Intimate Product Materials: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing, Care and Storage

Materials in personal wellbeing products: what a material name tells you and what it does not

Material information is one of the most important pieces of product information, but online stores often interpret it too simply. "Silicone", "ABS", "TPE" or "stainless steel" alone does not tell you the whole structure of the product, the quality of the surface or how the product should be cared for.

A good material comparison separates the properties of the material, the intended use stated by the manufacturer and the actual structure of the product.

Silicone: check what the manufacturer actually states

Silicone is used in many consumer products because of its flexibility, heat resistance and smooth surface. In an online store, however, the word "silicone" should be verified against the manufacturer's information, because marketing names may also be used for blends or for structures with a silicone surface.

Useful details include:

• the exact name of the material
• whether the entire contact surface is made of the same material
• whether the surface has a separate coating
• the manufacturer's cleaning instructions
• the compatibility with other substances stated by the manufacturer.

Compatibility claims that the manufacturer has not provided should not be invented on the basis of the material.

ABS plastic: a rigid body material

ABS is a rigid engineering plastic used in casings, handles and structural parts. Its advantages are dimensional stability and impact resistance, but the properties of the finished product depend on the structure, the coating and the seams.

Check in particular:

• whether the surface is bare ABS or coated
• whether the seams are tight
• whether the casing contains electronics
• whether, according to the manufacturer, the product may be washed under running water.

TPE and TPR: the name indicates a material family, not an exact formulation

TPE and TPR are general names for elastomer materials. Their composition and hardness can vary a great deal. For this reason, two products sold under the same material name do not necessarily feel, wear or clean in the same way.

From an online store's perspective, it is important to state the manufacturer's material information as precisely as possible rather than replace it with a vague expression such as "soft touch".

If the manufacturer gives specific storage or care instructions, they are essential precisely because there is wide variation within the material family.

Stainless steel: quality is not determined by the word "steel" alone

Stainless steel is a metal alloy whose properties depend on the steel grade and the surface finish. A product page should distinguish stainless steel from a vague "metal" label.

Check:

• whether the steel grade is stated
• whether the surface is polished, brushed or coated
• whether the structure includes other materials
• whether the joints have seams or coatings.

A scratch or dent on the surface should be assessed differently from structural damage to the material.

Borosilicate glass: a transparent material that needs checking

Borosilicate glass is used in products where a hard, smooth and chemically stable surface is desired. The most important practical check is its mechanical condition.

Before washing or storing, check for:

• cracks
• chips
• sharp edges
• deep scratches.

A damaged glass product should not be treated as merely a cosmetic defect if the damage affects the structure.

Textiles: fibre composition and construction are different things

In a textile product, the fibre, knit, seam and elasticity work together. For example, a polyamide-elastane blend does not automatically tell you how much the finished product stretches.

Look at a minimum at:

• the fibre percentages
• the size chart
• the care labels
• any decorative parts
• the manufacturer's drying instructions.

EU textile labelling rules require the fibre composition to be stated on textile products. An online store should show the same information before the order is placed.

The coating can be more important than the body material

A product may, for example, have an ABS body but a silicone-coated outer surface. In that case, the most significant material from the user's perspective may be the surface.

A good product page describes the structure layer by layer when the information is available from the manufacturer:

body → surface → any metal parts → textile parts.

This is far more useful than singling out one material as the description of the whole product.

What do "body-safe", "hypoallergenic" or "medical grade" mean?

These expressions should not be used automatically on the basis of the name of the material. If the manufacturer makes such a claim, the online store should be able to trace it to the manufacturer's documentation.

"Medical grade" in particular sounds like a technical standard, although the expression is used inconsistently in marketing. Without a more specific standard, certificate or manufacturer's document, the claim should not be confirmed in one's own words.

Hardness and flexibility need a measure or a comparison

The words "soft", "firm" and "flexible" are subjective. If the manufacturer states the Shore hardness or another technical measure, it is better comparison data. If there is no measure, the online store can relay the manufacturer's verbal description, but should not present it as a laboratory measurement.

