Posts Tagged ‘water-based lube’

November 3rd, 2010 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 2 Lotuses - Okay, Swede, Text Reviews, Water-Based

Lube Review: Swede Aqua Comfort

I’m always on the look out for other types of body-friendly lube to try, even though I’m pretty sold on Sliquid brand lubes I like to see if there are any products out there that rival theirs. One thing I love about Kama Sutra Closet is that Roylin, the owner, is just as concerned about toxic ingredients and materials as I am, so she only stocks body-friendly lubes as well. I was excited when I discovered Swede Aqua Comfort01 because it’s glycerin- and paraben-free as well as free of any nasty chemicals.

I went through and looked up every ingredient02. Most ingredients are natural and all ingredients completely non-threatening. Based solely on ingredients I would recommend this to anyone and everyone, even those sensitive to chemicals. Unfortunately, this review is not based solely on ingredients.

Aqua Comfort comes in an awesome pump-bottle that has my seal of approval. Seriously, I love pump bottles and more lube makers should use them, they’re so easy to use! The pump top even has a little cap to help prevent spillage as the pump can’t be pressed down with the cap on. Also, if you lose the cap, the top of the bottle twists 45 degrees so you can lock it so it won’t even be able to be pressed. Double protection.

The lube itself is smooth and slick. It’s not as thick as my beloved Sliquid but not nearly as runny as some other body-friendly lubes. It actually is quite pleasant until you’ve used it for a bit. I really don’t understand how it does this, but it gets kind of sticky.

It’s not sticky in the same way that lubes with glycerin in them get sticky, it’s more like… tacky. Or just generally unpleasant. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, it’s just not all wonderful smooth silky gliding anymore. It’s not completely uncomfortable, and I’ve had plenty of sessions using this lube, but there are definitely better body-friendly lubes out there.

Other than getting slightly sticky Aqua Comfort wins in every other respect. It’s practically odorless and tasteless and completely body-friendly. I’m just pretty picky with my lube.

If you choose to purchase this (or a Sliquid lube–hint hint) or anything else from Kama Sutra Closet be sure to use the code Wanton15 when you check out to get 15% off your purchase. Much thanks to Kama Sutra Closet for sending me some Swede Aqua Comfort to review!

Name: Aqua Comfort

Manufacturer: Swede

Type: Water-based Lubricant

Glycerin-free: Yes
Paraben-free: Yes

Organic: No
Vegan: Yes

Ingredients: Deionized Purified Aqua, Hydroyethyl Urea, Guar Hydroxy Propyltrimonium Chloride, Ceratonia Siliqua (carob tree), Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Galactoarabinan, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, and Kalium Sorbate.

Smell: Virtually none.
Taste: Virtually none.
Sticky? A little, unfortunately. I don’t get it!

Rating: 2 Lotuses (out of 5) – Okay & Indifferent

  1. and also Woman Sensitive and Silicone Supreme, reviews coming soon [↩]
  2. as per usual [↩]

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20 Comments

August 18th, 2010 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 5 Lotuses - Exceptional, Other, Text Reviews, Water-Based

Lube Review: Aloe Cadabra – Tahitian Vanilla

I’ve had my bottle of Aloe Cadabra Lubricant for far too long. Embarrassingly long. In fact, I lost it for quite a few months and just recently found it again. The wonderful thing is even after all this time it still works just as well as the first time I tried it. It is quite similar to the other aloe-based lube I tried and absolutely loved in feel, use, and ingredients, but it is easier and cheaper to obtain if you are in the US (you can use the discount code “TOUCH” to get free shipping on your first order).

Aloe Cadabra is mostly made up of the obvious: aloe. It’s basically organic aloe vera gel with a little bit of organic vanilla essential oil and some preservatives. Does this mean you could go out and buy aloe vera gel to the same result? Maybe. If you could find one without added nasty ingredients, which is part of the whole purpose of Aloe Cadabra and why it was created. A lot of aloe vera gels out there include things like alcohol, coloring, parabens, and probably more.

It contains no parabens or glycerin. While the additives citric acid, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate have been documented as having the potential for negative health effects they only come into play in large doses. They are also all natural ingredients, not man-made chemicals, and I have not experienced any irritation or negative effects from use.

