Showing posts with label Vibrator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vibrator. Show all posts

Sunday, May 19, 2013

iGino One: "What Women Want"


The iGino One has a lot of big dreams behind it. It uses a patented "iMoove" technology (essentially, the little nub where vibrations are focused also moves side-to-side) which is supposed to mimic manual finger stimulation. It is USB rechargeable, meant to be travel-friendly (it's small and has a cap that goes over the little vibrating nub- with the cap on it's about the size of an iPhone and even comes with a small velvet pouch), and has what they call a "skin touch head" which is a little flower shape that slips over the vibrating nub to make it softer and perhaps bring down the buzzy-ness of the vibrations. The iGino one was partially funded via Indie Go Go (their campaign is over and did not reach it's $30,000 goal).

I have a lot of issues with the iGino One, but the biggest is the "What Women Want" slogan. If the iGino One were what every woman, whether cis- or trans- gendered, young or old, no matter what their sexuality or color preference was- every woman would want a vibrator that is pink and white, travel-friendly, and features a little pink ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA, or foam rubber, which is supposedly chemically inert but is at least porous) flower-shaped 'skin touch head'. They would all want something that is strong yet meant to simulate finger movement. My issue with this is that people's needs and desires are incredibly varied; there is no one sex toy that works for everyone and even those that do their job well aren't for everyone. Why? Not everyone is interested in pinpoint clitoral stimulation like what the iGino provides. "Holy Grail" products like the nJoy Pure Wand which gives very direct, intense g-spot stimulation are not for everyone despite the fact that the pure wand does it's job very well: some people just don't like direct, intense G-Spot Vibration. That's just how things work. While it is true that a vast majority of women like clitoral stimulation, they like it in different ways, in different situations.

Beyond all that, the iGino One needs some re-thinking. Yes, the typical gender-binary pandering details like the color and flower shaped skin touch head should be nixed or at least expanded upon, but I have some gripes about the actual functioning of the product.


It only has two settings: on and off, which are controlled by a button on the side of the body of the vibrator. There are two things I don't like about this. Firstly, the one setting just feels like a very strong, very buzzy vibration. Secondly, although there is some resistance on the button, it could easily be flipped into the on position while in your bag or suitcase. It's pretty loud, so it would definitely be heard.

The vibration, as mentioned, is very buzzy, though very strong. It has brought me to orgasm, but it was probably one of the most uncomfortable orgasms I've ever experienced. The buzzyness of this thing resonated throughout my internal clitoris in a way that was actually quite irritating, despite the fact that I wore my underwear as a slight barrier. I was too distracted by the buzzing going on to actually feel my orgasm when it happened.

I think the addition of other settings- a lower setting, another one where the iMoove is slower or perhaps in a pattern, and other such iterations would be good. If you patent a new technology, why not capitalize on it and offer variation? I feel that this would be a lot less irritating just if the iMoove slowed down to "stroke" rather than something more akin to vibrating like what it does right now.


The Skin Touch attachment is a good idea, I suppose- it's softer material, which a lot of people would prefer to a hard one, myself included. However, a better option would be soft silicone attachments in different shapes- still small, but different shapes, perhaps one that basically covers the nub, another that's shaped like a fan brush but is a thin silicone, different things for different sensations. This product would be a lot more interesting just with these kinds of options included, no other changes necessary though probably still appreciated.

I just don't trust the EVA flower power "skin touch head". Not only is the material questionable to me and the shape a bit too girly for my tastes, it just isn't interesting. It doesn't offer much if any textural difference aside from being softer than the vibrating nub. I'm also annoyed by the addition of the little rings (they include multiple because they are apt to break) that go around the vibrating nub, presumably to keep any lube or bodily fluids from going inside the machine. There has to be a better way to do this; this seems to be not only a huge hassle but eventually you'll run out of them and then what? This product isn't remotely water-proof; in fact, they mention that you shouldn't wash it under running water in the manual.

Overall, I think the iGino One has some good ideas behind it but once again- a company is too busy with their pink girly design and cute packaging (the packaging is definitely very nice and even quite sturdy) to actually make something new and unique. The most unique aspect of this product, the iMoove technology, is completely lost because it's moving too fast and ends up just jackhammering your clit rather than stroking it lovingly. Maybe some people like their clit jackhammered, but I'm not one of those people. Maybe the iGino Two will be something I'm more likely to enjoy, if they get around to making one.



