Crystal Whip

October 16th, 2010

Crystal Whip

Crystal Whip

This product is no longer available from Liberator, but Babeland now sells a nearly-identical version from Icicles for less than $50.

Babeland carries a flogger with crystal details and a glass handle that I thought was ridiculously gorgeous. I pooled my resources and soon this whip was in my hands. It’s a piece by Liberator, who you all know for their sex position pillows and furniture but whom I also know for a glass piece I have.

The Crystal Whip comes in a suede pouch that ties with ribbons. It’s much bigger than the actual toy and you could steal it for another toy if you wanted. The whip itself really isn’t a whip–but a flogger (it’s not the only one I’ve tried, either). The handle is a glass cylinder that is etched witch smooth wavy lines down the length. There’s a bulbous shape on the end which is good for grasping but may also be used for penetration–maybe. I thought the handle would be larger than it is. It’s a bit over 6″ long and has a diameter of .79″. As it’s glass and rigid, it can certainly feel larger than it is but it’s quite narrow and requires some maneuvering to reach the right places without a curve.

If you do use it internally, you’ll want to be careful when washing to keep the tails out of the stream of water. You’ll also want to carefully wash and lubes from the shaft so that it won’t be slippery during use as a flogger. It would absolutely suck to have it fly out of your hand and hurt someone unintentionally, or break something (can we say Wiimote?) or simply break itself.

Of course, this isn’t really the type of flogger that you aim and swing with all your might. I think it’s best suited to light play. If you aim at extremely sensitive areas and the tails fall so just the tips hit, there’s a tingly sting but it’s really quite light. If you’re not aiming quite so precisely or flogging an area that’s not exceptionally sensitive, it’s really not painful. The lambskin tails are ridiculously soft and I personally just felt them sliding silkily over my skin. It’s like a massage.

And the tails are super sensual–shiny leather on one side and unfinished on the inside. Both feel delicious when they touch the skin and if you hold it under your nose, you can detect the scent of real leather. Sorry vegans. In all, there are 32 tails that are flat strips of lambskin. They’re wrapped in circles around the end of the handle and, I assume, glued. The upper edge of the leather is then wrapped in a silver material that could be metal or painted plastic in four flowery, filigree type designs. In the center of each of these flowers is a crystal. Sadly to say, it took less than five minutes for one of these crystals to fall off after opening the Crystal Whip. I guess it just wasn’t glued on very well. The crystals catch the light and glisten with colour but I don’t think they really add that much to the appearance of this piece. Just my opinion.

The tails are about 2″ longer than the handle itself and are cut to angled points. When swinging, the tails stay together nicely and you don’t have to re-gather them to perform moves such as a figure eight. Because of the petite size of this, it’s super easy to wield and make quick movements that larger floggers would hinder. The handle is the heavier party of this flogger but, as it’s so small, it won’t tired your arm as quickly as heavier floggers or whips.

The tails of this feel so luxurious. I need more leather and suede in my life. I don’t want some bachelor pad but, my God, this is an awesome piece. If you have any interest at all in glass, lambskin, flogging or simply attractive sex/BDSM gear, then the Crystal Whip should go into your cart the next time you visit Babeland.

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Pure Silicone B.O.B.

October 15th, 2010

Pure Silicone B.O.B.

Pure Silicone B.O.B.
$32.95 from AdultSexToys

I am at a point in my sex life where I generally prefer silicone toys. They’re safer. They’re versatile. They come in awesome colours. When a sex toy store wants me to do a review but they don’t carry any silicone, I doubt whether I want to work with them but let me say this: silicone alone does not a great toy make. Really, a mediocre design will not be saved by the material.

California Exotic’s Pure Silicone B.O.B. falls squarely into this category. It’s a realistically designed, phallic vibrator in silicone. Mine came in a bright pink. I mean bright. It has a vein-like texture, a contoured head and expands in a ball-inspired toward the design. This expansion is complete with a few dozen, soft poky things.

