Silicone Sex Dolls vs. TPE Sex Dolls: What’s The Difference?

Thinking of purchasing your first sex doll? You might be wondering which material to go for. While silicone and TPE dolls share many similarities, there are a few key differences that might affect your purchasing decision, such as feel, price, and durability.

We’ve listed them below to make your decision that little bit easier!

Overview of Material

TPE Pros

• TPE sex dolls are made from a material called Thermoplastic Elastomer – or thermoplastic rubber. Because they are crafted from a mix of rubber and plastic, TPE sex dolls offer the benefits of both materials: flexibility, durability, and slip resistance.
• The material is uniformly soft, hypo-allergenic and retains warmth, so the dolls are great for sleeping with, cuddling, and squeezing.
• TPE can create a very realistic sex doll, with a supple texture that makes the dolls easy to handle and move into various positions. TPE is an elastic material, so if you like your doll to jiggle during activities, this might be the material for you.

TPE Cons

• Because manufacturers tend to use different formulas for their TPE sex dolls, some dolls may feel different from one another. TPE technology is also constantly evolving, so older dolls might not feel or look as realistic as newer models.
• TPE is a porous material which can trap fluids, so owners need to clean their dolls thoroughly after use to avoid the growth of bacteria and mold. You can make cleaning up easier by choosing a removable vagina for your TPE fabric doll.
• As TPE is porous and soft, extra care must be taken when cleaning the doll not to damage the skin. You cannot sterilize the doll in boiling water. Instead, you should follow the instructions outlined in our TPE doll cleaning guide.
• Finally, TPE can feel a little sticky to the touch. This can be fixed by applying some baby powder to the doll.

Silicone Pros

• Silicone sex dolls are made from liquid silicone rubber – a kind of polymer that’s also flexible, smooth, and super durable.
• They are not as delicate as TPE dolls, but are lighter in weight, and have both soft and firm areas. You can customize the doll to your liking with various features.
• Since the material is non-porous, silicone dolls can be sterilized in boiling water, making them easier to maintain.

Silicone Cons

• Silicone sex dolls are generally more expensive than TPE dolls due to the high-quality material and more involved manufacturing process.
• As mentioned previously, silicone dolls are also more rigid than TPE dolls. While some people prefer the more realistic feel, others prefer the more elastic nature of TPE.
• Like TPE, silicone can also feel slightly sticky to the touch, but this can be fixed by applying baby powder to the doll.
• Silicone dolls inevitably exhibit seamlines, which, unlike TPE dolls, cannot be entirely avoided or removed post-molding due to the inability to use heat to melt the silicone.

Maintenance and Longevity Guide for Adult Dolls

Maintenance

Cleaning

Both silicone and TPE dolls must be cleaned, dried and stored properly to increase the doll’s longevity and avoid damage. You can click here to read our guide to cleaning your silicone and TPE dolls.

Repairing

Both silicone and TPE dolls are susceptible to damage, so we recommend having three points of contact with the doll when in use. It can be difficult to repair damage or tears in silicone dolls, as the material is so rigid. TPE is more resilient, thanks to its elasticity, and it can stretch more than twice its size before it tears. That said, it is advisable to treat your doll gently, stay away from sharp edges, and avoid hard impact with blunt surfaces.

For small rips or tears in a TPE doll, you can purchase TPE glue. For more serious injuries, you can purchase a chunk of TPE from our website.

For small rips or tears in your silicone doll, you can purchase a silicone repair kit.

Powdering

We’ve already mentioned that powdering your dolls can make them less sticky and improve the smoothness of the skin. But applying powder also helps protect your doll’s skin from dust, chemical damage, and stains. It is not essential to powder your doll, but we recommend it to boost the doll’s longevity and prevent dust, hair, and other debris sticking to the skin.< p>

TPE Oiling

TPE dolls are made from oil, which evaporates over time through the doll’s porous skin. As a result, owners of TPE dolls must rehydrate the material with mineral or baby oil as a part of the maintenance routine. This helps keep the doll feeling super soft, and increases the lifespan of the doll.

Avoid Silicone-Based Products

TPE can melt if it comes into contact with silicone for prolonged periods of time, and even silicone dolls can get damaged by silicone-based products. This means that you should not use any clothing, lubricants or cleaning products that contain silicone when using or cleaning your doll. You should also avoid putting tight, elastic panties on your doll, as they can warp and tear the materials.

