I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but here in Australia we’ve had some pretty lengthy and intensive lockdowns over the past year and a half. In fact, I’m even in one right now, with my home of Melbourne seeming to consistently cop some of the worst of it. But while most of us have been learning the ups and downs of day drinking and watching far too many Godzilla films, some people have clearly been a little bit more productive. In addition to the recent wave of Aussie independent toy makers I discussed in my review of the Faux Phallus Agapanthus, there has also been an even bigger emergence of sexual wellness brands, particularly those that focus on lube. In the span of just a few short months, four new Australian-made lubricants have entered the picture, with three of them being based right here in Melbourne (that’s Lucy Lube, FIGR, LBDO, and Sydney’s Get Frenchie). So whilst I am planning on doing a round-up of all four soon, today I’ll be taking a closer look at one in particular, Lucy Lube!
Review: Flingster Adult Chat
I don’t know about you, but one of my favourite things to do with friends when I was a teenager was spend time on the Omegle chat rooms. It was that perfect blend of cyber-safety violations and potentially adult content that I’m sure any teen looking to rebel would have been all over, and if anything I’m surprised I stuck to just using it as a joke during sleepovers. But now I’m older, and no longer do I have to cheekily wonder where the conversation might lead, because there are adults-only versions like Flingster that let you get straight to the point. Of course, as a sex toy reviewer, looking at websites like these isn’t exactly my expertise, so when I was first approached by their team about writing this post I was unsure. But after a closer look I realised this really is just another tool designed for adult fun, so why not check it out?
Review: Darque Path Cthulhu
Over the last few years I’ve become a massive fan of the work of H.P. Lovecraft and the Mythos he inspired. Growing up with little exposure to horror films or books (even the The Little Mermaid gave me nightmares as a child), his wide collection of short stories has served as the perfect gateway into this world for me, especially when you consider how much of it has formed the basis of the genre today. I often spend evenings reading over annotations of his work (yes, including analysis on the unpleasant racist overtones), have forked out way too much money on the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game (considering I have no one to play it with), and even though I still have a long way to go with catching up on horror as a film genre, I’ve just recently taken my first steps with John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy (which was also inspired by Lovecraft). But with my job being what it is, there has always been one thing missing, and that is, of course, a fantasy toy inspired by the most famous of all his creations: Cthulhu. For the longest time I had my eyes on Uberrime’s version, but size concerns and US shipping prices held me back, until finally it disappeared from their store. Just when I thought all was lost however, I discovered Darque Path and their very own interpretation made right here in Australia!
Review: We-Vibe Tango X
When I first started reading sex blogs and toy reviews many years ago, there were a few products that would consistently be referenced across all of my favourite websites. They were things like the Njoy Pure Wand, Vixen Creations VixSkin Mustang, and Magic Wand Rechargeable, legendary toys that continue to maintain a cult following even today. But the main toy that I kept hearing about over and over again, regardless of what the actual review was about, was the versatile We-Vibe Tango. Widely regarded as the most powerful bullet vibrator on the market, it wasn’t long before I got one of my own and fell madly in love with it just like everyone else. A marvel of simplicity mixed with raw power, We-Vibe’s unrelenting lipstick-shaped ABS plastic was the perfect vessel for rumbly vibrations that were ahead of their time, and the fuss-free design complimented them perfectly. But it had a dark secret, with a battery life that was unable to meet the demand its users placed on it. I’ve spoken to people who have owned over ten Tangos in order to get their fix, but when mine died back in 2019, that was it for me, and eventually I found a replacement in the Dame Kip. Since then though I have been just wishing We-Vibe would fix this issue and re-release it, and so when JOUJOU got in touch recently to let me know that was exactly what was happening to celebrate the toy’s 10th birthday, I couldn’t have been happier.
Review: Bestvibe Brush Vibrator
The first time I saw a facial cleansing brush I was sure it was a sex toy in disguise. In fact, even now I don’t think there is another product on the market that resembles a vibrator or suction toy quite as much in regards to both appearance and function as these so called “beauty products”. It looks like I’m not the only one who thinks so either, with facial cleansers since becoming one of the most popular types of DIY types of sex toys. After all, considering the biggest difference between the two is just how socially acceptable they are, you’d be foolish not to try it out and potentially get a fully discreet sex toy free of charge. So if anything I am surprised it has taken this long to see a company take advantage of the fact and attempt to blend the two into one product, and that is exactly what Bestvibe have done with their Brush Vibrator. With the appearance of a facial cleanser, this undercover vibrator is the perfect product for those who require some privacy, with a price that won’t break the bank either.
Review: OSUGA Cuddly Bird
It goes without saying that aesthetics drive a large portion of our purchases, even if we might not want to admit it. But while choosing the cute phone case or the wine bottle with a happy dog on it over another one might not have a huge impact on its performance, the same logic sadly doesn’t usually follow over to sex toys. The immense amount of products within this industry paired with a complete lack of awareness about them by the general population is a dangerous combination, and is the reason why thousands of people continue to unknowingly risk their health every day by using toxic toys. Plus, without the usual means to advertise or promote items, companies need to think fast about how to make their toys stand out in a world that doesn’t want them. One such product is the OSUGA Cuddly Bird, a multi-award-winning clitoral stimulator that is not just adorable, but also doubles as a lamp to give it that extra touch. The question is, how much of this is a gimmick designed to capture people’s attention, and how much of it is actually a good quality sex toy?