Material wear often shows on the surface first

Regardless of the material, check for:

• increased stickiness
• cracking of the surface
• peeling
• colour transfer
• permanent deformation
• seams coming open.

More on this: Material wear and assessing surfaces.

A good product page answers five material questions

1. What is the product or its main parts made of?
2. Does the surface have a separate coating?
3. What does the manufacturer say about cleaning?
4. What does the manufacturer say about storage?
5. Is there a more specific standard or document behind the material claims?

If this information is available, the buyer does not need to infer the properties of the material from a marketing image.

The most important rule of material comparison

The material tells a lot, but not everything. The structure, the manufacturing method, the coating and the manufacturer's instructions should form a single whole. A good online store does not try to turn a material name into a promise, but shows the customer precise information on which a decision can be based.

Separate the technical name of the material from the marketing name

Words such as soft-touch, velvet finish or silky surface may be used of a product's surface. They describe the feel but do not necessarily tell you the actual material. The technical product information should also show, for example, silicone, TPE, ABS, stainless steel or another material stated by the manufacturer.

This helps in assessing both care and long-term durability.

A multi-material product needs a part-by-part description

One product may contain a silicone surface, an ABS body, metal internal parts and a textile storage pouch. Singling out one material as the material of the whole product can be misleading.

A good product page lists the main materials by part: surface, body, metal parts and any textiles.

Hardness is an important but rarely stated property of a material

The hardness of elastomers can be described on the Shore scale. If the manufacturer states a value, it provides a more objective point of comparison than the words soft or firm. Without a measurement, an online store should not invent a hardness class itself.

Subjective feel can be presented as the manufacturer's description or a user review, as long as the source is made clear.

Heat resistance should not be inferred from the material family alone

Even if a material is generally known for good heat resistance, the finished product may contain adhesives, electronics, coatings or other parts that limit the temperature. For this reason, instructions concerning cleaning or sterilisation are checked with the manufacturer of the finished product.

General material information does not justify ignoring the instructions for use.

Porosity and surface integrity are separate questions

A material may be described as non-porous, but a damaged, cracked or flaking surface can still be difficult to clean. For this reason, the original property of the material and the current condition of the product must be assessed separately.

A smooth, intact surface is a different situation from the same material after years of wear.

Dyes and coatings can be a material layer of their own

If the colour of the product is part of a surface coating and not of the whole body of the material, a scratch can reveal the layer underneath. In that case, the care instructions may include specific restrictions on strong cleaning agents or abrasive tools.

A close-up image on the product page can help identify the surface structure, but the manufacturer's information takes precedence.

A material claim needs a source

The expressions "medical grade", "food grade" or "body safe" should be traceable to the manufacturer's documentation or to a standard. Mere repeated use in the product descriptions of online stores does not make a claim technically precise.

If no standard has been stated, a neutral material name is better than a strong but vague quality promise.

Material also affects the weight of the product

Metal and glass are often considerably heavier than plastics and elastomers. Weight can matter for shipping, storage and the general handling of the product.

Weight stated in grams on the product page is more objective information than the words light or heavy.

Assessing odour is not a reliable material test

New plastic or elastomer may smell when the package is opened, but the exact material composition or safety cannot be determined from the odour. If the odour is exceptionally strong or does not diminish after airing in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, ask the manufacturer.

Do not use odour as an "authenticity test".

Material information checklist for an online store

Wherever possible, every product page should include:

• the technical name of the material
• the surface and body materials separately
• care instructions
• water resistance, if relevant
• any standard or certificate from the manufacturer
• weight and dimensions
• storage instructions.

This makes the material information genuinely useful and not merely an SEO keyword.

When comparing materials, separate the surface, the body and other parts

One of the most common description errors in a product is using a single material as the definition of the whole structure. In reality, a finished product may consist of several layers: a rigid body, a soft surface material, metal joints and separate textile parts.

