The fine people over at Fleshlight made an announcement yesterday that they are going to discontinue all of the signature textures for the Fleshlight Girls. This came as quite a shock to me as this means that they are going to kill off seventeen of their products. That’s quite a big slash!
For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, Fleshlight has a line of toys that are molded off adult film star’s body parts. You can get these Fleshlights with either a mouth, butt or vagina opening. If you chose the vagina you had a choice of inner textures. You could get the Lotus texture, which is available with every girl, or you could get the girl’s signature texture that was exclusive to each starlet. To be clear, Fleshlight is not killing off the Fleshlight Girls line of products. You will still be able to buy the mouth, butt or vagina. You will just have only one choice with the vagina though, the Lotus.
So if you’ve had your eye on one of these Fleshlight Girl Fleshlights, now is the time to pick one up. Act now while supplies last.
Recently, Lovehoney came out with a cool little USB rechargeable vibrator called the Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Mini Vibrator. Again with the long names, Lovehoney. I was so excited that I immediately posted a Spotlight on the Lovehoney Flash. I was really hoping I could get my hands on one for review and I was lucky enough to have a Lovehoney Flash sent to me by Lovehoney.
The Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Mini Vibrator is an adorable little vibrator that is only 3.75″ long and .25″ in diameter. Yes, I called a vibrator adorable and I’m sure it’s not the first time. It’s just so compact and stylish looking. As the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is waterproof, I suppose you can insert it, but that seems pointless to me. It is so short and thin it really wouldn’t provide much stimulation. It is definitely meant to be an external vibrator.
Made of soft and smooth silicone, the shaft of the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is solid and firm, while the tip is smushy and flexible. Even with the flexibility, I am still able to apply enough pressure to my clit during play. It is not flimsy in any way. The silicone is latex and phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, and body-safe. It does have some drag, so adding a drop or two of water-based lubricant is wise. Stay away from silicone-based lubricants with this vibrator because the silicone in the lube can react with the silicone of the Lovehoney Flash and cause it to become tacky.
Cleaning the Lovhoney Flash Vibrator is a breeze. You can wash it with antibacterial soap and warm water or a sex toy cleaner. You can also wipe the silicone down with a 10% bleach solution. The bleach solution will disinfect the Lovehoney Flash so you can use it with non-fluid bonded partners.
As you may have guessed by the full name of this vibrator, the Lovehoney Flash is rechargeable. What is very cool about this is that it charges via USB so you can plug it into your computer or USB hub, or any USB cable that plugs into the wall. This gives you a variety of charging options and makes the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator a great travel companion. The first time I charged mine it took about 90 minutes, and a full charge should provide up to three hours of use. I have not yet run mine down, so I cannot report on how much actual play time I am getting out of a single charge, but it will depend upon the level of intensity used.
To charge the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator, simply pull on each end to separate the halves and expose the USB plug. When charging, the white control button on the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator flashes. In bright daylight, it is very difficult to see so I kept thinking mine was all charged up already, but it was not. I had to cup my hand around it to determine if it was flashing. At night, or in lower light, the flashing white LED is very visible. Once the LED stops flashing, the Lovehoney Flash is fully charged and ready to go. When reattaching the pieces, make sure they are snugly together to maintain the waterproofness. (I know it’s not an actual word.) When the Lovehoney Flash’s battery is low, the LED will blink red to let you know it’s time to recharge.
With only one push button, the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is simple to use. To turn it on you press the button and to turn it off you press and hold it for approximately three seconds. To scroll through the seven modes, you just press down on the button. You need to press firmly, so you won’t change modes accidentally, and the button has excellent feedback. The Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is supposed to have three steady vibration modes and four patterns, but I can only discern three patterns and four steady levels of vibration. I’m not sure if it’s just me, my particular vibrator, or a misprint. Regardless, the modes (as I feel them) are as follows:
1. Medium steady vibration
2. Low steady vibration
3. High steady vibration
4. Highest steady vibration
5. Roller coaster
6. Fast pulse
7. Four fast pulses and one slow
It’s weird that my Lovehoney Flash Vibrator seems to have swapped the low and medium intensities of the steady vibration, but that’s how it feels to me. It is cool though that the Lovehoney Flash has a memory chip so it starts on the same pattern it was on when you last turned it off. Now, the vibrations themselves are powerful for a vibrator of this size, and all the patterns are at the highest level of intensity. It certainly has enough power to get me off. However, the vibrations are very high-pitched and buzzy, which was a great disappointment. As soon as I turned on the vibrator I became concerned because they even sound high-pitched. Unfortunately, they feel the way they sound. Speaking of sound, at least the vibrations are relatively quiet. If you have some heavy blankets they might cover the sound completely. If not, a little music or TV will go a long way. I definitely cannot hear the Lovehoney Flash through my closed bedroom door.
