Sex toys

What is a sex toy

A sex toy is an intimate accessory designed to provide sexual pleasure through vibration, suction, friction, pressure, rotation, or thermal stimulation. There are sex toys for every anatomy — clitoral, vaginal, penile, prostate, and anal stimulation — and for every use case: solo, to get to know your body better; as a couple, to enrich shared intimacy; and remotely, to maintain a physical connection despite geographical separation.

For more than ten years in a specialist shop, I've helped every person — woman, man, couple, complete beginner, or experienced user — choose the sex toy that's truly right for them. What I've learned is that there is no universal “best sex toy.” There is the right sex toy for you, at this point in your life, with your preferences and level of experience. This collection is the starting point for exploring all the possibilities.

Sex toys by category

Sex toys for women

The sex toys for women collection covers external clitoral stimulation with suction toys and vibrators, vaginal penetration with dildos and rabbits, pelvic floor strengthening with Ben Wa balls, and female anal pleasure with plugs and bead chains. The clitoris, with its 8,000 nerve endings concentrated in the glans, is the central organ of female pleasure — most sex toys for women are designed to stimulate it directly or indirectly. My guide to clitoral stimulation and guide to vaginal stimulation detail each approach. The article the clitoris: anatomy and female pleasure explores the science behind this still-misunderstood organ.

Sex toys for men

The sex toys for men collection features masturbators and strokers for varying manual stimulation, cock rings and vibrating rings to enhance erections and stimulate your partner, penis sleeves to change sensations during intercourse, and prostate stimulators for exploring the “male G-spot.” The penis pleasure guide supports beginners, while the article prostate and pleasure addresses this often-overlooked male erogenous zone without taboos.

Couples' sex toys

Couples' sex toys are designed to create shared stimulation: app-controlled connected sex toys, remote-controlled vibrating eggs, strap-ons for harness-based penetration, and playful games to try new activities without pressure. The strap-on guide and the playful games guide support couples as they explore.

How to choose your first sex toy

Choosing your first sex toy depends on three factors: the area you want to stimulate, your level of experience, and how you plan to use it. Here are my practical recommendations:

My article guide to your first purchase details every step to help you make the right choice, while my personal selection Alicia's toys brings together the models I most often recommend in-store.

Stimulation technologies

Modern sex toys use technologies that differ greatly from one another. Understanding these mechanisms helps you choose the type of sensation that suits you:

• Vibration: stimulation through the rapid oscillations of an internal motor — the most widespread technology, adaptable to all areas of the body
• Air suction / pulsation: pressure waves without direct contact with the clitoris — a sensation often compared to oral stimulation
• Rotation and back-and-forth motion: an internal mechanical movement that massages the vaginal walls or replicates penetration
• Oscillating pressure: rhythmic micro-tapping that produces deep, pulsing stimulation
• Textured friction: a sculpted inner surface that stimulates through direct contact — the principle behind male masturbators
• Venous compression: the principle behind cock rings, which maintain an erection by restricting blood return

Materials and body safety

A sex toy's safety depends above all on its material. Here are the body-safe materials I systematically recommend:

• Medical-grade silicone: non-porous, hypoallergenic, flexible, and durable — the industry standard
• Borosilicate glass: chemically inert, sterilizable in boiling water, with unique sensations of firmness and temperature
• Stainless steel: significant weight, high thermal inertia, virtually unlimited durability
• ABS (hard plastic): non-porous, used for the shells and rigid structures of vibrators

Avoid soft PVC, uncertified rubber, jelly, and low-quality TPR — these materials are porous, impossible to disinfect completely, and may contain phthalates classified as endocrine disruptors. Reputable brands always list the exact composition on the product page — if this information is missing, it's a warning sign.

Lubricant and sex toy: essential compatibility

A fundamental rule I repeat every day in the shop: a water-based lubricant is compatible with all sex toy materials without exception. A silicone lubricant provides longer-lasting, silkier glide but irreversibly damages silicone sex toys — the surface becomes rough, porous, and impossible to clean properly. For anal use, choose a thicker, more viscous anal lubricant, as this area produces no natural lubrication. My lubricant guide explores each base and its compatibility in greater depth.

Care and hygiene

Clean each sex toy with lukewarm water and mild soap or a dedicated cleaner before and after every use — this is the non-negotiable rule. Let it air-dry completely before storing it in an individual pouch. Never store two silicone sex toys in direct contact — some silicones can react chemically with each other and damage their surfaces. For USB-rechargeable models, maintain a regular charge even when not in use to preserve the battery's lifespan.

Leading brands

When it comes to quality, reliability, and innovation, I particularly recommend Satisfyer for the excellent value for money of its suction stimulators, LELO for luxury, design, and quiet operation, Fun Factory for German ergonomics and durable motors, Tenga for innovation in male masturbators, and Shunga for massage and sensory wellness products. My complete sex toy guide covers every category with recommendations tailored to each profile.