They are, as you can imagine, useless. They don’t really stimulate the entrance to my vagina and the toy isn’t flexible enough that I can bend it toward my clit. The testicle design doesn’t offer anything physically, either. You might use it to grasp the toy, however. The shaft is slightly flexible. I say this because around the halfway mark, you can tell that the Pure Silicone B.O.B. is covering some hard structure inside. When I would clench or tried to bend the toy as mentioned, this hard structure was uncomfortable against my G-spot but I simply prefer toys that are a little softer in that area. You can probably achieve about 30 degrees of bending.

In use, I found the toy to just be a little small. It only has a diameter of 1.14″. It may be good for beginners but not me, personally. The small shaft is straight and the difference between the shaft and head size is smaller than I am used to. I had a hard time stimulating my G-spot with this vibrator and that’s pretty unusual.

However, its easy to use. There’s a single power button that turns it on of off and another button to cycle through the settings. If you press the second button when the Pure Silicone B.O.B. is off, it will turn on. It’s an interesting toy because it remembers the setting you left it on. I find this interesting but not necessarily practical because it confuses me as to which setting it will be on. Maybe it’s just me but starting on a low, steady vibe makes sense and helps to orient me.

Anyway, I’d be more oriented if I could tell the settings apart and.. it’s super hard. The Pure Silicone B.O.B. uses 2AA batteries but I was not expecting the vibrations to as buzzy as they are. I mean, if you didn’t know better, you’d almost expect this to use a single AAA battery or even watch batteries. It’s ridiculous. I have no idea why you’d create a vibrator that uses 2 AAs but not make it use them to their full potential.

I’m not lying when I say that I can only tell the settings apart by sound. They all feel exactly the same. There’s supposedly “10 extreme functions of vibration, pulsation, and escalation” but all I feel is one: not strong or deep enough. So while this is waterproof, I cannot imagine using it in the shower and actually being able to feel the vibrations.

The waterproof aspect makes it easy to clean, however. You can rinse away and lubes (water-based only) and give it a good scrub.

Ultimately, the Pure Silicone B.O.B. is certainly not my battery operated best friend. I’m not sure that calling it “buddy” is even all that applicable. It’s more like the guy at the party who likes you but doesn’t get the hint that the feelings aren’t shared. Sorry, BOB.

CEN Sexpert

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PVC Lace Up Gloves

October 14th, 2010

Pvc Lace Up Gloves

Pvc Lace Up Gloves

Ah, these gloves looked so interesting and vampy. The shiny PVC, the corset-styled lacing, the single finger hole that made a “V” shape down the top of the hand. All so nice and much more appropriately entitled an “arm warmer.” I didn’t really have any purpose for them but my inner-Goth cried out. And then I cried when I got them.

They look very nice on the model but they just didn’t fit me. Period. I have rather short arms so the 19″ gloves reached far up my arm–to a point where my arm was far too wide for the gloves to fit. Granted, I don’t have tiny arms but, as I tried to adjust, it was clear that the included string–shoestring style–didn’t offer a lot of give. In fact, if you look at the model in the picture, you can see there really isn’t that much room to loosen the strings anymore than they are and it’s obvious she’s a thin one.

Let me put this into numbers for you. The widest part of the glove has an 8.5″ circumference and I’m pretty sure that most bracelets are about 7″ long so I have no idea why the designers figure a 1.5″ increase in size is enough to fit most women. It just seems pretty realistic.

The good side is that, like anything that laces up, you can invest in a longer string. You can even replace it with your own ribbon, if you so choose. I personally think that would be more attractive. You’ll need one that is more than 5.75′ long; however. You’ll have to lace it up through all 27 eyelets, of course. That will be a nice afternoon’s work.

Aside from the fit, I am fairly impressed with the quality. I’ve never heard of this XoXo line of latex and leather gear but it seems like the company, Allure, sells quite a bit. The gloves were packaged in an easy-to-open plastic case with a picture of a model wearing them. While folded, they haven’t retained any creases.

