Body-Safe Materials Standard
"Body-safe" is not a regulated term. Anyone can print it on a box. This page sets out what we mean by it, what we stock, and what we won't.
The three things that make a material body-safe
- Non-porous. The surface has no microscopic pores that can trap bacteria, fungi, or fluids. A porous material cannot be fully cleaned, no matter how carefully you wash it. This is the single most important property.
- Chemically stable. It doesn't leach plasticizers, break down over time, or react with lubricants and skin.
- Phthalate-free. Phthalates are plasticizers used to soften some plastics. Health Canada has restricted certain phthalates in children's products, and independent testing has repeatedly found them in cheap intimate products sold as "jelly" or unlabelled soft plastic.
Materials we stock
Medical-grade / platinum-cure silicone
Non-porous, phthalate-free, chemically stable, and tolerant of heat, so it can be thoroughly cleaned. It's the default material for quality intimate products, and most of what we carry.
One thing to know: silicone lubricant can bond with and degrade silicone toys. Use water-based lubricant with silicone products.
Borosilicate glass
Completely non-porous and chemically inert. Works with any lubricant, holds temperature, and can be sterilized. Inspect before each use — a chipped or cracked piece must be retired immediately.
Stainless steel
Non-porous, non-reactive, sterilizable, and effectively permanent. Works with any lubricant. Heavier than it looks, which some people want and some don't.
ABS plastic
Hard, non-porous, and easy to clean. Common for handles, bases, control housings, and bullet vibrators.
What we don't stock
- Jelly rubber and "jelly" anything. Porous, frequently softened with phthalates, and known to degrade and weep oil.
- PVC and soft vinyl. Porous and commonly phthalate-softened.
- TPR and TPE, where the manufacturer won't disclose the formulation. These are porous by nature. Where we stock a TPE product — some strokers and sleeves are only made in TPE — we say so on the product page and tell you it cannot be shared and has a limited lifespan.
- Anything with no material listed at all. If a manufacturer won't tell us what a product is made of, we don't list it. That rule has cost us margin more than once.
The safety standard we reference
ISO 3533:2021 — Sex toys: Design and safety requirements for products in direct contact with genitalia, the anus, or both is the first international safety standard written specifically for this category. It covers material safety, surface finish, retrieval features for insertable products, electrical safety, and labelling.
It is a voluntary standard, not a legal requirement in Canada, and manufacturers are not obliged to certify against it. We use it as a reference when evaluating a product and we prefer brands that build to it. We do not claim that every product we sell is ISO 3533 certified — that would be untrue, and you should be sceptical of any retailer who does claim it.
Safety features we look for
- A flared base or retrieval loop on anything intended for anal use. This is non-negotiable and there is no acceptable exception. The rectum has no natural stopping point.
- A smooth, seamless finish with no sharp edges, flashing, or mould seams.
- Genuine waterproof ratings where claimed — IPX7 means submersible, "splashproof" does not.
- Sealed charging — magnetic charging contacts rather than an exposed port, on anything used in water.
- A real manufacturer warranty. A brand that stands behind a product for a year or more is telling you something about how it's built.
Lubricant compatibility
| Lubricant | Silicone | Glass | Steel | ABS | Latex condoms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Silicone-based | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oil-based | No | Yes | Yes | Check | No |
If in doubt, use water-based. It's compatible with everything.
What we can and can't tell you
We're a retailer, not a manufacturer or a testing lab. Material information comes from the manufacturers we buy from, and we pass it on as they give it to us. We don't independently lab-test products, and we won't claim to.
What we do commit to: if a manufacturer won't disclose materials, we don't stock the product. If we learn a product's material claim is wrong, we pull it and contact everyone who bought it.
Nothing on this page is medical advice. If you have a latex allergy, a silicone sensitivity, a medical condition, or you're pregnant or recovering from surgery, speak to a qualified healthcare professional.
Questions about a specific product's materials? Email hello@redpleasures.ca and we'll get you the manufacturer's answer.
See also: Warranty & Product Care · FAQ