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Mar 8, 2013
Posted by Penny on Mar 8, 2013 in Dildos, Glass, Pipedream, Reviews | 0 comments
The Icicles No. 21 is a 8.5×1.25” glass dildo with a phallic head, a long, slightly curved shaft with flower detail, and a flared based. I chose the No. 21 to review for Pipedream with Toy Tuesday as well as my g-spot in mind, since glass is fun to photograph, and I saw potential in its pronounced head.
While I knew ahead of time that the No. 21 would probably feel pretty intense, I didn’t realize how intense. This is one of those toys that definitely requires a good amount of foreplay and lube to work for me, and I almost wanted to give up on it after the not so pleasant “pop” feeling the first time I inserted its hard, bulbous head. After I got used to it though, I discovered that the No. 21 does feel pretty amazing– when I get it at the right angle.
Stimulating my g-spot isn’t the only requirement I have for what I consider a successful dildo though— ease of use is equally important, and that’s where this toy is lacking. Since I only need to insert it until right where the curve starts, I have to hold it on its shaft rather than on its base, which would be much easier to grip and handle. If it had more of a curved “C” shape, it probably wouldn’t feel too long since the handle would be curved towards me, but since it straightens out after the slight curve, it’s hard to hold. After a while my arm gets tired trying to keep the right angle and pressure, and I find myself craving the ease of stimulation that is the Pure Wand.
In hopes that I could enjoy the 21 without my arm getting tired, I had Jake try it on me with even less success. I definitely prefer using toys on myself in general, but since this one has such an intense head and also requires very specific angling to hit my g-spot, it was pretty much impossible to enjoy this way. Since the No. 21 has a flared base, it can be used safely for anal or strap on play, but I have no desire to use it for either and see it being potentially painful if misused.
Although it is a lovely toy, and I like the way the bulbous head feels on my g-spot when I can get it in the right position, I don’t recommend the No. 21 since its shape and length make it hard to hold for long masturbation sessions. I’m also annoyed by its lack of a real protective storage case. If you’re going to sell delicate glass sex toys, you should include some kind of cover or case, not just a Styrofoam insert.
Like all glass toys, the Icicles No. 21 is hygienic, non-porous, and can be easily cleaned with soap and water or by running it through the dishwasher (on the top shelf with no soap or detergent.) Glass is also a good material for sensation play since it holds temperature well. To do this safely, place it in either warm or cold water for a few minutes (don’t put it in the freezer.)
Feb 23, 2013
Posted by Penny on Feb 23, 2013 in Lovehoney, Silicone, Vibrators | 1 comment
I requested the Sqweel 2 to review for Lovehoney because I was intrigued by its unique design, even though I was skeptical as to whether the toy could actually do what it’s marketed to– simulate the amazing feeling of oral sex. The Sqweel 2 consists of a plastic hub and a wheel with 10 silicone “tongues” that slips on and off for cleaning. While obviously no one has 10 tongues and it didn’t seem like it would feel realistic, I hoped it would be fun to use regardless.
The first time I lubed up and introduced the Sqweel 2 to my clit, I was quickly turned on by the interesting sensation it provided, even at the slow speed. It didn’t feel like a real tongue, but it did feel nice to have 10 spinning silicone tongues against my clit. The slowest speed wasn’t enough to satisfy me though, so I increased the toy to its medium and eventually high speed, but even after moving it around and trying different positions, I couldn’t get off. For a moment I actually thought I had lost my ability to orgasm, since the toy was very stimulating at its highest speed, but although I could practically taste my orgasm, I couldn’t quite reach it. I ended up finishing myself off with my fingers instead, and breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn’t me that was the problem.
Like any good reviewer, I didn’t give up on the toy after my initial disappointment, but I had the same experience almost every time I tried it, and I figured out that the toy is missing something crucial for me: circular motion, or at least variety of motion. The toy does have an option to switch the direction of the tongues, but that function felt uncomfortable and borderline painful, irritating my clit rather than pleasing it, and the third “back and forth” option didn’t do anything for me. So the normal spinning function is enough to get me close to orgasm, but it’s a little too robotic and missing that extra something I need from the feeling of touch (rather than vibration) to get off. I did manage to orgasm with it once, but it took time, patience, and lot of finagling with it and moving it around in circles at just the right angle, and so far I haven’t been able to repeat that experience.