The iGino One was provided to me by the Creators of the iGino One free of charge in exchange for a thorough and honest review. It will be on sale for $99 at http://www.i-gino.com/ sometime soon.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Vibrator

Warning: personal stories ahead. Nothing triggering that I can think of, but if you're not interested feel free to skip to my review below.


I didn't want to like the Lovehoney Flash. It's too buzzy, it's too loud, and the toy snob in me thought that would immediately throw me off. I was wrong- the Lovehoney Flash has irreversibly changed my life.

There's something I haven't really talked about on my blog that's a big part of my life: I believed that I could not orgasm during penetrative intercourse. I only have noticeably once that I can recall (it was likely a G-Spot orgasm) and my partner at the time and myself were unable to replicate it. With my current partner, I was noticing that after a minute or two I became incredibly disinterested in penetration and it honestly became a huge issue in our relationship. He thought I wasn't attracted to him and this made me anxious and I started avoiding sex altogether, except on rare occasion. I'll admit that my anxiety really got in the way of me properly communicating, but I also had no idea what was going on.

Que our trip to visit his family in Ohio. We ended up having a day to ourselves and I was feeling feisty. My partner had been insisting for awhile now that I squirt- that I ejaculate, which is commonly linked to g-spot stimulation for women- and I had been brushing it off. In our haste, he didn't take his shirt off, and when we were done I looked over and there was a huge wet spot on the bottom of his tshirt. A lightbulb went off.

Essentially, I've been orgasming... but I haven't been feeling it. This made a lot of sense to me; when I orgasm I generally lose interest in whatever's going on- So, I was orgasming and not feeling it but my body lost interest once that passed. My partner was too good and I didn't even know it. This sort of thing is all too common amongst women; since we have internal sexual apparatus it can be more difficult to figure out how to manipulate than men, who are right out in the open on most occasions (though the prostate is an often overlooked asset, pleasure-wise).

What does all this have to do with the Lovehoney Flash? I had been using it solo to surprisingly good results. The vibrations, though buzzy, are much stronger than what I get from the Lelo Gigi and if I press the silicone tip of the Flash firmly against my clitoris, it reverberates throughout the internal clitoris. Once I realized what was going on with my ghost orgasms, I decided it was a good idea to try the Flash during intercourse.

So, my partner propped me up on some pillows, I held the Flash to my clitoris.... and I could actually feel everything that was going on in my vagina.

The internal erect clitoris. that little nubbin on the very front? that's the external clitoris. Like an iceberg or the Tardis, the clitoris really is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. 
For those of you unawares, the clitoris is erectile tissue just as the penis is. It's made up of the glans, which is the external portion, and a large interior structure which may or may not include the g-spot. The body of the clitoris extends up from the glans and separates into the corpora cavernosa, which reach around the urethra and vagina, and the crura, which are two wings or legs extending out parallel to the Corpora Cavernosa. When these are engorged with blood, women report more luck with g-spot orgasm (the g-spot is spongy tissue that encircles the urethra, and is therefore in contact with the Corpora Cavernosa) and often feel intercourse more readily, which is the case with me. Vibrations extending from the glans into the internal clitoris can help this process, but you generally need a relatively strong vibrator for this to be the case. Check out this blogpost from the Museum of Sex for more info on the internal clitoris!

Now, I'm not saying that the Flash will be this magical for everyone, but I find it necessary to recount my experiences. The flash is buzzy. It can be on the loud side (not too loud, but if it's the middle of the night and quiet and someone stops outside your bedroom door they could probably hear it). Some people cannot stand buzzy vibrations and I understand- my first attempt at using this left me cringing in horror. Once I learned how to dull the buzz by pressing it firmly against my clit, that wasn't an issue. The tip is silicone and finger shaped which is nice but you can see it vibrating, especially on pulsation patterns, which is probably what leads to the buzz. There is no indication of how long it should charge (even on the packaging or in the instructions), when it needs to charge, or when it's done charging. There's a light in the single button of the vibrator, so I don't see why they couldn't have it indicate when it's done charging.

