Beginner's Guide to Sex Toys: How to Choose Your First Toy With Confidence
By AdultShopSexToys Team • • Buying GuidesNever bought a sex toy before? This plain-language guide covers everything — materials, types, where to start, and how to avoid the most common first-time mistakes.
Starting Your Journey: What Nobody Tells YouBuying your first sex toy feels intimidating — there are thousands of options, confusing terminology, and zero roadmap. The good news: it gets very simple once you know what actually matters. This guide cuts through the noise so you can buy with confidence.First, a reassurance: exploring your body is completely normal, healthy, and enjoyed by millions of people of every age, gender, and relationship status. A sex toy is just a tool for pleasure — no different in concept from buying a blender.The Only Material Rule That MattersBefore choosing any toy, understand body-safe materials. This is the most important factor and most first-time buyers do not know about it.Body-Safe Materials (Always Choose These)100% Medical-Grade Silicone: The gold standard. Non-porous, easy to clean, can be boiled or dishwasher-sanitized, no phthalates, feels luxurious. Look for this in any toy that will contact your body internally.ABS Hard Plastic: Non-porous and body-safe, often used for the hard shell of vibrators and motors. Fine for external use and internal use with a condom.Borosilicate Glass: Non-porous, temperature-responsive (can be warmed or cooled), beautiful, and very easy to clean. Counterintuitively one of the safest materials available.Stainless Steel: Non-porous, temperature-responsive, incredibly durable. Heavier than other materials.Materials to AvoidTPE/TPR (thermoplastic rubber/elastomer): Soft and stretchy but porous — meaning it can harbor bacteria even after cleaning. Use only with a condom and replace frequently.Jelly/Rubber/PVC: Often contains phthalates (chemical plasticizers that are toxic). Avoid entirely.Any toy that has a strong chemical smell out of the box: Legitimate body-safe materials do not off-gas chemicals. A strong smell is a red flag.What Type of Toy Should You Start With?For External Clitoral Stimulation (Most Popular for First-Timers)Bullet vibrators are the most common first toy for people with vulvas....