Sex Toy Reviews Archives

Last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing pop star Lily Allen about her recent collaboration with luxe sex toy brand Womanizer for The Toronto Sun.

The result of this partnership is the Womanizer Liberty by Lily Allen – a small, lightweight edition of the classic Womanizer sex toy which uses patented and revolutionary Pleasure Air Technology designed to stimulate the sensitive nerve endings of the clitoris with gentle air waves.

Since the folks at Womanizer sent me my own Liberty by Lily Allen to try, I thought it was only fair that I test the wares and report back.

It goes without saying that there’s no shortage of options when it comes to the sheer variety of sex toys that are currently available for purchase.

So, when I receive a press release announcing another celebrity sex toy collab I’m naturally a little skeptical (perhaps because I’m still emotionally scared by the Coco & Ice T vibrator and the Nick Hawk Gigolo Dildo). However, I’m excited to share that the Liberty by Lily Allen did not disappoint.

The Liberty takes everything I love about Womanizer toys and wraps it up in a fun, accessible packaging. The Liberty model comes with a magnetic cap and six intensity levels, simple two-button operation and is feather-light, perfect for travel and discreet in handbags. Oh and those air waves. You simply have to place the toy above your clitoris and the Liberty will literally blow & suck you away to a quick, intense orgasm.

Made of body safe materials and fully rechargeable, the Liberty is also water resistant.

While the Liberty doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as some of their Womanizer Premium (which I also own and is fantastic), but in this case I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I love the Liberty because it’s so compact and unlike some of the other models, fits easily in your palm in a way that feels very ergonomic.

It also has incredibly simple and intuitive control buttons that are easy to find and use without having to stop what you’re doing & fumble around.

For these reasons, Liberty is a great entree into the Womanizer line and air pleasure toys in general.

The only thing I don’t love about the Liberty is the charging situation. As you can see from the diagram below the charging cord attaches magnetically to a port along the curved edge of the toy. You have to lay the toy *just so* in order to ensure the port connects and stays connected, which isn’t always possible when you’re the kind of person who likes to discretely hide their toys away while they’re charging.

I really wish WOW Tech (the parent company of Womanizer) would stop making toys like this. The toys are awesome, but the charging ports are way too finicky for my liking. With that being said, I still really like this toy because of it’s very travel friendly (the magnetic cap is something I didn’t even realize I needed in my life) and easy to use.

Have you tried the Liberty? What did you think?

The Womanizer Liberty is available at Lovehoney and retails for $99.99 USD. If you purchase any products through the affiliate links in this post, I may receive a small commission which I will use to buy Joe the Intern more shorts.

Even though I haven’t been actively reviewing sex toys over the past few months, I still get tons of questions sent to me on a regular basis. I love, love, love receiving emails from readers. I’ve spent the past several years writing about sex toys online, so if I can use some of my self-acquired knowledge to help people, that’s pretty awesome. With that said, it seems like a lot of you are wondering about the same kinds of things. So, I thought I’d take the opportunity to address some of the most common questions I get on the blog. I have the feeling this will be a recurring feature.

What’s a good first vibrator?

I get tons of emails from people who have either never purchased a sex toy or are looking to replace an old vibrator that has kicked the bucket and/or was never very good in the first place.

When it comes to vibrators, there’s toys that can be used externally (for clitoral stimulation) or internally. There are also toys that offer both (usually referred to as rabbit vibrators or dual stimulation vibrators.)

If you’re not sure where to begin, I always recommend people start with a small, versatile clitoral vibrator. The toy I usually suggest as a good starting point is the We–Vibe Touch. It’s one of my favourite sex toys and is a great option for beginners and/or anyone who is looking for an all around good clitoral vibrator.

What I love about the We-Vibe Touch: It’s super compact, rechargeable (no batteries needed) and has a good range of sensations – from super gentle to quite powerful. It’s also great to use with your partner(s) because it’s small & has a neutral, non-intimidating appearance (although, I always joke that the original red hued version reminds me of a clown’s tongue.) Plus, it feels awesome. You can read my original review here.

Should I get the Lelo Soraya or the Lelo Ina Wave?!

I know, I know. I’ve waxed poetic about both of these dual stimulation toys, so it’s understandable that people are curious about which one I really like best. The truth is, I don’t really have a favourite. They’re both awesome and I love them for different reasons.

