Must Read Info About the Products You Love
Answers to questions we've received thru various interactions with our customers.  Please read as many of the topics below are important to your well-being.

What's in Your Lubes, Lotions, & Toys? - There could be ingredients in a lube, vibe, or clit cream that may cause infections.  If using properly, this should not happen.  We want to teach you a few things here that will help keep you free of any problems!

Glycerin:  A chemical compound that is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid.  A sugar alcohol, it is commonly used in FLAVORED lubricants. 
"Glycerin is very slippery and pulls moisture from the air, which is why it's so commonly used in lubricant.  But at 98.6 degrees inside of a woman's body, that (chemical) will actually begin to ferment."  (stated by Dean Elliot, CEO of Sliquid).  What does that mean?  While no guarantee, the fermentation process can lead to bacterial growth that results in yeast infections or possible urinary tract infections, explains Elliot.
*The Bottom Line...Any lube containing Glycerin should NOT be used internally UNLESS is of the sugar-free variety.  Flavored lubes (containing sugar) should be used for oral sex only.

Benzocaine/Lidocaine:  Local anesthetics commonly used as topical pain relievers; found frequently in anal lubricants.  In concept and funtion alone, there's nothing wrong with these guys.  They do their job, which is most commonly easing the discomfort of anal sex.  The problem, according to some manufacturers, is that they can do their job too well.  "The chemicals can cause comlete numbing in anal products.  This is extremely dangerous, as loss of sensation can cause tearing.  So just be aware and know when enough is enough.  Pain is your body's way of letting you know something is not right.
*The Bottom Line...Be aware of your body, especially when it's numb.

L-Arginine:  An amino acid, arginine plays an important role in cell division, the healing of wounds, removing ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of hormones.  Commonly found in clitoral stimulating gels and lubricants.  In stimulating gels, it works by bringing blood to the surface of where you apply it.  It's wonderful for women who do not ever have a problem with it, it's a great product.  But if a person has genital warts or herpes, there's a chance that L-Arginine will reactivate it.
*The Bottom Line...L-Arginine can jumpstart a recurrence of STDs.

Nonoxynol-9:  A chemical widely used in various cleaning and cosmetic products; commondly found in spermicidal lubricants, condoms and toy cleaners.  Study results from the major health organizations seem to suggest that repeated use actually causes consistent damage to vaginal walls, and the World Health Organization has said that N-9 should not be used at all for anal sex.  The lesions and abrasions from repeated use of a harsh chemical (N-9) allegedly aid the transmission of the HIV virus by almost 50%...report from testing done by UNAIDS.
*The Bottom Line...Spermicides should only be used to prevent pregnancy (not HIV or STDs), and are recommended for monogamous couples.

Menthol:  An organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils; found in stimulating or intensifying clitoral gels.  Menthol works by irritating the skin.  The response the user feels is the skin sending blood to the surface in reaction to the inflammation produced by menthol. The problem arises in the fact that menthol is also an alcohol, and at the same time that it irritates the skin, it also breaks down the surface of the skin.  This reportedly produces the increased sensation that a woman experiences. 
According to some, using menthol-based products, for some consumers, simply isn't treating the right problem.  They can enjoy a temporary increase in blood flow, but that can pave the way for additional irritation.  Other reasons for a lack in the sensations dept. could be obesity or diabetes.  Those that react strongly to menthol the first time are more likely to show strong negative reactions to it the second, third, or fourth time around.
*The Bottom Line...Be safe and know why your body doesn't respond correctly, and always take care when using menthol.

