TPE vs. Silicone: Which Type of Sex Doll is Best for You?

When you find yourself in the market for a sex doll, one of the first decisions you will have to make is which material you want your doll to be made of. Two of the most popular materials used for sex dolls today are silicone and TPE. Both of these materials are usually the most sought after because the dolls made from these materials not only look incredibly realistic but they provide you with next-to-real sensation. However, knowing the pros and cons of both of them can guide you in making the right decision that will meet your needs.

TPE Dolls

TPE dolls are made from Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), otherwise called thermoplastic rubbers. TPE is made from the combination of rubber and plastic, and possess properties from both materials. This makes TPE dolls flexible, slip resistant and shock absorbent. They are the most popular of dolls due to their affordability.

Pros

TPE dolls are a lot less expensive than silicone dolls as TPE is a less expensive material to produce while possessing almost the same characteristics. They look very real and human-like, with soft and smooth bodies that make them easy to handle. They also have the ability to retain warmth and, because of the elastic features of the TPE material, can be squeezed as you would a real human. The material is also odorless and hypoallergenic, which makes it unlikely for it to cause allergic reactions.

Cons

TPE is a more porous material than silicone, which makes it easier for fluid to become trapped which can enable germs and bacteria a chance to thrive if you do not properly clean your doll. One way to simplify the clean up process is to customize your TPE doll by selecting a removable vagina when you place your Annie’s Dollhouse order. Additionally, since TPE is a blend of materials, one manufacturer’s doll may feel slightly different from another.

Silicone Dolls

Silicone dolls are made of silicone (no surprises here), a man-made polymer material which is rubbery, heat resistant, and available in a number of forms.It is a very versatile material with lots of properties and uses, with a wide range spanning from kitchen spatulas, baby teething rings to breast implants used in cosmetic surgery. Silicone dolls have been in existence for a while now, and have proven to be of the highest quality available.

Pros

Silicone dolls are the closest to actual human beings when it comes to sexual stimulation, and they have a very real feel when you touch them. They are slightly more durable that TPE so your sex doll may not be as delicate compared to TPE. Silicone dolls also have the ability to retain warmth, providing you with a more human-like feel. Silicone dolls are easier to sterilize because of the non-porous, silicone material, and they rarely cause allergic reactions.

Cons

Silicone dolls are the most expensive types of dolls because silicone is an expensive material and the technology used in its production is costly. Also, silicone dolls are heavier and slightly more rigid than TPE dolls, as they do not have the same ability of elasticity that TPE possesses.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately you’ll have to determine what material is best for you based on your needs. Still undecided? Contact customerservice@anniesdollhouse.com with additional questions and we’ll be happy to help you determine the best option for you!

5 Things To Consider When Buying A Sex Doll

Realistic features such as their own hair, molded body parts that feel like an actual human body, and ultra-realistic usable genitalia have made sex dolls more appealing and have provided countless customizable options. However, so many options means there is a lot to consider when making your purchase.

Sex dolls are available in both sexes and a variety of types and sizes, so it can be confusing when you have to choose a doll to buy amongst the wide range of dolls available. Therefore, it is important that you carry out a little research to help you choose the right sex doll that fits your needs and budget.

Full-sized sex dolls have provided sexual stimulation and gratification for men and women over the years. Recently, due to increased affordability of materials, they’ve become even more popular because they offer so much more than handheld sex toys.

#1 Reason

You can purchase a doll for yourself for sexual adventure or companionship; for your partner, to fill a role or fulfill a fantasy: or for you and your partner to enhance your sex life. Whatever your reason, you must define them to help you decide on a doll to buy in order to guide you in choosing the appropriate doll.

If you have a partner, even if he or she won’t be using the doll with you, it’s important to talk to your partner so they can understand your needs and insure that there won’t be any surprises. Everyone is different with different sex drives, so a sex doll can help manage those differences.However, always remember open communication is important in a successful relationship. A partner stumbling upon you using a sex doll that he or she didn’t know about is bound to create some difficulties.

#2 Budget

The price of sex dolls varies based on the size and the quality of material used in production. Full-sized dolls are usually pricier than small sized dolls and silicon dolls can be more costly than TPE dolls. Therefore, you should consider your budget as the first decision you’ll make when shopping for a doll. If you’re just starting out and want to keep a modest budget but still have customization options, you can buy a full-sized torso doll which run less expensive than regular full-sized dolls as they do not have legs.