Rabbit style (dual stimulation) toys are not one size fits all. As I’ve learned through lots of trial and error, not every rabbit toy is going to line up to your anatomy.

Personally, I really like the Lelo Soraya because it’s a decent length and the bulbous head seems to reach my g-spot perfectly. On the other hand, I love the Lelo Ina Wave because it has finger like motions that massage your g-spot (similar to how a real life partner would stimulate you with their fingers.) If you enjoy this kind of stimulation, you’re probably going to dig this toy.

When comparing these two, it all comes down to shape and pressure. The Lelo Ina is very curved both in the shaft and the clitoral stimulator. The clitoral stimulation is intense and very pinpointed. If you don’t like a lot of pressure on your clit, you might find this toy to be a bit much – especially if you’re a beginner. So, when choosing between the two, I’d probably go with the Soraya because it has a flexible clitoral stimulator – meaning that you can bend it & hold it in place to better shape to your body.

How does the Lelo Ella work?

A few years ago, I wrote a review of the Lelo Ella aka “Super Dildo” for EdenFantasys and I’m still getting questions about this toy.

What you need to know is that the Lelo Ella is a dildo, not a vibrator. Not sure what the difference is? This article on the difference between dildos and vibrators can help. The TLDR version: vibrators vibrate; whereas dildos don’t.

Simply put, the Lelo Ella works like…well, a penis. It’s meant to rub against your g-spot and stimulate the other nerve endings located inside the vagina. Instead of holding it in one place like you would with a vibrator, you move/thrust it yourself. So, it stimulates using friction instead of vibration. If you want to kick things things up a notch, you can always use a small bullet vibe on your clit while you have the toy inserted. This might take a bit of practice at first, but I guarantee it’s worth it once you get the hang of it. Read the original review of the Lelo Ella – it’s also great for partner play!

Do you have a question that you’d like to see answered on Skinny Dip? Drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!

For my last sex toy review of 2015, I’ve decided to tackle that age old question “yo, why are your pants buzzing?” and review the Jimmyjane Form 1: a wearable, remote control vibrator designed to be worn inside your underwear.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve always been a bit skeptical of those vibrating panty sets that you often come across in sex toy stores. Either the panties look sketchy, the vibrator looks cheap or both. However, when I found out that Jimmyjane had come out with their own version – a vibrator that can be worn inside the underwear of your choice (*BYOP – bring your own panties?) I was intrigued. One of my favourite vibrators – the Form 2 – is made by Jimmyjane. I also like their massage candles. Lucky for me, my friends at Lovehoney hooked me up (thanks guys!)

So, what exactly do we have here? The Jimmyjane Form 1 is a small, clitoral vibrator made of 100% body-safe silicone that is designed to sit inside your underwear (or as the Brits over at Lovehoney say, “knickers.”) It includes 10 different vibration modes, 5 different intensity levels and a small remote control that works remotely from 32 ft away (given that you’re in direct line of sight).

The Jimmyjane Form 1 is intended as a couple’s toy. You slip it into your knickers, hand them the controls and let the fun begin.

Here’s a few things this toy has going for it –

Quality materials & a remote that actually works.

Or, rather I should say, “a remote that Simone can actually figure out.” I’ve had bad luck with remote control sex toys in the past. Either the remotes don’t work or they’re too finicky, so I just give up and don’t bother using them. I’m happy to report that this isn’t the case with the Form 1 remote. I was able to figure it out right away and it worked great. Jimmyjane is known for it’s high quality toys and this one is no exception.

You can use this in the underwear of your choice. Alone or with someone else.

Although this is marketed as a couple’s toy, you can also use it solo. Why not? If you feel like stuffing a vibrator down your pants (even if you’re the only one around to enjoy it), go for it. I won’t judge you. Even better, with the Form 1 you’re not restricted to the (potentially) crappy underwear that comes with the toy. You can use your own. It’s *BYOP baby!

It’s relatively compact.

I don’t know if it’s “the world’s slimmest vibrator” like the makers say it is, but it is on the slim side. It’s about a centimetre thick and the length of a lipstick.

Now here’s a few things that could be better –

The vibrations.

I was expecting the toe-curling, super strong vibrations of the Form 2, but I found this one fell a little bit short. The vibrations are quite strong on the highest setting, but a bit buzzy. When placed inside my panties, the vibrations felt good (even more so when I walked around, versus stayed seated or standing) but they weren’t enough to really get me off. Outside of my underwear, I was able to get off if I applied a bit of pressure to the toy. My verdict: unless you’re extremely sensitive, this toy is more of a fun appetizer than a main course.

