Choosing an intimate wellness product shouldn't depend only on design or price. The material it's made of is what determines whether it's safe for your body in the long run. This guide explains, in simple terms, what to look for and what to avoid.
🧬 What does "body-safe" mean?
A "body-safe" material is non-porous, non-toxic, and doesn't react with bodily fluids. A porous material, even if it looks smooth, has micro-cracks where bacteria and fungi can build up, even after washing. That's why at DC Envíos we screen every product against this standard before selling it.
✅ Materials we recommend
- Platinum-cured silicone (medical grade): our preferred standard. Non-porous, hypoallergenic, easy to sterilize, and soft to the touch.
- 316L surgical steel: completely non-porous, can be boiled to sterilize, ideal for those who like a sense of weight and firmness.
- Borosilicate glass: non-porous, compatible with any type of lubricant, resistant to temperature changes.
- High-quality ABS: rigid, non-porous plastic, common in motorized toys (vibrators, suction toys).
🚫 Materials we avoid
- "Jelly" or porous rubber: inexpensive but porous; it can harbor bacteria no matter how much it's washed.
- PVC with phthalates: phthalates are plasticizers linked to hormonal risks; we avoid them entirely.
- Generic "synthetic skin" materials with no certification: if the manufacturer can't show exactly what it's made of, we don't sell it.
📋 Certifications we look for in every supplier
- ISO 10993 — biocompatibility assessment.
- USP Class VI — pharmaceutical safety standard for plastic materials.
- FDA-grade — food/medical grade per U.S. regulations.
- Phthalate-free, verified by an independent lab when provided by the manufacturer.
If a product doesn't meet our own safety and quality standard, we simply don't sell it.
💧 Lubricant compatibility
Your toy's material determines what lubricant you can safely use with it:
- Silicone toys: use a water-based lubricant. Silicone-based lubricant can degrade the toy's surface over time.
- Glass or steel toys: compatible with any type of lubricant (water, silicone, or hybrid).
- ABS toys: generally compatible with water-based lubricant; always check the manufacturer's instructions.
🧼 Care by material
- Silicone: wash with warm water and unscented mild soap, or sterilize in boiling water (no motor) for up to 3 minutes.
- Steel and glass: can be boiled for full sterilization.
- ABS and motorized toys: clean only the surface with a damp cloth and mild soap; never submerge the motor in water unless the product is explicitly submersible.
- Store each product separately, in a breathable fabric pouch, away from other materials that could react with each other (for example, two silicone toys in prolonged contact can stick together).
Have questions about a specific product in our catalog? Check our Frequently Asked Questions or write to us — the details are on our Contact Information page.
At DC Envíos, material quality isn't a detail: it's the standard. 🔬