A material line is the most useful line on a product page and the most abused one in the industry. This guide explains the three materials you will see here, how we write them, and why two common materials are not sold on this store at all.
How material lines are written on this store
Every product page shows the body material exactly as the maker states it. If the maker writes "silicone", the page says silicone. If the maker writes "ABS" and also mentions silicone in its description, the page says "ABS with silicone, as listed by the maker". If a maker adds words such as "medical" or "food grade", we do not repeat them, because we cannot verify them; the plain material name is used and the maker's wording is kept in our records. We make no health or safety claims about any material.
Silicone
Silicone is the soft, slightly matte material used for most of the products here. It is flexible, holds its shape, has a smooth non-porous surface and tolerates warm water and mild soap, which is why it can be washed rather than only wiped. It also tolerates heat better than the alternatives. Two practical notes: silicone is marked by silicone-based lubricants, which can soften the surface over time, so water-based products are the usual pairing; and silicone picks up lint, so storage in a bag or box keeps it clean.
ABS
ABS is the rigid plastic used for housings. On a bullet vibrator the capsule is ABS, often with a silicone section where the product is touched. ABS is smooth, hard and easy to wipe; it does not flex, so it appears where stiffness is wanted rather than softness. The bullet in this range is listed by its maker as ABS with silicone.
TPE
Thermoplastic elastomer is the soft, stretchy material used for the sleeves of strokers and for some rings. It is softer than silicone and has a more open surface, which means it absorbs water and needs to be dried thoroughly after washing, and it wears faster. It is a reasonable material for its purpose, and it is always labelled as TPE on this store rather than hidden behind a vaguer word. No product currently in the range uses it; if one is added, its page will say so.
Why jelly and PVC are excluded
"Jelly" is a trade name for soft PVC made flexible with plasticisers. It is cheap, translucent and widely sold, and it is excluded here for three plain reasons: the material is porous and difficult to clean fully, it degrades and becomes tacky over time, and makers rarely state what is in it. The same applies to products whose maker gives no material at all. We would rather have a short range with known materials than a long one with unknown ones.
Reading a material line elsewhere
On other stores, three habits help. First, look for the plain material name; a listing that says only "soft", "skin-like" or "premium" has not told you what the product is made of. Second, treat descriptive additions, such as "medical", "food grade" or "platinum", as the maker's words rather than facts, unless the store shows a certificate. Third, look at the photographs: silicone has a matte, slightly dry surface and holds a crisp edge, while soft PVC looks glossy and translucent and often has visible seams. If the material line and the photographs disagree, trust the photographs and move on.
How to use the material line when choosing
Prefer silicone where the product is soft and touched directly, accept ABS for housings, and accept TPE only for a stroker sleeve you are prepared to dry carefully. Then check the waterproof line and the care note on the same page; the two guides on those topics explain what the lines mean.
