About a month ago, Lovehoney released a handful of new vibrators in the Tracey Cox line. At that time I posted a Spotlight about the new Tracey Cox dare! Sex Toys. As I am always curious about new products, I was hoping I would have an opportunity to review one of these vibrators and Lovehoney was kind enough to make that happen. Considering I have been suffering a great deal of neck and back pain recently, I decided to go with the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator, as I was hoping it would handle double duty as both a massager for my back/neck and a pleasure object.

The Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator is part of the dare! line of sex toys from Tracey Cox. This line of vibrators is meant to focus mainly on toys that can be used by couples. These toys were designed by bestselling sex author, Tracey Cox, hence the name.

Made from ABS, the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager contains no latex or phthalates, making it body-safe. The silky smooth plastic material is compatible with both water-based and silicone-based lubricants. It can also be used with massage oil to enhance a body massage. This particular ABS is super smooth and sleek and slides along my skin with no drag at all, so oil is not a necessity but can certainly add to the massage experience. The Power Massager is splash proof, so it can be easily washed with warm water and antibacterial soap or a sex toy cleaner. However, it is not waterproof so do not submerge it.

At 10.5″ in circumference, the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager fits very comfortably in the palm of my hand. The round shape with the indented button makes holding onto it during use very easy. The button must be pressed very firmly in order to power the vibrator on and off, as well as to cycle through the different modes. This means that it is very unlikely you will accidentally press the button. It has great feedback and makes a fairly loud clicking sound when pressed.

With its one button, the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator is simple to use for newbies and experienced users alike. You turn the vibrator on by pressing the large button once and continue pressing the button to cycle through the different modes. To turn off the Power Massager you hold the button down for approximately two to three seconds. The only challenge I find with the power button is my own issue. I have rather long nails, and because the button is indented it is a bit difficult to press it. People with shorter nails are not likely to have this problem. The Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager has three levels of intensity and three vibrational patterns, as follows:
1. Low steady vibration
2. Medium steady vibration
3. High steady vibration
4. Ramp up
5. Three short pulses, one long
6. Medium pulses

The Power Massager is somewhat loud, though not horrible, especially for a massager. It is not as powerful as I was expecting, though it is not weak either. It’s about mid-range as far as power goes. It will be plenty for some and not at all enough for others. The vibrations themselves are also mid-range, not very deep and rumbly, but not buzzy either. The vibrations are really not strong nor deep enough to penetrate my muscles, but I may not be the best test subject, as I have chronic pain. It is certainly enough to create a relaxing sensation, especially when being used by a partner who can provide more pressure with the massager than I can on my own.

I like the design of the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager very much, but I find it more effective as a massager than a vibrator. Though I find the strength of the vibrations to be sufficient, they are too diffuse to bring me to orgasm due to the shape of the Power Massager. Diffuse vibrations are great when massaging a large area, like the back, but they do not provide enough direct stimulation to my clit. However, I discovered that these diffuse vibrations are pretty great for nipple stimulation, which is an unexpected bonus. At 8.5 ounces, I find the Power Massager to be slightly heavy for longer periods of use, but my Fibromyalgia has been seriously acting up so most people probably won’t find it overly heavy. It may not be the best option for people with carpal tunnel or other hand and wrist disorders.

The packaging of the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager is simple. The exterior consists of a cardboard sleeve with a window through which you can see the vibrator. There is an image of a woman on the front and back of this sleeve. I am assuming the woman is Tracey Cox, the designer of this vibrator. Considering it’s a massager, someone unfamiliar with sex toys may stumble across the box without raising an eyebrow. However, I do not find the packaging very discreet and think many people would know it is also a sex toy. Once you remove the sleeve, you’ll find the Power Massager held in place by cardboard. Underneath this cardboard is a little user guide with basic information about the toy. The packaging is sufficient and can be used for storage, though it is not that sturdy and will take up more room than the Power Massager on its own.

Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator Pros:
• Great nipple stimulation
• Fits comfortably in hand
• Button has good feedback and does not allow for accidental pushing
• Silky, smooth plastic
• Can be used with all types of lubricants
• Can be used with massage oil
• Easy to open and close for battery insertion

Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator Cons:
• Long nails hinder the ease of pressing the button
• Does not bring me to orgasm
• On the heavy side

I love sex toys that can serve multiple functions and the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator does just that, though not in the way I expected. I thought it would serve both as a massager and a clit stimulator, but as I mentioned above, the clit stimulation isn’t super effective for me. To be fair, it provides a fair amount of tease, but I do need another vibrator to actually orgasm. I really like the nipple stimulation it provides and wish I could find something similar in an actual nipple clamp or something along those lines. Using the Power Massager on my nipples with another vibrator on my clit is fairly awesome. As a massager, I find it about average. It is not meant to provide a deep tissue massage, but more of a stimulating erotic massage, and it is capable of doing so.

The ABS is particularly silky and smooth and feels great sliding along my skin, making massage without oil totally feasible and comfortable. I do have trouble holding onto it for long periods of time, but that is very likely due to my current health status rather than the Power Massager actually being too heavy. Overall, it has some very nice features and should please many users.

Head over to Lovehoney to check out the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator for yourself, and remember, Lovehoney will ship your entire purchase for free!

Bean Fiddler Rating:

A while back I did a Spotlight about LELO’s new massager, the Smart Wand, which I was really interested in reviewing. I like many of LELO’s products and I tend to be curious about their new toys. Fortunately, I have now had the opportunity to test out one of these new LELO Smart Wands, thanks to MEME.

The LELO Smart Wand is the first body massager in LELO’s Pleasure Object line and it is a very versatile product. It is obviously meant to be used as a full body massager, but it can certainly be used as an external vibrator as well.

Covered in some of the smoothest and silkiest silicone I have yet to run across, the LELO Smart Wand is lovely to touch and stroke along my body. The silicone has basically no drag to it so it glides easily along the skin. However, if you do wish to use a lube with it, use a water-based lubricant as this will be compatible with the silicone.

The silicone is latex and phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, and body-safe so it’s a great material for a massager and can be used on any body part. Thanks to the silicone, the LELO Smart Wand is easy to clean. You can use antibacterial soap and warm water, a sex toy cleaner, or a 10% bleach solution on the silicone portion. There is a strip of ABS on the handle where you won’t want to use bleach, but the other cleaning methods are fine.

I have the medium Smart Wand which measures 8.5″ long and 2.25″ in diameter. The medium LELO Smart Wand has a 500 mAH 3.7V battery and runs at a frequency of 120 Hz. The two hour charging time will provide you with up to two hours of use depending on the level of power used.

What is revolutionary about the LELO Smart Wand is the new SenseTouch Technology, which the geek in me totally loves. There is a touch-sensor in the head of the Smart Wand that senses when it is touching the body and automatically raises the power of the vibration from a low level to 100% when the massager touches the body. It takes about three to five seconds for the Smart Wand to maximize power once it touches your skin, so be patient. SenseTouch is also easy to use. Once you’ve activated the SenseTouch Mode, you simply press the head of the Smart Wand against your body and relax as the power increases to its maximum. This is meant to mimic the sensation of a professional massage. It also means that in SenseTouch mode, the vibration level is set to 100% percent. If you wish to adjust the maximum level of vibration, you can do so using the control panel.

Like the other Pleasure Objects in the Insignia line, the LELO Smart Wand has three buttons that make up the control panel. The +, -, and () buttons. The + button turns the Smart Wand on and increases power. The – button decreases power and turns the Smart Wand off. The () button cycles through the eight patterns, including SenseTouch mode. You can use the + and – buttons to increase and decrease power in each mode. Turning off the Smart Wand will reset it to the first mode. As with all LELO vibrating products, the Smart Wand has a travel lock, which is simple to use. Press the + and – buttons at the same time for five seconds. This will lock and unlock your Smart Wand.

