The Lovense Lush 3 is made from 100% body-safe silicone on the insertable body and ABS plastic on the tail and outer housing. The charging connectors are magnetic metal pins. The device is phthalate-free, BPA-free, non-porous, and uses FDA-compliant materials throughout. No part of it contains latex or jelly rubber.
Material quality in insertable sex toys is not a cosmetic concern, it directly affects safety, hygiene, and longevity. Here’s a full breakdown of what the Lush is made from and why those choices matter.
The Insertable Body: Medical-Grade Silicone
The rounded egg-shaped portion of the Lush, the part that is inserted, is made from 100% body-safe silicone. Lovense describes this as medical-grade silicone, meaning it meets the same material standards used in medical implants, catheters, and surgical instruments.
What Body-Safe Silicone Means
Silicone is a synthetic polymer made from silicon, oxygen, and other elements. “Body-safe” silicone specifically refers to formulations that:
- Contain no phthalates (plasticising chemicals linked to endocrine disruption)
- Contain no BPA (bisphenol-A)
- Are non-porous, the surface has no microscopic holes that harbour bacteria
- Are chemically inert, they don’t react with body chemistry or most lubricants
- Don’t leach chemicals or off-gas compounds at body temperature
The FDA classifies certain grades of silicone as GRAS (Generally Recognised as Safe) for medical device applications. Medical-grade silicone is distinct from “silicone-like” materials or blended compounds sometimes used in cheaper products, which may be labelled as silicone while containing significant filler materials.
Why Non-Porous Matters
Porous materials, jelly rubber, PVC, some soft plastics, have microscopic surface irregularities where bacteria and fungi can survive even after cleaning. Because these organisms live inside the material structure rather than on the surface, standard cleaning doesn’t fully remove them. This is why many sexual health resources, including Planned Parenthood’s safer sex guidance and independent toy safety reviewers, recommend avoiding porous materials for insertable toys.
Non-porous silicone can be fully cleaned at the surface level. Bacteria and other microorganisms cannot penetrate the material itself. Wash with mild soap and warm water or a dedicated toy cleaner and the surface is genuinely clean, not just surface-washed.
Silicone vs Common Alternatives
| Material | Porous? | Phthalate-free | Recommended for insertion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical-grade silicone | No | Yes | Yes |
| ABS plastic | No | Yes | Yes (hard toys) |
| TPE/TPR | Yes | Varies | Generally no |
| PVC/jelly rubber | Yes | Often no | No |
| Glass | No | N/A | Yes |
| Stainless steel | No | N/A | Yes |
The Lush uses the safest category of flexible material available for its insertable component.
The Tail and Housing: ABS Plastic
The external tail of the Lush, the curved arm that exits the body during wear and contains the Bluetooth antenna, is made from ABS plastic with a flexible silicone-coated section where it meets the body.
What ABS Plastic Is
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a rigid thermoplastic polymer. It is the same material used in LEGO bricks, many consumer electronics housings, and medical device casings. It is:
- Non-porous
- BPA-free in its standard formulation
- Phthalate-free
- Hard and durable under normal use conditions
- Not designed for prolonged internal contact (hence its use only on the external tail, not the insertable body)
ABS is a standard and well-understood material in the sex toy industry for external components. It cleans easily, holds up to standard cleaning agents, and doesn’t degrade with normal use.
The Silicone-Coated Junction
Where the ABS tail meets the silicone body, Lovense applies a silicone coating over the ABS. This transition zone sits near the vaginal opening during wear and benefits from the softer, skin-compatible properties of silicone rather than rigid plastic contact.
The Motor Housing
The vibration motor sits inside the rounded insertable end. The motor itself is an enclosed electromechanical component, a small eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motor or a linear resonant actuator (LRA), depending on the model generation. The motor casing is ABS plastic with silicone overmoulding.
The motor is fully sealed and does not come into contact with bodily fluids or lubricant. Vibrations transmit through the silicone body to the surface.
The Charging Connectors: Magnetic Metal Pins
The two magnetic charging pins on the tail are metal, a standard conductive metal alloy used in magnetic connectors. These pins are:
- External only, they do not enter the body
- Sealed flush with the tail surface when not in use
- Compatible with any USB-A power source via the included cable
The pins should be kept dry and clean. Lubricant residue on the pins can interfere with charging contact. Clean with a dry cloth or dry cotton swab as needed.
Safety Certifications and Compliance
The Lovense Lush 3 is compliant with:
- FDA materials standards, the silicone and ABS materials meet FDA guidelines for body-contact medical devices
- CE certification, compliant with European safety standards for electrical goods
- RoHS compliance, restricts hazardous substances in electrical equipment (including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and certain phthalates)
- FCC certification, the Bluetooth radio transmitter meets US Federal Communications Commission standards
Lovense publishes product compliance information through their support documentation. These certifications are relevant because they reflect independent verification of material and electrical safety, not just manufacturer claims.
Why Cheap Alternatives Use Different Materials
Price is directly related to material choice. A $25 vibrator labelled as “silicone” may contain:
- TPE or TPR (thermoplastic elastomers), softer and flexible, but porous
- PVC with silicone branding, common mislabelling in unregulated markets
- Blended compounds, cheaper silicone mixed with filler materials
These materials feel similar to genuine silicone but behave very differently. They degrade faster, retain odour, harbour bacteria, and may contain phthalates that have been restricted or banned in consumer products in the EU, UK, and Canada.
Genuine medical-grade silicone costs significantly more to source and process than these alternatives, it’s one of the main reasons well-regarded brands like Lovense, LELO, We-Vibe, and Fun Factory charge more than mass-market alternatives.
CNET’s consumer tech coverage and sex toy safety reviews on sites like Wirecutter consistently note material quality as a primary differentiator between premium and budget products.
How to Clean the Lush Based on Its Materials
Knowing the materials informs cleaning:
- Silicone body: Wash with mild soap and warm water, or a dedicated silicone-safe toy cleaner. The IPX6 rating means it can be rinsed directly under running water.
- ABS plastic tail: Same soap-and-water cleaning; no special treatment needed.
- Charging pins: Dry cleaning only, cloth or swab. Keep water away from the charging contact area during cleaning.
- Storage: The included satin pouch works well. Silicone attracts dust and lint, so covered storage keeps it clean.
Do not use:
- Silicone-based lubricants (degrade the silicone surface)
- Bleach or alcohol-based cleaners (can damage surface integrity over time)
- Dishwasher or autoclave (not designed for heat sterilisation)
For cam models using the Lush regularly, establishing a consistent post-show cleaning routine extends the device’s lifespan. The non-porous silicone means a thorough soap wash is genuinely effective, there’s no need for specialised cleaning products unless preferred.
Allergy Considerations
Genuine medical-grade silicone is hypoallergenic for the vast majority of people. Silicone allergies are rare but do exist. If you have a known sensitivity to silicone (relevant to people with certain medical implants or silicone-based scar treatments), consult a healthcare provider before use.
The Lush contains no latex, no fragrance, and no colouring agents in the silicone formulation that would typically trigger contact allergies. The ABS plastic components also have a very low allergen profile.
If you experience unusual irritation after use, discontinue and consult a medical provider, though reactions to the materials themselves are uncommon, improper cleaning, use of incompatible lubricants, or pre-existing skin conditions are more likely causes.