Keep it Clean Toy Wash

June 10th, 2009

Keep it Clean Toy Wash

Keep it Clean Toy Wash
N/A from

This review is of a discontinued product. But don’t worry because you really only need soap and water to clean your sex toys.

There are many brands of toy cleaners. There are sprays and wipes and now there is even a foaming toy wash by Wet Inc. Of course, foaming soaps are the best kind, aren’t they? I mean, they’re just so much cooler than than regular soap so foaming toy cleaner must be cooler, too, right? Well, let’s see.

For starters, my 7.5 FL Oz bottle of Keep it Clean Toy Wash came with a cap which was sealed with a sticker or two. I don’t know if I’ve ever had any sex toy or object which was safety sealed like that and it’s a nice feature just to know my toy cleaner hasn’t been tampered with. The cap is nice, too. A lot of pump bottles don’t have them and spillage occurs when you accidentally hit the pump or if the bottle falls over. It also makes this bottle more travel friendly.

From the look of it, the toy wash doesn’t scream “adult”. I don’t think the bottle mentions sex at all. The front is decorated with the Wet splash logo, “Keep it Clean” in block letters and “Anti-bacterial foaming toy wash” over a puff of foam which looks like shaving cream to me. It wouldn’t look out of place in your bathroom.

And the bathroom is where this bottle needs to stay because it’s not a replacement for soap and water toy washing, it’s just a substitute for the soap. The instructions on the back of the bottle say to remove batteries, pump cleaner onto a cloth and use that to wipe your toy before rinsing (being careful not to get the battery compartment wet). Essentially, use this as soap. And it’s easy. A surprising amount of cleaner foams out with one pump; I’ve never had to pump twice. I pump the cleaner onto the toy and just use my hand instead of a cloth because that seems unnecessary. I haven’t had any hand irritation which is good. The bottle does claim it’s nonirritating to the skin (as well as not tested on animals and alcohol free).

For folks who need a more discreet or convenient method of cleaning their sex toys, I would recommend a toy cleaner which doesn’t need to be rinsed off or wipes, instead. If you have roommates or a communal bathroom, Keep It Clean toy wash doesn’t really help – unless you’re worried about your soap not having anti-bacterial properties, in which case, this toy cleaner contains Tricoslan. Triclosan is a common ingredient in other toy cleaners as well as antibacterial soaps but if you’re concerned about ingredients, the list on this bottle is longer than some I’ve seen (11 in all) and I don’t know what half of them are. Luckily, I’m not concerned.

The ingredients do give this a rather chemical smell. It reminds me of something – maybe some hair product I’ve used? It’s not all that unpleasant but I do smell it when I use the cleaner or even pop off the top. It’s definitely not odorless and that may be a con for some.

In the end, Wet’s foray into sex toy cleaners is a bit confusing and isn’t really any different from other similar products on the market. I’m not sure why they went with a formula which needs to be rinsed or even wipes – which would make it more appealing than competing toy cleaners. While I like the foaming and think my hand soap will last a lot longer in the bathroom, Keep it Clean Toy Wash is no revelation.

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Attention Catchers #1: Synergy

June 8th, 2009

Synergy

I was thinking of starting a new feature here, discussing interesting new finds. Although I own a lot of sex toys, and I’ve spent a lot of time reading reviews and browsing shops online, I still run across toys whose unique designs and functions amaze me.

So what’s caught my attention this week? The Synergy-better sex pleasure system. Although, it doesn’t seem to be all that new and even boasts an “as seen on TV claim”, it’s new to me. Now, I know a lot of “as seen on TV” products royally suck but I cannot help but wonder about the Synergy because, like the much adored Eroscillator, this toy oscillates instead of vibrates (up to 12,000 oscillations per minute). The Synergy is also a bit cheaper than the Eroscillator, boasts 5 changeable heads including a G-spot accessory, is backed by Sue Johanson and can be used by either AC adapter or C batteries. I figure, if nothing else, it’s worth a shot, right?

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Bijoux Indiscrets cosmetics for better sex

Stranger

June 8th, 2009

Stranger

Stranger
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product.

I was really excited to receive not one but two Fun Factory vibes in one week. The first one blew my mind with its size, power, and flexibility, and the second amazed me with its softness. I mean, when I first withdrew the Stranger from Fun Factory’s signature packaging, I was amazed. I had played with a few silicone toys, all quite stiff and firm, sometimes painfully so. I didn’t even know they made silicone that soft and it was a welcome surprise. Of course, the thinner tip of this vibe is the softest, and it becomes firmer as it becomes thicker, but there’s a fair amount of give the whole way through.

Of course, that’s not the only benefit of using silicone. Fun Factory presents us with another non-porous toy that can be sterilized by wiping down with an alcohol solution. For my purposes, I simply clean with soap and water or toy cleaner, but I like to covet my toys. Who says you have to share?

Like other Fun Factory toys, the Stranger exudes quality. It has a reassuring heft but isn’t bulky in any way. The soft violet silicone has more friction than other materials but is smoother than some silicone I’ve felt. The silicone is molded with ribs on one side, reminiscent of a snake or the tail of some mythical dragon. There is a slight forward lean of the tip of this toy, but I need a more drastic curve to reach my G-spot. There are 2 etched lines on the back of the toy, in roughly a “V” shape but do not meet at a vertex; otherwise, the back of the toy is smooth except for a small Fun Factory logo right above the base.

The base, made of hard plastic in several shades of grey, houses 2 AA batteries which give this vibrator a substantial amount of power but not as much as the Boss. The battery cover pops off by pinching 2 slightly indented points on either side of the toy. Squeezing hard enough causes the cover to pop right off by itself with a click. It took a little practice for me to find the easiest way to do this as I have small hands. The best placement for my fingers is closer to the base than the tip of the toy. The cap goes back on with another click and feels very secure.

My Stranger comes equipped with the old style of Fun Factory controls – a dial decorated with flower-star hybrid. It’s a very unique style of dial, however. Turning either way turns on the lowest setting of vibrations and continued turning increases the vibration. Although not the quietest toy I have, the Stranger isn’t the loudest, either. It’s an appropriate hum. At the highest setting, there is a small “click”. From this setting, turn either way to turn the vibration down or off. There is another slight click when the vibrations are off. It seems to be important to turn the dial slowly, otherwise it skips over most of the vibration settings. I went a little too fast when I was first testing it. I think this makes the toy ideal for those who like to work their way up to the highest setting.

But I’m not really that type of person. I like to go for it right away so I turned it up high, applied some water-based lube and went to work. Well, sort of. I’m just not super sensitive to textures so the ribbing on the Stranger, while pleasing to the eye, made little different to my pussy. The size was also a little lacking and I think this is probably the smaller insertable vibe I have. The Stranger has a circumference of 4 1/2″ and a length of 6 3/4″, 5 3/4″ which is insertable. I like something a little more, at least girth-wise. And, because the Stranger doesn’t have any clitoral nubs or anything, there wasn’t much else it could do. I also found the silicone to be too soft for the pressure I need during clitoral stimulation.

So, I pulled out the Boss and let him finish the job, a little disappointed in the Stranger. While I think it’s a quality toy, far better than some I have used, it’s just not the right size for me. I may break it out from time to time but it won’t get as much use as some of my other Fun Factory toys. This might be for the better, too. It’s a bit more difficult to clean the Stranger because of its crevices and it also collects lint and hair like crazy. God thing it’s splash proof because I think frequent use would require quite heavy washing. It’s also safe for the shower, too, but not for full immersion.

All in all, the Stranger just isn’t my cup of tea. The lack of size overshadowed the high quality of this toy and its decent vibrations. For someone who likes their sex toys a little smaller, however, the Stranger would be perfect.

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Tie Me Up, Scotty

June 5th, 2009

I have a new review on EdenFantasys for the Purple Bondage Pleasure Set. It kinda sucks. =/

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Sensual Curve

June 5th, 2009

Sensual Curve

Sensual Curve
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product.

All in all, the Sensual Curve was wholly forgettable which probably explains why, every time I sat down to write this review, I just couldn’t think of anything to say. I couldn’t remember if it led me to orgasm or even made me feel good. I couldn’t remember if the insertable portion stimulated my G-spot. I couldn’t remember if the vibrations were easily felt on all parts or even how I felt about the material.

So I had to force myself to give it another go ’round, hoping it would spark some memories. It did but, really, I don’t feel like I have much to say about this toy. I mean, like so many other dual stimulators, it fails as doing either very well but, for some reason, I just don’t feel like it’s a big loss.

So here’s what you need to know:

This dual stimulation vibrator is made of pink rubber (the colour it sort of strange; it looks faded) and is not waterproof. It definitely has that skunky, rubber smell and is stronger than some toys I’ve had but isn’t the worst. The vibrations stem from the bottom of the toy, which also acts as a bit of a handle but I find that annoying because my hand absorbs most of the vibrations. The vibrations are better felt in the clitoral stimulator, which looks like two short tentacles (and even has sucker like bumps on the inside) and curves slightly toward the body, than the smooth insertable portion which tapers and ends in a bulb (which exists to stimulate the G-spot, I imagine). This makes insertion extremely easy and only a little water-based lube was needed. The whole thing is run on 2 AA batteries and operates by dial control. While I usually don’t like dial controls because they’re either too touchy or not touchy enough, this one actually worked really well and because the dial is grooved, it’s also less slippery to use than others.

Unfortunately, the level of vibrations provided by this toy just weren’t mind blowing and I felt it best in my hand. Even on high, I thought this toy works better for teasing or warm up and I don’t do much of either so it might be better in the collection of something who likes lighter vibrations than I do. The rubber is stiffer than some other materials I’ve tried (silicone, jelly, TPR, TPE) and the clitoral stimulator doesn’t really vibrate loosely like a lot of clitoral attachments do on softer toys. The stiffness also felt a little uncomfortable or painful at times. Combine this with the fact that the prongs seemed to have a tendency to curve back toward my vag, and away from my clit during use (and since they’re stiff, I can’t really adjust them much), and the external part wasn’t that great.

Occasionally, the vibrations did hit a sweet spot internally but this wasn’t consistent, either. Sometimes the sex toy seemed to brush my G-spot but it wasn’t moving any mountains and it was difficult to maneuver, given the stiffness of the material, and have both places adequately stimulated. I also felt that the cord was unusually short at just under 22″ – even my crappy Venus Penus has a 3-” cord – and while it works okay for masturbation, partner use make find this problematic.

One of the things I really like to do with dual sitmulation toys is to grind against it and push it tightly against my pubic bone. Grinding was out because of the clitoral attachment but even when I tried, it jsut felt uncomfortable and too hard. I also couldn’t get enough pressure on my clit which is something I get from rabbit-style vibe with larger bullets. The shape of the little prongs just didn’t allow for pressure at all.

While the Sensual Curve may seem a steal at arond $20, it doesn’t do anything really well. The pourous, foul smelling rubber was too stiff. The vibrations were weak and misplaced. The toy didn’t find my G-spot consistently and the cord was freakishly short. Yet, you can bet I’m not done trying similar toys!

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Intimate Organics Intense Clitoral Stimulating Gel

June 2nd, 2009

Intimate Organics Intense Clitoral Gel

Intimate Organics Intense Clitoral Gel
$19.99 from TabuToys

I’m sorry for not posting sooner. I’ve just been burned out lately but I’d like to get reviews up this week of all the products I currently have so I can dedicated time to everything I’m waiting on in the mail, instead of things I’ve already tried.

Anyway, tonight’s review is actually a positive one about Intimate Organics Intense Clitoral Stimulating Gel which TabuToys was gracious enough to provide me. If you remember, I purchased some Adam&Eve clit sensitizing gel about this time last year and wasn’t really impressed. However, the second time around has proved to be more effective, as it well should with any product which claims to be “intense”.

Intimate Orgcanics is a name which is getting more press these days. I’m not sure if it’s just new or if retailers are starting to carry its products – most of which are sensual – or if people are gravitating to these “pure vegan” products but my first foray has been pretty rewarding. My tube of stimulation gel comes in a small box. The packaging features splashes of green and deep pink on a monotone background and looks very classy overall. Both the tube and box feature a sensual image of a woman’s abdomen but there’s nothing explicitly shown.

Intimate Organic’s advertises the use of “certified organics” in this (and, I believe, all of their) products. The intense stimulating gel contains “organic extracts, .. natural damiana, L-Argenine and L-orthinnine to increase blood flow to the clitoris” but it contains no menthol. If you’re conscientious about ingredients, this gel has no DEA or parabens. I really don’t care either way but I might choose this over a similar product if neither stood out in any other way. I do know that my last product also had L-Argenine and Christina, from TabuToys, commented about the ingredient. So heads up:

Your readers may also want to know that L-Arginine containing products can trigger outbreaks in users with genital herpes.

Another ingredient listed is peppermint oil. This does give it a slightly peppermint scent and, had I known this, I wouldn’t have accepted it to review because I have such an aversion to anything minty. However, it’s not a strong minty smell and I almost like it.

If you’re using IO’s Intense clitoral gel, you can also use latex condoms and it’s also safe to ingest but I wouldn’t say it’s meant to be edible. I dabbed a bit on my arm and gave it a lick. It does have a slightly sweet/spicy taste that is reminiscent of the peppermint but is not exactly minty. It’s a very light taste anyway and you might not even notice it.

However, I did notice a tingling affect on both my arm and tongue after about a minute. It works! It was definitely noticeable without being painful which some stimulating products can be. Now, I’m not especially sensitive to these products so others may experience a more profound affect. Furthermore, if you are sensitive, Intimate Organics makes a Mild Stimulating Gel (which TabuToys does not yet carry).

I found the effect on my clit to be more or less noticeable depending on how much product I used. I would definitely caution that this clear liquid is very thin and it’s easy to get a whole dollop when you want just a drop. I would also recommend using the tube upside down because unscrewing it with the cap-side-down will result in the gel dripping all over the place. It wouldn’t hurt to be careful to not squeeze the tube, either.

When using more product, I could definitely feel the tingling sense but it wasn’t pleasurable or uncomfortable. I simply felt like the gel was working. If I applied after I had already been playing, it seemed to mute the effect a bit, and if I was using a vibe or other sex toys, it was also a little harder to hone in on the sensations by the gel.

The big test, of course, is not just if I can feel it but if it has an effect on my orgasms. Reluctantly, I must say it seems like Intimate Organics Intense Clit Stimulating Gel does work. Every time I used it, I experienced either easier, faster or better orgasms – sometimes a combination. Of course, it could be due to other factors like my mood or the atmosphere or maybe it’s just due to the placebo effect but I think the solution is much easier: it works.

So, I won’t mind applying a little dab of this gel on my clit pre-masturbation or coitus but I probably wouldn’t use it during oral because it does have that tingly effect on tongues (I can still feel it after applying it when I started writing this review) and it’s a bit annoying. I’m sure my husband wouldn’t appreciate that.

I do wish it were a bit thicker because it can easily spill and it’s hard to control just how much product comes out of the tube. I think this may mean the tube is used up sooner than it would be but it’s definitely a bigger tube than my other clit sensitizer at 30ml. For reference, it’s definitely bigger than, say, a tube of lip gloss. I have a tube of Benadryl cream which is about the same size but I would be hesitant to estimate how many uses I could get. Your mileage may vary. 😉

So I will leave you with this. Intimate Organics has produced a clitoral gel which defnitely seems to be intense. I can feel it working and while I would like a thicker formula, I would recommend this Clitoral Stimulating Gel to others and likely buy it again for myself because it does have a noticeable effect on my orgasms.

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Ophoria K-balls #10

May 29th, 2009

Ophoria K-balls
N/A from

These Kegel exercisers remain in my top three nearly a decade later. Read on to find out more.

I feel it would be appropriate were this review accompanied by Tom Cruise singing “goodness, gracious, great balls of fire”. All silliness aside, Ophoria’s Smooth K-Balls are pretty great even if they’re not flaming (and that actually might be for the best). And now I can say I have balls.

Ophoria packaged the K-balls in a sleek pink and white box with some feminine details. It’s very modern and looks like a department store package so I could imagine it being sold retail in Younkers or something (is that reference too geographic? You could replace that with Macy’s). There’s a plastic window in front so you can see the pair of pink vaginal exercisers in all their glory. The balls themselves are not quite the same shade of pink as on the box; I think the box is a little prettier and the balls almost seem dull sometimes but it doesn’t detract from their use even if it sort of offends my sense of aesthetics.

Ophoria didn’t include a lot of information with their K-balls and they could expand on that. The box lets us know they’re 1000% silicone, non-porous, can be cleaned with soap and water and boasts of the strong stimulation and ergonomic design. The included instructions also serve as a product catalog. There are some generic instructions about not using any toys which appear broken, not submerging them or using them while menstruating. There are some good tips about how sex toys can transmit STDs and making sure to clean all crevices but not using brushes or abrasive solutions. There’s nothing in the way of how to get the best use out of this specific product.

So it might be a good thing that I’ve experienced kegel balls a time or two. In fact, you may remember my review of the Luna Beads and, to be honest, I wasn’t blown away. They weren’t very stimulating and I thought the whole concept of 2 weighted balls was hokey. Luckily, the K-balls are much more stimulating. In fact, I’d say I can even feel more movement from the inner balls – or “shakers” as the package calls them – in hand. I think the shakers might be a bit smaller but since the exterior is opaque, I don’t know for sure. The balls themselves are the same size at the Luna Beads, with a diameter of 1 3/8″ but the K-balls are slightly longer.

Speaking of the exterior, the pink K-balls have white-ish circle and triangle shapes. These shapes seem to be raised slightly but are only for looks as my vagina certainly can’t feel them. The hard silicone isn’t exactly smooth and has that typical, silicone texture which may make for more friction than smooth plastic but insertion was pretty easy with a little water-based lube. I find the second ball is always a little more difficult because I have to rely on the connecting material, which is flexible, to push up the higher ball. Once inserted, the balls don’t remain straight either; they sort of bunch up next to each other but it’s not uncomfortable (the lower ball will pop out, however, if they’re not situated correctly).

In fact, it’s the pleasurable stimulation I get from the K-balls which earns them a much higher rating than the Luna Beads. After initial insertion, the K-balls seem to rest directly against my G-spot and stimulate arousal. Since few toys have successfully and consistently stimulated my G-spot, this is quite the feat! I’m not sure if it’s the “vibration” of the inner balls, which I can feel (and even hear sometimes) or the exterior of the balls rubbing against my sensitive spots but the first minutes after insertion are always pleasurable.

I can definitely feel the “vibration”, too. I have a habit of doing this silly sort of ass-shaking move to make the K-balls vibrate (which I’m sure my husband would enjoy). This actually made me think that it might be a good idea to pop these in before going dancing! These ease of popping these in before any activity or even if you have nothing planned is appealing. And, even if the K-balls don’t strengthen my muscles, they feel good and being able to feel the vibration reminds me to do my Kegels here and there. I tend to pop them in before taking walks and do a couple squeezes while waiting to cross the street or in line at the store. But if you want to be more proactive about your muscle strengthening, you can always clench around one or both balls, while tugging on the string with a finger.

I can’t say for sure if my muscles are any stronger. I think that’s easier to tell with a partner – which I don’t have right now. I can say that I have used these balls, in a few short weeks, more than I’ve used the Luna Beads in the months I’ve had them. Both sets of vaginal balls made me more aware of my vagina but the K-balls also makes me feel good which is that much more incentive to use them.

After you’re done, you can easily remove the K-balls with the silicone-coated string with connects to the “lower” ball. Actually, the lower ball is slightly pointed at the bottom so it’s not a complete “ball”. Unlike the Luna Beads, the K-balls don’t tend to get all suction-stuck in my pussy and the coated string doesn’t cut into my finger. Unfortunately, that is a tiny crack in the coating of the string on my balls. I noticed it after using because the crack is so tiny so it’s possible that I somehow caused it or that it came this way and I just didn’t notice. Fortunately, it hasn’t grown any and I’m still comfortable using the K-balls.

After use, K-balls are easy to wash with soap and water. Silicone is dishwasher safe but I’m not entirely sure about the K-balls. The box says they’re splash proof but I don’t see why they couldn’t be fully submerged as they lack mechanical parts. The K-balls are also easy to dry and don’t seem to pick up lint. I do wish they came with a storage pouch – I stole the one that came with my Luna Beads to keep them all nice and cozy and protected from other toys.

In the end, I was much more impressed by Ophoria’s K-balls than other vaginal balls I’ve tried. These high-quality exercisers are not only easy to use but are actually a fun and pleasurable way to raise body awareness and, hopefully, strengthen PC muscles. With a little more information provided and a storage pouch, I’d say the K-balls are an A+.

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Image © MisterUnlucky; used with permission.