The Lovehoney Flash Vibrator has some great characteristics, but (and this is a big but) it the vibrations are so terribly buzzy that I find them bordering on painful during use. They aren’t actually painful, but they’re close. I can orgasm, but it’s a challenge. The vibrations are too strong and buzzy for me to use on my nipples, which is another place I like to use a vibrator this size. It’s just too uncomfortable. I also really feel the vibrations in my hand, during use and after a while this can lead to buzzy hand syndrome, which is quite unpleasant. On the positive side, the angle and slight pointiness of the tip of the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator allows it to slips very nicely in between my labia to provide pinpoint pressure on my clit. This would be pretty awesome if the vibrations didn’t make me so unhappy. The tip also makes nipple stimulation easy, but again, unhappy vibrations.
The packaging of the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is the more or less the same as some of the other Lovehoney sex toys I’ve reviewed. It comes in a simple box with an image of the vibrator on the front and some basic information on the side. Inside the box the vibrator is held in a paper sleeve type thingy and there is a small user manual. The information provided in the manual is minimal but sufficient. The box is not great for storage as it didn’t hold up very well during shipping. It just isn’t that strong. Not a big deal though. The Lovehoney Flash is so small it can fit into a snack size ziploc bag for easy storage.
Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Mini Vibrator Pros:
• Excellent tip shape
• Good price point
• Great size for travel
• Low battery warning
• USB rechargeable
• Silicone
• Waterproof
Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Mini Vibrator Cons:
• Buzzy vibrations
• Can feel vibrations strongly in hand
• Lint magnet
I was really excited about trying out the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator so I am extremely disappointed with its performance. There are a lot of things I like about this vibrator. The shape is great, the size is good for travel, it has a low battery warning, and it’s waterproof. It even charges via USB, which I love. However, I cannot get past the buzzy vibrations. They are just too unpleasant for me to want to use this vibrator when I have other options. If it were my only choice, I would put up with it, but it isn’t and I don’t have to do so. If you like buzzy vibrations or don’t mind them much, this may be a good vibrator for you. It does have some serious pros. However, if buzzy vibrations make you want to throw it against the wall, stay away.
I try to keep my eyes open for new and interesting products to bring to your attention. Sometimes the products happen to be beautiful as well as interesting. Recently, Lovehoney began carrying a new line of very attractive glass sex toys called Glass Intimo.
Glass Intimo is a line of German glass dildos and butt plugs which, for some reason, have Japanese names. Regardless, they are some of the prettiest glass sex toys I have seen in some time. Glass Intimo toys are made from borosillicate glass, which you may be familiar with as your Pyrex oven dishes. There are several reasons glass is a good sex toy material. Most people do not have any allergy issues with glass so it can be used by almost everyone. You can also use any kind of lubricant with it, so you are not limited to just a water-based lube, as with some sex toy materials. Additionally, glass can be sterilized for use amongst multiple partners.
What causes Glass Intimo products to stand out to me is their gorgeous colorful swirls and patterns. Some of the toys also have unique textures, like the Glass Intimo Kaori with Silver Sheen Glass Dildo. Though this dildo may seem rather plain compared to it’s brethren, the metallic sheen is unique for glass sex toys. There are many glass sex toys on the market, but these handmade dildos and butt plugs from Glass Intimo stand out due to their craftsmanship and designs.
Jopen is a manufacturer I have written about more than a few times. Over the past two years they have been busy releasing several new product lines. In January I posted a Spotlight on the new Jopen KEY sex toys. I was hoping to get my hands on one to review and was lucky enough to get three. The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator is the first one I have tested.