Though not as intuitive when it comes to knowing when it's charged, it is at the very least discreet while charging. 
The flash is comprable to the Lelo Mia 2. The differences are of course that the Mia 2 isn't as strong, it's completely round and only ABS (non-porous) hard plastic, it's quieter, and it indicates when it needs to charge and when it's done charging. The button on the flash is oriented towards your body, whereas the shape of the Mia 2 means that you can turn it any which way is most comfortable to you. The vibrating portion of the Mia is what plugs into the USB port- the part of the Flash that plugs in is the hard plastic body, not the silicone tip. The Flash is $39.99 and the Mia 2 is $69 on the company websites. So, depending on your preferences and the price range you're looking in, I'd say decide from there.

Considering buying the Lovehoney Flash or other products? Check out the item with my affiliate link; if you buy something through the link you're supporting me and my blog, and helping me get more things to review and have more time to write, educate, and improve my blog.

The Lovehoney USB Flash Rechargeable Vibrator was provided to me free of charge by Lovehoney in return for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine. 




Monday, March 25, 2013

Silicone Part Two: Caring For Silicone


See Part One for my introduction to Silicone.

So, you've bought yourself a silicone product. Good on you, congrats. Now you need to know how to care for it, so you get all the benefits of silicone and it lasts you the lifetime it should.

I use Seventh Generation Free and Clear dishwashing soap to clean my toys, mainly because I have a lot of sensitivities and this is a natural option. I'm keeping my eye out for other good natural soaps to try out. Any antibacterial soap without fragrances or dyes (which can be harsh) are good for cleaning your toys. 
Since silicone is non-porous, it is very easy to sterilize. I would recommend cleaning a new product before first use and after that, at the very least after each use- if not before as well if there's any dust (even if you're just giving it a rinse). Not all silicone toys attract a lot of dust, but some do and they'll all attract at least a little bit of dust, it's just the nature of the material. If the toy is non-electronic, or you can remove the electronics*, you can boil the product or put it in the dishwasher to sanitize:

  • Boiling is one way to completely sterilize your toy, making it safe for use between orifices and between partners. I'd recommend scrubbing any seams or highly textured parts with a soft toothbrush or other soft brush and a proper soap** before boiling, just to make sure there isn't anything in the crevices. Then, treat your toys like pasta: plop in a pot of water, bring to a boil, drain, and pour your favorite sauce on top... I mean, lay out in a dish rack or on a towel to dry. 
  • If you're lucky enough to have a dishwasher, throw your dishwashable products on the top rack and put on the dildo setting. If your dishwasher is coy, the sanitize setting is the same as the dildo setting.
If your product has electronics integrated into the design, even if it is waterproof (and it might only be splash-proof at best, anyway- no one controls what companies say on their packaging and very few products can work while submerged without being damaged), I would not recommend boiling or dishwashing the product. This could compromise the electronics, degrading circuitry. It may work after the first time you do it, but it could lead to it breaking over time because connections in the electronics have started to corrode or loosen. The best thing you can do in this situation is rinse, soap up, scrub crevices and textures with a soft brush, rinse, and lay out to dry. If your product uses batteries, take them out before doing this and let it dry completely before replacing them and turning the product on. If it is rechargeable, wait for the product to dry completely before turning it on again or charging.

Of course, I am not always good about everything I've mentioned above. I have a busy schedule and a lot of sex toys. I am also occasionally lazy. Be sure to at least soap up your products between uses especially if you have a bacterial or yeast infection, especially if you plan on using it in a different orifice, and absolutely if you plan on using it with a different partner: they did not consent to using an unclean toy which may give them an infection of some sort. If you give yourself an infection, that's your own problem. I'm not saying an unclean toy will definitely result in an infection, but it could- the environment within the vagina and that within the anus can be very sensitive. You don't want to introduce anything that could be harmful or you could upset the balance. If you want to cut down on cleaning time, you can use a non-lubricated condom or one with water-based lubricant***. I would not recommend sharing a toy without a condom unless you've boiled, dishwashed, or scrubbed it with a 10% (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) bleach solution and rinsed it. Better to be safe than sorry.

