Did you know that your body can develop sensitivity to latex products? Many folks who have used latex barriers for years without any problems may one day discover that now, all of a sudden, when using latex dental dams, gloves or condoms they develop a rash, or skin irritation of some sort. What a drag, huh? Well, luckily there are alternatives available so you can continue having hot, safe sex.

We’ve heard lots folks say they are “allergic” to latex. For folks who are truly allergic, their reaction will manifest itself in extreme ways, like anaphylactic shock. For most folks, their reaction to using latex can manifest itself in a skin rash and/or vaginal irritation or yeast infection. This is a latex sensitivity. For many people, sensitivity tends to be specific to that part of the body. So doctors and nurses who develop sensitivity to latex gloves won’t necessarily have reactions to condoms (unless they touch them with their hands).

Be mindful of whatever it is that your body may be reacting negatively to. Perhaps it is not the latex, but the lubricant that you are using that’s causing problems. Glycerin, a common ingredient in many water-based lubricants, can be the culprit of vaginal irritation for lots of women. If you’ve concluded that it is, indeed, the latex that your body is rejecting, don’t fret—polyurethane barriers are a great alternative.

In the United States there are, unfortunately, few polyurethane condoms on the market. But having a few is better than having none, right? Durex brand makes the condom, Trojan makes the Supra condom, and then there’s the Female Condom. Polyurethane conducts body heat much better than latex and can be a great alternative for folks who complain that using condoms “desensitizes” them. Many folks claim that polyurethane barriers feel much more like a second skin than latex barriers.

Lambskin condoms are another alternative; however, lambskin condoms are only preventative against pregnancy, not sexually transmitted infections. This is because they are semi-porous enough so that bodily fluids and viruses can be transmitted but not sperm.

The Trojan Supra used to only be available with spermicide, but fortunately they finally started manufacturing it without it. Spermicide is a harsh chemical detergent that has historically been used in conjunction with contraceptives. Studies have shown that over prolonged use of spermicide, it winds up breaking down the walls of the vagina and/or rectum making your body more susceptible to STI transmission than it would have had you never used it. Many reproductive health organizations do not promote the use of spermicide, and if you are prone to sensitivities anyway, it’s a strong possibility that you would have a negative reaction to spermicidal products.

Both the Trojan Supra and Durex Avanti are average-sized condoms. The polyurethane used in the Supra is visibly thinner with more elasticity. The Female Condom is an insertable barrier that can be used vaginally or anally. In fact, the Female Condom can be inserted up to 8 hours before you are sexually active. Many men like the Female Condom because it is not a sheath surrounding their penis, and because they can feel more.

Although all of these condoms are pre-lubricated with silicone-based lubricant, it is highly advised to use additional lubricant to decrease the chances of the condom breaking and to increase sensation. If you are prone to sensitivities already, you will probably want to avoid lubricants that contain glycerin and parabens, as many folks with sensitivities have a negative reaction to these ingredients. Pleasureglide, Sliquid Silk, and Sliquid H20 are all excellent lubes with minimal chemical content.

So what do you do when you’re about to go downtown? Sure, if you’re feeling crafty you can take a condom, cut off the top, then slice it up the side to create a safe barrier for oral sex…also known as a dental dam. For those of you who want a latex-free dam already made, there’s the polyurethane Hot Dam. Unfortunately you can’t just go to your local drug store and buy dental dams. This makes it even more difficult to access dams for those under 18 who cannot go into adult stores yet. Luckily, there is a safe barrier for cunnilingus and analingus that’s super cheap, covers a large surface area, and can be found at any local grocery store…plastic wrap! Of course, you want to purchase the kind that does not have visible holes in it. Plastic wrap is great…it’s inexpensive, see-through, easy to find and comes in lots of colors!

Lastly, let’s talk about digital penetration (a.k.a. “fingering”). Another material that gloves can be made out of besides latex and polyurethane is nitrile. Nitrile gloves are commonly used in the medical world for people who are sensitive to latex. Since gloves are not pre-lubricated, it is highly recommended to put lube on the inside and outside of the glove to heighten sensitivity. You can purchase nitrile gloves at many drug stores and medical supply stores.

JB: The Jollie (renamed at GV as the Angelina) has received a lot of attention here due to its unusual and unique shape. Can you talk a little about how the shape came to be and how you took the shape of a woman’s body into account (ie, the three pleasure points)?

