What we want every adult to know about sex toy manufacturing...

Have you heard of phthalates?

Phtha- what? Right. It's a scary word. But toxins in sex toys are even scarier!

We are putting safety first. We want to raise public awareness about phthalates -- toxins commonly used to manufacture adult toys -- by introducing Toxic Toy Awareness Month every April. We are all about pleasure, and we don't think anyone should have to worry about the safety of their sex toys. We see April -- with Earth Day and the arrival of spring -- as the perfect time to educate all sexy people about the importance of buying body safe sex toys and green machines.

Phthalates (pronounced "thay-lates") are plastic softeners used in the manufacturing of jelly rubber toys and known to contain carcinogens. Operating in a largely unregulated industry, many adult toy manufacturers continue to use phthalates, despite incomplete data about their safety, for consumer use and in their factories. All of the toys at Self Serve are non-toxic, body safe and phthalate-free.

As part of Toxic Toy Awareness Month, we offer a free workshop in honor of Earth Day to raise customer awareness about the hazards of phthalates, sex toy toxins and the importance of buying body-safe sex toys. We also issue a call to manufacturers asking them to improve the quality of information they disclose about how their toys are produced. We at Self Serve believe there should be complete transparency about the safety of sex toys for consumers. If a sex toy is body safe and non-toxic, the manufacturer should proudly say so. Our goal is for every adult who visits our website to leave knowing more about the safety of the adult products they're playing with. It's important to buy sex toys from a company you trust.

We advise customers to seek out platinum-grade silicone, glass, and metal adult toys like toys on our site. We are highly selective about the safety and quality of our products, we test everything on the shelf, and have the disappointing sex so you don't have to!

Check out our green, eco-friendly, bodysafe sex toys and gifts...

Safety is about more than condoms!

Use Lube…

When it comes to sex the rule to live and love by is—THE WETTER THE BETTER! Not only does a good lube make sex feel marvelously better for all parties involved—it actually makes sex safer. Lube cuts down on friction and irritation and reduces the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections. If you’re using condoms lube reduces the risk of breakage. Lube makes sex last longer and feel better—so keep it slippery!

Leave the handcuffs for the professionals…

We can’t tell you how many people ask for handcuffs. They seem to be the perfect sexcessory; they’re hot, familiar, and inexpensive. they can cause nerve damage, which is totally not hot! The bones in your wrist are fragile and delicate and are covered in very little padding. A cop scene might be fun until your wrists start feeling numb and you realize you’ll have to explain your injuries to a physical therapist. If you have visions of being handcuffed to your bedpost try using leather or fabric restraints instead. They feel better and you can be a bad girl all night long.

Butt seriously…

If you're going to put something up your butt—make sure you can get it back! If you are into backdoor action (and right on for enjoying ALL of your body—you enlightened stud) than you need to be smart about your choice of sexcessories. Unlike the sweet cul-de-sac of the vagina your butt is a two lane highway. The sad truth is that once something starts traveling up your butt, it might not be inclined to come out the way it came in. Specifically, if you don't use a toy with a flared base or flange than you might end up in the ER explaining that the buzzing is NOT your cell phone ringing. Make sure you use the proper toys for the job because you have to take care of your prized assets: yourself. We encourage creative play, butt please choose toys that are meant for your booty.

If something hurts—stop it

A lot of people believe they should "ride it out" and that sex hurting or even feeling uncomfortable is normal. Some even use products that numb or desensitize, such as analeze, to cause a disconnect from their bodies during sex. This can be incredibly dangerous, not to mention a waste of time. Pain is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong and that damage is being done. Sex should never hurt. Trust your body's messages to you and sex will be a safe and enjoyable experience. It might take a bit more time, patience, and communication but sex will be much better for everybody. Instead of focusing on when sex is less painful and less dysfunctional, try thinking about the potential for more exciting pleasure, relaxation and passion in your life. You deserve it!

A caution about jelly rubber - phthalates-free and latex-free sex toys:

Any toy made of rubbers is porous and cannot be totally sterilized once used. Rubber sometimes contains latex or phthalates, softeners used in production. Research shows that phthalates may cause cancer. Any person with chemical sensitivities and latex allergies should avoid jelly rubber. These toys are often less expensive, but are often of lesser quality. Store rubber toys by themselves, as their material may react to other rubbers and plastics.

Keep in mind, Self Serve carries only bodysafe sex toys, and NONE of our toys contain phthalates! Read more about phthalates and how Self Serve celebrates earth day every day. Learn more about toxins from the Coalition Against Toxic Toys.

Don't be afraid to travel with sex toys!

You are not alone in traveling with toys! Many people travel with sex toys and take precious vibrators on vacation. Many people always travel with LOTS of toys, too. People that work at sex shops, kinky folks, sales people, toy manufacturers, swingers, and many other normal folks take toys with them all over the world. It's a universal desire to use toys and an almost universal fear of embarrassment. Take pride and know that the airport TSA agent is way more embarrassed than you are! Here are a few tips so you can breathe deeper and blush less:

1. The airport TSA agent operating security is trained on travel with adult toys and should be sensitive to peoples' privacy.
2. Until the regulations change again, keep lubricants and massage oils (and any liquids) under 3 ounces in a carry on. Pack them all in a quart size bag before you get to the airport. Some airports provide baggies if you do forget.
   
3. Take all batteries out of your toys. Not only will this prevent accidental public vibration, but it saves power and keeps your toy strong, too.
4. Put all intimate accessories in plastic baggies. This way if your bags are manually searched no one will touch your toys.
5. Have a great trip, wherever you're going. I guess we don't have to ask if it's 'business or pleasure!'