Trusted for 24+ Years
Body Safe Sex Toy Guide
Dr. Lisa Lawless, CEO of Holistic Wisdom
Clinical Psychotherapist: Relationship & Sexual Health Expert
What Are Body Safe Sex Toys?
Body-safe has become a standard sex toy term, but what does it mean? The truth is that there is no legal definition for this terminology; rather, it depends on whatever the company is selling you the sex toys believes it to be. For all you know, they may use the term body-safe because they think it is trendy to say, whereas others have some basic criteria such as being phthalate-free. Thus, it really comes down to looking at a sex toy retailer's specific standards rather than trusting the term body-safe.
The terms body-safe and nontoxic are often used interchangeably and can refer to various toxicants found in poorly made toxic sex toys such as phthalates, BPA, heavy metals (lead, nickel, etc.), and many others.
How Do You Determine If A Sex Toy Is Safe?
With so much misinformation out there, along with the complexity of factors that determine what makes a sex toy safe, it can feel downright overwhelming to know what to choose. That is why we have put together this general sex toy guide that will help you better understand the basics of body safe sex toys, along with links to many of our in-depth, science-based sex toy guides for those that want to get into the nitty-gritty.
If you don't want to delve into the wealth of scientific information regarding sex toys through our guides below, just know that we only select the healthiest sex toys available. We work with labs that are ISO 17025 accredited and FDA registered, along with chemists and physicians to provide you with fact-based educational resources and sex toys that are body-safe.
Why Are There Unsafe Sex Toys?
Sex toys are classified as adult novelties by the US government, which means they are relatively unregulated, translating to a lack of material certifications or traceability. However, many reputable sex toy manufacturers have their sex toys independently tested and meet some FDA and European standards for safety.
To learn more about this, see our guide: Why Are Sex Toys Called Adult Novelties?
Can You Believe Sex Toy Hype?
It is not uncommon to see sex toys marketed for their amazing features with grand promises of sensual delights and pleasure. However, it is essential to see through the hype of sex toy sales and realize that they all have pros and cons, and some are safe while others are not. Because we value providing trustworthy and honest information, we put together a guide for you to look at how some companies use scare tactics and other shady marketing ploys to get you to buy things that are not necessarily right for you. To see what you should be looking for, see our guide:
Fear-based Sex Toy Marketing Hype
Silicone Misinformation Is Rampant
The entire internet is laden with misinformation about silicone sex toys. Even with good intentions, it is not uncommon for sex experts and health professionals to share false information because the sex toy industry is not well-researched. Thus, it is challenging for consumers to know what to believe and trust. That is why we have a fact-checked, comprehensive silicone sex toy article with everything you want to know about what silicone is and what forms of it are safe for sex toys.
Silicone Sex Toys: Is Yours Real?
Phthalates in Sex Toys
Phthalates are harmful chemicals to your health and are unfortunately found in many sex toys and other sexual products. Learn more about them and how to avoid buying products that contain them. Also, explore how companies use shady testing and labeling that legally let them sell you products with phthalates and other toxins and toxicants through our educational guide:
Glass Sex Toys: Are They Safe?
Sadly, most glass sex toys are not safe. Glass blowing is not just an art form, it is a science, and proper creation of a glass sex toy will determine whether the glass is durable and safe for sexual use or not. Learn more about what makes a glass sex toy safe through our article:
Crystal Sex Toys
Many people enjoy the idea of using natural materials for sex toys, and some believe using crystals provides added health benefits. However, like many sex toys, crystal sex toys have a great deal of misinformation floating around about them. Explore safety concerns and become an empowered consumer through learning more about them through our guide:
Elastomers & Porous Sex Toys
There is certainly a lot of controversy around porous sex toys, and some of it is true while much of it is based on misinformation. Learn more about what elastomers are, if all of them are porous and when you should use caution in buying or using them through our helpful guide:
Elastomers & Porous Sex Toys Guide
What Makes A Sex Toy Toxic?
Learn what types of toxins can be found in sex toys and why they are harmful to use. Explore why and where toxic sex toys are sold and learn how to avoid them through our guide:
What Are Sex Toys Made Out Of?
Sex toys are made from a variety of materials which can impact how they should be used, cleaned, and stored. Learn more about the most commonly used sex toy materials through our article:
Avoid Scams
Buying sex toys can feel intimidating with concerns regarding privacy to security. Worse yet, there are many scams around the sales of sex toys from counterfeits, toxic sex toys, previously sold sex toys (used), and more. Learn about the most common ways sex toy sellers take advantage of consumers by selling sex toys that are not safe through our guide:
Common Scams By Sex Toy Sellers
Beyond problematic sex toys, there are also sex toy retailers that take advantage of consumers with little regard for safety and health. Learn what to watch out for when buying sex toys through our guide:
The Truth About Lubricants
Some have called parabens toxic, while others refer to such concerns as paraben paranoia. Learn what parabens are and why so many customers desire paraben-free lubricants through our guide:
What You Should Know About Lubricants
Most consumers focus on whether a lubricant is natural, paraben-free, organic, etc. However, what about the most critical lubricant factors of pH and osmolality levels? Learn everything you need to know through our guide:
The Ultimate Personal Lubricant Guide
In Closing
We work hard to be a trustworthy, fact-based sexual resource for you. We are passionate about sexual health and safe sex toys and love helping people. We would love to hear from you, so we humbly ask you to let us know if you would like additional information or have questions or concerns, as we are happy to assist you!
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