LC: With over 20 years experience in designing silicone products for the medical industry, our Creative Director knows how to develop an endocavity apparatus. To do so we started with some sound patient matching techniques where you design the product based on the actual anatomy. So we took some impressions of the vagina. This was a very interesting process. It makes you wonder why ‘men’ think we were made to fit them. The forms created from this process dictated the shape of our first toy, the Jollie. It was clear that a typical dildo or even a penis was functional only due to how pliable the vagina is, not the fit of the member. We designed the Jollie to fit the vagina not relying on the vagina to form around the toy. The fitting of the design to the vagina creates the wonderful shape of the Jollie. Thats why the cervix, g-spot, and clit stimulation are part of the Jollie design that’s what the female anatomy is made of.

JB: Can you tell us a little about your company, Jollies? What did you do prior to starting the company and what made you decide to change direction/careers?

LC: My background was actually teaching. I was an elementary teacher for quite a few years. Then I started a holistic healing shop and taught people about health and herbs. I was actually working in sales and marketing for the insurance business. That’s actually how I met my Creative Director, I was trying to sell him insurance. We started talking, and matching our individual skills came up with JOLLIES, LLC.

JB: Was the Jollie the first product you designed? Which product came next?

LC: The Jollie is the first sex toy we designed. Bubbles was the second. We wanted to try utilizing Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology so we came up with the Bubbles design and created the masters for the molds via Rapid Prototyping. This was to understand the limitations and advantages of incorporating the state-of-the-art in product design of sex toys. Since then we have designed Luna, Jollett, Wave, and Jack. Jack is the only product that we did not integrate the high tech product design techniques since it was molded from an actual penis. Although the high tech approach is beneficial both in time and some design aspects, our Creative Director loves the intimate hands on approach to form studies. This is where the ergonomics of the design are influenced by feel and look rather than engineered to a specification. We really like to design a toy based on a desired outcome and then test shapes to fulfill that outcome rather than just duplicate neat shapes.

JB: You mention soft and hard Jollie products on your web site…are all of your products available in either consistency?

LC: Actually no. When we started Jollies we were unsure as to what durometer the public would like since the Jollie was such a unique shape. So we marketed both soft and firm. We found that the firm was a bit too firm and really didn’t sell so we have moved to offer only the soft silicone.

JB: Your web site says that you can customize the Jollie and put objects inside the silicone mold. What’s the most unusual request you’ve had from a customer?

LC: We’ve had requests like; putting the first rose a boyfriend (now husband) gave his girlfriend. Cherries, pictures of a departed husband, Chicago skyline, and the list goes on.

JB: Will the Jollie ever be available in a harnessable version? And if so, would the shape change much?

LC: The Jollie works very well because of its shape, not necessarily the action of the user. The large G-spot section of the toy kind of makes full in-and-out thrusting difficult. Jollet shares the Jollie shape but was designed to be a more typical and to accommodate vibrators. Even then the shape of Jollet creates a unique action. We found that twisting the Jollet back and forth provides the most stimulation rather than a thrusting motion. That’s why the handle part of the toy has a non-slip-grip design. The double Jollie, Las Chicas, is in the works and will incorporate a thrusting insertable design. This may end up as a harnessable product also. Our first harnessable design is the Wave. The Wave is a great harness starter toy for couples play (oops I gave the new toy away). Not too big to scare but shaped for optimum stimulation, and its long enough for it to work!

JB: What can we expect from you in the future? Are there added vibrations on the way?

LC: We have a large number of products we are currently working on. This includes a line of boy toys too. Just out of development and into production is Luna, a blast proof anal toy designed around actual impressions of a female rectum, Las Chicas, our double Jollie design, the Ergoring, a ergonomic cock ring designed to be less stressful on the scrotum
yet fully functional, and our new line of Jack Keys. Jack Keys are cock rings with anal and vaginal \ insertables molded on the ring for incredible masturbation stimulation and, or partnered sex.

These days, there are so many choices when it comes to sex toys that picking one out can seem a bit daunting. When you’re standing in a store, or sitting in front of a computer screen filled with options, how are you supposed to make a decision? There are quite a few characteristics to take into account: size, shape, color, texture, vibrating (or not), material, and whether it can fit into a harness. But never fear—after reading this page, you’ll have all the info you need to find your new favorite toy.

Size

The most important characteristic to think about is size. Too little and it won’t hit the spot. Too big and you might not ever use it. One easy way to gauge what size dildo you might like is to consider a partner’s penis or a toy that has worked well in the past. However, since even the most aroused penis becomes firmer and softer during sex, it’s only a rough estimate. Another way to get some input is to do the cucumber test.

