Category Archives: Reviews

Pleasurists #95

Posted on September 15, 2010 | 1 comment

via ruero


Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.
Did you miss Pleasurists #94? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #96? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday September 12th at 11:59pm PDT.
Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

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e[lust] #19
Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr
Editor’s Pick

  • LELO Siri and my clitoris: A love story by Quizzical Pussy

    • I’d been wanting to try a LELO toy for some time. They have a reputation for being elegant, clever, and oh-so luxurious. Actually, though, I kind of also think of LELO as the IKEA of the sex toy world: the caps lock, the funny sparse-but-exotic product names (pop quiz: tell me which of these are sex toys and which are furniture: Odda, Noga, Ina, Nea, Agne, Mona, Malma) the simple lines and bright colors.

On to the reviews…
Vibrators

Dildos

Anal Toys

Toys for Cocks

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

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Pleasurists #94

Posted on September 9, 2010 | 1 comment

Slow Enough to Scream by wynnesome


Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.
Did you miss Pleasurists #93? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #95? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday September 12th at 11:59pm PDT.
Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?

e[lust] #19
Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr
Editor’s Pick

  • Cobra Libre by Dr. Ruthie

    • While I’ve seen a lot of great men’s masturbation toys, it’s become clear that, largely, they fall into two categories: full-penis-length stroking sleeves meant to enhance the usual jacking-off motions, or anal toys meant for prostate stimulation. That’s why the arrival of the Cobra Libre, Fun Factory’s new vibrating men’s toy meant for relaxing, luxuriating stimulation to the glans (the penis head) was extra exciting for me.

On to the reviews…
Vibrators

Dildos

Anal Toys

Toys for Cocks

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

BDSM/Fetish

Adult Books/Games

Adult DVDs & Porn

Storage

Miscellaneous

Pleasurists adult product review round-up

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Calling All Girls

Posted on September 7, 2010 | 1 comment

This month, the Sexis Naked Reader Book Club had some interesting selections. I decided to go with a book that wasn’t an anthology by different authors this time so I selected Real Live Nude Girl by Carol Queen.

Real Live Nude Girl (Chronicles of Sex-Positive Culture) was first published in 1997 by Cleis Press. The second edition came out in 2002, with a new Forward section. This is an oversized paperback a glossy cover and no illustrations. It’s 215 pages, set in easy-to-read type, and contains a forward, introduction, bibliography, index, and a section about the author in addition to the essays.

Carol Queen grew up in Oregon, and first became a queer organizer and AIDS educator there before heading to San Francisco, where she received a doctorate in sexology in 1998. She is the author of several books as well as the co-editor of many others. She writes monthly for Spectator (a sex newsweekly in northern California) and has also been featured in Penthouse, Hustler, Vogue, and Elle. She works at and owns part of Good Vibrations, has been in sex education videos and also conducts workshops and trainings with her partner.

In the forward, Carol talks about growing up in the US in an erotophobic culture: while sex permeates everything we see and hear, from television, movies and music, most people are afraid of sex, whether it’s talking about it or accepting anything that strays outside what’s considered the “norm”. Even within the norm, sex is shunned, feared, and talked about as little as possible. She explains her subtitle, “Sex-Positive Culture”, doesn’t refer to the culture in the US in which we all are a part of, but rather the counter-culture that thrives in pockets throughout the country. She believes the challenge is not to become comfortable with sex for yourself, but to understand as well that we shouldn’t be judgmental, and that the differences that separate humans sexually aren’t perversions or immoral but rather just that – differences, People should lead their lives in the way that brings them joy and happiness.

In the introduction, Carol relates growing up different, where her young classmates gave her the nickname “Queen the Queer.” Carol discovered herself, worried about being “too queer to be queer”, and explored both the lesbian and gay communities before finding her niche with the bisexual community. Even this wasn’t an easy fit.

This book is not erotica. The chapters consist of 25 essays, each a glimpse into the life and thoughts of Carol as she grew into her sexuality. Many of them deal with her discoveries, her sexuality, and what bisexual means to members of that community, homosexuals, and heterosexuals, as well as the prejudices and judgments each make on the other. She covers safe sex clubs, body modifications, Madonna, pornography, butch women and spanking, girls gone bad, and prostitution.