The eight patterns on the LELO Smart Wand are as follows:
1. Steady vibration
2. Slow pulse
3. Medium pulse
4. Fast pulse
5. Long slow pulse
6. Ascending
7. Less abrupt long slow pulse (very similar to mode 5)
8. Up and down pulses

As usual with LELO products, I enjoy the patterns of the Smart Wand. Though I find modes five and seven so similar that it seems pointless to have both of them. I also really like that I can increase and decrease the power level in each mode, though I do tend to use the Smart Wand at it’s maximum power level.

Turning on the SenseTouch mode is also simple. Turn on the LELO Smart Wand and hold the () button down for three to five seconds. The LED will flash twice to confirm the change to SenseTouch mode and SenseTouch will be activated at 100% power. If you’d like to decrease the power, press the head of the Smart Wand into your hand or against your body and use the – button. The Smart Wand has a memory chip so it will remember if you were in SenseTouch or Standard mode when you turn it off and it will turn back on in the same mode.

Upon receiving your LELO Smart Wand, charge it for two hours. The LED will flash while charging and glow steadily once the charging cycle is complete. As I mentioned before, this two hours charge will last for approximately two hours, depending on usage. When the battery is running low, the LED will flash to indicate it is time to charge your Smart Wand.

The vibrations of the LELO Smart Wand are deep and rumbly, but only moderately strong. I was expecting quite a bit more power for a body massager and was somewhat disappointed. However, the Smart Wand is very quiet. I can use it on the other side of the room without my partner being able to hear it. It also works well under water. The Smart Wand is waterproof, just be sure the charging socket is totally dry and free of fluids before charging.

I like the LELO Smart Wand. It feels great against my skin and the SenseTouch mode is unique and fun. I really like how it allows my body to warm up to the sensations. It is far less abrupt than other massagers I have. As a vibrator it works well. I enjoy the patterns and it gets me off. The deep vibrations are the kind that work for me and I love the slickness of the silicone against my skin. However, as far as being a massager, I really wish the vibrations were stronger, not a ton but at least a bit. I have been dealing with a lot of pain in my back recently and the LELO Smart Wand does help. I just have a sense that if it were a tad stronger it could get deeper into the muscle and help even more. Additionally, though the vibrations are strong enough to get me off, they not be strong enough for everyone.

The packaging of the LELO Smart Wand is similar to the LELO packaging with which I am familiar, the main difference is the color. There is a white external box made of shiny cardboard with images of the Smart Wand. As it is presented as a body massager, not as a sex toy, I think most people will be comfortable with others seeing this box. The hard internal box is white rather than the typical black, but it is just as sturdy, and it has LELO stamped in gold on the top. Inside the box, the Smart Wand lays in a foam cutout above the lapel pin that is included with all the Insignia Pleasure Objects. The box also contains the charger, a sample of LELO water-based lubricant, the black satin storage bag, a user manual, and the warranty and 10 year quality guarantee.

The LELO Smart Wand comes with a typical one year warranty, but where LELO goes above and beyond is with the 10 year quality guarantee. If something goes wrong with your LELO Smart Wand after the one year warranty has expired, you can send it back to LELO and receive a 50% discount on a replacement Pleasure Object from the LELO website.

One important thing to mention is that MEME is London-based, which is great for my UK readers. It’s also pretty awesome for my U.S. and Canadian readers as well, because those of us outside the EU don’t have to pay tax so we get a 20% discount at checkout. Of course, as my LELO Smart Wand shipped from London it does have a UK charger. However, the kind people at MEME included an adapter for me. I’m not sure if this is standard when shipping to the U.S., but if not adapters are inexpensive and easy to find.