Yes, the simple innocent cucumber has a wild side. Who knew gardening or a taking a trip down your produce isle could be so much fun? The humble cucumber is an excellent way to determine the right dildo size for you and/or your partner:

1. Take a trip to your local produce store or back yard if you grow cucumbers.
2. Select a few cucumbers of different sizes to give you some choices.
3. If your cucumber isn’t organic it’s a good idea to either peel the cucumber or wash it well and cover with a condom since waxes and pesticides should stay outside the body.
4. You might want to warm it slightly in the microwave, especially if it’s been in the fridge.
5. The joys of arts and crafts: if the cucumber is too big, shave it down until it fits nice and comfortable. You could even carve it to give you a nice G-spot curve or a head.
6. Once you’ve found the right width and length, whip out that measuring tape. Measure the length and then cut the cumber in half to measure the width (diameter). Note these measurements for your shopping adventure.

Please remember that using a cucumber vaginally is fine, but we don’t recommend it for anal play. Since it doesn’t have a base, it could slide all the way in, especially when it’s covered with lube or if it breaks.

Now that you’ve determined the right size for your dildo, you need to find out what else you want from your dildo. What are you plans for your dildo? There are many choices. Handheld, harness, or use for just yourself? How firm and flexible do you want your faux cock to be? Also, do you want realistic or designer?

Built For the Job

Most dildos are made out of four different types of materials: jelly, silicone, softskin, or acrylic or glass. Each material has its pros and cons, so the more you know about what you’re looking for, the easier your choice will be.

Jelly

Let’s start off with the least expensive of the dildos, the jelly dildo. These toys are inexpensive, but low price is the only thing that they have going for them these days. First of all, jelly dildos are difficult to clean since they’re often quite porous. We highly recommend covering all jelly toys, even if you’re the only person using it, and our Premium Condom is a great way to go. Two other disadvantages to jelly toys is that they may be too flexible for some people’s tastes and the material doesn’t last too long.

When they’re new, jelly toys often smell like plastic, but that goes away just as it does with a new shower curtain. What’s more of a concern is that many jelly products contain phthalates, which may be absorbed by the body. Due to recent research on the safety of phthalates, Good Vibrations has chosen to stop carrying products containing these chemicals.

So jelly may be your best bet if you’re not looking for something to last forever or your primary concern is cost. But these days, there are better choices that won’t break the bank.

Softskin

Softskin is a remarkably realistic material that feels amazing. It’s got just the right blend of firm and flexible to feel like a penis. But there are two big disadvantages. First, it’s really porous, so you definitely want to cover softskin with a condom. Second, after you wash and dry it, softskin gets sticky. There are two ways to deal with that. You can store your dry softskin dildo in a plastic bag or you can dust it with cornstarch.

If you go with cornstarch, the easiest method is to put the dildo and a spoonful of cornstarch in a paper bag and shake it up. Just be sure to rinse it off before using it because cornstarch absorbs lubrication and gets gritty. And be sure to never use talcum powder since it has been linked with ovarian cancer.

Silicone

Dildos made out of silicone are definitely the most popular. These toys are hot property due to silicone’s flexibility, ability to quickly adapt to body temperature, range in prices, and because they come in a variety of styles from simple pleasers to curved, bumpy and vibrating.

All of our silicone dildos are 100% medical-grade silicone, which is non-porous, can be cleaned and disinfected, and is quite durable. Beware of silicone blends which may not be of the same quality. Our silicone is really durable and will last pretty much forever, unless the surface gets punctured. Once that happens, the rip will spread until your toy falls apart and we’ve never found a glue to repair it. So make sure that you keep your toys away from sharp fingernails, edges of counters and yes, pets.

Soap and water will do a great job on silicone. If you want to bring your cleaning up a notch, you can put it in boiling water for 3-5 minutes, the top rack of the dishwasher or a 10% bleach solution for 15 minutes. And of course, if you use a condom, you just need to wash off the lubricant. Please note that wiping with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide does not disinfect your toys.

Silicone comes in many sizes and shapes. Some of them are simply smooth like the Silk Dildo. Others look more like penises, while the Dotted Delight and the Rippler come with ridges or bumps for extra pleasure. The less smooth the toy, the less it is suited for anal play since the anus is more sensitive than the vagina.

