D I.Y Sex Toys: Self-Love Edition
The sex toy scene has truly gone off in recent years via thrilling tech advancements (hello, app-controlled toys bridging the long-distance gap) and game-changing categories designed to elevate your solo or shared pleasure. Suction vibrators are a standout innovation that’s made major waves. Also known as clit sucking toys or clit suction vibrators, this category focuses on clitoral pleasure via air pressure and vibrating suction—a departure from traditional buzzy sex toys for beginners. “Dual-stimulation vibrators can be easy to use, and the combined internal and external stimulation can be great for beginners who don’t want to have to buy two different toys,” says Alesandra Madison, a BDSM educator. Many of them offer different types of stimulation from different parts of the toy.
It’s not as fancy as some high-end models, but for the cost, it’s a steal. The Lioness Vibrator earns its title as the most innovative with its groundbreaking biofeedback technology. Going beyond the conventional, it allows users to track and analyze their arousal patterns through a companion app. This data-driven approach empowers users to understand and enhance their pleasure, making The Lioness a revolutionary choice for those who value the exploration element of intimate experiences. Customers find the massager works well, with one noting it’s more effective than massage guns , and they appreciate how it feels good on sore muscles and relieves tightness and knots.
If you shop online, you have a huge selection, and you don’t have to worry about anyone peering over your shoulder. Go to websites that are really great at providing educational/expert information with their toys, like Babeland, Good Vibrations, Ella Paradis or Lovehoney. Some sites even give you the option to chat with a live representative who can answer your questions. Also, for all modes, music is available to create a relaxing atmosphere. The main distinguishing feature is that the app also works when the screen is off. It provides a convenient and portable massage solution, making it perfect for on-the-go relaxation or relieving muscle tension throughout the day.
But some people do still view masturbation as wrong or harmful, and sometimes those people may be the ones you have to live with. Those views are often based in ignorance over how bodies work, or are spread by religious institutions that believe masturbation is sinful and thus want to discourage people from doing it. Most comparable to the Pom on this list, Mimi is a tad cheaper and has two more vibration patterns for a total of seven. Interestingly, Je Joue’s website contradicts itself by saying it has six or seven patterns, depending on where you look; the booklet that arrives with the toy says six, as well. Oscillation technology was originally used for men who had spinal cord injuries but wanted to get their partners pregnant.
“Nearly all STIs are capable of being transmitted through sex toys, especially toys that are inserted into the body or make mucosal contact,” Susan Bard, a New York City-based dermatologist, affirmed. We loved the strong vibrations and easy-to-hold loop handle on the brand’s White Temptation but found the loaf-like shape to be awkward to use viberators, preferring the tapered silhouette of the Purple Pleasure. The Beso Plus was our least favorite of the clitoral suction/G-spot dual-stimulator vibrators we’ve tried. Our tester found the “mouth” of the toy to be uncomfortably firm and irritating. If you wish to use a lubricant with your toy (as experts often recommend), keep in mind that only water-based lube is safe to use with all types of toys. Oil-based lubricants are not just unsafe for use with condoms but can also interact badly with toys made of soft plastic or rubber, causing the devices to disintegrate or to leach chemicals (PDF).
You can also tag each session with different terms so you can track how your health, sleep, alcohol consumption, mood, etc. affect your experiences. Cassie spends most of her time thinking about and consuming cheese in all its glorious forms. For all the “ick factor” she says she still sees when the topic of older adult sexuality comes up, Price notes that she’s begun to see a slow shift.
A disposable stroker like this one is a great first foray into the world of sex toys for newbies. I’ve bought Tenga Eggs for many past partners and they’ve always been a hit. Made of soft, squishy elastomer, these toys have various different textures on the inside that range from gentle to intense; variety packs are available if you want to try some different options. Their cute egg-shaped packaging makes them travel-friendly, and each one conveniently comes with its own packet of lube tucked inside. “This size and shape of this finger vibrator are great for wrapping around the lips, sliding up and down, side to side, and playing with pinpointed pleasure against the head of the clitoris using its rounded tip. It offers 20 different speeds and patterns and is rechargeable, with an 100-minute run-time.
Even if your toy is rumbly enough to land on the Richter scale, adding hand motions will enhance your experience. When using an external stimulator, Dr. Hauser suggests moving the vibrator in a circular, vertical back and forth, horizontal side-to-side motion, or a combination of all of the above. As for G-spot vibrators, try experimenting with strokes—fast and hard or gentle and slow, the thrust intensity is literally in the palm of your hands. When you’re shopping for a sex toy, investing in a quality personal lubricant is also a good idea. Lubricant eases penetration of all types, increases comfort and sexual pleasure, and reduces friction and genital irritation. Even people who produce abundant natural lubrication may benefit from using lube for additional comfort.
The last thing anyone wants to do during sex is troubleshoot gadgets. It features a dual motor; one in the bendable shaft and the other in the ‘rabbit ears’. This helped most of our testers have a more intense orgasm with half reaching climax faster than normal.