The gloves appear to have two layers but the inside of the PVC isn’t finished. To be honest, I don’t know if this is a common thing because I haven’t owned a lot of PVC but it really is only one layer (I think). The exterior is super shiny and the inside is matte and softer. There is a hem around all the edges that is about 1/2″ wide so your skin will touch some of the shiny material on the edges. The eyelets for the lacing are sewn in through the hem so they’re secured to two layers of fabric and they’re quite flat and smooth. The sewing around all the edges and the placement of the eyelets are perfectly straight.

The hem continues around the single finger hole. Depending on your arm, you’ll probably wear this around the middle finger. It’s not full length but measures a little over 1.5″. Again, quite long for my fingers but the 3″ circumference fits loosely around my middle finger. It’s a bit bulky with the hems and the straight seam where both sides of the material meet to form the finger loop. It’s also the same width through the entire length.

It seems like scratches and stabby things can leave my marks. I know because my cat decided this glove looked yummy. Be careful of sharp objects and fingernails as this can mar the overall appearance of the PVC lace up gloves.

If you are a thin armed person who is taller and wants a just-above-the-shoulder arm warmer to complete a fetish outfit or costume, then the PVC Lace Up Gloves may be right up your alley. If you’re not so thin, not so tall or not patient enough to purchase alternative strings or ribbons, I’d pass. I know I’m extra lazy, however; so others may be more likely to be more patient and go the extra mile with these.

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Pink Frolic Lube Review

October 12th, 2010

Frolic

Frolic
3.99 from Of Sex and Love Store

Frolic is a water-based lube from the same company that makes Pink and Gun Oil. I decided to give it a shot because it’s attractive and water-based. The former isn’t a requirement but I definitely prefer water-based lubes over those that contain silicone.

The Frolic bottle is very similar to the bottles that Pink lube comes in. It’s a semi-opaque, white bottle with magenta text but the label uses a different font for the product name. Frolic states that is is a toy lubricant, especially for women and it is also glycerin-free. Glycerin-free lubes, lotions and potions are becoming increasingly common and, while I do not have any adverse reactions to the chemical, I know some people will appreciate that.

The ingredient list is fairly free of issues (as far as I know) and if you’re curious, includes:

  • water
  • hydroxyethylcellulose
  • sodium benzoate
  • patassium sorbate
  • propylene glycol
  • PEG-8
  • grapefruit seed extract
  • polyethylene polymer

I was curious how this lube differs from Pink Water so I looked up that ingredient list, too:

  • Water
  • HECPEG 45
  • Methylparaben
  • Propylparaben
  • Polyquaternium 5
  • Tetrasodium
  • Germall II
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • Aspartame
  • Polysorbate 20
  • Aloe Vera Extract
  • Ginseng Extract
  • Guarana Extract
  • Avena Sativa Extract
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Citric Acid

As you can see, Frolic does not contain parabens like Pink Water. Pink Water also has many more extracts. The two still share the same pump style bottle, complete with a little cap to prevent accidental spills. I like the cap but it’s not super tight so it comes off easily and every time I take it off myself, my cats decide it’s a perfect plaything. I will probably never see mine again.

The pump is incredibly easy to use and makes using lube much less messy than other bottle styles. Frolic really isn’t a messy lube to begin with, though. It’s one of the thicker lubes I’ve used–not quite a gel but significantly thicker than ToyFluid or Hydra. Frolic stays where you put it and I love that in a lube. Eventually, gravity will put it down but you don’t have to worry about lubing up your toy and having it all drip down on your hand before you can put the cap back on the bottle.

Furthermore, Frolic feels pretty damned silky on the fingers. It’s surprisingly silky for a water-based lube. It perhaps feels a bit more synthetic than some other water-based lubes I’ve used but it dries without being surprisingly sticky.

It’s hard for me to say how long Frolic lasts as I’ve only used it with toys despite the claim that this is more concentrated than other lubes. I do love that I can use it with any toy, even my silicone ones (as that collection is growing). My toy sessions never last as long as sex did and I don’t thrust as much as I find the right spots and press but one pump of Frolic has been sufficient for every session thus far.

