Over the last two years, fast fashion retailers Shein and Temu have started cashing in on our growing want for wank devices. Nestled among £2 T-shirts and £3 phone cases, the sites promise that their sex toys have been bought by thousands of people and pretty much all feature 1,000+ reviews at an average of 4.5 stars.
If you’re not as familiar with sex toy reviews as we are here at Cosmo, let us tell you that that’s almost unheard of, even for the highest quality sex toys. But that’s not the only difference between shopping for sex toys on these sites compared with established sex toy-only retailers.
When you search for ‘sex toys’, a click of a button to confirm you’re over 18 is enough to show you some extremely graphic images — and not just of your standard vibrator or dildo. Instead it’s a world of extremes: a ‘super long’ 16.5 inch dildo, a wolf dildo (yup, that’s what it says on the tin), a realistic male masturbator with a ‘virgin vagina’, or a sex doll with a cock and large breasts. They’re all depicted mid-use with graphic, anatomical illustrations, AI-generated nudes, or what looks like real couples having sex. And that’s just the first page!
But perhaps most concerning is the fact these toys have supposedly been bought, received, and loved by so many people — and that they’re so readily available on any fast fashion site — gives them the allure of safety and quality to anyone who hasn’t gone out of their way to research the (lack of) regulations governing the sex toy industry.
The kicker? Some toys sell for as little as £1, with £20-£25 being the most you’ll be asked to cough up. Considering 53% of people would only spend up to £20 on a sex toy, according to recent research by BackMarket, would it really be a surprise if as many people are buying sex toys from these sites as they claim?
EYNTK when buying sex toys from Shein and Temu
Saving money by buying cheaper sex toys from these websites, rather than established retailers like Lovehoney, LELO, or Ann Summers, can come with a hidden cost. “A significant concern with fast fashion retailers like Temu and Shein offering sex toys is their tendency to prioritise low prices over safety and quality,” says Kristen Tribby, resident sex educator at sex toy retailer Kiiroo.
“These retailers generally lack transparency regarding material sourcing, production practices, and safety certifications, making informed decision-making difficult for consumers.”
If you’re not immediately overwhelmed by the thousands of vibrators, dildos, and sex dolls on these sites — or distracted by WTF is happening in the product pictures — trying to shop for a toy based on its material is almost impossible.
What are Temu and Shein sex toys made of?
On Temu, the first three products that come up when you search ‘sex toys’ don’t mention what material they’re made from at all. It’s not much better on Shein, as you have to scroll through endless photos of the toy sucking on an illustrated nipple or clitoris to find reference to it being ‘safe skin-friendly’ (whatever that means) or made from ‘safety silicone material’.
Spokespeople for both Shein and Temu tell Cosmopolitan UK that they take compliance “very seriously” with stock sellers being held to local safety standards (Temu says it collaborates with testing and certification providers to “ensure third-party seller products meet required standards”). But sex toys are completely unregulated in the EU. This means that sex toys can, legally, be made from any material — including PVC and jelly plastics, which can contain toxic chemicals like phthalates that transfer to the body when used. Temu spokespeople claim that the site complies with RoHS regulations that “restrict the use of certain harmful substances, including phthalates”.
FYI, for sex toys to be considered body-safe, they need to be made from silicone (although not all silicone is made equal — medical-grade is ideal), ABS plastic, borosilicate glass, or stainless steel. “Anything outside of that poses a risk of degrading or harbouring bacteria that can cause infections that could lead to reproductive issues or worse,” says sex educator and erotic romance author Shakira Scott (AKA Scotty Unfamous).
While by no means will all toys from these marketplaces be made from unsafe materials, consumers are currently entirely responsible for knowing how to spot a safe product. “This isn’t to say that any purchase guarantees you receiving something dodgy, but as long as [retailers] list toys as a ‘novelty’ item, it’s understood that the consumer is using it at their own risk,” Scott explains.
Polluting our bodies and the planet
If the potential risk to your body isn’t enough to deter you from buying sex toys on online marketplaces, think about the planet and the workers. Shein has been found to violate China’s labour laws, with clothing manufacturers alone working up to 75-hour work weeks, and having just one day off a month. It’s also not clear what conditions Shein and Temu sex toys are made in, as they’re mostly sold by third-party sellers. While spokespeople for both Shein and Temu emphasise taking consumer safety and product regulations seriously, neither responded to questions about how they comply with labour regulations in countries they operate in.
And, as with anything produced on such a vast scale (Shein introduces up to 10,000 new products every day) sex toys being sold on these websites could have a negative impact on the environment. “Mass production typically involves resource-intensive processes, excess packaging, and high carbon emissions linked to global shipping,” Kibby says.
Plus, toxic substances that can be found in materials like jelly and PVC “can pollute ecosystems upon disposal”, Kibby says. However, one of Shein’s ESG priorities is waste reduction and material traceability, according to its 2023 impact report, while it claims to encourage “customers to use products for as long as possible”. Temu didn’t respond to Cosmopolitan UK’s question about the environmental impact of its products.