LELO Smart Wand Pros:
• Rumbly vibrations
• Silky silicone
• Waterproof
• Rechargeable
• Easy to operate
• Comfortable to hold
• Low battery warning

LELO Smart Wand Cons:
• Power level could be stronger

In general, I think the LELO Smart Wand is pretty awesome. I love the slick silicone, the shape works well in my hand, and it is easy to use. I really like the SenseTouch technology because it sort of sneaks up on me rather than hitting me with the vibrations full force all at once, and because I’m a geek. As a vibrator, I like the patterns and the deep, rumbly vibrations are pleasurable enough to get me off. The only real downside to the LELO Smart Wand is a slight lack in power. I don’t think it needs to be massively stronger, but I would like to see and feel more power from this massager. Overall though, it’s pretty great. Head on over to MEME where you can pick up your own LELO Smart Wand, and if you’re outside the EU you’ll save 20%, which is also pretty great. MEME has also considerately provided a promo code for my readers! Use code: BEANFMEME to receive 10% of ALL products from now through 10/15/12.

Bean Fiddler:

I love massage products and I’m especially fond of massage candles. I love the ambiance of the lit candle and the scent of melting wax. I love the sensation of the warm wax being poured onto my skin. So when Lucid Obsession started making her very own massage candles, I was curious. I had never tried a homemade massage candle until Sensual Geek Massage Candles.

Lucid Obsession puts out these massage candles under the name Sensual Geek Candles, which I think is cute. These candles are obviously made in the U.S. and they have very few ingredients, unlike some of the other massage products out there. The ingredients of the Sensual Geek Massage Candle are as follows:
Soy Wax, Almond Oil, Safflower Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Fragrance.

I really like that these massage candles are so pure, basically just the wax and oil. The great thing about soy wax is that it melts at a very low temperature, just above body temperature, so even though the wax may be nice and warm after melting, it won’t burn the skin.

As you can see, the Sensual Geek Massage Candle is very simple. It is a small white candle in a glass container. My candle is scented with pomegranate oil and I love the scent. It is light and fruity. You might expect a pomegranate candle to be red, but there are no dyes in this candle. The simpleness of the Massage Candle is great because you can leave it sitting out anywhere and people will just think it’s a regular candle. No one will know it’s a massage candle.

This massage candle is very easy to use. You simply light the wick and let it burn for a bit, allowing the wax to melt. Once there is a good amount of melted wax, blow the flame out, pour the melted wax on your partner’s body, and massage away. The melted wax turns into a lovely massage oil.

One thing I really like about the Sensual Geek Massage Candle is that I can use the wax even when it’s cold. I found this out when I accidentally stuck my nail into the candle and got wax all over it. I simply rubbed the wax onto the back of my hand and enjoyed the creamy softness it provides. Of course, the candle is meant to be burned so the wax will actually melt into massage oil.

Once I started burning the massage candle, it took about 20 minutes to melt enough wax for me to start pouring. You’ll need a fair amount of melted wax for your massage if you want the skin really slick and slidey, but a little melted wax goes a long way so don’t just dump a ton of oil onto your partner’s skin. It also took about 20 minutes for the candle to solidify after I blew out the flame.

As I mentioned before, I love the feel of the warm wax being poured onto my skin. It is soothing and comforting. I know some people worry the hot wax will burn their skin, but it really is not hot enough to do so. The Sensual Geek Massage Candle leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized. While the oil takes some time to absorb into the skin I don’t feel greasy, but I am aware of it. I wouldn’t put my clothes on immediately after the massage, or at least not nice clothes. You’ve got to give the oil a chance to dissipate. A nice thing about the oil taking a while to absorb is that I get to enjoy the scent. I don’t know if the Sensual Geek Massage Candle will stain clothes or sheets because I was very careful with the oil. I’d imagine it could, as it obviously is oil and oils can stain. However, as there are no dyes in this candle, it is not likely to stain as much as colored candles.

If you take a look at the Sensual Geek Candles webpage, you’ll see that you can order massage candles in a variety of sizes and scents. How cool is it that you can basically design your own massage candle? Lucid Obsession even makes massage bars. I’m guessing those work great based on my experience with my Sensual Geek Massage Candle. I love my pomegranate candle and would order this scent again. However, if pomegranate isn’t your thing, you can choose from one of the many available scents on her webpage. I like the shape of my glass container because I find it easy to pour out the wax.