The Pink website says that the grapefruit seed extract has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. I don’t know if I buy it but if that’s true, awesome! A lube that does double duty is a-okay in my book.

My verdict? Frolic really lives up to its name. I’ve been using a lot of thinner lubes with sex toys and they just don’t cut it. Frolic does and I can see myself reaching for it frequently.

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Sheer Pleasure Chemise

October 6th, 2010

Sheer Pleasure Chemise

Sheer Pleasure Chemise
$11.30 from Amazon

First, I have to say thank you for 7 Til Midnight. I sent them an email, asking if they might want to send me something for review. They responded quickly and positively and soon two pieces were sitting in my own home.

The Sheer Pleasure Chemise is, as the name suggests, a sheer chemise. It’s available in red or black and I like the design so much that I’d love to own both. For now, I have the red. It’s a mesh and lace chemise with spaghetti straps in a vibrant red.

The body of the chemise is made of a fine mesh that is comfortable to wear all day long–and I did! The cups have a lace detail that shows some skin but isn’t as sheer as the rest of the piece. Both fabrics offer a lot of stretch. While the XL isn’t as loose on me around the midsection as it is on the model, it could certainly stretch some more.

During use, I found that the backside of the chemise had a tendency to ride up my ass. Not a huge deal, especially if you don’t wear it for that long. I’m a shortie–5’2″–so it hits between my mid to lower thigh. If it didn’t ride up, I’d consider hemming up up a few inches. It will be shorter on taller gals, of course.

The spaghetti straps are adjustable, like a bra, and the triangular cups are quite stretchy. I could make them look decent but not perfect on my C cups. A D or double D cup might be more suited for this size. Of course, I’m sure I notice the less-than-perfect fit more than anyone else would. There are seams around the cups, but not wires. This will offer some support and shaping but you can’t expect too much from it.

The Sheer Pleasure Chemise comes with a thong as well. They’re both pretty well made and it seems like you actually get a thong in a size comparable to the chemise and the thong is super stretchy but the sizing varies between pieces. The one I got with my other set was fairly accurate size-wise but the red thong with the Sheer Pleasure Chemise is much larger than a size XL. I can pull it halfway up my back and the front panel nearly reaches my belly button. It’s kinda hilarious but not something that is a huge deal breaker. Those who are so inclined could sew it or use a different thong.

I wore one of 7 Til Midnight’s thongs all day and found it to be comfortable and stretchy without cutting into my flesh. The straps are super thin, however; they will eventually wear out through use and washing. The front panel consists of the same mesh material as the chemise.

I did wash both in the normal cycle, with the rest of my clothes. I experienced no bleeding from the piece and it came out without any damage. I actually wore the chemise to bed for a couple nights to test its durability. It was comfortable and passed the test with shining colours.

I really feel something, maybe sexy, in the Sheer Pleasure Chemise. It’s sheer, of course, so it doesn’t hide or shape the problem areas but the comfort it provides was unexpected. It’s something that people of all body sizes can wear.

I considered taking some pictures of this but, I have to say, the pictures on Yandy’s shop really show it well. I really don’t think there’s anything that I could add to this review with an image of me. Sorry, y’all. d=

You can get the Sheer Pleasure Chemise for under $20 right now as it’s on sale. It’s a great price for a piece that is made so well and so comfortable.

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Rhythm “O” – Bounding Bunny

October 5th, 2010

Rhythm "O" - Bounding Bunny

Rhythm "O" - Bounding Bunny
$70.90 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

The Rhythm “O”™ – Bounding Bunny is.. weird. It’s weird looking and weird feeling and just plain ol’ weird. This rabbit vibrator comes in Barbie pink or a lavender shade of purple. I received the first color. The base, bullet and internal mechanisms are all pink with the shaft and clit stim are actually coated in a clear layer of TPE so you can see everything through it. The TPE has a slight swirl design that I did not notice during play.