This is not what I’d call light reading. The essays are insightful, and really give a perspective on claiming your sexuality. Some of them are fascinating, like her work as a “real live nude girl” at the Lusty Lady Theater in North Beach, where she worked in a Private Pleasures booth and gained insight on exhibitionism, her fellow workers and the men and women who came for a private show. Some of them are also humorous, as when she had to go through desensitization to pornography in graduate school. She and other classmates were put in a room, where all kinds of pornography imaginable was shown on the walls larger than life, including 4 foot tall penises.

This is a wonderfully informative book, and one that I’d recommend regardless of your sex or sexual orientation. I liked Carol’s writing style quite a bit. She’s easy to read and understand, and the glimpses she provides into her life and sexual journey would make interesting reading for everyone. If you’d like to pick up a copy of Real Live Nude Girl, you can get yours at EdenFantasys by clicking below. Read it, ponder it, and enjoy it, then join the Sexis Naked Reader Book Club discussion on the EdenFantasys forum later this month.

product picture
Book by Carol Queen
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Cleis Press Inc.
This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer.
This product was provided to me for free in exchange for an unbiased review.  This review is in compliance with the FTC guidelines.

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Shimmer Here, Shimmer There!

Posted on September 5, 2010 | Comments Off on Shimmer Here, Shimmer There!

I love bells and whistles as much as the next woman. Well, maybe in a different context (on my sex toys) but I like them all the same. But sometimes I want something basic that gets me off, without a lot of hoopla. Enter the Metallic Shimmer Vibe (also called the Water Shimmer), which I received for review from Babeland.com .

The Shimmer Vibe is by Cal Exotics comes in an easy to open plastic clamshell case. The vibrator is visible through the front, and a picture and some product information is on the insert visible through the back.

This is a nice sized vibrator, at 6” long. It’s a pretty mauve color with a shimmering tone. Made of ABS plastic with a metallic coating (so it’s phthalates free and non-porous), the vibe feels smooth to the touch, but it has an interesting feel to it. Slick, but a bit of drag, it’s hard to describe, but it’s nice. It also makes an interesting sound.

The Shimmer is just 1 1/4″ in diameter, with a tapered tip for easy insertion or use on your clit. The matching plastic base unscrews to access the battery compartment. This vibrator takes 2 AA batteries, which are inserted + side down. A rolled-up piece of paper inside the compartment shows the battery direction. Don’t remove the piece of paper! This helps cut down on any rattling the batteries make when the Shimmer is turned on. Below the threads is an O-ring, which makes the Shimmer waterproof and great to use in either the shower or tub. Just make sure to close the cap tightly so the O-ring is effective.

The vibration levels are controlled by twisting the dial at the bottom of the Shimmer’s base. They go from soft and gentle to decently strong buzzy vibrations. These vibrations are strongest in the tip and lessen considerably closer to the base, which has very little vibration at all. It is fairly loud, so background music is a necessity.

The Shimmer is easy to clean with warm water and antibacterial soap. It’s also easy to store, whether you stand it up on its base or keep it in a protective bag. You’ll want to be careful not to scratch the surface – it will leave a mark. Water-based and silicone lubricants are both safe to use.

So, Did It Work? I really like the color of this one, although I’m not overly partial to purple and pink vibrators. The metallic color is quite pretty, and I liked the way this felt.

I also liked the vibrations the Shimmer had. While it’s not the strongest vibrator I’ve used, the vibrations are quite strong, and I loved that they were so strong in the tip. This made the Shimmer useful as a clitoral vibe, as well as an internal one. I wish this had some sort of flared base on it – it’s a nice size for me for anal penetration.

The Shimmer worked great in the tub. I was able to submerge it without it stopping working, and afterwards the battery compartment was completely dry. I wasn’t crazy about this in the shower since I like to recline and use my water toys, but it operated with no problems there as well.

So far, the metallic coating has held up without any chipping or flaking, and I think with care it should look new for a long time to come.

If you’re looking for a basic vibrator with fairly strong vibrations, the Shimmer would be an excellent choice. Its relatively small size makes it ideal, and its usefulness as a clitoral stimulator as well as a vaginal vibrator should please most anyone. Plus, it’s waterproof! There’s nothing better than that.