A more detailed comparison is best made as follows:

Part of the structure	What information to look for
Outer surface	material, coating, feel, care instructions
Body	rigidity, weight, possible electronics
Joining parts	metal, plastic, seams, screws or fasteners
Textile parts	fibre composition, washing instructions, elasticity
Packaging and protective parts	whether they affect storage or transport

This structure also helps when the product page has only a short material label. If, for example, "silicone" appears only as the main material, it is worth checking the manufacturer's fuller technical description before drawing far-reaching conclusions.

Shore hardness and other technical figures are useful only when comparable

For some products the manufacturer states the Shore hardness. The figure helps compare the rigidity of the material, but only if the measurement scale is the same. Shore A and Shore 00 are not directly the same thing, so a number without a scale is almost useless.

The same principle applies to other technical values. If tensile strength, temperature resistance or water resistance is stated, the measurement method or standard should also be identifiable. Otherwise the consumer sees a number but cannot compare it with another product.

The significance of the coating is emphasised in use and cleaning

A coating can make a product smoother, more matte, coloured or easier to clean. At the same time, it can be the first place where wear shows.

Check in particular:

• whether the surface is coming off at the edges
• whether the surface becomes sticky
• whether colour transfers
• whether small bubbles or wrinkles form
• whether the body material is visible beneath the coating.

If the coating starts to come off, it is no longer just a matter of appearance. The cleanability of the surface and the behaviour of the material may change.

"Latex free" and other exclusionary material claims

An exclusionary claim such as latex free is meaningful to the consumer only if it is stated by the manufacturer. An online store should not infer that a product is latex-free merely because latex does not appear in a short list of materials.

The same applies to claims related to phthalates, BPA or other substances. If the claim is important, it must be based on the manufacturer's documentation or test data, not on an assumption based on the product type.

Materials and temperature

The behaviour of a material can change with temperature. An elastomer may feel stiffer in the cold, adhesive may soften in the heat and a battery may age faster at high temperatures. For this reason, storing a product in a car boot, on a windowsill or in a cold storage room is not the same as storing it indoors.

More detailed temperature and humidity matters are best kept in their own guide: Temperature, humidity and materials.

Material transparency is a quality factor for an online store

A good product page does not conceal incomplete material information behind adjectives. "Premium", "velvety", "skin-like" or "soft-touch" may describe the feel, but they do not replace the name of the material.

High-quality product information separates:

• the technical name of the material
• the marketing word describing the feel
• any certificate or standard
• the manufacturer's care instructions.

When these four things are kept separate, the buyer can make a genuine comparison.

A practical example of material comparison

Imagine two products that both say "silicone". For the first, the manufacturer states: platinum silicone outer surface, ABS body, IPX7, and mild soap and water as the care instructions. The second says only "silicone material".

A much more precise assessment can be made of the first, because in addition to the material, the structure and care are known. It is not justified to infer the same quality level for the second, even though the material name sounds the same.

What an online store should avoid in material text

A poor material description easily contains absolute claims such as "completely safe", "everlasting", "never wears out" or "suitable for everyone". Materials do not work this way.

A better approach is to state:

• what the material is
• in which part of the product it is used
• what the manufacturer says about care
• which properties have been documented
• what has not been stated.

Such text may look less like advertising, but it is much more useful both to the user and to the search engine.

Documenting material information makes later comparison easier

When a product is later compared with another model, the material name alone is not always enough. A useful approach is to record the actual material description of the product, any coating, the manufacturer's care instructions and the date on which the information was checked. This is especially useful when the product page is updated or the same model is sold in several different market areas with slightly different descriptions. Documentation does not make the material better or worse, but it reduces guesswork and helps compare options in the same product category on the same basis.

Missing information is also comparison data. If the materials of one product are stated part by part and those of another only with a general marketing term, the difference is worth noticing. Transparent product information makes both the purchase decision and later care simpler.

The update date of material information is a useful additional detail

If the manufacturer changes the structure, coating or material description of a product, the old online store text may remain in circulation for a long time. For this reason, when comparing material information it is worth considering how recent the information appears and whether the same description can be found in the manufacturer's own source. Being up to date does not replace the actual material information, but it helps distinguish the current product from an older version and reduces the risk of comparing different generations with each other.