The bend-ability.

The vibrator bends in the middle so you can shape it to your form, however doesn’t stay bent. I’m not sure what’s up with that.

The tiny wetsuit.

We can’t talk about the Form 1 without mentioning it’s “Stay in Place Panty Sleeve” aka the thing that looks like a tiny wetsuit. Made of neoprene, this little case is meant to keep the toy in place. When I first saw it, I was like, “Aw, how cute! It comes with it’s own little outfit! But, why?!” Good question. Although adorable, there’s a few issues with the “panty sleeve” (does anyone else find that name kind of creepy?)

1. It’s unnecessary. The vibrator is made of body safe silicone and has a nice grip. I feel like the neoprene sleeve actually gives it less grip.

2. It mutes the vibrations. The neoprene sleeve lessens the feeling of the vibrations while (oddly enough) doing nothing to mute the sound. No, thanks.

3. Laundry issues. Instead of just cleaning the silicone vibe with toy cleaner, if you use the sleeve you have to put it through the wash after each use. Washing Joe the Intern‘s clothes is enough for me. I don’t need more tiny laundry to do.

(With that said, the neoprene sleeve makes an excellent carrying case. It’s great for when you want to pop the toy in your purse or overnight bag. You just don’t need to use it for it’s intended use.)

The sound.

The people at Jimmyjane claim that this toy offers “silent vibrations.” LIES! This toy is actually quite loud. In fact, when I turned it on for the first time I actually scared my cat. I feel like this kind of defeats the purpose of it being “discreet.” Even stuffed down your pants, you can hear it. If you were going to wear this in public, you’d have to go somewhere that’s already loud to begin with. A sports bar on Superbowl Sunday? Union Station at Rush Hour? A Rammstein concert? Somewhere with a lot of screaming? Your guess is as good as mine.

The bulge.

Of all the drawbacks, this is the one that weirded me out the most. This might not be an issue for everyone, but in order to get the vibrator to hit the right spot, I had to place it in a way that created a visible pants bulge in my skinny jeans. Not exactly the look I was going for. I guess for some of us this is a “skirts only” toy or a “just don’t stuff this down your pants” toy.

The verdict.

After quite a bit of experimentation, the Form 1 just re-confirmed what I’ve always thought about “knicker vibrators” – they’re kind of awkward. The Form 1 isn’t the worst couples toy I’ve ever tried (ahem, I think the Embrace wins this title) but it’s not the best either.

If you’re looking to treat yourself to something sexy that you and your partner can both enjoy, I’d suggest you forgo the remote control vibrating panties all together, and instead invest in one clitoral vibe that works really, really well like the Jimmyjane Form 2, the We-Vibe Touch or the Crave Duet (all of which are awesome sex toys).

Thank you to Lovehoney for this review. I received this toy free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own because that’s how I roll.

Hey, remember when I said I had a really fun sex toy review up my sleeve? Well, my friends, this one is a doozy.

It all starts on a rainy, stormy night sometime last winter. I was at home, enjoying some solo Netflix and Chill time, when I stumbled across the show Frisky Business. A few hours later, I’d watched the entire first season. In case you haven’t seen it, the reality show provides a fly on the wall look at everything that goes on at Lovehoney headquarters. I’ve been working with Lovehoney for a few years now, so while I’m not usually a fan of reality tv (unless, we’re talking about the TV masterpiece that is Gigolos), it was pretty cool seeing on-screen some of the people I’ve interacted with over the years (hi Caz!)

So, anyway. There’s this great scene where the team is trying to come up with ideas for sex toys and someone suggests attaching a slim dildo onto an electric turkey carving knife. The result is a protype for a vibrator that mimics a giant thrusting finger (you can watch the teaser scene here.) Flash forward a few months and BAM! the ROCKBOX Finger Thrusting Vibrator is born.

A vibrator that was inspired by an electric turkey carving knife (hey, my grandma has one of those knives!) sounds like either the best or the worst idea ever (but most likely the latter.) Naturally, I was curious. At the beginning of the summer I finally got my hands on my very ROCKBOX Finger Thrusting Vibrator and I’m now ready to share my findings.

