Guest Authored By; Natalie Cleary

It’s no secret that sex feels great, and is great for you. But masturbation can be just as amazing as actual intercourse—if not better. According to Women’s Health, not only is solo sex the best way to get in tune with your body and experience mind-blowing orgasms, but it offers a ton of awesome benefits such as increased joy, stress relief, and greater self-acceptance. And while the classic method of masturbation is, well, a classic, sometimes the right toy can take your experience to the next level.

So, whether you’ve been on the train to personal pleasure town for years or are new to the solo session, these tips will help you find the best toy for your next foray into self-love.

Material Matters

Sex toys come in a wide range of materials, from glass to metal and everything in between. Even though it’s important to find a material that feels the most pleasurable, it’s also crucial to consider the safest options for your body. As Kinkly notes, sex toys fall into two major categories: porous and non-porous. Porous toys are generally soft, such as a rubber or jelly material, but they tend to trap dirt and bacteria and often contain phthalates—both of which are potentially harmful to your health. Non-porous toys, however, can be completely sterilized, making these options the safest for squeaky clean fun.

While the best toy for you ultimately depends on your own personal preferences, you may want to consider non-porous materials when searching for that perfect fit. Toys made from silicone, glass, metal, and ABS plastic are generally body safe, and even better, they come with a ton of satisfying features that are sure to keep you smiling.

P-Spots and G-Spots

The G-spot is notorious for being hard to find. So difficult, in fact, that many women start to think they simply don’t have a G-spot at all. But if you’ve been on the hunt and have yet to strike gold, rest assured that you do possess this particular erogenous zone. While inserting a finger and crooking it in a “come hither” motion is often lauded as the go-to way to find your G-spot, a vibrator can come in handy when you don’t want to get quite as handsy. Adam and Eve drives this point home in writing that a G-spot vibrator’s specially designed shape—coupled with a vibrator motor located directly in the tip to maximize stimulation—makes it easier for even first-time sex toy users to find and stimulate their G-spot. With a little practice, a bit of patience, and the help of a G-spot toy, chances are you’ll be on your way to vaginal orgasms before you can say “oh!”

Even if you don’t happen to have a vagina, you don’t have to forgo incredible internal orgasms. According to this Shape article, the male prostate gland is a hotbed of nerve endings similar to the female G-spot. Located about three-quarters of a finger length inside the anus, the P-spot can produce powerful sensations when gently massaged. Like with G-spot vibrators, there are also toys designed just for prostate stimulation, including massagers, anal plugs, and probes.

Find Your Fetish

One of the perks of masturbation is the freedom to explore what turns you on without a partner getting in the way. Don’t get us wrong: pleasing your sweetie can be a super hot activity in and of itself. However, to really pin down what you like (and what it takes to get you to toe-curling bliss), it can be helpful to have some time to yourself. Experiment with something new to find what feels best and keep exploring each time you masturbate to maintain the excitement—and the intensity of your orgasms. For instance, if you’ve been an outside-only kind of girl when it comes to self-love, Cosmopolitan suggests taking the plunge into dual stimulation. Try combining different sensations for the perfect mix-and-match solo session. The popular rabbit style of vibrator provides pleasure to your clitoris and G-spot at the same time, or you can go all the way with the holy trinity of stimulation: anal, clitoral, and G-spot.

If you’re in a been-there, done-that mood when it comes to below the belt pleasure—hey, we get it, sometimes a routine just gets old—move a tad north and give some love to your nipples instead. An often overlooked area during solo play, the nipples are just as sensitive as your clitoris and can offer sensations that are equally as orgasmic. Nipple suckers and clamps are great options for extra stimulation, and even better, leave your hands free to roam the rest of your body.