If you take care of a pure silicone toy, it can last you a lifetime. The non-porous nature of the material means that it won't get dirt and bacteria imbedded inside of it and it can therefore be completely sterilizable. This means that it's safe to sanitize between uses and use with more than one person in more than one orifice, safely- something that no jelly, TPR, TPE, Cyberskin, Silagel, Elastomer, Elastomed, or other porous toy can ever do, no matter how much they try to convince you otherwise. Nonporous products (silicone, glass, metal, hard plastic, specially treated wood) are the only things that are safe to use between orifices, if you wash in between or use a condom and take it off or switch it for faster use. You should never, ever use a porous product with someone else: they cannot be sterilized, and they did not consent to a possible bacterial infection, yeast infection, or STI- and that's not even mentioning the possible chemical reaction the person can have. I don't see why anyone with a good conscience would share a porous product, but a lot of people don't think or know about the possible consequences.

Sex toys should be body-safe: they should not interact chemically with your body, and they should be easy to clean. True silicone products are all this and more. 

*Some products have a bullet that is separate from the toy but can be inserted to make it vibrate- some good silicone examples of this are Tantus Vibrators and Whipsider Rubberworks toys, some of which you can have made with a cavity for a bullet. If you have a product like this, I'd recommend taking the bullet out before cleaning, cleaning the cavity thoroughly, and when it's dry using a starch or a water-based lubricant on the bullet/in the cavity so it's easy to insert and take out when you're done. 
**But what's a good soap to use? Fantastic question. I personally use Seventh Generation's Free and Clear dishwashing soap. The reason for this is that it is fragrance and dye free, has natural ingredients, and isn't harsh. I'm sensitive and concerned about chemicals, which is why I choose this specific soap- but everyone should avoid fragrances or dyes when it comes to cleaning their sex toys. Fragrances are often alcohol based, which might damage the toy but even if that's not a concern, the skin in the vagina and anus and on the penis and vulva is very thin and sensitive. Fragrances and dyes can irritate these delicate areas, and that's just no fun for anyone.
*** The most common non-lubricated condoms I've seen on the market are one of the Trojan ENZ lines, they're in a red box and clearly say non-lubricated along the bottom of the front of the package. Condoms will generally say specifically if they have a water-based lubricant since most use silicone lube.

Keep an Eye out for Part Three: Silicone, Lube, and Silicone Lubricants. 

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Valentines Day Sales, Deals, and Ideas!

So, a few of the companies I like and affiliate with are having Special Valentines Day Sales. I'm not really into Valentine's Day myself (I'll be working my first double at work), but I figure some of you may be interested so I might as well share!

Lovehoney is doing a few things, but one of the awesome sales they have on for Valentine's Day right now (up until the 13th!) are the 3 for's: 3 for $15, 3 for $35, and 3 for $65. I've made a few selections of non-porous toys, nice lubes, and other accessories for you to take a gander at but they have many more products on offer.

In the 3 for $15 section, I've shown the Lovehoney Powerful Pocket Vibrator, Bombshell Bomb Pleasure Balm (it comes in Cherry, Mint, and Chocolate!), and the Earthly Body Mini Gift Pouch. They also have individual Earthly Body Massage Oils and Massage Candles in different scents in this offer. 

In the 3 for $35 section, I've gone just a little kinky. Shown here are the Bondage Boutique White Hemp Rope (which has fantastic reviews and which will be coming in the mail sometime soon for myself- there will be a review on the blog at some point, and which I accidentally gave the wrong name in the image above- whoops), Lovehoney Medium (or Large!) Snug Plug Silicone Butt Plug, and Maximus Anal Lubricant. Maximus does contain Parabens, so if you're sensitive or concerned about Parabens, try something else suited to anal play, like Sliquid Silver, Ride Lube in Silicone, or Sliquid's Sassy or Organics Gel- which unfortunately are not on sale, but I personally think they're worth it. 