Let’s start by discussing what we have here. The ROCKBOX Finger Thrusting Vibrator is a finger shaped, silicone vibrator that vibrates and “thrusts” (similar to Fun Factory Stronic Eins, which I reviewed earlier in the year.) The toy is described as “With a strong, thrusting finger that is perfectly shaped to stimulate the G-spot, it’s the ideal sex toy for adventurous women who are curious about the phenomenon of squirting.”

With 5.5 inches of insertable length and 3 thrusting speeds, the Fun Factory Stronic Eins promises to “kick-start your journey to an explosive G-spot orgasm.” Are you intrigued? BECAUSE, I’M INTRIGUED.

Now that I have had a chance to ahem, satisfy my curiosity, I will say this: I was right about my initial assessment. The Rockbox Thrusting Finger is both the best thing and the worst thing all at the same time. Let me explain.

Here’s what it has going for it –

Power. This toy is powerful AF. It feels like something that belongs in a hardware store, not your bedroom. I actually jumped a little when I turned it on for the first time! Don’t believe me? Watch this video. But, as someone who is perpetually disappointed with lacklustre & weak-ass toys, the sheer power of Rockbox Thrusting Finger is a huge selling feature. Once you figure out how to use the toy (I’ll get to that in a minute) it feels like you’re getting the fingering of lifetime by the (neon pink) hands of Thor (or equivalent superhero.) I mean, check out the video…

G-spot stimulation. Hits the right spot. Enough said.

Fun, cheeky, power tool inspired packaging. You’re either going to love the simple hardware store inspired packaging of this toy or you’re not. I personally think it’s kind of hilarious. The packaging isn’t anything luxurious, however it suits the experience of the toy (see above.)

Here’s what’s needs improving –

Awkward battery situation. I’m usually not a fan of battery operated toys. With that said, I wouldn’t mind the fact that the Rockbox Thrusting Finger is battery operated if the batteries weren’t so difficult to insert/remove. Batteries are inserted in the top of the toy, however getting the top unscrewed is nearly impossible. I had to use a pair of pliers. That’s taking this whole hardware store theme just a little too far…

It has quite a bit of “drag.” I’m not even sure if drag is the right word. High school physics was never my strong point. Basically, here’s the problem: this is a mechanical toy. It thrusts. While this feels awesome, if you press the toy too hard against the walls of your vagina, the friction will cause it to either slow down or temporarily stop altogether. In order to get the most out of this toy, you have to hold it lightly and not bear down on it too much. This isn’t the worst thing ever – it just takes a bit of practice and getting used to. Now that I’ve figured out how to make this toy work for me, it’s great.

IT’S LOUD AF. Oh my god, I cannot stress how loud this toy is. I’ve been reviewing sex toys for almost five years and this is by far the loudest toy I have ever encountered. It’s noisy in a way that will have your neighbours wondering why you’re using a chainsaw in your bedroom.

So, while the negative aspects make the Rockbox Thrusting Finger less than ideal (ugh, the batteries!), the sheer power and feel of the toy still outweigh the “cons” – at least for me.

While I’m certain that the Fun Factory Stronic Eins is a much higher quality of toy (rechargeable! German designed! Doesn’t require pliers!), the Rockbox Thrusting Finger is the one I find myself reaching for whenever I’m craving a toy that thrusts and pulsates. The Rockbox Thrusting Finger has more raw power. Plus, I find that the thinner, more finger-like shape of the Rockbox is easier to maneuver and better at actually reaching my g-spot.

I like to think of the two toys like this:

If the Fun Factory Stronic Eins and the Rockbox Thrusting Finger were sitting at a bar together, the Stronic would be the suave European guy (handsome! good job! nice apartment!) confidently nursing a pricey Scotch. On the other end of the bar you have the Rockbox, drinking a Smirnoff Ice and yelling at the TV. You’ll flirt with the sexy European, but at the end of the night you’ll go home with Mr. Smirnoff Ice. Sure, he’s not as refined and you’re not certain whether his mullet is ironic or not, but gosh darn it, this dude has a way with his hands.

Yes, this is exactly the kind of situation we’re dealing with here, my friends.

So, while this toy isn’t perfect, I did have a lot of fun with it. The Rockbox isn’t as good quality as something like the Fun Factory Stronic Eins – but, the price reflects this. At $49.99, the Rockbox Thrusting Finger is an affordable option for anyone who is looking to try something new and different without breaking the bank. (this is compared to the Stronic’s nearly $200 price tag.)