The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator is a cute little vibe measuring 3.75″ long with a 1″ diameter. Theoretically, you can insert as much of the KEY Charms Plush as you want, you just want to be sure to maintain your grip. Really though, it is meant to be used as an external vibrator, on the clit, labia, and even nipples, testicles, and perineum. Do not used this vibrator anally. It does not have a flared base and its small size could easily allow it to slip up inside your anus, possibly requiring a trip to the emergency room to have it removed. Not fun, I imagine.
There are actually two pieces to the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator, the actual vibrator and the silicone sleeve. The mini vibrator is made of ABS with a stainless alloy button with the word KEY on it that gives it a classy look. The silicone sleeve is a very smooth and slick textured silicone. This silicone glides across the skin more easily that other silicone sex toys I own and does not attract lint and dust like most of them. It is latex and phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, and body-safe. As it does not have a significant amount of drag, I find that only a small amount of water-based lubricant is needed during play. Be sure to use water-based lube as a silicone-based lubricant can react negatively with the silicone sleeve causing it to become tacky.
Being waterproof makes cleaning the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator simple and straight-forward. I wash mine with warm water and antibacterial soap, but you can also use a sex toy cleaner. The silicone sleeve can be wiped down with a 10% bleach solution making it shareable between non-fluid bonded partners. This silicone sleeve is removable but it is not easy so I don’t do it unless I really need to do so. Other than trying it to just to see how hard it was, I have had no reason to remove the sleeve. Putting it back on is no cake walk either, so I don’t recommend removing the sleeve just for kicks.
The following video provides more information about the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator.
The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator requires one AA battery, which is not included. This is a departure from the previous Jopen product lines, which are rechargeable. It is easy to operate with the single stainless alloy push button on the base of vibrator. To turn the vibrator on, you press the KEY button once. You cycle through the five different modes by pressing the KEY button. You turn off the KEY Charms Plush by pressing and holding the KEY button for approximately three seconds. The KEY Charms Plush modes (as named by Jopen) are as follows:
1. High- steady vibration
2. High 2- very fast pulse
3. Tease- ramp up
4. Pulse- slow pulse
5. Throb- two long pulses three short
The instruction manual has helpful pictorals that provide a very good description of the patterns. I think the order of patterns is odd. Normally you find similar patterns next to each other, so I’d expect the pulsing patterns to be side by side. The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator does not have a memory chip so each time you turn the vibrator on it begins on the first mode, regardless of what mode it was on when you turned it off. The KEY button is extremely easy to press and does not require much pressure, so it should be relatively comfortable even for people who have strength issues in their hands.
Opening and closing the battery compartment of the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator is slightly different than most of my vibrators, as the base does not screw on and off. You simply give it one twist and pull it off to open it. Closing it is a wee bit more challenging as you have to line up the base with the body of the vibrator just right to push and twist it into place. What causes it to be challenging is how the sleeve hangs over the edges of the battery compartment which makes it difficult to see how to line the pieces up properly.
The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator is easy to use, which is a good thing, especially for beginners, the targeted users. I prefer a two button control panel so if I miss the mode I want accidentally, I don’t have to scroll through all of them to get back to it. Still, there is something to be said for ease of use. The vibrations are surprisingly powerful for such a small vibrator, likely due to the AA battery. They are also moderately quiet. You can hear them under the covers but not through a closed door. However, they are also quite buzzy, which I don’t like. Due to the small size of the KEY Charms Plush, they travel throughout the vibrator, though my fingers do not get as buzzed as I would expect. My other issue with the KEY Charms Plush is that all modes are the same level of intensity, which is unusual. Most often, there will be at least low and high steady vibration modes. Not the case here. I really need those different levels as I don’t require as much power when I first start using the vibrator but usually require it to get off, as my body adjusts to the vibration and needs a bigger push to get over the edge.