In the 3 for $65 section, I've included some things for both genders: the Lovehoney G-Whizz Silicone G-Spot Vibrator, YES Organic Water-Based Lubricant, and Tenga's 3D line of Male Masturbators, which comes in 4 textures: Module, Zen, Polygon, and Pile.   
From Tantus' Closeout Section (going on year round! Though I hear something about a VDay sale on Purple Goodies at Tantus' online store, Tomorrow, Friday Jan 25th...). Shown in my collage are The Little Flirt in Pearl Pink and Copper (I have Copper, it's lovely! another thing you'll be seeing a review of soon), The Cherry C-Ring, Ripple Small or Large (shown in Black, also comes in Purple) , The G Spot Vibe (Shown in pink, also comes in white and purple), and The Charmer (shown in pink, also comes in purple). Most of these items are under $20, which is a fantastic deal for 100% Pure Premium Silicone- and I can vouch for the quality of Tantus' Silicone. My little end is the perfect balance between firm and squishy, and the Silicone is definitely real, and 100% pure. No question. Maybe I'll make a video of me doing a flame test?
Other things you may want to look at in the closeout section are the Bend Over Beginner Harness Kit (comes with a Harness and the Silk in Small and Medium!), The Pro-Touch Vibe, and so much more.
If you're looking for something Super Fancy, you should look into the Lelo Adore Me Pleasure Set- now $20 off it's normal price of $159. It comes with a Lelo Mia 2, a Silk Blindfold, a Signature Gift Card, and Chainlink Cuffs.  They have other sets which aren't on sale: the Dare Me Pleasure Set, which has a black color theme and includes Luna Beads Noir, Silk Cuffs, and a Suede Whip for $119 (Great for female-bodied persons who love 50 Shades!), and the Indulge Me Pleasure Set which has a purple theme color and comes with a Lelo Noa Couple's toy, Silk blindfold, and a feather teaser. 



Another awesome Valentine's Day offer for the Bondage Enthusiasts: Twisted Monk has a V-day gift box! It includes 1 30ft length of their amazing, high quality hand-finished 6mm Hemp Rope, 2 10ft lengths of the same beautiful rope, Safety Shears (in case of bondage emergency, of course), 6 clips to match the rope, a red wax candle, and their Getting Started Vol 1&2 DVDs. All wrapped beautifully and stamped with a wax seal. At a price of $69.99 (you're saving $30!) and 36 hour delivery, this is definitely a good last-minute gift, and a fantastic one at that.

I'll be sure to update as I hear of new deals going on. In the meantime, Happy Shopping! Get something body safe and maybe a few fantastic toys that will last a lifetime.

Monday, January 7, 2013

(Believe it or Not) My first Vibrator: My Review of the Lelo Gigi

Isn't it lovely? My fuzzy red blanket
will forever be the perfect
backdrop when taking product
photographs. 
You heard right. The Lelo Gigi is the first vibrator I've ever owned or used.

Part of this is because I had never even set foot inside of an adult store before I got my job in one. I hadn't applied for my job- I put my resume up on Craigslist and my manager contacted me via email. I decided to go for it.

This was one of the best decisions of my life, as far as I'm concerned: I've become a part of a really supportive and fantastic work-family, I've learned a lot about myself and my body, learned a lot about sex toys and sex accessories, and I got my first vibrator- the last part thanks to my fantastic partner, who ended up buying it for me as a gift.

It took me about six months after getting my job to decide what toy I wanted to be my first, and then I started so save up for it before my partner stepped in and bought it for me. I knew that I wanted a higher-end, non-porous toy and that I wanted one that was rechargeable. This narrowed my selection down considerably at my store (which is where I knew I'd get my first toy since I get a discount): The best non-porous rechargeable toys we have are made by Lelo, Fun Factory, Je Joue, and Jimmy Jane. I eventually came to the conclusion that I wanted a Lelo (easily my favorite company to talk about and show off to customers) and I eventually settled on the Gigi because of its multi-functionality.

What I mean when I say multifunctionality is that the shape of the Gigi makes it perfect for both g-spot stimulation and clitoral stimulation: the flat head feels fantastic on my clit, and the curve in the toy means that it's fantastic for g-spot stimulation.

Or at least, it should be good for gspot stimulation. The first time I used it, I tried exploring the depths of my vagina with it- and though I found it cool to be able to feel the internal shape of my vagina through the toy, I didn't get any pleasurable sensation from it and ended up using it clitorally, resulting in the fastest climax I think I've ever had (I hear this is pretty common for your first time using a vibrator?).
Everything that comes inside the box:
Toy, User Manual, Warranty Book,
Lubricant Sachet, Satin
Storage Pouch, and Charger.

My first experience with it made the toy intimidating: maybe I couldn't find my gspot. Maybe I didn't have one. Doubt swirled around in my head.