What you see looks like a corn cob. I’m not kidding. I’m not the only one who thinks so, either.

So these individuals “kernels” of hard plastic are what California Exotics call pleasure beads and they move in and out in a wavelike pattern. It’s similar to the Passion Wave, which I loved, but that used discs, instead. I didn’t love the Rhythm “O”™ – Bounding Bunny. In fact, I didn’t even like it. When it was inserted, I could feel it was doing something and that something did make me squirt but it wasn’t even remotely pleasurable. It was almost.. clinical.

For once, I was decently satisfied with the strength clit stimulator vibrations. Very few rabbits are decent in that sense. Unfortunately, the bunny is located a little further down the shaft–6”– than many rabbit vibes so the fit wasn’t quite optimum for me. I wound up taking the toy out to just rub the bunny against me. That’s super disappointing for a “dual” stimulator.

If you’re familiar with my tastes than you will also know that I prefer toys with a bit of give. Beneath the TPE, which is a bit loose to allow room for the movements of the beads, the shaft is full of hard mechanisms. There really isn’t much give and the 1.5” diameter of the shaft feels bigger than it is. This isn’t helped by the fact that the shaft is rigidly straight. Some rabbits have a flexible wire in the shaft so you can become more comfortable but this isn’t the case with the Rhythm “O” – Bounding Bunny.

Function aside, the control are simply horrendous. I have complained about controls in the past and, in the past, I have also had no difficulty using CEN rabbits but the Rhythm “O” – Bounding Bunny is fucking stupid and the opposite of intuitive–whatever that is.

So there are a total of 5 buttons. There is an “On/Off” switch that turns on or off just the bunny bullet. Below this, is a button printed with the umber “7” that pages through the settings. Next to these buttons is a single LED light that changes colour and flashes to correspond with the modes.

To turn on the shaft, you have to press a different pair of buttons. These buttons, use the typical up/down arrow setup and shaft modes correspond to 3, vertical LEDs that are randomly displayed toward the top of the control pack (next to the bunny buttons).

My problem with this, is that both functions would easily work if CEN decided to go with just the arrow mode or just the On/Off and mode button. This is all far too much to think about during use.

But, wait! There’s more.

California Exotics has included a “Hot” button that changes the toy (both functions) to a random setting. That’s actually kinda neat but I find most of the settings are too similar to make it effective.

As you can guess, there is no master Off button. You have to turn off both of the functions manually. This doesn’t help convenience or discrection, IMO. And if you’re really in a hurry, who the hell wants to have to turn on both functions separately? Not I. I like to be able to control them separately but it’s like CEN just re-used buttons from other toys to make this monstrosity.

These digital buttons are set in a base made of slick plastic. I found it really difficult to hold when I was using silicone based lube that, as I have discovered, is compatible with TPE but not VixSkin. Be warned that CEN suggests water-based for use with this toy, for whatever reason. A velvety treatment to the base would make it easier to handle in slippery situations.

Despite the fact that I have washed this toy, I still find it difficult to grasp and remove the battery cover because silicone lube is stubborn like that. When you do unscrew the cover, there’s an EZ load style battery pack for the 4-AAA batteries. There is an O-ring built into the toy and I’d trust it to be splash proof for washing or shower play; however, the cap isn’t as secure as some toys so I wouldn’t advise submerging it.

For those of you who are interested, there’s a video on the California Exotics website that explains this all in depth. If you ignore the voice work, that is.

CEN Sexpert

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It’s that time of year again..

October 4th, 2010

You know, Epiphora’s blog anniversary and her annual blogversary giveaway. This year I’m entering to get the Maverick dildo from Vixen. Why, you ask? Because I fucking ruined my Vixskin dildo. Seriously. So I have to win or I’ll die.

Plus side, she’s giving away so many toys and porn and even a gift card that even if I do win, which I will because I said so, you can still win something totally awesome. Just not the Maverick. Kay?

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Image © MisterUnlucky; used with permission.