I have the Tahitian Vanilla scented version, Aloe Cadabra also comes in French Lavender and Natural/Unscented. The scent is definitely noticeable but not distracting or unappealing. For the most part it tastes and smells like aloe, so mildly plant-like, but again not distracting or unappealing. It is actually kind of nice, but that might be my inner hippie talking.

I also really enjoy the feel of this lubricant. It feels slick, is quite thick and really does feel quite natural both on the fingers and the vulva. Aloe is an anti-inflammatory and naturally soothes and heals skin making this lubricant especially wonderful should you have any sort of vulval irritation such as razor burn or anything equally unpleasant.

Since it doesn’t contain glycerin it’s not sticky in the least bit. It does absorb into the skin a little bit and does need to occasionally be reapplied, but much less frequently than some of the water-based lubes I’ve tried. Since it’s fairly thick it makes a wonderful anal lube, as long as you keep in mind that it will absorb into the skin a bit and use accordingly.

Overall I really love this lube, it feels great, tastes great, doesn’t get sticky, and is very body friendly. I wish I hadn’t lost it for all those months because I definitely would have been using it that entire time, and would probably need another bottle by now!

Much thanks to Live Well Brands for sending me Aloe Cadabra Tahitian Vanilla to review!

Name: Aloe Cadabra Tahitian Vanilla

Manufacturer: Live Well Brands / Aloe Cadabra

Type: Water-based Lubricant

Glycerin-free: Yes
Paraben-free: Yes

Organic: Mostly (95% organic aloe, organic vanilla essential oil)
Vegan: Yes

Ingredients: Aloe Vera gel*, xanthan, vanilla essential oil*, citric acid, potassium sorbate (food grade), sodium benzoate (food grade)
*indicates certified organic ingredient

Smell: Mostly like vanilla and aloe vera, so slightly plant-like but not at all unpleasant.
Taste: Again, like aloe vera, rather plant-like, not a strong taste at all, not unpleasant.
Sticky? Not at all! Not even a little bit!

Rating: 5 Lotuses (out of 5) – Exceptional & Recommended to Everyone Without Question

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5 Comments

April 24th, 2010 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 4 Lotuses - Very Good, Flavored, Sliquid, Text Reviews, Water-Based

Lube Review: Sliquid Swirl Blue Raspberry

Sliquid Swirl Blue Raspberry is very similar in texture to Sliquid’s Original H2O with one big difference. As one would guess from the name, this Sliquid lube is flavored. Sliquid Swirl only has two additional ingredients that Original H2O doesn’t: Blueberry & Raspberry flavoring and Aspertame. Unlike many other flavored lubes it actually tastes pretty good.

Like all of Sliquid‘s lubes it is both glycerin- and paraben-free so it is completely body-safe. Why should you care about glycerin and parabens? Well, glycerin is extremely genital unfriendly. It is a sugar derivative and any sugar on or in the cunt can lead to yeast infections, especially in those prone to them. It is also used as a suppository to prevent constipation, in other words it can give you the runs. Definitely not sexy. Parabens are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and can disrupt the reproductive system and are associated with a number of cancers as well as liver toxicity. There are plenty of other evil nasty chemicals in other lubes, especially commercial ones, and Sliquid lubes are happily free of them all.

The lack of glycerin also makes sure the lube will never become sticky. All Sliquid lubes are also hypoallergenic, non-toxic, non-staining, vegan, and compatible with all types of condoms and every sex toy material. They even have an Organics line, but do not currently have any flavored organics lubes.

Other flavored lubes I’ve tried either leave a funny aftertaste or smell divine but lack taste, Sliquid Swirl Blue Raspberry, however, actually both smells and tastes good. The flavoring isn’t overly sweet or overpowering, doesn’t have that weird fake sugar aftertaste despite being made with aspertame, and is a pleasant addition to already wonderful lube.

The only other flavored lube I’ve liked the smell and taste of was incredibly thin so you would have to reapply and reapply and reapply it while using it. Granted, most water-based lubes need to be reapplied at some point in long sessions, but the thicker they are generally the less they need to be. Comparitively Sliquid Swirl is more like a gel than a watery lube, though they do have a much thicker self-proclaimed gel lube in both regular and organic (my review) versions.