Longevity

TPE

As mentioned, the porosity of TPE means that TPE dolls require rehydration every now and then. While this does require a little extra effort, it increases the doll’s lifespan to no end. A TPE doll can practically last forever if looked after well and rehydrated regularly with good-quality mineral oil.< p>

Silicone

Silicone is a durable material that is strong enough to prevent bacteria from permeating the surface of its skin. But although the dolls are ‘waterproof’ enough to take hot baths with, silicone sweats and dries out over time, and it can not be properly rehydrated. As a result, a silicone doll’s lifespan does not usually exceed 10 years. This is a very important point to consider if you are looking for a lifetime companion in your doll.< p>

Weight

In terms of weight, silicone sex dolls are lighter than TPE dolls of the same size and measurements. This is because silicone sex dolls are made up of a skeleton, foam, and a fine layer of silicone, whereas TPE dolls consist of just a skeleton and plastic. As a result, TPE dolls are typically 10-20% heavier than silicone.

Some people prefer the heaviness of TPE dolls as it may feel more realistic. Others prefer the lightness of silicone dolls as they are easier to reposition and transport.

Stain-Resistance

Silicone

It’s important to note that while silicone is a non-porous material that is harder to stain, it is not impossible to stain. Also, once silicone is marked with a stain, it is much more difficult to remove than if it was on TPE. This is because stains sit on the surface of silicone, and don’t fade or sink into the material over time.

If you do stain your silicone doll, you can gently clean it with a soft cloth and soap or oil. As a last resort, you can attempt to remove the stain using very fine sandpaper. You should ensure the area is well-oiled and lubricated before sanding gently over it. It is important to take extreme care when using this method – the goal is to detach the stain from the silicone, not erode the material.

TPE

TPE is a lot easier to stain than silicone, as it is a porous material. However, TPE stains are also much easier to clean, and the majority of stains can be removed from the material if proper care is taken.

To avoid staining your silicone or TPE doll, you should dress it in clothes that have been washed thoroughly, where there is no chance of dye running. Think of it like putting a colored garment in a white laundry cycle. You should only dress your doll in clothes that you would confidently mix with white garments.

You can also invest in an anti-stain dress or full body suit to protect your doll from stains when wearing clothes.

If you notice your TPE doll has a stain, you can clean it with stain removal clean or a TPE stain removal kit. You can apply the cream to the stain, leave for 3-5 hours, then wipe off the residue with a soft cloth. For darker stains, you can repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Adding Makeup

TPE

The makeup that is added to TPE dolls during the manufacturing process will slowly fade over time. This is because the material is porous, so the doll’s details are gently blurred as the oil inside it evaporates. Frequent washing and contact with hands and clothes will also rub off the doll’s details, so TPE doll owners will eventually have to reapply them with makeup.

Reapplying makeup can be a fun and intimate process for you. You can customize your doll with eyeshadow and lipstick, and even add freckles, blushing cheeks or moles.

Silicone

Because silicone is a non-porous material, the makeup and details that were applied on the doll in the factory are likely to remain forever. This makes it an attractive option for those who like to make oral contact with the doll’s face and breasts. The details on the vagina and anus will likely fade over time due to friction and lubricant, though they will definitely last longer than on TPE.

Reapplying the makeup and details is fairly easy, and can be done with eyeshadow, lipstick or airbrush. You can also customize your dolls with various accessories like false eyelashes and fingernails.

Cost

With such an enormous range of sex dolls available, there’s something to suit every budget. Silicone sex dolls are generally more expensive than TPE dolls, as the materials and production technology are more costly.

• Full silicone sex dolls typically cost between $1,200 and $5,000, though you can pay upwards of $10,000 for a bespoke, customized robot sex doll.
• TPE dolls are definitely the budget-friendlier sex doll, with full TPE sex dolls averaging between $700 and $2000.

As a rule of thumb, the more customizable the sex doll, the more expensive it will be.

Which Is The Most Realistic sex Doll?

Both TPE and silicone can make very realistic sex dolls in terms of appearance. It is the texture and rigidity of the materials that set them apart.

TPE is an elastic, uniformly soft material. While this is not very realistic, many owners love how their doll jiggles during sexual activity. TPE is also warmer than silicone, so TPE dolls make softer, warmer huggers compared to their silicone counterparts.

Silicone is a more rigid material, with parts that are softer than others. For example, the thigh of a silicone sex doll will not be as firm as the ribs. This makes them a lot more realistic than TPE dolls in terms of touch, especially the detailing of the mouth, vagina, and anus. Additionally, you can customize your silicone sex doll with gel implants, which will make the breasts extra soft and lifelike.

While silicone does take the crown for the most realistic sex doll, realism is not always an owner’s top priority. You should consider how you will use the doll and how you want it to feel before making your purchase.

If you’re still unsure about which kind of doll to get, we recommend browsing our entire collection to see if anything catches your eye. If you have any questions about our dolls, you can visit our FAQs page, or reach out to us via email at support@myrobotdoll.com.

If you have any questions about our dolls, you can visit our FAQs page, or reach out to us via email at support@myrobotdoll.com.