Besides the general frustration of not being able to get off, I also had other issues with the Sqweel 2. One was that I had to pay close attention to how I was using it and be careful not to press it down too hard, since that would stop the tongues from moving, which was counter-intuitive for me since my clit likes pressure. The toy’s weird sound is also distracting and the controller’s design flawed. Since it felt best holding it vertically, I had to actually look down to see where the buttons were on the front to make sure I was pressing the right one. To me it would make more sense for them to be on the side of the toy instead, so I could easily change speeds without disrupting my pleasure. It’s also nearly impossible to use a dildo with the toy since it’s bulky and in the way. I also had Jake give the Sqweel a shot, but he said he didn’t like the way it felt and found it pretty useless, which wasn’t very surprising since it’s designed for clits.
Overall, I was disappointed by the Sqweel 2. The feeling of its spinning tongues arouses me just enough to bring me to the edge of an orgasm, but not enough to satisfy me. The one time I got off with it took a lot of work, and I use sex toys to add variety and to make it easier to orgasm, not more difficult. However, just because it didn’t work very well for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. It does provide a unique pleasurable sensation that is somewhat similar to oral, although obviously it’s not the same as a real tongue. If you’re interested in a toy that simulates oral or a touch feeling or one that provides something different from the usual vibration and have an extra $60 to spend on a new toy, you could give it a shot. Hey, Epiphora liked it (and she is picky as hell), so who knows, you might too.
If you do end up trying the Sqweel 2, make sure you have 3 AAA batteries and plenty of water based lube handy, since using the toy without it isn’t pleasant. To clean the toy, remove the wheel and wash it with warm soapy water or toy cleaner, wipe down the plastic portion, and let everything dry completely before storing it. Like all toys that require batteries, it’s best to remove them when you’re not going to use it for a while. The toy is made of hygienic, non-porous silicone and plastic, but I wouldn’t recommend sharing it with multiple partners since it seems impossible to properly sterilize the toy since it has so many crevices.
Jan 8, 2013
Posted by Penny on Jan 8, 2013 in Lubricants, Reviews, Sliquid, Water Based | 3 comments
After trying my new love last year, Sliquid H2O, I knew I could never go back to the Dark Ages of sticky, smelly lubes full of glycerin, parabens, and other sketchy and possibly harmful ingredients. Sliquid H2O has a slick, medium consistency that is long-lasting and doesn’t feel sticky, and most importantly it contains only all natural, hypoallergenic ingredients. Since Sliquid has a range of many types of lubricants, I wanted to try more Sliquid products to see how they compare to my new favorite.
Lovehoney sent me a bottle of Oceanics to review, a water based lube in the Sliquid organics line that has added extracts from the sea. Oceanics utilizes the same 2 main ingredients as Sliquid H2O (Purified water and plant cellulose) but also contains Carrageenan, which may help prevent the spread of HPV, as well as other certified organic botanicals with revitalizing and healing properties. Like all Sliquid products, Oceanics is 100% vegan with no animal testing and is glycerin, paraben, & petroleum free.
In use, Oceanics feels almost the same as Sliquid H2O. Like H2O, Oceanics feels great during foreplay and sex, with a medium consistency that isn’t runny, stays where it should, and mixes well with my natural lubrication. Oceanics also works well for hand jobs and the like, as it’s very long lasting, especially for a water based lube. It is also odorless and almost tasteless (I can taste it slightly but it’s not unpleasant,) and it’s easily washed off with soap and water. One of the only differences I noticed with Oceanics is that it’s slightly stickier than H2O, but it’s hardly noticeable and is still a great, long-lasting lube. It also leaves a light, white, frothy residue after awhile, but I only noticed this when I was testing it by rubbing it between my fingers, not in use. This is probably a result of some of the added botanicals, and like I said, it’s hardly noticeable.
Overall Sliquid Oceanics is very similar to Sliquid H2O and has the same great medium long-lasting consistency. The most important difference is probably its added Carrageenan, since it may help prevent the spread of HPV, one of the most common STD’s. If you’re interested in a lube that does this, I would definitely recommend Oceanics since it’s a high quality, long lasting lubricant. If you don’t care about the added Carrageenan and botanicals though, then I would stick with Sliquid H2O since Oceanics is a little stickier and has a slight residue. Also, if you’re very sensitive to lube ingredients then you may want to stick with H2O since it has less ingredients (and therefore less possible irritants,) although I am fairly sensitive to lubricants and haven’t had any issues with Oceanics.