But, let’s be honest, who really knows how to dispose of a sex toy correctly? Less than one in five people recycle their old sex toys, apparently.
The move towards sex toys being produced on the same scale as fast fashion could also start to have an impact on the rest of an industry as a whole. “When fast fashion companies enter this market with low-priced products, they also threaten the viability of reputable, education-focused retailers,” Kibby adds. “Losing such trusted stores would severely impact the future of sexual wellness, diminishing consumer access to accurate education and safe, quality products.”
Getting your pleasure products for a pound a kick sounds unreal on the surface, but if you’re getting what you paid for, it’s not worth it. When it comes to sex tech, if you buy cheap, you really will have to buy twice.
Tips for using cheap sex toys
While none of the sex educators we consulted advise buying a toy off these sites in the first place, if you have a toy that you’re not sure is safe to use, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself while using them.
1.Flame or intuition
High-quality silicone should only melt at super high temperatures (we’re talking over 1,000 degrees). If you want to get sciencey with it, you can conduct an experiment on your sex toy to see whether the silicone is body-safe. “Cut off a small piece and safely put it to a flame,” Scott advises.
“If it’s silicone it will take a while and a very high temperature for it to catch fire as it has a high ignition temperature. The burnt particles will turn to ash. If it isn’t, it will catch fire easily and start to melt.”
But safety isn’t just about what the toy is made from — it’s also important to be sensible with what shape and size of toy you’re putting in your body. “Listen to your body and go with your own limits and desires,” says Mel Plehov, founder of Melba Toys.
“Some toys may be sold as novelty and might cause injury as a result of size, shape, firmness, or materials,” Plehov continues. “If you are using toys anally, a flared base (or base much wider than the shaft) is essential for safety.”
2.Condom, lube, action!
If you’re too shy to do the flame test (fair enough), check the materials on the website or the box to see if your toy is body-safe.
Still not clear? You can safely use it by cleaning it thoroughly before use, and wrapping it in a condom to prevent any unsafe substances transferring to your body.
Silicone toys shouldn’t be used with silicone lube (as this can break down the material and make it harder to clean over time). Go for a water-based lube instead.
3.Recycle responsibly
If you’ve bought a sex toy that you’re worried about using, or your fave toy has stopped working, make sure you’re recycling your sex toy in accordance with local regulations. If you don’t already know how, read Back Market’s guide on recycling sex toys in your area.
While it might be tempting to invest in cheap sex toys, it’s best to invest in a more expensive sex toy that will last longer — ideal for you and the planet!
But we know that’s not always possible for everyone, so we’ve rounded up affordable sex toy alternatives that are body-safe and from established retailers.
Best affordable sex toys to buy now
Pros
- Long battery life (3.5 hours)
- 10 vibration speeds to choose from!
Cons
- Battery-operated
Pros
- Fully waterproof
- Great for blended pleasure
Cons
- Battery powered
Pros
- Looks like a little lolly
- Small and discreet
Cons
- Battery operated (2 x AAA included)
Pros
- Great intro toy to clit suckers
- Super quiet
Cons
- (Once again) battery operated
Pros
- Handle makes it easy to slip them out
- Big difference between the smallest and biggest beads
- 6 insertable inches
Cons
- No vibrations on this one
Pros
- Super squishy silicone for a comfortable grip
- One size fits most (but measure up before you buy)
Cons
- Don't lose it, it's tiny!
Pros
- Waterproof for a wet wank!
- Soft and stretchy
Cons
- Some say it's too small so measure up
Pros
- 7 vibration speeds to choose from
- Flared base makes it body safe
- Textured for added stimulation
Cons
- Battery powered (but included!)
Pros
- Easy to use during masturbation
- Water resistant
Cons
- Only comes with one speed
Pros
- Curved for G-spot pleasure
- Use for G-spot and P-spot pleasure
Cons
- No suction cup (it's hollow)
Pros
- Take her in the shower! She's waterproof
- Textured tip for extra stimulation
Cons
- Battery powered, so risks running out mid-sesh
Pros
- Made from biodegradable material!
- Tested by third parties and phthalates free
Cons
- Only one button to cycle through the 10 vibration patterns
Honey is the Senior Sex and Relationships E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health and Men’s Health. She covers shopping guides and reviews of the best sex toys; deals events — including Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday; and sex, dating, and LGBTQ+ trends.
Her journalism career started in 2020 when she started Sextras, a podcast and digital magazine about sex and relationships. Find Sextras on Spotify or Substack, where she writes and chats about everything from positive masculinity and how to practise sex magic, to why the latest kink or porn category is blowing up.
She has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London, and previously reported for HR magazine. Her features also appear in Glamour, Refinery29, The Independent, and more.
When she's not asking everyone she meets invasive questions about their sex and dating lives, you'll find Honey singing around her flat, teaching herself a new craft, or working her way through a new '90s/'00s box set with her flatmate.