Flavored lube is excellent for oral sex of any kind, especially if you are planning on any oral to genital contact post or during penetration. There are actually three other Sliquid Swirl flavors, Cherry Vanilla. Green Apple, and Pina Colada. Now I want to try all four!

Much thanks to Kama Sutra Closet for letting me review Sliquid Swirl Blue Raspberry!

Name: Sliquid Swirl Blue Raspberry

Manufacturer: Sliquid

Type: Water-based Lubricant

Compatibility: Works with all toy types. Latex safe. Body safe. Hypoallergenic.

Glycerin-free: Yes
Paraben-free: Yes

Organic: No
Vegan: Yes

Flavored: Yes

Ingredients: Purified Water, Plant Cellulose, Polyquat 007, Blueberry & Raspberry flavoring, Aspertame, and DMDM Hydantoin (100% Vegan)

Smell: Very light, not overpowering, like blue raspberry.
Taste: Again, very light and not overpowering, no aftertaste or yuckyness, only slightly sweet but deliciously blue raspberry.
Sticky? Not at all!

Rating: 4 Lotus’ (out of 5) – Very Good & Highly Recommended

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12 Comments

March 24th, 2010 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 3 Lotuses - Good, Bath & Body, Kama Sutra, Text Reviews, Water-Based

Review: Kama Sutra Love Essentials Gift Set


Click for larger image (in picture viewer).

I’ve heard all sorts of wonderful things about Kama Sutra products since I started reviewing but I had not yet had the pleasure of playing with some until now. The Kama Sutra Love Essentials Gift Set includes three of Kama Sutra’s most talked-about products which I was happy to get my hands on.

All three products are paraben-free, something I’ve talked about ad nauseum in other reviews, but which I always like to explain in case this is the first review of mine you are reading. Parabens are irritants and can inflame the sensitive tissue of the vulva, they also can disrupt the reproductive system including mimicing estrogen or affecting the secretion of testosterone, and in high levels they have been shown to cause cancer and are generally toxic. Not everyone reacts the same way to them, of course, as our body chemistry varies widely from person to person.

Unfortunately only one of the three products is glycerin-free, the other ingredient I watch out for especially in lubes. Glycerin can promote yeast infections and is also the source of stickyness in most water-based lubricants, turning some of the best feeling lubes sticky through friction.

The set itself comes in an adorable box decorated in an Indian garden of eden fashion. Once opened, the box fills the air with the scent of the Sweet Honeysuckle Honey Dust. The three products are nestled together in a bed of brown corrugated paper with an information card on top of them indicating the purposes of each of the products within. There is a small green vile of Oil of Love, a brown tube of Love Liquid Lubricant, a black satchel of Honeysuckle Honey Dust, and a copper feather applicator.

Original Oil of Love

Kama Sutra Love Essentials Oil of Love
With quarter for scale, click for larger image (in picture viewer).

The original flavor is a blend of chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon. It smells and tastes quite unique, very much like a mixture of these three distinct flavors which are usually separate rather than together. It is pleasant to the taste and very easy to lick off of skin without leaving any residue or nasty sticky feelings behind. Due to the cinnamon it does have a bit of a tingling and numbing-type effect to it, but only slightly.

The vile it comes in is adorable, about the size of a regular shot glass. I can get my pinky finger into the hole of the bottle and get a bit out that way, and I have pretty thick fingers (my pinky finger is a ring size 8 if that helps), but for the most part I think it’s easier to apply with either the cork stopper it comes with or by very carefully tipping some out onto a waiting body part.

There are lots of other flavors of Oil of Love to choose from outside of the kit. Despite being called oil it doesn’t have that much oil in it, aside from some Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil which is pretty low down on the list of ingredients (below). Because of this it is actually latex friendly, although I would suggest against use of it internally as it does have glycerin in it.

Ingredients: Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Water, Sucrose, Sodium Saccharine, Fragrance, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40.

Love Liquid Lubricant


With quarter for scale, click for larger image (in picture viewer).

I’m a big fan of lube in general, though I try to stay away from lubes with glycerin in them as I’ve already mentioned above. The card included with the kit boasts that the Love Liquid Lubricant is “designed with the sensitive tissues of a woman in mind” which, due to the lack of parabens, I would agree with, though the addition of glycerin complicates that statement a little. Not being prone to yeast infections my biggest problem with glycerin is really the stickyness it adds to water-based lubes, and this lube is no exception.

