator contained cadmium at 200 ppm, well above the 75 ppm limit, which made it illegal to sell on the European market.³⁵ That's a reason to buy from brands that publish materials and standards, not a reason to avoid ABS entirely.

"Jelly" and soft PVC (be cautious)

"Jelly" is a marketing term, not a material. The Danish EPA's 2006 survey, Survey and health assessment of chemical substances in sex toys, found that "jelly" turned out to be plasticised PVC. The plasticiser content was "very high up to 70%". The plasticisers used were phthalates: DEHP, DNOP and DINP.³

In the survey's laboratory analysis, several soft-vinyl samples contained hundreds of milligrams of phthalates per gram of material.⁴

To be balanced, the same report concluded that typical use, around once a week, showed no health risk for most products. It flagged a "minor" risk for some products with prolonged daily use, especially for pregnant or breastfeeding women.⁶ Seven of the tested products carried no health risk even in worst-case use.⁵

Practical takeaway: you don't need to panic about a jelly toy you already own. But when buying new, there's little reason to choose an unlabelled soft-PVC product over one that names its material and states it is phthalate-free.

TPE / TPR ("realistic" soft materials)

Thermoplastic elastomers are soft, cheaper than silicone, and common in textured or "realistic" products. They aren't automatically unsafe. But in the HPV study above, the TPE vibrator kept detectable viral DNA after cleaning while the silicone one didn't.⁷ If you choose TPE, follow the maker's cleaning instructions closely, and don't share it between partners without a fresh barrier.

Latex

Some people are allergic to latex. Many manufacturers now state that their toys are made without latex. All the We-Vibe models we checked do.⁹¹⁰ If you have a latex allergy, look for that exact statement.

How to read a product page in 60 seconds

1. Find the "Materials" line. No line, or only "skin-safe"? Move on.
2. Look for "phthalate-free" (and ideally "BPA-free" and "made without latex").
3. Check for a standard. "ISO 3533" is the sex-toy-specific standard.¹
4. Check the waterproof rating. A stated IP code such as IPX7 means it was tested against temporary immersion.¹² That matters for cleaning.
5. Check the warranty. Two years is common among established brands. We-Vibe lists 2 years on the models we checked.⁹
6. Check what lubricant the maker recommends. We-Vibe recommends a water-based lubricant with its products.¹¹ See our lube guide.

Red flags

• No materials listed, or only marketing words like "jelly", "cyberskin-like" or "soft-touch".
• A strong chemical smell when new. The Danish survey detected a range of volatile substances released from some products.³
• Prices far below established brands for "the same" product, with no brand or manufacturer address.
• Claims you can't check, such as "medical grade" with no standard or certification named.

Our picks that meet these criteria

Every product in our best couples vibrators roundup names its materials and lists body-safe silicone on the skin-contact parts.

• We-Vibe Sync O: body-safe silicone, phthalate-, BPA- and latex-free (per We-Vibe)
• LELO TIANI Harmony: body-safe silicone and PC+ABS, ISO 3533 (per LELO)

FAQ

Is "medical-grade silicone" better than "body-safe silicone"? Neither is a regulated term on a sex-toy product page unless a specific standard or certification is named. Look for the standard, such as ISO 3533, rather than the adjective.

Are phthalates banned in sex toys? Rules vary by country and by phthalate, and sex toys aren't always covered by toy or cosmetics laws. ISO 3533 sets requirements on material safety and biocompatibility.² Rather than rely on the law, choose products that state they're phthalate-free.

Can I use a condom over a toy? Retailers in the Danish survey commonly gave that advice for customers worried about materials.³ It's also a common hygiene step when sharing toys. Use a condom-compatible lubricant: water-based is safe with all condom types, according to the NHS.¹³

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