As far as packaging goes there isn’t much, but I realize this is more of a craft item than a something coming from a big company. The Sensual Geek Massage Candle came securely packed in a small, solid brown box. Inside, the candle was well wrapped in newspaper to keep it from knocking about. The packaging is very discreet with nothing on it to indicate it is a sensual product in case you’re shy.

Sensual Geek Massage Candle Pros:
• Creamy, smooth wax
• Leaves my skin soft and moisturized
• Good for massage
• Lovely scent
• Can be customized

Sensual Geek Massage Candle Cons:
• Skin stays a bit oily for some time

Rather than focusing on fancy packaging and containers, the Sensual Geek Massage Candle focuses on what is important, the makeup of the candle itself. Its simplicity allows it to be pure and less likely to provoke an allergic reaction in people (unless you are allergic to the one of the ingredients, of course). Lucid Obsession provides the opportunity for you to design your massage candles and massage bars, which is a huge benefit. I like the way the massage candle leaves my skin feeling and I love the scent. Overall, the Sensual Geek Massage Candle is a great little product. Head over to Sensual Geek Candles and check out the huge selection.

Bean Fiddler Rating:

LELO has been a busy little company lately. I did a recent Spotlight on their updated LELO Insignia SenseMotion Tiani 2. Well, they have also recently introduced the LELO Smart Wands.

LELO Smart Wands are the first LELO product that uses the LELO SenseTouch technology. The Smart Wand is the first attempt on LELO’s part to crack the world of massagers. The LELO Smart Wands are made of silicone and plastic and are waterproof and rechargeable. This means they are cordless, which is an advantage over corded massagers, like the Hitachi Magic Wand.

Available in two sizes, you can get your LELO Smart Wand in Medium or Large. There is quite a difference in size and and power, as the Large comes with a 9V charger compared to the the Medium’s 5V. Both Smart Wands come with a 10 minute auto shut off and have multiple speeds and patterns.

What is most unusual and unique about the LELO Smart Wands is how they work. In Sensetouch mode, they actually activate when pressed against your body, which is very cool. Not having tried one of these Smart Wands yet, I don’t know exactly how this works in real life but it does make me very curious. Of course, you can use the LELO Smart Wands as a body massager or a clit stimulator, which makes them multifunctional.

Have any of you tried the LELO Smart Wand yet? How does it measure up? Have plans to get one? Which size? I’m on the fence about picking one up, yet I would like to review one. Decisions, decisions…

You can find the LELO Smart Wands at the following stores:
Babeland
EdenFantasys
FunWares (save 10% with code: FIDDLER ay checkout)
PinkCherry

A while back, Rocks Off came out with this adorable Massager called the Luv. I do love an unusually-shaped toy, especially one that is dual-purpose, so I was thrilled at the opportunity to test drive the Luv Massager.

The Luv Massager is very cute and quite a bit smaller than I expected. It is only 6.5″ long and 2.5″ in diameter. It is made of white ABS plastic and pink silicone. These materials are very easy to care for and clean. You can use a sex toy cleaner or warm water and antibacterial soap on both ABS and silicone. You can also use a 10% bleach solution on the pink silicone head to sterilize it if you so desire. As the Luv Massager is totally waterproof, you can feel free to take it in the shower or bath for some wet massage time. The cover for the battery compartment snaps on and off rather than screwing and it has a pink silicone ring to keep the water out. The four AAA batteries sit inside a little cartridge that slides in and out of the battery compartment making it easy to store your batteries outside of the Luv Massager when it’s not in use.

The Luv Massager can be used as a body massager or as an intimate massager and can you can use it on parts of the body such as the nipples, clit, or testicles. The silicone has some drag, though not a lot. Still, you may want to use some lube when using it on your clit. Be sure to use water-based lubricant as silicone-based lubes can react negatively with the silicone of the head and cause tackiness. You also may want to use some form of water-based massage lotion when using the Luv as a body massager to keep the head from dragging all over your skin. A massage lotion will make it glide more smoothly and softly and be more comfortable as you massage yourself or your partner.