I didn't use it for a little while, but steadily began using it more and more.... externally only. It got to a point where one week, I wouldn't leave the house without orgasming at least once. Using the Gigi was faster and more efficient than manual masturbation, and I'm almost positive that the release helps with my anxiety and chronic pain. It definitely helps me relax before the commute to work and the barrage of images, information, and people that the commute and work come with- which is really stressful for me.

But I still wouldn't use it internally. I had never really been one for internal stimulation- I have difficulty feeling my vagina and get more out of clitoral stimulation- whether it's by a partner, by myself, or with a toy. That's just the way it is, and though I'm trying to explore new techniques and toys, it's something I have to live with until I find out what works for me.

The other day, after a few days of thinking about my lack of using the toy internally, I guilted myself into doing it. Thoughts like "You want to review this thing, but you haven't used it internally more than once?" swam around in my head, and I resolved to try it.

I determinedly thrust the toy inside of myself and moved it around. I tried pressing up against where I thought my gspot was. I tried thrusting. I tried something like the 'windshield wiper' move Elspeth Demina describes in her Pure Wand review. Nothing. I tried different levels of vibration, different pulsation patterns, varying levels of pressure. Still nothing. A few times I felt a really vague sensation, but it was so vague that I could hardly discern what it was. Eventually I gave up and used it the same way I have been.

I don't think my story is a failure; I just think that I haven't figured out the right way to stimulate my gspot. I'm going to keep trying, and I plan on getting other toys that are tailored to gspot stimulation. Hopefully, through trial and error, I'll eventually figure it out.

Product Details


The box. Which is a little worn already, because it's
always next to my bed.
Packaging
The Gigi comes in Lelo's signature black box with the logo on top. When you open up the box, you find the toy nestled in velvet-covered foam with another piece of the outer black material, again with the Lelo logo embossed on it, which you open to find a satin pouch, the charger, a warranty booklet, the user manual, and a packet of Lelo 'Personal Moisturizer' (aka Lubricant).


What you find when you open the box.
The Toy
The dimensions of the Gigi are approximately 6.5 inches long (16.5 cm), and about 3 inches (7.6 cm) around below the hook (don't let that fool you- it's very thin). The silicone insertable portion is 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) long.

It has a circular button on the white, hard plastic base which has - and + laterally (side to side) and ^ and v longitudinally (up and down) (can you tell I've been reading a book that has a lot to do with sea navigation in the 1600s?). The - and + control the intensity of the vibration and turn the toy on and off (+ for on, - for off). The ^ and v buttons control the pulsation patterns.

The settings on the toy are as follows:

It begins with a steady vibration. Press ^ to reach the next pattern, which is a simple, slow, and repetitive pulse. The next is a similar pulse that is faster, and the next is a similar pulse that's even faster. The last pulse is what I call a purr (because that's what it sounds like to me, and I like cats): rapidly increasing intensity that drops off and begins again. Part of the reason the Gigi is a good beginner toy is the simplicity, though I know that some are more interested in a variety of pulsation patterns.

One thing that needs to be mentioned here about the Gigi is that its really quiet. Like, no one's going to hear it unless they're in the same room, next to you, and even then- if it's not on the higher end of it's vibration strength range, no one's going to hear it. Even if you have it turned all the way up, if you use it under the blankets or with quiet music on (which might already be overkill) no one's going to hear it outside of your room or private space.

Charging the Gigi
Charging is pretty straight forward. When it's running low on power, a ring around the control panel glows red when you turn it on. When plugged in, the glow becomes white and 'pulses' to indicate that it's charging. When the light is solid white, it's done. In the manual, they say it takes 2 hours to charge, and you shouldn't charge for more than 24 hours. You also shouldn't use the toy while it's charging. I've only had to charge mine once in the month (or is it two now?) that I've had it. When not in use, it holds its charge pretty well, and I've gotten quite a few sessions out of it (though sometimes I don't use it for more than a couple minutes, when I'm doing a quick session before going to work) and I'm pretty pleased with that. I've heard reports from other reviewers that they find the charge for their Lelo products lasts very long as well.

The Lubricant 
I haven't used the lubricant sachet that came with the toy. I'm not sure that I will, if I do I'll definitely make note of it here. It is Glycerine and Paraben Free, but I'm not particularly keen on Ginseng in lubricants. I have one with Ginseng and it's supposed to be flavored and it makes my mouth tingly-numb, which I really dislike. My partner likes how it feels though, so I may give this a try. I'm also pretty sure I've read some research about Propylene Glycol being possibly harmful, but I can't seem to find it right now. I'll link if I do.

Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Aloe Barbidenis Leaf Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Panax Ginseng Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed (Guarana) Extract, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Polysorbate-20, Aspartame, Polyquaternum-5, PEG-45M, Citric Acid.

I won't go into explaining every ingredient, but most of these that aren't 'typical' lube ingredients are moisturizing (the Aloe), and Stimulating (Ginseng and Guarana).The Aspartame is a sweetener, the Citric Acid is a preservative. It's not terrible overall, but as mentioned, I generally don't like Ginseng and I'm nervous about the Propylene Glycol.

Care and Safety
As a silicone toy, you'll want to spot-test any silicone lubricants before using them as intended with this toy. Up to this point, I haven't spot-tested any silicone lubricants (I'm out) with the toy, though I did accidentally put some JO Premium Cooling on the toy and didn't notice anything amiss. The way you spot test is apply a drop to the base or somewhere unnoticeable on the toy (like when you spot-test hair dye, or try out a cosmetic product when you have sensitivities) and if the lubricant gums up almost immediately, it is incompatible with the toy. You can scrape it off with a finger nail and it shouldn't leave a mark or anything like that, or if it does it should be unnoticeable- but imagine if you had globbed a bunch of that on your toy and it wasn't compatible? That would just suck. I'll post results once I try out some silicone lubricants with this toy.
As far as cleaning and eventual disposal go (though Lelo products should last you a loooong time), look to my previous blog post on sex toy materials, which details care and disposal.
The warranty that comes with all Lelo vibrating products is fantastic: 1 year full warranty and a 10 year quality guarantee (which means that they'll give you half of the value of the toy to spend on a new toy or use in their online shop). You have to register your product, but it's relatively straightforward: Go to lelo.com, click 'Register/Log In' on the upper right-hand corner, and plug in your information. There's a registration card somewhere in the packaging of your product or on the back of the warranty booklet. It took me no more than a couple minutes to get my registration set up, it was really straightforward, and if my toy breaks or malfunctions, I can claim it right on the website after a quick log-in. I'll let you know what happens if I ever have to make a claim, but I don't think I will.

Conclusions
The Lelo Gigi is a toy that I'm fond of. Maybe it's because it's my first (likely) but it's also a toy that I frequently recommend to people who are looking for a high quality toy for the first time. I'm pleased with it as my first choice, even if I haven't gained knowledge of my gspot through it (yet), I know some people have a harder time finding theirs- I personally accept that as a challenge. I plan on continuing determinedly with the Gigi and with other gspot toys as I gain them to try and discover what works for mine. Maybe I need something girthier? Who knows. The Pure Wand is definitely on my list.

Knowing what I do about vibrators from my job, though, this is still a product I highly recommend: If you already know how to manipulate your gspot or even if you haven't, this is a fantastic product. Maybe it will help you find your gspot, maybe it won't. I'm constantly telling people that everyone's body is different- something might work for me, but not for you, and vice versa.

So, overall, the Gigi is a good toy for people who want a higher quality toy but are inexperienced with toys overall or just with high quality toys, or for people who don't need a strong vibration. I've read that some find it to be weaker than later Lelo products (I know the Mona 2 and Ina 2 are definitely stronger, and have a better vibration quality) but not everyone needs strength.

Other good toys to begin with from Lelo include the Liv, which is the same price as the Gigi and has the same quality of vibration and pulsation patterns, but doesn't have the gspot curve that the Gigi does- and the Mia 2, which is a smaller lipstick-style vibrator that is USB chargeable. I recommend the Mia 2 over the original Mia because though I can't notice a difference in the vibration strength (though if I hold them up to my nose, I can hear a higher frequency on the Mia 2), it has a new cap that's supposed to make it waterproof, and it has pulsation patterns. The Mia 2 is the cheapest vibrating toy from Lelo, and it's fantastic if you like clitoral stimulation. It's also fantastic if you travel or want to be able to have a vibrator 'on the go' that isn't too obvious if someone finds it in your purse. I don't know if you can tell, but the Mia 2 is on my wishlist as well.

Hope this review was useful to you; please consider supporting my blog and Lelo by checking them out through the banner on the right of my blog!