As an Australian I don’t tend to make as big as a deal here about the current spooky season as some of my overseas friends, but growing up in Britain means that Halloween is still very much a holiday that holds a dear place in my heart. Still, it’s because of this, and my usual affinity for cute rather than horror toys, that it’s not often you’ll find me participating in any spooktober-style reviews. So when Lovehoney recently reached out to me about their new October releases, my eyes were immediately drawn to the adorable-looking Glow-in-the-Dark Dildo far more than any of their Halloween inspired products. Little did I know however, that when the lights are turned off this dildo become possibly the most spooky of them all! Thus, for the very first time, here I am with a extra special Halloween review!
Review: Vixen Creations VixSkin Mustang
Long before I started reviewing sex toys, I was an avid reader of sex blogs. As a curious 18 year old who had just moved out of home, I didn’t have much to spend, so researching which products were best in order to get the most out of my money was of the utmost importance to me. It was during this time that I first noticed a number of products that seemed to repeatedly pop up in the work of my favourite bloggers, regardless of what they were supposed to be actually writing about. They were the must-haves of sex toys, and so when I started blogging the toys on that list, such as the Magic Wand Rechargeable, We-Vibe Tango, and Njoy Pure Wand, were some of the first I sought out. Five years in however, there has only been one toy that has managed to evade me all this time, despite numerous efforts to get my hands on it. Widely regarded as the best realistic dildo ever, the Vixen Creations VixSkin Mustang stands-out from the rest on my list as the only toy from an independent maker, and it is that fact that has made obtaining one here in Australia tricky. But when the amazing folks over at KissKiss heard of my struggles, they were kind enough to send one out all the way from Switzerland, so that my sex toy dreams may finally be fulfilled!
Review: Bestvibe Realistic Dildo
I’ve been reviewing vibrators from Chinese white-label retailers, such as Bestvibe, Adorime and Paloqueth, for many years now. While their designs may be pretty out there and websites often lack proper translation, the products themselves are typically great quality for the amount you pay. Plus, at the end of the day, these sorts of budget options that are primarily sold through sites like Amazon are always going to be much more widely purchased than the hundred-dollar sex toys I often find myself reviewing. But there has been one aspect of all of these stores that I have avoided till now, and that is their range of dildos. Dildos, unlike vibrators, are much more likely to be secretly made from non-body safe materials, and I have never quite trusted that this won’t be the case with these retailers. More and more lately I’ve been receiving messages from readers who have noticed my affiliation with these sites though and want to know my thoughts on their “silicone” toys, and it just hasn’t felt right that I continue to support these companies whilst also harbouring these kinds of concerns. So, that was when I decided it was finally time to take one for the team, and I requested the Realistic Dildo from Bestvibe. I figured, if it is silicone then it’ll be a great budget-friendly option to recommend to people, and if it is not then I won’t be able to test and review it anyway, plus I’ll know to cease my support.
Review: Tantus Magma
The first dildo I ever reviewed was the Tantus Splish, and until like most products that I reviewed when I first started, this toy has really stood the test of time and is still one of my favourites. With a diameter of only 2.5cm / 1″ and a length of 11.4cm / 4.5″, it is far too small to be used as a regular dildo though, and instead has found a place in my home for anal play and as my partner’s alternative to fingering. I loved the drip-like design and noted in my review “Its texture is simply marvellous [for anal], and I know I just need to get my hands on a Splash now so my vagina can have a similar experience”. The Splash was the Splish’s larger cousin and I was eager to get one, until Tantus discontinued them both. Those were some sad days in sex toy land… until recently when I noticed Tantus had announced two new products. They have a different name and a new colour palette, but sure enough the Magma and Mini Magma are the reincarnations of the Splish and Splash.
Review: Blush Novelties Neo Elite 7.5 Inch
It’s hard to believe, but we’re already halfway through the year! It’s been a pretty good one so far here at Princess Previews, but for anyone who read my Top 10 Toys of 2018 post you might have noticed that something has been missing… dildos! That’s right, in that post I declared that 2019 would be the year of dildos, since I had been sorely lacking reviews of my favourite type of toy on the blog last year (I only did one!). Well, it might have taken a little while, but here I am finally with my first dildo review of the year (that is, unless you count the Kink by Doc Johnson Drencher, but I don’t since I couldn’t actually fit it inside of me). It doesn’t stop here either, as SheVibe have been kind enough to send me three of the best looking dildos on the market right now. Coming up soon is the Tantus Magma and Uberrime Ripley Alien, but today I am starting with the Blush Novelties Neo Elite 7.5 Inch.
Review: New York Toy Collective Ellis
In the sex toy industry, and as with most industries, there are the large brand name companies with huge product ranges and luxury packaging that can be found at practically every store, and then there are the smaller independent manufacturers who hand-make their products and focus on quality over quantity. Both are good and I think a mix of these two styles are important, especially since it is usually the larger companies who can afford to create more entry-level priced collections. However, I have so much more respect for the little guys who put so much love and care into each of their pieces, and basically put their financial (and sometimes personal) lives at risk just to help create great quality sex toys for us all. I want to support these sorts of companies as much as I can, but unfortunately they can be hard to access here in Australia when none of the larger retailers want to stock them. So this is why when I found The Slinky Minx, and was given the opportunity to review the New York Toy Collective Ellis, that I was so ridiculously overjoyed.