Another advantage of silicone is that almost all silicone dildos have a flat base, making it easy to use them in a harness or for anal play. If you are planning on using a harness with your dildo, please note that about ½ inch of the length will taken by the harness.

If you’d like to add a little extra oomph to your fun, try a silicone dildo with an itty bitty vibe such as The Right Spot. They come with a small vibe that runs on watch batteries and slips into the base, which adds a great twist. And while the Watch Batteries don’t last more than a couple of hours, we always keep them in stock.

Glass and Acrylic

If a good hard dildo is on your shopping list, acrylic or glass may be the answer to your wish. These smooth and hard dildos come in a variety of designs and shapes to please. Each dildo is built for the art of pleasure. They are handcrafted and quite attractive. All you need to do is look at the Luminous, the Aurora, and the Corazon. Since these toys are really firm, most people go with a slightly smaller size- the firmer it is, the bigger it feels.

Most acrylic and glass dildos are handheld only. Since they don’t have a wide base, they are not mountable or strapable, but like silicone dildos they range in price and are easy to clean. Soap and water does a great job on both. Acrylic should be washed in warm water since hot water can cause micro-cracks in the surface, clouding the toy. Glass can be take the heat, since all of our glass toys are borosilicate glass. This means they can be boiled or put through the dishwasher and they’re really durable and resist breakage.

Browse our selection of dildos. Now that you’ve got the info, you’ll be sure to find one that strikes you fancy. Have fun!

Battery vibrators offer many advantages: they are inexpensive, portable and create gentle vibrations (which are popular with those people who find plug-in vibrators overwhelming). We do caution customers that some batterys’ lifespans can be unpredictable, ranging anywhere from a week to several years. For this reason, we test most battery vibes before they leave Good Vibrations and we guarantee them for 30 days. Here are a few hints on how to prolong its life:

• Do not drop the vibrator. The plastic parts might crack.
• Store your batteries outside the vibrator; both the vibrator and the batteries will last longer. By removing the batteries when the vibrator is not in use you will also avoid accidentally leaving the vibrator on low.
• Keep all vibrators out of water to prevent corrosion of metal parts (except, of course, for vibrators that are waterproof). Clean non-waterproof vibrators by wiping with a cloth moistened with water and/or antibacterial soap and water.
• If there is a cord between the battery pack and the vibrator, do not tug on the cord. When retrieving the vibrator from the vagina, grasp the vibrator itself with your fingers; do not pull it out like a tampon. Please don’t insert this type of vibrator anally. The cord could easily become detached, leaving the vibrator lodged in the rectum. Use only toys with a flared base for anal stimulation.
• Thoroughly clean and dry toys after use. Put condoms on toys used by more than one person during sex or on those that go from anus to vagina; put fresh condoms on toys before inserting in the next spot.

The free batteries which may be supplied by the manufacturer with your vibrator tend to be cheap and weak. Alkaline batteries really are better and worth the extra cost.

Warning: Any battery-operated device generates heat when in operation. If the vibrator does not have access to air it may become hot enough to cause injury. Therefore, please do not lie on the vibrator or battery pack. Always turn the vibrator off and put it away when not in use. Don’t fall asleep with your vibrator on.

From Good Vibrations’ Sexual Health and Product Info section:

As many of you may be aware, GreenPeace has called on the European Union to ban the use of phthalates in adult novelties. Phthalates are plasticizers used to soften PVC and plastics, and they have already been banned from children’s toys in the US and Europe due to levels of toxicity. We here at Good Vibrations have been discussing phthalates (as well as all the materials contained in our products) for years, and will continue to study the issue. We have always done our best to provide a larger, more diverse selection of silicone vibes and dildos in addition to developing our own line of phthalate-free GV-branded silicone in order to create greater access to toys that are non-porous and phthalate-free.

In order to help you as a consumer make the best possible choice concerning what sex toys and materials are right for you, we have created an easily identifiable icon that will appear with insertable, rubber, plastic and/or other porous material products that lets you know that those toys are phthalates-free. Look for the new icon on the website as well as in all future print catalogs and Customer Service Center materials.

At Good Vibrations, we pride ourselves on being a leader in the sex toy industry. By advocating products we believe in and educating our customers about using condoms over porous toys, we hope that we have helped to ensure that your sex toy experience will be positive, pleasurable and healthy. We trust that this new icon will act as another step in Good Vibrations’ mission to continually provide accurate information regarding all of our sex toys and their usages.

Read our Press Release: Good Vibrations Announces a Phase-out Policy of all Phthalate Sex Toys