Liquid silicone and dual-density dildos explained

Realistic dildos used to be either soft and porous or firm and lifeless. Liquid silicone and dual density changed that: a toy can now have the give of skin over the firmness of an erection and still be cleaned properly. The terms on the box are confusing, so here is what each one means and how it feels. For the basics of size and shape, start with choosing a dildo.

What liquid silicone is

Liquid silicone goes into the mould while it is still fluid, instead of being pressed in as a thick paste. It fills every vein and ridge, leaves hardly any seam and cures to a smooth, supple surface, which is why it is the material of choice for detailed realistic shapes.

Good toy silicone is platinum cured, without the tin catalysts of cheaper blends, so it does not turn sticky or pick up a smell over the years. Like all genuine silicone it is non-porous, and a toy without electronics can be boiled.

The Lovetoy Nature 7 inch is a single layer liquid silicone dildo, soft enough to bend by hand, with veins, a defined head and a suction cup. The Nature 8 inch is one size up and harness compatible. Both feel warm and supple rather than rubbery.

What dual density means

Dual density, also sold as dual layer or double density, means two layers of silicone in one toy: a firm core that holds its shape and a softer outer layer that gives under pressure. Firm inside, soft on the surface: that is how an erection actually feels.

In use, dual density makes a big toy easier and a small toy more satisfying. The soft skin lets your body adjust, and the core gives enough resistance to really feel it. The Lovetoy Dual Layered Platinum 7 inch is the easy starting point; the Lovetoy Nature 9.5 inch Dual Layer is the long one at 24.5 centimetres, phthalate and latex free.

SilexD adds Silexpan, a memory silicone that takes the shape of the pressure and comes back. The SilexD Model 2 9 inch measures 22.9 by 5.3 centimetres, is phthalate free and has a suction cup strong enough for a wall. The SilexD Model 1 7 inch warms up fast and is harness compatible. The SilexD Liquid Silicone Model 2 7.5 inch has 17.2 centimetres insertable and 4.1 across, a medium size that suits most people, in a thermo reactive silicone that softens as it warms.

Two more worth knowing: the Chisa Pubescent in dual density liquid silicone, slim at 20.5 by 3.8 centimetres and harness compatible, and the Lovetoy Dual Layered 9.5 inch in two-layer silicone, for when you already know you like it big.5 across, for when you already know you like it big.

Sliding skin

With sliding skin, the outer layer is not bonded tightly to the core, so it moves a little over it, the way skin moves on a real erection. On the way out the surface glides with you instead of dragging, and that is what people notice most. Most sliding skin dildos are dual layer TPE or TPR rather than silicone.

The Lovetoy Sliding 7 inch is 17.5 by 3.6 centimetres in dual layer TPE, a comfortable first realistic dildo. The Baile Duvall, at 19.4 centimetres the shortest Baile sliding skin model, is an easy way in. The Pretty Love Kable adds a bendable spine in the core, so you can set an angle and it stays there.

How they differ from TPE and PVC

TPE and TPR are softer and squishier than silicone, very lifelike and cheaper. They are also porous: they cannot be boiled or sterilised, they slowly take on lubricant and smells, and they wear out sooner. Treat a TPE dildo as a personal toy and put a condom on it if you share.

PVC is the cheapest realistic material, usually firmer and less skin-like. Some PVC is softened with phthalates, so only buy it when the listing says phthalate-free.

Silicone, liquid or not, is non-porous, keeps its surface for years and can be cleaned completely. Dual density silicone gets closest to skin while keeping those advantages. Our guide on body-safe materials compares them all.

Size: read two numbers

Realistic dildos are often named by total length in inches, base and balls included. Look at the insertable length and the diameter instead. A few millimetres more across changes the feel more than a few centimetres more length, and because the outer layer gives, dual density lets you enjoy a little more girth than a firm toy of the same size.

Browse our realistic dildos and silicone dildos with those two numbers in mind. If in doubt, start around seven inches and under four centimetres across.

Suction cups and harness use

Almost every dildo in this group has a suction cup. It holds on a smooth, clean, non-porous surface such as tiles, glass or a bath, and better when the cup is slightly damp.

For strap-on play, pick a model listed as harness compatible and check the base against the ring. The Joydivision Adjustable Harness De Luxe takes bases from 2 to 4.8 centimetres across and goes in the washing machine. Balls at the base sit less flat in the ring, so smooth bases are easier. There is more in strap-ons and pegging, and our guide to toys for couples has ideas for playing together.

Cleaning and lubricant

Use a water-based lubricant with all of these. Silicone lubricant slowly damages silicone toys, and oil breaks down TPE and cannot be washed out of it. Our lubricant guide explains why.

Wash silicone dildos with warm water and mild unscented soap, or boil one without electronics for a few minutes. TPE and most sliding skin models get warm water and soap only, a thorough drying and a dusting of cornstarch when the surface turns tacky. Store each toy on its own, because silicone and TPE react with each other; our guide to cleaning and storing your toys covers the rest.

How to choose

• The most realistic feel: dual density silicone, such as the SilexD or Lovetoy dual layer ranges.
• Soft and easy to clean: single layer liquid silicone, such as the Lovetoy Nature.
• The gliding skin effect for less: a sliding skin model, kept as a personal toy.
• For a harness: a model listed as harness compatible, with a smooth base that fits your ring.
• Not sure about size: around seven inches and under four centimetres across.

Frequently asked questions

Is liquid silicone better than ordinary silicone?

Not safer, just made differently. Liquid silicone captures more detail and usually feels smoother and more supple. Both are non-porous and easy to clean.

What does a dual density dildo feel like?

A soft surface that gives under your fingers over a core that stays firm, much closer to a real erection than a toy with one hardness throughout.

Can I use silicone lubricant with a dual density dildo?

No. Use a water-based lubricant on silicone and TPE toys. Silicone lubricant can make a silicone surface tacky over time, and oil breaks down TPE.

Are sliding skin dildos made of silicone?

Mostly not. Most use dual layer TPE or TPR, which is porous. Wash it after every use, dry it fully and keep it for yourself, or use a condom when you share.