For foreplay and vaginal sex; I definitely recommend either H2O or Oceanics depending on your preferences. For anal play though, I recommend Sliquid Sassy, which I’ve tried recently as well and is the same as H2O but thicker, which is important for safe and comfortable butt play.
Thanks to Sliquid, you can now get 10% off of Oceanics, H2O, or whatever else you want at the Sliquid Shop when you use my discount code PENNY10!
Ingredients:
Purified Water
Plant Cellulose (from Cotton)
Natural Tocopherols (Vitamin E)- Well known for its healing properties.
Cyamopsis (Guar Conditioners)
Green Tea* & Extracts of Hibiscus*- Well documented for their invigorating & skin elasticity properties.
Flax*- An organic source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Aloe Barbadensis* & Alfalfa*- Natural skin soothers.
Sunflower Seed*- A rich source of amino acids and minerals.
Carrageenan*- A natural lubricant that has been shown in lab tests to help prevent the spread of HPV (Genital Warts.)
Nori*-A green algae that is an effective natural moisturizer and is also a great source of B Vitamins (Folic Acid) and minerals, including Zinc, Iodine, Iron & Copper.
Wakame*-A red algae often used for its anti-wrinkle & skin revitalizing properties; it’s also a natural source of Vitamins A, B, C and E.
Potassium Sorbate,
Citric Acid
* UDSA Certified Organic
Dec 22, 2012
Posted by Penny on Dec 22, 2012 in BDSM, Lovehoney, Reviews, Types | 1 comment
What initially attracted me to bondage tape was its aesthetic. I like the shiny, wet look and the idea of tape bondage without the pain of normal duct tape.
The Lovehoney Tease Me Bondage Tape consists of a roll of 20m of strong PVC tape that only sticks to itself for tape bondage play without the pain of hair-pulling upon removal. I received mine in black, but Lovehoney also carries it in red and purple.
My boyfriend and I used the entire roll of tape in only a few uses for light bondage and to make a fetish top. As described, the tape only sticks to itself and doesn’t pull hair when removed. It’s also advertised as being reusable, but it’s not really since the tape sticks to itself and is pretty much impossible to separate and put back on the roll. If you actually use it to bind, you have to use your teeth or scissors to get it off (it will stretch but is very hard to break,) which also ruins any chance of reuse.
I found using the tape to bind my wrists and ankles annoying since the tape wouldn’t stay flat and got twisted, crinkled, and loosened as I struggled to get free. With enough layers it did work to actually restrain me, which was fun for forced Hitachi orgasms and oral play, but it quickly became distracting and uncomfortable as it painfully dug into me after it got twisted and left my skin sweaty and smelling of chemicals. I’ve heard of people using the tape as a gag or blindfold, but this didn’t work for me as the tape’s PVC smell reminded me of poisonous jelly dildos, and I couldn’t stand having it near my face.
Using the tape to try to restrain Jake was even less successful, and even wrapped in many layers he could easily loosen it and break free. It could probably actually restrain him if I had used many layers over his entire arms, but I didn’t want to finish all of the tape. On the plus side, I did get a sexy photo of him “bound” while experimenting with it on him.
Again, the tape was frustrating and not very effective when we tried using it to make a sexy top. First we wrapped it horizontally around my breasts, but it kept rolling on the edges and slipping out of place. We also tried making a sort of breast bondage top, and it worked alright for that, although it was still hard to manage and keep in place. I removed it after only a few minutes since it was uncomfortable and made me very sweaty. I can deal with some discomfort if I think it’s worth the appearance (have you seen some of my heels?) but in this case the look wasn’t worth the trouble. I think you could manage to make a cool fetish outfit with it, but it would take more patience than I had as well as way more tape.
Even after constant annoyances using the tape, I was going to say that it could be an option for someone looking for an inexpensive way to try light bondage…until I had an allergic reaction to it. The day after we used it to restrain me, I broke out into itchy and painful hives on both of my wrists. After it happened I read up on latex and PVC as well as contact allergies and irritations, and I definitely had an allergic reaction to it since it was delayed and then went away when I took antihistamines.