Phthalates:  Chemical compounds of phthalic acid used primarily as plasticizers.  However, the adult novelty industry has largely phased phthalates out of most toys.  The FDA has given phthalates their seal of approval.  But they've also approved many other things that have ended up being not so great.  The problem with phthalates, according to Dr. George Bittner, PhD of Neurobiology at the University of Texas, is not simply the possible carcinogenic and reproductive effects commonly blamed on phthalates.  The studies behind them however, depending on what side of the argument you are on, can be skewed to defend whichever viewpoint one wishes to defend.  "The problem is that chemicals like phthalates and parabens (a common preservative) have, as a result of their chemical structure, what is known as estrogenic activity (EA).  This means they are capable of binding to mammalian estrogen receptors, including those in humans."  The chemical structure of a shower curtain liner is responsible for what we know to be the "smell" of plastics, and we absorb the extra EA into our bodies through direct contact, inhalation or ingestion. 
Dr. Bittner explains that men and women alike have certain amounts of naturally occurring estrogen in their bodies.  "The idea is that you want to keep it within a range that you normally find in the body."  In other words, allowing the body's natural regulation of estrogen is the ideal in this case.  While daily exposure to phthalates is common from cosmetics, food and plastics all around us, Dr. Bittner explains that the intimate use of adult products can allow - but not guarantee - for these chemicals to be more easily absorbed.
EA, in turn, has been blamed for a host of effects.  "These different effects include decreased sperm count, altered ovarian and uterine function, obesity, various sorts of behavioral alterations," says Bittner.  "There have also been fairly well-documented reports that chemicals with EA can increase the probability of producing certain types of cancers."  Because human genetics are different from person to person, Bittner cautions that "you've got to be careful.  (With) some other forms (of cancer), the estrogenic activity may decrease the incidence of it."  The bottom line?  Estrogen is powerful stuff, and allowing it to be affected by outside sources spells out only a more convoluted list of potential hazards.
Innovation has well out-paced medical concerns, and the alternatives to phthalates in adult novelties are available in droves.  The popular alternatives to flesh out a body-friendly selection currently include:  silicone (perhaps the best bet in terms of comparable feel and softness; the molecules of silicone are extremely large and very hard to absorb in the body), metal (which can be great for toying with temperatures), glass (one of the more visually dynamic mediums, glass has become a trendy standard, and is among the safest products), wood (splinter-free of course), stone (limited in concept but growing), and alternative plastics (including new formulations of PVC).  Cyberskin products do not contain phthalates - per Greenpeace Netherlands research.
*The Bottom Line...Rubber good made with phthalates have been around forever, but maybe now is a good time to look for another alternative....better safe than sorry.

Parabens:  A group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.  While the estrogenic effects of parabens have been proven, the consensus has been that any estrogenic effect caused by the doses of parabens received from consumer products are insignificant compared to natural estrogens and other sources.  Translation?  Yes, EA is bad.  And yes, parabens have been shown to act on estrogen.  But compared to hormone replacement therapy, phthalates or natural levels of bodily estrogen, parabens are reportedly the least of these in terms of EA.
Still, the phenomenon of instant truth that gets attached to anything published online aside, parabens are more commonly known for being an allergen and potentially inciting dermatitis, explains Rebecca Powley from Intimate Organics.  "A lot of customers are drawn to lubes by their price point or flashy packaging," adds Dean Elliott, CEO of Sliquid.  "People have to start looking at lube for what's on the inside.  There are a lot of people that don't know why a glycerine or paraben-free lubricant is a better choice for them."  Keep in mind, there are parabens in the majority of the bath & body products we use on a daily basis.
*The Bottom Line...I think we'll go with "same as above....better safe than sorry."  If you've been using an older style vibe 'forever', chances are you have been dealing with phthalates and paraben already...but it's never too late to start over with a newer, safer product.

*All of the above were excerpts from the ASB 10/08 issue, article by Kylie Matthews.

Silicone:  Most experts agree that silicone is the premium sex toy material.  Silicone is called "the Cadillac of sex toy materials" because it is durable, nonporous, hygienic and easy to clean.  You can boil it, freeze it, or stick it on the top rack of the dishwasher, or even put it in the microwave!  But for those reasons, it usually comes with a higher price tag.  OH, don't put toys with electric components in the microwave or dishwasher!  Silicone vibes are firm to the touch, but have a soft feel and become slick when lubricated.

Lubes: 
-Silicone lubes are perfect for use in water, as they don't wash away like water-based lubes.  If you're purchasing water-proof toys, perhaps a silicone lube to go with?!  However, it is important not to use silicone lube with silicone toys as a reaction could occur, ruining the toy.  It's also a good idea to keep jelly (soft) toys separate, as they can also react with each other.  Perhaps one of our toy boxes would be perfect!
-Water-based lubes can be used on virtually any vibrator, dildo, or masturbator.  Water-based lubes are the perfect lubricant to be used with silicone toys to decrease the risk of damage to the toy.
-Petroleum-based lubes are used primarily for anal play.  Their consistencies are often very thick and may contain desensitizers for ease of play.  These petroleum-based lubes should not be used with anything made out of latex.

*All of the above were excerpts from the ASB 10/08 issue, article by Annalee Wooster.