Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Review: DOMINIX Deluxe Leather Heart Slapper "Paddle" from Lovehoney

UPDATE: 
or
Enjoy 15% off a £40 spend from Lovehoney.co.uk

Both good through Sept. 30, 2014

*


As my personal subs know, in addition to being a loving Domme, I can also be a silly romantic. I'm a sucker for rose and heart-shaped toys, so I jumped at the chance when Lovehoney gave me the opportunity to review this heart-cutout slapper.

First, this is a slapper. Saying that it's a "slapper paddle" is technically redundant, but helpful for those who aren't familiar with the term. Basically, slappers are used like paddles, but they are specifically designed to make a louder sound when they hit. A slapper has two layers of leather (sometimes more) that are not joined together.

The additional layer catches the air, creating a loud "slap" when it lands that often sounds much worse than it actually is. On traditional slappers, the back layer of leather is often split into multiple strips and only the front side is used for hitting. Other designs feature holes or multiple strips of leather of varying lengths.

The advantage of this slapper is that it is designed so that either side can be used for hitting...


and, with a little practice, the cutout will leave a mark with a heart-shaped center on your target! ;-)


Like any good slapper, it has a satisfying sound, but the cutout and heavy leather give it a nice sting as well.

This product is shipped in a plain plastic bag with no unnecessary packaging, however there isn't a label specifying materials or the country of origin. I was a little disappointed when I opened the plastic bag, because I'd read that it has a strong leather smell. However, mine smelled of chemicals. It's been sitting out of the bag off-gassing for about three weeks, and now the leather smell is starting to come through if I really sniff it. I asked Lovehoney, and they told me that it is made in Poland, using Italian Leather.




The slapper is unlined and the handle is the only stitched area on the slapper. Reinforced with wood*, rather than metal, it fits nicely in the hand, and includes a knotted leather tie for hanging.


* The reinforcement is round, like a wooden dowel, rather than the rectangular shape shown in some of the pics on the Lovehoney website.

Speaking of the website, Lovehoney also offers this DOMINIX Deluxe Leather Heart Paddle (UK Link), and together they would make a lovely set.


DOMINIX is Lovehoney's luxury bondage line. While these are better made and in line with what you would find on a serious BDSM site, I wouldn't call this particular item "luxurious". However, it is a cute slapper that will definitely leave it's mark.

Personally, I'd love to have the matching paddle to make the set. *hint* *hint*

Buy:

US:
Lovehoney.com: DOMINIX Deluxe Leather Heart Slapper
Lovehoney.com: DOMINIX Deluxe Leather Heart Paddle

Click this link while shopping at Lovehoney.com for 10% discount on your entire order: http://shrsl.com/?~63kz

UK, Europe and Elsewhere:
Lovehoney.co.uk: DOMINIX Deluxe Leather Heart Slapper
Lovehoney.co.uk: DOMINIX Deluxe Leather Heart Paddle


*
Note: I received a free sample from Lovehoney in exchange for an honest review.
I am an affiliate of Lovehoney.co.uk and Lovehoney.com, but also prefer them for their free shipping and customer-friendly returns policy. I am also happy to be able to also offer a 10% discount to my readers on any purchase from Lovehoney.com by using this affiliate link: http://shrsl.com/?~63kz



Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Slick-quid, not Sticky!

I was very excited to receive samples of Sliquid lube. In reading about their products, I am very impressed by their attitude and emphasis on using ingredients that are healthy and help a woman retain her natural balance. All of their lubes are paraben and glycerin free, common ingredients in lubricants which can cause burning and irritation in those with chemical allergies or sensitivities. The one issue that I should mention is that I was surprised that all their flavored "Swirl" lubes contain aspartame, an artificial sweetener which can be deadly for those with phenylketonuria (PKU) and may cause headaches, seizures and other issues in those who are sensitive to it. For this reason, I did not test any of their flavored lubes and can not recommend them. However, the problem of artificial sweeteners in lubricants is an issue for other companies as well, and I'm still very impressed with all Sliquid's non-flavored lubes.

My favorite of the samples was Sliquid Satin, and I received a small bottle to continue my "testing". It's thicker than their H20 lube, so it stays on better when I apply it on toys. Not only am I using it for intimate fun, I also found that it's the perfect lube to use with my kegel balls (which are the original Fun Factory Smartballs shown at left - click here for the UK link). I found them uncomfortable until I learned that they need to be worn with copious amounts of lube. Now I love them and ... well... try wearing them in a rocking chair or glider. Oh my!

Sliquid Satin reminds me of the original Astroglide in it's clarity and consistency, and the way that it is made to resemble a woman's natural lubrication. But it's 1000 times better: not only is it made from natural ingredients, it also doesn't dry sticky! I even tried applying some to my arm just to test it. After it dried, it first felt like there was still a bit of a smooth coating, but then even that dried away and it just felt slightly softer. Very nice!

Sliquid Satin's formulated so that it can also be used daily as a Personal/Vaginal Moisturizer and Lubricant for those of us who have dryness due to age, health issues or medications. Only a few drops are usually needed, and it's clear, smooth and easy to apply.

Yes, it's a condom-friendly, woman-friendly, natural (and even vegan-friendly!) lubricant and moisturizer that doesn't dry sticky. What more could any woman want!


And now you can enjoy 10% off on orders from the Sliquid Shop with the discount code:
     MMAGICK

NEW Code: 
    MMAGICK10

In addition, for a limited time, you can get a FREE 8.5oz bottle of Sliquid Silk Hybrid Lubricant (2011 packaging - a $22.99 value) with any purchase $24.99 or higher!



