#o tenga

Basically, sex toys are made of one of three common materials. These materials vary in softness, texture, cost, strength… and toxicity (yes, you read that right !)

1. Elastomer Oil Gels — Also known as thermoplastic elastomer gels (TPE gels). This is the type of material which comes very very close to the real feel because TPE gels can be made as soft as possible. Human flesh can be seen as a type of gel (which is why it is quite jiggly), and thermoplastic elastomer gels can be considered as a very simplified synthetic version of it. TPE gels in general are very safe health-wise since they are made using food grade mineral oils and FDA-grade polymers. Elastomer gels are hypoallergenic and it is the material of choice for allergic people. The only downside to TPE gels is their low tear resistance, and this explains why TPE gel toys are usually encased in a hard plastic shell. Two known examples of TPE gel-based toys are Fleshlightsand Tenga Flip-holes.
2. Silicone — Silicone has long been a favourite material for sex toys. Its main advantage is its strength. Silicone is stronger compared to TPE gelsorPVC sex toys but its feel is harder and it is less flexible. Silicone is the material of choice for full-size sex dolls (with or without an internal structure) due to its resiliency. It also offers a smooth non-porous surface that is found to be very enjoyable to rub against, especially when lubed. (Sex toys such as the Cobra-Libre take advantage of this property.) Be aware that solid silicone is totally incompatible with liquid silicone, so choose your lube wisely !
3. PVC — Polyvinyl chloride (embedded with phthalates to enhance its softness) was traditionally used a lot and still is in lower quality toys. Although this material is also good for sex toys when it comes to feel, the main problem with phthalates is that they are a real health hazard : they are toxic for your testicles… So, basically, PVC-made sex-toys enhanced with phthalates will make you more sterile the more you use them. Duh ! It is the reason why most of the time you now see “phthalate-free sex toys” labels on many sex toys.

Conclusion
When it comes to feel and texture, elastomer oil gels are the best to realistically simulate the feel and softness of the vagina and rectum. Elastomer oil gels are also extremely safe health-wise, so this material would be ideal, except that TPE gels are weaker and this is why they are cannot be used in full sized sex dolls. For these bigger sex-toys, silicone is still the material of choice. Unfortunately, it is not very realistic in simulating flesh because it is harder and less pliable. As for PVC toys, they should be avoided altogether.

Rankings
   — Durability : PVC ≊ Silicone > TPE
   — Realism : TPE > Silicone ≊ PVC
   — Healthiness : TPE > Silicone > > PVC
   — Cost : PVC ($) < < Silicone ($$$) < TPE ($$$$)