Glass with Class and Why I'm Not Convinced on Crystal

Glass With Class

“Glass sex toys? Really? Why would I want to put something that hard and possibly breakable into my body?” I thought out loud to myself as I picked up a glass dildo for the first time. “Because it feels AMAZING!” the sales rep woman enthusiastically replied.  Now, a satisfied glass toy owner myself, I am happy to agree with her and tell you, Positive Passions reader, why.

Great Features of Glass Toys:

• Body-safe and hypoallergenic. No phthalates, no irritation!

• Non-porous surface means no bacteria – hygienic!

• Smooth – virtually no friction!

• Wonderfully firm for satisfying vaginal, G-spot, and anal play

• Solid borosilicate (pyrex) means it’s very durable

• Elegant looks, amazing shapes & textures

  
  

There are so many reasons to love glass, but first, I’ll tell you how I was convinced.  I’ll tell you, but really, you should visit our boutique and I’ll let you feel it for yourself – just as the sales rep showed me – on your very sensitive hands, with plenty of lubricant.  The pleasurable secret about glass is that it is so firm and smooth – and because it’s smooth, once you put some lubricant on it, it’s virtually frictionless! Without so much friction in the way, you can experience the textures and shapes of the glass that really makes each toy unique.

Take the Icicles No. 18 hand blown glass massager, for example. Put the toy to the “hand job” test: with lubricant on it, stroke it in the U-shape of your hand between your thumb and index finger.  Feel how wonderfully stimulating the raised glass bumps are!  These are great to rub on top of the clitoris, ladies. Now, make a gentle fist and push the shaft of the toy in and out from tip to base and enjoy how your hand muscles are massaged by the shape of the head tip. Finally, with the base of the toy between your thumb and index finger, rotate the toy and enjoy the texture of the nubs.  Perfect for the sensitive opening and first 1/3 of the vagina.  Other toys have graduated balls or a series of round rings on them – these are great for deep vaginal stroking and massaging.  Some wands, like Icicles No.81, have twisted glass ridges on their shafts, great to run across the clitoris and stimulate on the inside.  See more shapes and styles in our boutique!

Now, try temperature play.  Stick it in the fridge for 5 minutes, or run it under cold tap water. It’s made of solid borosilicate (known by the brand name Pyrex) glass, so it can easily withstand the cold that will give you and your lover chills and thrills.  Want more of a warm massage? Hold it under warm tap water or put it in a mug of hot water and the heat will feel amazing inside.

As I mentioned before, glass is firm – and that’s a great thing. Many women are surprised to find just how much they like a firm toy when they are very aroused, especially  when seeking G-spot orgasms.  Nothing provides a firm massage against the G-spot like glass, especially a curved glass wand.  If you’re intimidated by the firmness, ladies, just use the wand gently and slowly inside yourself after experiencing a clitoral orgasm to make sure you’re sufficiently aroused.  Trust me, you’ll enjoy it!

Finally, safety – glass is wonderfully body-safe.  Glass contains no toxic plastic additives like phthalates or cadmium that could leech into and irritate your body – it’s hypoallergenic.  It is completely non-porous, so it will never absorb bacteria.  Your glass toy might have a great shape for anal play, and since it won’t soak up bacteria, with a good anti-bacterial cleanser or a thorough wash with soap and water in between locations, it will be safe to use in both the vagina and anus.  This hygienic  quality means it’s safe for sharing with multiple partners.  Since it’s solid, not hollow, and made of pyrex, it won’t shatter when exposed to (reasonable) temperature changes.  It can withstand reasonable bumps and drops on the floor from a low height.  It will never, ever break inside you while you are using it.  Treat it well and it’ll last a lifetime. 

Convinced yet? Intrigued? Consider this your invitation to visit us and chat more about Glass with Class. 

And, Why I’m Not Convinced on Crystal

Glass is great, so crystal toys ought to be just as excellent, right? Well, not exactly. At Positive Passions we have looked extensively into crystal sex toys and we’re not convinced. On the surface they seem similar to glass: firm, smooth, and beautiful. Yet, there are some very important ways in which they differ. Here’s what we learned:

They Are Porous. Even though the surface of a crystal dildo is smooth to the touch, it may contain microscopic pores that can harbour bacteria. Some forms of crystal are harder and less porous, yet since crystal is naturally occurring every piece will have it’s own imperfections that manifest as porosity and microfractures. During use, our lubricants and the bacteria in our vaginas and anus can get inside these imperfections and stay. These bacteria and microorganisms can multiply or even mould between uses, weakening the crystal. Introducing those additional organisms into the body the next time you play with the wand can affect your natural balance of flora and lead to a whole host of problems including irritation, inflammation, or infection.

Hard to sanitize. You will need to wash your crystal wand before and after use with a gentle cleanser and warm water. But, this is all you really can do. Exposing a crystal wand to hot or boiling water can cause it to crack internally, making weak points in the shaft and/or introducing more porosity to the surface. Some crystals are soluble or have subtle chemical reactions when soaked in water or exposed to strong cleansers. Because they contain heavy metals and other toxic factors, it is highly recommended that you do not use most gemstones internally. (Check out the list; your beloved amethyst is on it. So is quartz.) If you can’t put it in your mouth or soak it in water, do you really want it soaking in your yoni?

They Might Chip. Yes, so can glass dildos. But, if you have chipped your glass toy it is likely because you dropped it, hit it against something hard, or applied excessive torque pressure to it (more than can be applied against the soft tissues of the body). You will be able to visually assess the damage and dispose of the toy before using it and prevent causing any harm to your or your lover's body. But with crystal, the damage occurs progressively and can happen anytime. While inside you, during use, it can chip, crack or split, potentially leaving fragments in your body or scratches on your sensitive parts. Ouch.

They are Harmful to Mother Earth. We’re all about connectivity here. We get sacredness. It is for this reason that we cannot condone the unregulated and environmentally devastating mining processes involved in manufacturing crystal wands. I want my sexual healing to come without a side of unsafe working conditions and poverty wages. This is not to place a blanket of disapproval on the use of crystals in healing and ritual, but the more we have demand for them (especially in specific shapes and sizes, like a crystal wand), the more unsustainable and destructive our collections become

But, I love them! We understand, so we suggest that when you are shopping for a stone, choose one that is dense with a crystalline structure that won’t crack, shear, or chip. For example, compare two choices for a grounding stone to clear away negativity: obsidian or bloodstone. Obsidian is a volcanic glass that has a history of use for weapons because it breaks into pieces with curved edges that are razor thin and extremely sharp. Comparatively, the crystal structure and composition of bloodstone is much safer for internal use. Some specialists recommend using a condom on the crystal to prevent the damage that can be caused both to the crystal and your body from the transfer of fluids and bacteria. Then you can enjoy your crystal for longer and reduce the risk of it causing you any harm. The purpose of crystal toys is to create an intentional sexual practice. This can be done by applying our intentions and awareness to our sensual play with any toy, be it stone or glass or silicone. Find a toy that is the right colour, texture, and fit for you. But, when it comes to crystals, we advise you leave them on the bedside table.

By the Positive Passions Team