Anyone choosing a piece by its material · 7-minute guide
Body-Safe Materials, Explained
What a piece is made of matters as much as how it looks — here is how to read a material with confidence.
Juliette Aubert ·
What you’ll know by the end
Porosity is the dividing line: non-porous materials clean completely
Four documented standards: medical-grade silicone, borosilicate glass, stainless steel, ABS
Silicone lubricant damages silicone pieces — with silicone, use water-based
A named, documented material is a standard; “body-safe” on a box is only a claim
The First Question to Ask Any Piece
Before shape, before finish, before anything else, ask what a piece is made of. Intimate objects are used on and in the body, often for extended periods, and the material is the part that actually touches you. A beautiful design in a poorly chosen material is a poor choice; a simple design in an excellent one can serve you for years. This guide explains the distinction that matters most — porous versus non-porous — introduces the materials Magia Privé selects for, and covers the two practical rules that protect your collection: lubricant compatibility and basic care.
Porous and Non-Porous: The Distinction That Matters
A porous material is full of microscopic openings. Those openings can absorb moisture and harbor bacteria, and no amount of ordinary washing fully reaches inside them. Materials in this category — which include many inexpensive plastics, rubber, and jelly-like compounds — are difficult to clean thoroughly, can retain odors, and may degrade over time, sometimes leaching the very compounds used to make them soft. A non-porous material has a sealed, continuous surface. Nothing is absorbed; what touches the surface can be washed off the surface. This is the property that makes a material suitable for intimate use over the long term, and it is the first thing we look for when we evaluate a piece for the collection. When you are comparing pieces anywhere, treat porosity as the dividing line. If a material description is vague about what something is actually made of, that vagueness is itself information.
The Materials We Select For
Magia Privé documents the material of every piece we offer, and the collection is built around four widely recognized standards. Medical-grade silicone is the most versatile of them — non-porous, smooth, and warm to the touch, with a softness that can be tuned from firm to pliant. Quality silicone pieces are made to be cleaned thoroughly and to last. Borosilicate glass — the same family of glass used in laboratory and bakeware — is completely non-porous, exceptionally smooth, and naturally temperature-responsive. It is far sturdier than it looks, and its weight gives it a presence entirely its own. Stainless steel shares glass's sealed surface and durability, with a satisfying heft and polish. Like glass, it responds to temperature and cleans completely. ABS plastic is a hard, non-porous material common in quality pieces and in the housings of many well-made designs. Smooth and durable, it is a reliable standard where a rigid form is wanted. A note on language: terms like "silicone" are sometimes used loosely in product listings across the industry, applied to blends that are not pure silicone at all. This is precisely why documentation matters — which brings us to the next point.
Why Documentation Matters
A material claim is only as good as the maker behind it. For every piece in our collection, we look for manufacturers who state plainly what their pieces are made of, and we publish those material details on each product page alongside care information. If a maker cannot say clearly what a piece is, the piece does not belong in a collection built on trust. When you shop — here or anywhere — you should be able to find the material named, not hinted at. "Body-safe" printed on a box is a claim; a specific, documented material is a standard. We aim to hold every piece to the second of those.
Compatibility and Care
Two habits will protect both you and your collection. Match your lubricant to your material. Silicone-based lubricants can damage the surface of silicone pieces, leaving them tacky and compromised. With silicone, use a water-based lubricant — the rule is simple, and it applies to every silicone piece, whoever made it. Water-based lubricants are compatible with glass, steel, and ABS as well, which makes them the safe default for any mixed collection. Clean gently, and clean consistently. Wash pieces before and after use with warm water and a mild soap, then dry them fully before storing. Beyond that, follow each maker's own guide for the piece you own — the product pages in our collection carry the specific care notes for every item, including any exceptions. Store pieces so that different materials are not pressed against one another for long periods, and inspect your collection from time to time: a piece whose surface has changed — become sticky, cloudy, or cracked — has reached the end of its service and should be retired. A collection chosen by material, cared for with a little consistency, rewards you twice over: in confidence each time you reach for it, and in pieces that remain as they were the day they arrived.
Questions people actually ask
What does non-porous mean?
The surface is sealed and continuous: nothing is absorbed, so what touches the surface can be washed off it completely. It is the property that makes a material suitable for intimate use over the long term.
Can I use silicone lubricant with a silicone piece?
No. Silicone-based lubricants can damage the surface of silicone pieces, leaving them tacky and compromised. With silicone, use a water-based lubricant.
How do I clean my pieces?
Warm water and mild soap before and after use, dried fully before storing — and always follow the maker’s own guide for the piece you own.
Continue the ritual
Curiosity is only the beginning.
Explore the curated collection, take the guided Find Your Match quiz, or keep reading in the Intimate Arts library — every piece chosen with the same care as this guide.