What do you guys think?

This toy was provided to me free of charge by the awesome people at Lovehoney. All opinions are my own because that’s how I roll.

The summer of 2015 has been a busy one, product wise. I’ve had lots of awesome things come across my desk…and also some (good intentioned) but not so awesome ones. To keep you guys up to speed, I thought I’d share with you some of the winners, losers and ones to watch.

1. Sutil Lube

First up on the docket is Sutil fine botanical lubricant. Some of you have heard me wax poetic about how much I love Hathor Aphrodisia’s line of eco-friendly products. Their Lubricant Pure is my favourite lube (going on 4+ years!) and their Sensual Love Lotion smells absolutely amazing. Enter Sutil: their new line of botanical lubricant.

Although I’ll always be loyal to my Lubricant Pure, I wasn’t surprised to discover Sutil totally rocks as well. Unlike the Lubricant Pure which has a thicker, rich texture; Sutil is lighter and has the feeling of silicone lube – making it perfect for those of us who like the feeling of silicone but prefer a lube that is water based. Did I mention that Sutil is made with eco-certified ingredients, is paragon & glycerine free and comes in a biodegradable tube? Oh, and Mellta – one of the co-owners of Hathor – also sent over a re-up of the Sensual Love lotion because she’s a peach like that. Both of these lines are total winners.

2. L’amourose Paramour partner pleasure set –

Have you heard of L’Amourose? Neither had I until a few months ago. L’Amourose is a new luxury sex toy line that creates gorgeous, ergonomic toys. My friend Sarah of Marvelous Darling describes their Rosa vibe as “if Aston Martin made vibrators.” In addition, their Denia vibrator has risen into the ranks of my top 5 must-have toys (omg, it’s so, so, good. Review coming soon!) So, naturally I was curious to check out their Paramour couples set which consists of a vibrating egg that can be inserted into various apparatuses: a cock-ring, an insertable bead & a we-vibe-like thing that can be worn during sex.

Although I absolutely love the idea of a 3 in 1 product and The Secret Agent had a rollicking good time testing this set out, I found that the vibrations of the egg just weren’t quite strong enough to really blow my mind. Also, while using it as a cock-ring felt good, the egg was so heavy that it caused the whole ring to slip to the side, which proved frustrating. So as much as this set was fun to experiment with, I just don’t think it’s worth it’s hefty $240 price tag (at least until they update it with a lighter, more powerful vibrating egg.) That Denia vibe though….well, you’re just have to wait for the review.

3. Koitus Kit

Despite the fact that Koitus Kit sounds like something out of the Kardashian Empire, I think this product is a really great idea. Determined to make safe sex & after-sex cleanup supplies conveniently available in one package, Koitus Kit was born. Remember when I wrote about my Big Girl Sleepover Survival Kit? These handy little packets include two condoms, a toothbrush, a wet wipe and a dry wipe all wrapped up in a package that could easily fit in a clutch – making it the perfect companion for your next one night stand.

My only suggestion would be that they also include a small package of lube, as it not only makes sex feel better it also helps prevent condom breakage. Also while I’d prefer that they included a condom brand other than Lifestyles (you know I love me some strawberry Glyde condoms) – it’s still better to have some condoms than no condoms. Oh, how I could have used some of these kits in college…

4. The Slaphappy

Last on the chopping block is the Slaphappy. Where to start with this one? If you weren’t able to watch the video, the Slaphappy is a super bendy vibrator that can be used 5 different ways – one of which is as a spanking tool. All of this would be fine & dandy if the vibrations on this toy were actually strong enough to get me off. I couldn’t get off one way – let alone five ways – with the slaphappy. Also it says that it’s insertable and can be used on your g-spot?! This toy is flat, rectangular and quite wide. Picture it. That’s like literally trying to fit a square peg into a circular hole. Nope. Don’t even want to attempt that. While I love the idea behind this toy, these design flaws lead me to believe that it’s creator doesn’t have a very good sense of female anatomy. Let’s review: Rounded, phallic shaped objects + vagina = yes. Square objects + vagina = no.

While I give these guys props for attempting to make a versatile toy that everyone enjoys, I’m just not that happy with the Slaphappy – except as a spanking tool. It actually works pretty good for that.

Tried anything new & noteworthy this summer? Share in the comments!

Review of the Lily Allen Liberty Vibrator by Womanizer

Your Top Sex Toy Questions Answered