Jopen’s KEY packaging is quite nice, and I prefer it to their Vanity packaging. The exterior is a colorful raspberry (the color will correspond with the color of your KEY sex toy) and black cardboard sleeve with an image of the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator on both front and back, along with some basic information about the vibrator on the back. This sleeve lifts off to a black box underneath. The black box has a flap that opens, providing access to the Charms Plush sitting in black molded foam inside. There is a bit of black satin ribbon attached to the top of the foam that allows you to pull it away from the back of the box. Underneath the foam is the instruction manual, warranty pamphlet, and black satin storage bag. The instruction manual is for all the vibrators in the KEY Charms category, which consists of five different sleeve types. For such a small manual, it is very thorough and tells you what you need to know about the KEY Charms Plush. The storage bag is not the highest quality satin in the world, but it is sufficient, so kudos to Jopen for including it.
Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator Pros:
• Strong for a mini vibrator
• Reasonable price point
• Very attractive
• Smooth silicone
• Waterproof
• Easy to use
• Not a lint magnet
• Storage bag
Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator Cons:
• Buzzy vibrations
• Same level of intensity across all modes
The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator is a cute, petite waterproof vibrator with silky smooth silicone. These qualities, along with the fact that it is easy to operate and does not attract lint, give me reasons to like this vibrator. As a battery operated vibrator rather than a rechargeable one, the KEY Charms Plush has a significantly lower price point than Jopen’s other sex toys, which makes it an attractive buy. However, those who like to warm up with different levels of intensity during play will be disappointed with the lack off choices the KEY Charms Plush offers. While it does have five different modes, all of these modes run at the same moderately powerful intensity. This limits the versatility of the vibrator somewhat.
Marketed as a starter vibrator, the KEY Charms Plush both hits and misses the mark. Certainly the price point, ease of use, and straight-forward instructions are totally appropriate for a beginner early in their sex toy exploration. However, the lack of different intensity levels makes it a harder sell for me. While I enjoy power, I also don’t necessarily want my nipples and clit to be hit with the strongest possible buzz straight out of the gate. I like and need to warm up. The vibrations are also very buzzy, which is never my preference. Though the KEY Charms Plush has some very good qualities, the buzziness of the vibrations and the lack of lower intensity modes force me to give it a lower rating than I would like.
I have heard of these subscription services that charge a fee for sending out a box of surprise products monthly, but I’ve never joined one. When I was contacted by someone representing a new online service like this that focuses on sensual products and sex toys, I thought it sounded pretty interesting. Hence today’s Spotlight on Spicy Subscriptions.
Spicy Subscriptions is a service that delivers a box full of sexy and sensual items to your door on a monthly basis. As I mentioned, I know there are similar services out there where you pay a monthly fee and receive a box full of different products for you to try. I have heard of a few programs that focus on beauty products, such as Ipsy and Birchbox. These types of programs give you the opportunity to try out different products with the added bonus of having your own little surprise party each month. Spicy Subscriptions is the first service I have heard of that concentrates on sex toys and sensual products.
With Spicy Subscriptions, you choose one of two options at two price points, the Premium Spice Box and the Deluxe Spice Box. Each Spice box contains one – two Full Sized Products and three – six Trial Sized Products. We then come to the differences between the two subscriptions. The Premium Spice Box includes one Flirty Item, while the Deluxe Spice Box contains one Deluxe Item and one Deluxe Accessory. There is a $10 difference between the Premium and Deluxe Spice Boxes, which I think are priced quite reasonably. You sign up and pay for one month, four months, or eight months at a time. Your subscription will automatically renew when your current subscription ends unless you cancel or pause, which you can do at any time. All subscriptions include free shipping and discrete packaging.
Included in these Spice Boxes are products such as lubricants, lingerie, massage oils/candles, condoms, fragrances, and sex toys. Spicy Subscriptions has partnered with a number of manufacturers in order to include high-quality products in their Spice Boxes. I am sure you are familiar with some of these companies, such as LELO, Kama Sutra, System JO, and Blossom Organics.
I think this is a great way to try out different brands and items without investing a ton of money up front. You can dabble with a variety of things to decide what you really like and where you want to put your money. I’m also a big supporter of having things delivered to my door rather than having to go out and shop. I like my UPS guy and my mail carrier way more than dealing with traffic and store lines.