Thank you to Babeland.com for sending this to me for free to review! If you’d like to buy the Metallic Shimmer Vibrator for yourself, you can get one at Babeland.com today.


This product was sent to me for free in exchange for an unbiased review. This review is in compliance with the FTC guidelines.

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Posted in Babeland, Reviews

An Expedition With Calypso

Posted on September 4, 2010 | 1 comment

I love clitoral vibrators, probably more than any other kind. Even if they don’t get me off quickly, I love the feelings and sensations they create on my clit. So I was happy to see the Calypso 2 was my review product this month as part of the Cal Exotics Sexperts program.

The Calypso 2 (and yes, there is a Calypso 1) is part of Cal Exotics Couture Collection. It comes in a shiny white cardboard box, with pictures of the product on the front and back, as well as other product information.

This is really a pretty toy, light and feminine. The oddly shaped “bullet” is 3 1/2″ long and about 1” wide at its widest point. The shape reminds me of a whale’s head. It’s made of silicone and is a lovely periwinkle color. The surface has a matte finish, with just a bit of drag as you run your finger down it. It also has some rippling on the surface. It’s not a squishy bullet, but rather firm with very little give.

There is a seam that is noticeable – it can be both seen and felt – running around this piece, but it isn’t noticeable during use. The rippling and ridges help the bullet fit nicely to your anatomy and nestle over your clit. The bullet is attached to the control by a 23” cord that is firmly implanted in the silicone.

The controller is made of ABS plastic, with a matte back and a shiny front. It’s cream, with a deeper periwinkle trim on the sides and graceful curling lines on the front. The two control buttons are set inside a tulip outline. The controller is curved on the bottom, making this easy and comfortable to hold.

The bottom button is a dedicated on/off button. The unit has to be turned on with this button before starting the vibrations and patterns with the button on the top. A red light glows behind the buttons, and the small red LED pulses or shines steadily depending on the pattern you are on.

The Calypso 2 features 7 settings:
– Low and steady vibration
– Medium and steady vibration
– High and steady vibration
– Revving pattern from low to high steady vibratons
– Pulses
– Faster pulses
– 3 short pulses followed by 1 long pulse

The vibrations are felt most strongly in the tip of the bullet, but do carry throughout its entire length. They are fairly buzzy but also a bit rumbly, especially on the pattern settings. While they aren’t the strongest vibrations I’ve ever felt, they are pleasurable and make this a good choice to use for a longer session. The Calypso 2 is pretty quiet, even on the highest setting.

The battery compartment is located on the back of the controller, and has a small tab at the base that must be pressed in to slide the compartment off. It can be a bit tricky to get it pressed in the first time, but once you figure it out it’s much easier. The Calypso 2 takes 2 AAA batteries, which are inserted + side down on the left, and + side up on the right. The lid should be pushed back on until it clicks into place. It fits snugly and won’t pop off, which helps make this waterproof, as befitting a toy with this name.

The Calypso 2 is easy to clean – just wash it with antibacterial soap and warm water and pat dry. Since it’s silicone, only water-based lubricants are safe to use.

So, Did It Work? I liked the Calypso 2. The shape of the bullet was unique, and it fit me well during use. It was comfortable to wear inside of a pair of panties and stayed in place pretty well. It also was unobtrusive when using this bullet with my partner, and nestled out of the way without interfering between us.

The vibrations aren’t earth-shaking, but they are moderately strong, and I found this to be a good one for foreplay or longer masturbation settings. As I usually do, I liked the high and steady vibration pattern the best, but I also really liked the 3 short 1 long pattern.

This worked well in the bathtub as well. I didn’t have any trouble with water getting into the battery pack, and while the noise was a bit louder, it was still quite quiet.

Overall, this is a nice, uniquely shaped bullet vibrator, and a good choice if you want something feminine yet with a bit of power.

Thank you to Cal Exotics for sending this to me for free to review!

This product was sent to me for free in exchange for an unbiased review. This review is in compliance with the FTC guidelines.

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Posted in Cal Exotics, Reviews