There is an incredible amount of innovation in the field of sex toys. For example, new materials are coming out all the time and every now and then really new ways are being found to stimulate your most sensitive spots. What trends can you expect in 2023? Here you can read my personal vision.
1. Sustainability
THE single most important trend in all product categories – whether cosmetics, food, electronics or clothing – is sustainability. It will be no different with sex toys in 2023, although – fair is fair – this industry is a bit behind here. So don’t expect that immediately all sex toy packaging materials will become sustainable, or that all environmentally unfriendly materials will disappear. But there will be more and more sex toys on the market that are made of biodegradable materials or ocean plastic. The first sustainable toys are already available, such as the Womanizer Eco. There are also, fortunately, more and more brands that focus entirely on sustainability, such as Gløv.
2. Connectivity
Sex toys are getting smarter and smarter. In recent years, we already saw that lockdowns increased consumer interest in sex-on-distance worldwide. People wanted to connect with each other in the virtual world. And sex is part of that. Sex toys that you or your partner control remotely through an app are already widely available. Now that most corona measures have been lifted, this need still persists.
According to many trend watchers, the metaverse will be a kind of Internet 3.0, where we live in a kind of virtual world. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, firmly believes in it, which is why he has already renamed his company Meta. Metaverse is a vision of the future of a virtual world on the Internet. It is a combination of virtual reality (allowing you to imagine yourself in another world with VR glasses), gaming, shopping, social media, blockchain and NFT. But it will also go a step further by combining the virtual world and the physical world through augmented reality. Sex and porn will become part of this technological development regardless, and by 2023 the first signs will be visible.
3. Men’s lingerie
You may be wondering if lingerie for men is really something new. And frankly, it isn’t. Still, there is always a very limited portion of men who do not simply buy underwear, but are actually interested in lingerie (if you understand the subtle difference…).
Within men’s lingerie there are clearly a number of trends; Still in 2023 we will see the colorful boxers and slips, but also materials like lace are surprising for tough men. And also the jock-strap will become more and more main-street! Believe me.
4. Supplements
There is a clear trend toward holistic sexual wellness. Generally understood to mean a balance between “sexual health” (think prevention of STDs or sexual violence), sexual positivity and equality, self-image (think self-esteem, resilience, feeling confident in your body) and finally sexual pleasure.
Within this trend, there is also a need – in addition to sex toys – to use other products to enhance sexual wellness. Think of lubricants with CBD to promote relaxation, libido enhancing creams, as well as bath products, perfumes with pheromones and massage oils. Actually, this trend includes all sex-related products that are not toys.
Personally, I am a big fan of products from 210th, Shunga, Neo Sensual and Pjur.
5. Silicone
Fortunately, the materials used to make vibrators, dildos and butt plugs are becoming increasingly body-safe. And in this, silicone plays a key role. One of the biggest advantages of this material is that it can be easily cleaned and disinfected, making it considered one of the safest materials for sex toys. It is further hypoallergenic and it contains no animal materials (important for vegans). So far, all this is nothing new.
What is new is that silicone will also be increasingly used for sex toys for persons with a penis. Current masturbator sleeves are primarily made of the synthetic rubber TPE. The main objection to TPE is that it is a porous material. That means it has tiny holes in it, where bacteria can eventually develop. Soap and toy cleaner do not help against this.
WOW-Tech group (the company behind the Womanizer, We-Vibe and Pjur lube) has now also started making sex toys for the penis under the Arcwave brand. This makes them one of the first to use silicone for masturbators. I know there are other manufacturers who claim to use silicone for masturbator sleeves, but with some I have my reservations about that. Anyway, I think – and hope – that this trend will continue. Masturbators will not only become even safer as a result, but will also last much longer, which in turn is much more sustainable for the environment.
6. Masturbators
And speaking of masturbators … The time of artificial pussies, mouths and asses is over. Not only will the materials change (see above: silicone), but also the design will become more and more discreet and beautiful. As a result, they will appeal to a wider audience.
But more importantly, masturbators are becoming more sophisticated. For example, Arcwave is now applying the technology of the Womanizer in the Arcwave Ion (see image). Furthermore, you see new features, such as heating, vibrating, thrusting, squeezing, … but also connectivity with apps and remote control (see above) you will see more and more in 2023. Brands leading the way in this are Kiiroo, Lovense and Hot Octopus.
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