Running on four AAA batteries gives the Luv Massager’s five vibration levels quite a bit of power. It’s surprising for so small a toy. It is also on the loud side for such a little massager. I can almost hear it through the closed door to my bedroom if the apartment is silent, so if you have thin walls or roommates you might need to play some quiet music to make sure no one can hear you. Of course, as the Luv is also a body massager you may not mind anyone hearing that it’s on. I find the Luv’s vibrations to be mid-range. They are deeper and rumblier on the lower levels and get slightly higher-pitched as the strength increases. That said, they are not buzzy, and as I mentioned before, they are powerful.

The control panel of the Luv Massager is clear cut and straight-forward. It consists of two buttons, the ON/OFF button and the 5X button. The control pad lights up pink when the Luv Massager is turned on. The ON/OFF button is a dedicated button that turns the massager on and off. The 5X button scrolls through the five levels. There are three levels of steady vibration and two pattern modes. They are as follows:
1. Low steady vibration
2. Medium steady vibration
3. High steady vibration
4. Fast pulsing ramp up
5. Slow pulsing ramp up

I really like the shape of the Luv Massager. The handle is quite ergonomic and it sits comfortably in my hand during use. This makes it simple to hold onto whether I’m using it on my partner or myself. The buttons are easy to reach and press with my thumb so it is effortless to use. The only real downside of the Luv’s handle is that the vibrations can be readily felt through it, so after a while my hand starts to feel a bit buzzy. The heart-shaped head provides versatility. The point of the heart allows me precise stimulation where I want it, while the broadness of the head provides a more generous stimulation for larger surfaces. So, the heart point is great for clit and nipple stimulation, as well as really pinpointing sore muscles.

The Luv Massager does a decent job at massaging my surface muscles but it really doesn’t get deep. It feels great on my neck and the base of my skull, where I carry a lot of tension, and really helps to ease the tightness of the muscles there for me. It also works decently on my clit. This is where the pointy tip really shines for me. It allows me to get pinpoint stimulation on my clit, which I really like, and it’s not easy to find a pointy vibrator. My man is sort of iffy on it. He cannot decide if he likes the vibrations on his back though he is partial to the pointy tip digging into his sore muscles. He is not a big fan of vibrations near his penis so it fails for him there.

Though the packaging is very simple, I quite like it. The Luv Masager comes in a clear lightweight plastic sleeve which is not really good for storage. However, within the flimsy plastic sleeve the Luv sits on plastic rests inside a hard plastic box that is great for storage. The downside of this box is that it doesn’t latch at all so you need to keep it in the sleeve otherwise it will just fall open if it gets tipped over. The sleeve has some very basic information in four languages and an image of the buttons and one that shows how the batteries go in. There is no additional information included with the Luv Massager which might leave some users confused, especially if they are not experienced with massagers and sex toys. The packaging is see-through, but tasteful, and I feel like I can leave it sitting around without being worried someone will see it and think the Luv Massager is a sex toy.

Luv Massager Pros:
• Powerful
• Adorable
• Versatile
• Great shape
• Small and travel-friendly
• Silicone head
• Waterproof

Luv Massager Cons:
• Handle gets buzzy
• No instructions

I know it has already passed, but with its pink heart-shaped head and white body the Luv Massager would make a great gift for Valentine’s Day. Of course, it is sweet enough to give as a gift for other occasions as well. I’m not totally blown away by the Luv. I like it but it doesn’t blow my mind. It does have a lot going for it though. The Luv Massager would be a good first toy. It’s cute, small, and non-threatening, as well as straight-forward, powerful, and easy to use. It’s also very versatile as it can be used as a body massager or a stimulator for your nipples and clit. It can also be used on the perineum or testicles.

The small size of the Luv Massager is very convenient as it fits easily in a bedside drawer and would not take up much room in your luggage if you were to travel with it. Though the Luv definitely does not take the place of something large that runs on AC power like the Hitachi Magic Wand, the power wrapped up in this small massager makes it a good option for those without a ton of room or easy to reach wall plugs. In the UK, you can purchase the Luv Massager directly from Rocks Off. In the U.S., you can find it at EdenFantasys.

Bean Fiddler Rating: