Archive | August, 2010

Review: BabeLicious Lubes

tasty treats

Thanks to the folks at Babeland (one of my all time FAVE stores!!) I was sent 2 of their flavored lubes to try; Chocolate Orange and Pomegranate Vanilla. While I expected them to be amazing (since all their stuff is) I was honestly caught off guard by how great they really were!

The packaging is very discreet and playfully colorful with nothing on it to cause embarrassment should someone find it. With the exception of the words “Flavored Gel Lubricant” written in small print, there is literally nothing on the package to hint at what it’s used for.

*It’s so discreet you could just say it’s a flavored massage gel if you’re easily embarrassed.

For those of you that are used to flavored lubricants that quickly get sticky, tacky, slimy, thick or dry out and don’t last very long and/or taste syrupy, are way too sweet (or sour), burn your tongue or have a horrible after taste, and/or seem to be the culprit when it comes to re-occurring yeast infections; well, this might be exactly what you’re looking for as the BabeLicious lubes do none of the above.

In regard to being sticky or tacky, I was very pleased to see that the gel formula held up very well both when used with a condom and when used with a vibrator; it didn’t dry out, get sticky or thick, all things I was concerned with being that it is a gel formula rather then a typical liquid (I’ve had my share of bad experiences with gel lubes in the past). While I did have to reapply it once (after a while) I loved the fact that I didn’t have to keep reapplying, as is often the case with lesser quality lubes.

body safe lube for the win

When it came to the taste, (the selling point of most flavored lubes) I have to admit – it’s actually very mild and delicate, neither being too sweet nor too rich or syrupy. I`ll be honest, the taste is so delicate it`s almost something you have to try to taste. Not that it’s a bad thing, especially considering that when it comes to most lubes, the flavor is gone in a matter of minutes and you’re left with the annoying task of reapplying.

On that note, it’s actually the way they smell that’s the big deal (in my opinion anyways). From the moment I tore off the safety seal I was impressed; the heavenly scent of chocolate covered oranges filled my nose, reminding me of those yummy chocolate oranges that come out around Christmas time (I love them!!). The Vanilla Pomegranate smelled nothing like vanilla, nor pomegranate, but instead like a yummy candy bringing thoughts of Jolly Ranchers Watermelon candies to mind.

*Honestly, these are some of the BEST smelling lubes I’ve come across! While in most cases it’s the flavor that’s the big deal, with these it’s the way the scent lingers around, long after the flavor is gone that I enjoyed.

As for the issue of re-occurring infections that may be brought on by the lubricant you’re using, or the itchy, sore, irritated or raw feeling that sometimes comes after play time is over, with these BabeLicious Lubes, it’s something you shouldn’t have to worry about as they are Glycerin free (when the body breaks down glycerin it turns to a sugar, yeast thrives in a sugary environment), Paraben Free (Parabens are chemical preservatives that may be the cause of irritation or allergic reactions), Water based (so it’s safe for use with all sexual wellbeing products) and totally latex safe (so they’re safe for use with condoms). Yay for body safe lubes!

In regard to the consistency; they aren’t your typical water based liquid lubes, instead being a thicker gel formula which makes application rather easy, and the possibility of spilling or making a mess nothing to worry about. I’ll be honest, when it comes to lubes I’m really bad for leaving the lid open (or off) while in the heat of the moment, only to finish and find that I’ve leaked a bottle of lube all over the floor or bed. Not only is it a pain in the ass to clean up (especially silicone lubes!) but it’s a silly waste of money. That said, I loved the gel formula as it allowed me to enjoy our play time without the nagging thought of a messy lube clean up running through my mind to distract me from achieving a big “O”.

*Yes I know, it’s easy to close a lid but when you’re in the heat of the moment sometimes you forget…or toss the bottle in a fit of passion *blushes*

slippery when wet

The Bad

When it came to things I didn’t like about the product there was only one; since I’m not used to flavored gel lubes, the consistency took a minute or two to get used to. That said, once it was spread out and less of a gel consistency it was actually really good.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a fantastic smelling, lightly flavored, totally body safe and extremely discreet tasty lube Bablelands BabeLicious lubes are a great place to start!