FYI - Sliquid also has a boys' lubricant line called Ride Rub. It includes a quality Silicone Lube and a truely yummy Silicone/Water-based "Silk" Hybrid, as well as their "Stroke Oil".

Stroke Oil contains a blend of sweet almond oil, coconut oil, grape seed oil, sunflower seed oil, macadamia nut oil, jojoba seed oil, mango and shea butters, with vitamin e and just a touch of silicone (dimethicone). The pantyboy tells me that coconut oil is his favorite for anal play. Since I got so many goodies, I decided to share the Stroke Oil sample with him for "testing". It isn't condom friendly, but makes a decadent, unscented, super slick massage oil, and it is great if you want a natural oil-based lube for male masturbation or anal play.

I personally want to try more Sliquid products, and their warming lube,  Sliquid Organics Natural Sensation, is next on my shopping list! I wonder if one of you boys would like to get a large bottle of it for me while I can still get a free bottle of their creamy Sliquid Silk Silicone/Water-based Hybrid Lubricant with the purchase. 


Remember to use the NEW discount code:
     MMAGICK10
to get 10% off on orders from the Sliquid Shop


*
FTC Disclosure: I am a Sliquid affiliate, and I received an assortment of Sliquid sample packets and a small bottle of Sliquid Satin free for review. I received no other compensation, and the above is my honest review of the products which I received.   

Thursday, November 29, 2012

My Little Bunny: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Review: Turbo Jack Mini Rabbit Pearl Vibrator
From: Lovehoney.com

What is it about this rabbit vibe that makes me think of cutesy names? It's certainly made for an adult!

But it's also so cute! It's a miniature version of my favorite rabbit, all the way down to the smiling face and bumpy texturing under the head.

I put three fresh AA batteries in each of them and did a full side-by-side comparison. The new mini takes three AAs, but I also use them in my larger bunny because, although they don't last as long as the C batteries it normally requires, they seem to make the vibe go faster when they're fresh. And faster is almost always better!



Speaking of which, the clit vibe on the Mini Rabbit is about the same size as it's bigger cousin. It's a visible metal color while the other one is a less obvious ivory-colored plastic. The rabbit covering it is only slightly shorter on the mini, and the bullet inside is pretty much the same strength - possibly slightly stronger. It's definitively enough to satisfy! The difference in the angles is more obvious in the above picture than I noticed while holding them, but it seems to fit well even though I've often had push down on the larger bunny.

The shaft is both shorter and narrower on the mini. I didn't seem as filling as I slid it into place, but I felt and enjoyed the rotation a lot more. I'm pride myself on being pretty tight - no kids and I know how to do my kegels! I've broken the rotation on more than one bunny, and I often leave it turned down when I use them. With the mini, I had it up at full speed, which I also noticed was a lot faster than the larger bunny. The metal beads inside it are actually strung onto a round cage of posts which rotates with a mechanical sound that does get pretty loud, but doesn't sound like a vibrator. (The larger bunny only has one post that moves around stirring loose plastic beads.) This is the most obvious "turbo" feature of the mini when I visually compared them side-by-side, but I think that with it being smaller, it was easier for it to rotate around inside me as well.

The battery holder is different from any rabbit that I've ever seen. It has dials rather sliders.

Plus: The dials allow for a greater variation in speeds. They also each light up, getting brighter as you turn it up, making it easier to control your bunny in the dark and/or for your partner to be able to see how high the intensity is.

Minus: Even with the raised marks on the dials, it can be hard to turn them with slippery hands. I found myself using my fingernail, or grabbing the nightshirt that I'd just taken off, to turn them.

If you've never used a rabbit vibe before, or either you or your partner find them a little intimidating - and many men do - this would be a good one to start with. In fact, I could see a woman who is a rabbit-lover like me using this one to introduce her not-so-endowed partner to her love of toys. It's also smaller for travel.

Speaking of which, I also got a Small Square Satin Drawstring Toy Bag. I actually thought I asked simple twist for the long and narrow bag, but as you can see, this one is actually a perfect fit for My New Little Bunny. The larger rabbit vibe will just barely fit in it diagonally, and you would definitely want the tall, thin bag for a rabbit vibe with controls on the bottom. (Maybe next time I'll tell you why I generally prefer bunnies with hand-held controllers.)

Speaking of toy storage, get a FREE Small Square Satin Drawstring Toy Bag (like mine) worth $6.99 when you spend $10 at Lovehoney.com!
Type SOCIAL10 here:
http://www.lovehoney.com/offers/?SSAID=712244

I should mention that even though my items were ordered from the US website, they took a little longer than I would have expected with their Free Priority Mail shipping. That is because they actually came from the UK, where Lovehoney was founded. They are still working out the kinks (NPI) on the new US site, and obviously that includes their supply chain. The form on the unopened plain cardboard box simply says "Novelty Item", but knowing that their items have been through customs might make some people a little nervous. Hopefully this won't be an issue much longer as they grow their US business.

FOLLOW UP: I've used both bunnies together a couple times now, and I find that I keep coming back to the mini! Even though it's size didn't really impress me at first, I'm actually finding it to be a better fit. It's the difference between a lover putting in as many fingers as possible hoping to hit the right spot and a lover using just one or two fingers expertly on that spot! I'm fan of the latter technique, and I'm also becoming a big fan of My Little Bunny!

NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored review. My bunny and bag were a gift to me from simple twist as part of my testing of Lovehoney.com as a potential affiliate.


If You Would Like To Apply to Me...