At first I thought it was strange that I only had a reaction on my wrists, but it makes sense since I had it on my wrists much longer than any other part of my body. I also think harmful chemicals may have been released when it stretched and crinkled as I struggled with it. Jake’s wrists were also red and itchy after use, but he didn’t have the more severe allergic reaction that I did (but he didn’t have it on as long either.) It’s also important to note that I’ve never noticed a latex or PVC allergy before, and I’ve used a different brand of bondage tape in the past and didn’t have an issue, although it is possible to develop allergies over time.
Even though I am obviously allergic to something in the Tease Me Bondage Tape and others may have no issues when using it, I don’t feel comfortable recommending it since it irritated Jake as well and was generally frustrating to use. It can work for restraining, but it requires many layers, and it easily gets crinkled, twisted, tangled, and stretched. If you really want a tape bondage look I guess it’s probably a better option than duct tape, but I would only use it if you’ve already performed a patch test on your skin (and waited at least a day) to ensure you won’t react to it.
Dec 17, 2012
Posted by Penny on Dec 17, 2012 in Dildos, Reviews, Silicone, Tantus | 3 comments
I’ve wanted to try a realistic dildo for awhile now, and I’m so glad the Tantus Adam O2 was my first. I chose Adam to review for WeLoveToys.com mainly based on looks without reading a bunch of reviews of the toy like I usually do, and in this case my instincts, and Adam, served me well.
Adam is a realistic silicone dildo in the Tantus “O2” Dual Density line, which features a hard muscle core covered in a layer of Supersoft ™ silicone to mimic the feeling of a real penis. The toy has a realistic shape with a pronounced smooth head and a matte veiny shaft, with a flared round based for suctioning or use with a harness. The toy comes in three colors whose names remind me of coffee: Black, Cream, and the one I have, Cocoa.
While sometimes it takes me a few uses to warm up to a toy, with Adam it was love at first try. Adam’s generous girth (1.5″) and length (7″) and curved shape puts intense pressure on my g-spot and makes me feel like I’m going to squirt almost immediately. I usually warm up by clenching around it, and then move on to using the toy’s hard head to massage my g-spot, and eventually thrust harder and faster until I reach orgasm and/or squirt.
I love using Adam both by myself as well as during foreplay and sex. The 1st time I used Adam, Jake and I used it for a threesome fantasy/DP scenario, and it felt incredible, as evidenced by the puddle I left on my Fascinator Throe. I also love having Jake use it on me while I’m giving him oral, and with my eyes closed and some dirty talk, I almost forget it’s not the real thing.
Since silicone has some drag to it and Adam is a girthy toy, I use plenty of water based lube with it and like to keep the bottle nearby. I don’t insert Adam all the way (only the head and about half of the shaft,) but I like the extra inches for looks and also because they make it easier to hold onto. I also find the base useful as a handle for thrusting.
Adam is my first realistic dildo, so I don’t have much to compare it to, although I have felt Vixskin toys before and it’s definitely harder than their silicone. Adam also doesn’t have the freakishly lifelike design that I’ve seen in some “realistic” material or PVC dildos, but I’ll take Tantus’ high quality silicone and a little less realism over harmful phthalates any day. Besides, Adam’s hardness and shape feel incredible on my g-spot, and I don’t think it needs to be any softer.
I haven’t used Adam anally, but it can be used safely as an anal toy since it has a flared based and can be completely sterilized. I also haven’t tried it with a harness yet but probably will at some point and will add an update or follow-up if I do.
Adam is made of 100% non-porous silicone and can be easily cleaned and sterilized by washing it with antibacterial soap and warm water, running it through the dishwasher (top shelf, no soap), by boiling it, or by using a 10% bleach solution. Since it’s made of silicone, you should only use a water based lube with this toy. Like all silicone toys, Adam collects dust and hair like crazy and should be stored properly and washed before and after each use.
If you’re looking for a girthy realistic dildo, an intense g-spot toy, or both, then I definitely recommend the Tantus Adam O2. With its generous girth, realistic shape, and hard, pronounced head, Adam does wonders for my g-spot as well as my dirty imagination during role-play. If you’re new to penetration, prefer a smaller girth, or don’t enjoy intense g-spot stimulation then this probably isn’t the toy for you.
The Icicles No. 21 is a 8.5×1.25” glass dildo with a phallic head, a long, slightly curved shaft with flower detail, and a flared based. I chose the No. 21 to review for Pipedream with Toy Tuesday as well as my g-spot in mind, since glass is fun to photograph, and I saw potential in its pronounced head.