Additionally, most doll manufacturers sell dolls with detachable heads. You can plan for the future by buying a doll with the intent to purchase an extra head from the same manufacturer so you can have the flexibility of a different experience without having to buy a second full-sized doll.

#3 Size

Now that you’ve established your budget, you can use that to help guide the size of the doll you’d like to purchase. Sex dolls come in a wide range of sizes, so you have to decide on whether you want a large, full-sized doll or a smaller doll. Before choosing a doll, you should keep in mind that large dolls weigh more than smaller dolls, and consider your ability to lift them easily when you need them.

#4 Design

Sex dolls are available in different designs, from dolls with ultra-realistic designs, to those who have exaggerated features such as extra large eyes or very tiny waists. Additionally, features like hair and skin color or pubic hair and labia color, many dolls can be customized to your exact preferences. There’s even fantasy and sci-fi types of features such as elf ears, vampire fangs and more.

#5 Maintenance & Care

Whatever design you choose, you should also consider how easy it will be to clean it. For instance, although dolls with fixed vaginas look more realistic than those with removable vaginas, they are more labor intensive to clean.

You also should think about how to store the doll as you’ll want to keep your investment safe and protected. You’ll need to be able to store your doll either vertically or horizontally without bending the joints to insure there are no permanent creases that develop on the TPE or silicone material. Most dolls either come with a vertical hanging option (the head detaches enabling the body to be hung from a closet bar). Or, for horizontal storage, you can include a storage case with your purchase to provide a more controlled and discrete option to store your doll.

Lars & The Real Girl: Sex Dolls in Pop Culture

Back in 2007, a little independent film told the story about a socially awkward man – Lars – who falls in love with a life-sized sex doll. Nominated for as Academy Award for Best Screenplay, “ Lars and the Real Girl” engaged critics and moviegoers alike by introducing sex dolls and the complicated world of emotional intimacy to a wider audience.

Lars, played by Ryan Gosling who was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor for the film, is an introverted man who has difficulty making conversation with people, including his immediate family including his brother Gus (played by Paul Schneider) and his sister-in-law Karin (played by Emily Mortimer). Uninterested in a co-worker who shows a romantic interest in him, Lars instead orders a life-sized sex doll from the internet named Bianca and introduces her to his family.

Over time, Lars develops feelings for Bianca and even introduces her to people as if she were a real human being. Due to the strong emotional attachment he has for the sex doll, it made it further difficult for him to cultivate any other relationship. Eventually, Lars proclaims that Bianca is unresponsive and plans a real funeral for her with a lot of people in attendance. After the death of Bianca, Lars begins what seems like a budding relationship with his co-worker.

Sex Dolls in Pop Culture

Sex dolls as a whole have seen a lot of representation in pop culture, particularly in the movies. One of such movies is; “Lars and the Real Girl”, in which the protagonist falls in love with a life-sized sex doll. Other movies, such as the series Humans have also depicted the possibility of humans falling in love with robotic sex dolls. One of the main reasons why this happens in movies gives credence to one fact only; that sex dolls can provide the feel and stimulation one would feel while having sex with a human. However, the movie in question; “Lars and the Real Girl”, passes across a message, although a subtle one, which is that –while sex dolls can help humans with their sexual needs they cannot completely replace human relationships.

The earliest forms of the modern sex dolls, which are the super unrealistic plastic blow-up dolls prone to bursting, have evolved over the years due to a number of reason. However, in addition to the development of better materials, the main reason for the evolution of sex dolls is due to the fact that humans are constantly seeking for more realistic sexual stimulation and sex doll manufacturers keep improving on their designs to feed into this desire. This can be seen in the progression of sex dolls over the years, from inflatable blow-up dolls to vinyl, silicone and TPE dolls.

Sex trends over the years show that each version of these sex dolls have evolved and improved from the previous one, allowing a greater degree of realness. Today, dolls are being produced with very human-like features such as having ultra-realistic bodies that are soft to the touch as well as the ability to be warmed and have vocal queues. However, no matter the technological advancement that is achieved with sex dolls, they can serve a need for companionship as well as novelty and safe adventure that many people crave.