Not only are they glycerin and paraben free, but they’re also safe for use with condoms and your favourite sexual wellbeing products (like vibrators, dildos, anal toys etc). As a fantastic bonus they are also totally clear, so you don’t have to worry about possibly staining your clothes or sheets.

For more info or to purchase the products don’t forget to check out the women-friendly Babeland website (or store if you’re in the U.S.) where shopping for vibrators, dildos, lubricants or any of your other fave finds is affordable, discreet and fun!

p.s. don’t forget, if you love what I do (or even just like it a little) please help spread the word by either commenting below or sharing it on your favourite sites! *you can use the link tabs below to easily add it to your pages, twitter feed or any other website you use!

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Review: Le Réve Bullet

Clitoral Stimulation, Product Reviews, Vibes

When it comes to affordable, basic, small, and discreet sex toys, the standard option is a vibrating bullet. They’re not the most fun, don’t come with many options, tend not to last very long, but they’re a staple that’s been around for years and likely aren’t going anywhere.

Being that there are so many versions available, I thought I’d do a review of one of the more colorful choices, the Le Réve Bullet

The Good

The packaging is discreet, respectful, and colorful with nothing on it to cause any embarrassment or concern. With the exception of the word “vibrator” (written in tiny print on the bottom) there is no wording that even hints at what it is.

As for the stats, the hard, sleek and shiny outer shell is crafted out of body safe and non porous ABS plastic making it both latex and phthalate free. Since it’s non porous it won’t absorb any bacteria, something that goes a long way for making cleaning a breeze.

Like most bullet size vibrators the Le Réve is very small measuring only 2.25 inches in total length and 2 inches in girth. That said, this is not a product meant for insertion, instead it’s aim is to stimulate the clitoris with a steady and powerful vibration which may help to bring about an orgasm.

Having said that, if you did want to insert it vaginally (never anally) I would suggest putting it inside a condom first, leaving the condom rim outside of the vagina, so that there is a way of easily removing it without having to go on a search inside your vadge.

While it was designed for clitoral use don’t let that stop you from exploring other erogenous zones like the nipples, inner thigh, perineum, testis or any other area that brings you a heightened state of arousal.

With its one-touch push button control using the Le Réve is a breeze; simply push the button (located on the bottom) once which will start it vibrating at its lowest speed, hit it again and it jumps to the second speed, one more push and it quickly begins to vibrate at its highest setting.

Speaking of batteries, replacing/inserting them is quite simple; just unscrew the bottom cap, pop the batteries in, screw the cap back on and you’re good to go. Removing them, while simple, may require that you tap the product on a surface like your hand or a desk to get them to come out – something that seems to be an issue with ALL of the bullets I’ve ever come across. It even comes with 3 batteries to help get you started.

Care & Cleaning

In regard to lubes, since it’s made of ABS and not silicone you can easily use any lube your heart desires. I still suggest a good water based lube as it’s most likely going to be less slippery and make holding onto the bullet much easier.

As for cleaning, simply wash it with an antibacterial soap and rinse it well. If you wanted you could always use a good toy cleaner, but since it’s non porous and won’t absorb any bacteria that’s totally up to you.

The Bad

When it came to things I didn’t like about the product I had none. It’s everything a clitoral stimulator/bullet should be…and more!

Final Verdict

Not only is the tiny wonder well made, easy to use, light weight, waterproof, phthalate free, latex free, very discreet, compatible with all lubes, affordable, very powerful and multi-speed, but it’s also whisper silent. What more could you ask for in bullet?

If you want more info or to purchase the Le Réve Bullet please check out SexToy.com where shopping for vibrators, dildos, lubricants and lots of eco friendly toys is easy, discreet and very affordable.

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Review: Neon Jr. G-Spot Softees

Product Reviews, Unapproved Products

When I first saw the bright and colorful line of Neon Jr.G-Spot Softees on the SexToy.com website I thought they might be a perfect inexpensive toy that would also be great for beginners. My initial thoughts still hold up, however I do have quite a bit of personal dislikes with the toy which is why it ended up being a toy I don’t really approve of.

The Bad

The first issue I had with it was the smell, a usual giveaway to whether a toy is full of harmful chemicals or not. The scent it self is hard to describe other then to say it smells like a brand new shower curtain or old school kids toy (both known to be full of chemicals like phthalates). While the Pipedreams website (the manufacturer of the toy) claims they are phthalate free, I can’t help but wonder how that’s possible when the product is listed as a PVC toy.

On that note, when I first began doing reviews of toys there were (and still are) a few key features/benefits that a toy had to have in order for me to suggest, positively review or recommend it; being body safe was, and still is, first on the list. Sure, there are things you can do to limit the amount of exposure your body has to the leeching chemicals (like putting it in a condom) but I still don’t really recommend it, especially when the product doesn’t have much else to redeem itself and there are other products that are perfectly body safe available.

The second issue I had with the product was the power of the vibration; while it easily operates using a dial on the bottom (making it “multi-speed”) the range of vibration speeds is limited and to be honest, I didn’t really notice much difference at all. Aside from the slight difference in speed the product wasn’t very powerful either, giving off a very low vibration that might only be good for those of you that are highly sensitive and don’t need a lot to achieve an orgasm. I’ll be honest, when it came to vibrations I was very disappointed.

*It could be due to the fact that it runs off of one AA battery, but if that’s the case then then Pocket Rocket should feel the same, yet it doesn’t as it’s much more powerful.

On the note of batteries, the product burned through 2 batteries rather quickly (under 10 minutes for both), something I might think was due to the batteries however considering one of them was brand new (Duracell which I usually trust) and the other was fully recharged I believe it’s more to do with the product then the batteries.

*Through doing reviews I’ve learned that some toys just drain batteries really quickly and unfortunately there isn’t much you can do. Maybe mine was faulty, who knows.

Finally the curve for g-spot stimulation leaves much to be desired as it’s neither firm enough to offer real pressure, nor curved enough to reach that special spot (not mine anyways) – something I think many women may have an issue with. Aside from that, since the motor is in the middle of the shaft (just below the curve) I found that it dug into me, making the product rather uncomfortable.

The Good

While it’s a rather disappointing toy there were elements that I did like;

As someone who loves bright, bold, fun and playful colors I loved that the product came in a wide variety.

The battery is very easy to insert; just twist the bottom cap off, pop in a battery, twist the cap back on and you’re done.

The size makes it rather adorable, plus it’s perfect for those that don’t like large toys

The fact that it’s waterproof, probably it’s only real redeeming quality, means that it makes bath time fun 😉
*As a test I left mine running in a sink full of water (fully submerged). When I checked on it 10 minutes later, although the battery was dead, there was no water inside and it still worked once I changed the battery. Definitely waterproof 🙂

Finally cleaning it is rather easy; just spray it with your favorite toy cleaner or wash it with antibacterial soap and rinse it well.

Final Verdict

While the product is very cute, brightly colored and easy to use it’s really not that great of a toy. I’ll be honest, I had very high hopes for the Neon Jr. G-Spot Softee as I thought it would be perfect for those of you asking for a small and inexpensive toy. Unfortunately, it just didn’t live up to my expectations.

Then again, when you purchase cheaply priced toys, they are also usually cheaply made. Sometimes the old adage is true “you get what you pay for”. *sigh*

For those of you looking for easy to use, body safe and powerful sex toys check out the luxury toy section as well as the eco-friendly section of SexToy.com. They have a lot to offer at very, very reasonable prices!

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Just In Case

Contraception, Safer Sex

Thanks to the folks at SexToy.com I was sent what may have become one of my most favorite things where safer sex practices are concerned – the “Just In Case” condom/compact.

For those of you wondering what it is, well, it’s rather self explanatory; a compact complete with a mirror for touch up’s, that’s just small enough to fit in the cutest of purses/bags but large enough to have a secret compartment for storing 2 condoms. You know, just in case you might need one 😉

When I first got my classy red Just In Case I assumed it would be cheap looking and rather flimsy, to my surprise it was actually the exact opposite. The sturdy and well crafted acrylic case is shiny and very discreet with nothing on it to hint at what it might be. The mirror is a legitimate mirror (rather then those cheap ones you find in dollar store compacts. You know, the one’s that make you feel like your in the funhouse at the carnival) and it’s large enough that you can see your whole face in it, rather then just an eye or your lips. While I’m not the biggest fan of the color red I do quite like the highly reflective (almost metallic) outer case as it reminds me of pin up girls from days gone by.

*If you don’t like red the case also comes in goddess gold (gold), luscious lime (light green), petulant pink (baby pink), mystic metal (black), a newer sleek black Chanel-esque compact – the JUST IN CASE II, and for those of you that want an extra discreet case that doubles as a lip gloss dispenser – the Just In Case Confidential.

As for being flimsy, I dropped mine 3 times the first day I got it (what can I say, I’m a clutz) and while it did get one little scratch it didn’t break or crack – yay for well made products!!

What I love most about the Just In Case line of products is just how portable they are; measuring only 2 1/2″ in height, 2 1/2″ in width and 7/8″ deep, the compact fits rather comfortably in back pockets, a purse, clutch, carry on luggage, knapsacks or a bedside table. To be honest, it’ll fit just about anywhere your little heart desires (without anyone being any the wiser).

*On a side note, I took mine to dinner with some friends as a test to see if it really was as discreet as the website said it was. The second I took it out of my purse everyone wanted to know what it was, not because they thought it was something scandalous, but because it was the “prettiest/fiercest” compact they’d ever seen. When I handed it over to their wanting hands not one person thought to lift the secret compartment (exposing the condom). When I showed them the condom compartment every single one of them (5 ladies in total) all screamed that they wanted one, thus making the concept behind the compact a complete discreet success!

When it came to the issue of social acceptance, or lack thereof, I had originally planned on having a little rant here regarding the way women are portrayed or perceived should they be found to be carrying condoms. However, upon reading the philosophy behind the product I thought I would refrain and instead offer a quote from the website, as there is no way I could have said it better myself:

“It is our belief that although a woman may be sophisticated, smart, sexy and forward thinking in her world, beneath the strong exterior lives a woman who is innately modest, and has a desire to be loved and respected; a different kind of strength.

Often, situations arise where self-betrayal replaces self-knowledge with the belief that having unprotected sex will please her partner and begin or keep a relationship going; all of which could put her life at risk. Furthermore, the idea of purchasing condoms herself or carrying them in her purse where others may see them, might be just too embarrassing. Or she may feel judged for having them in her possession.

It’s Time.” *Just In Case Website

Aside from the social acceptance issues, I was raised in a generation where it was the males responsibility to carry the condoms and the females responsibility to get on the pill. While I agree that 2 forms are protection are better then 1, I think that when it comes to STI’s, and protecting against them, it should be both parties responsibility not one or the other. With that in mind, the Just In Case provides a sleek and easy means of transportation that is not only respectful and discreet, but also fun and classy.

*Not to mention it keeps the condom wrapper from getting torn or punctured which could ruin it.

The Bad

As for things I didn’t like about the product, I didn’t have any. It’s well made, comes in a variety of colors, is compact and discreet, fits more then one condom and provides a certain type of female empowerment that no other product can – what more could I ask for??

Final Verdict

Whether it’s a trip abroad, a night on the town, a dinner for two or a midnight rendezvous in the park the Just In Case condom compact is something no girl should go without!

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Review: Just In Case

Condoms & Safer Sex Products, Product Reviews

Thanks to the folks at SexToy.com I was sent what may have become one of my most favorite things where safer sex practices are concerned – the “Just In Case” condom/compact.

As for being flimsy, I dropped mine 3 times the first day I got it (what can I say, I’m a clutz) and while it did get one little scratch it didn’t break or crack – yay for well made products!!

“It is our belief that although a woman may be sophisticated, smart, sexy and forward thinking in her world, beneath the strong exterior lives a woman who is innately modest, and has a desire to be loved and respected; a different kind of strength.

Often, situations arise where self-betrayal replaces self-knowledge with the belief that having unprotected sex will please her partner and begin or keep a relationship going; all of which could put her life at risk. Furthermore, the idea of purchasing condoms herself or carrying them in her purse where others may see them, might be just too embarrassing. Or she may feel judged for having them in her possession.

It’s Time.” *Just In Case Website

*Not to mention it keeps the condom wrapper from getting torn or punctured which could ruin it.

The Bad

Final Verdict

Whether it’s a trip abroad, a night on the town, a dinner for two or a midnight rendezvous in the park the Just In Case condom compact is something no girl should go without!

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