Love Liquid feels wonderful and smooth, not quite as thick as some water-based lubes I’ve tried but also not as obscenely thin as others, it rests pleasantly in the middle thickness-wise. I would say, however, that it is one of the nicest non-flavored lubes in terms of taste. Unlike some non-flavored lubes it doesn’t have much taste at all, only a slight delightful sweetness to it.

It comes in this set in an adorable little sample-size, not nearly as big around as a quarter. It has a flip-top and stands on it’s head which makes squirting just a little on your fingers quite easy. I would easily recommend it to anyone who is not concerned about glycerin, especially if you are looking for an all-purpose lube (oral as well as nether regions).

Type: Water-based lubricant

Compatibility: Works with all toy types. Latex safe. May cause yeast infections.

Smell: Very little, just a slight sweetness to it but nothing overly so.
Taste: Also slightly sweet, but not so much that it is overpowering. Very pleasant, actually.
Sticky? A little, unfortunately, but that is due mostly to the use of glycerin.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tetradodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate.

Sweet Honeysuckle Honey Dust


With quarter for scale, click for larger image (in picture viewer).

This was probably the product I was most excited to try, I thought it would be sensual and fun, and I was not disappointed. It’s basically sweet corn starch sweetened with actual honey and comes within a black satchel as shown above. Within the satchel it is enclosed in a plastic bag and can be kept in that or dumped into the satchel itself.

It comes with a feather applicator which is very cute and soft, though it attracts kitties instantly so beware of that if you have a cat household. The feather easily picks up a small amount of dust on it tips which can then be applied to any available body part for sweet sensual lickage.

The dust itself is only slightly sweet, very pleasantly so, and nowhere near overwhelming. It doesn’t have much other discernible flavor besides “sweet.” Once licked it doesn’t leave any stickyness behind, and no residue is left either aside from saliva. While you wouldn’t want to spill any it would be easily vacuumed or swept up which makes it a pleasant and potentially less messy option than lickable oils. Of all the products in this sample box this is the one specifically I want to try more of and different flavors.

Ingredients: Corn Starch Modified, Glucose, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Honey, Silica, Honey Extract, Sodium Saccharine, Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Eugenol, Hydroxy Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate.

Much thanks to Pink Cherry Sex Toys for sending me Kama Sutra Love Essentials Gift Set to review! You can also find each of these products individually in their full sizes on Pink Cherry: Original Oil of Love, Love Liquid Lubricant, and Sweet Honeysuckle Honey Dust.

Name: Love Essentials

Manufacturer: Kama Sutra

Contents: Sample sizes of: Original Oil of Love (.68 fl oz 20 ml), Love Liquid Lubricant (1 fl oz 30 ml), Sweet Honeysuckle Honey Dust (2 oz 50 g), and a Honey Dust feather applicator.

Glycerin-free: Honey Dust is, Oil of Love and Love Liquid are not.
Paraben-free: Yes

Organic: No
Vegan: Yes

Rating: 3 Lotuses (out of 5) – Good & Recommended

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6 Comments

September 22nd, 2009 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 4 Lotuses - Very Good, Sliquid, Text Reviews, Water-Based

Lube Review: Sliquid Original H2O

sliquidh2o

In my search to find the perfect lube I’ve tried many different kinds but come to some criteria for what I know I like. I don’t like glycerin in my lubes, it can create yeast infection problems and it’s the source of the horrible stickyness that is associated with water-based lubes.

I also don’t like parabens. I stopped trying lubes with parabens in them when I had a bad reaction to a lube resulting in some burning of my nether regions which was unpleasant to say the least. I’ve not had a reaction to any lube since I stopped using paraben-laced lubes.

Sliquid is one wonderful company whose lubes are all glycerin and paraben free, every last one of them. They boast they are “the only entirely glycerin (sugar derivative) free and paraben free intimate product line available” being formulated with a woman’s safety as their main concern.

All of their lubes are 100% vegan, 100% latex/condom friendly, non-staining, and not tested on animals. They are also “formulated to last longer than most Hollywood marriages,” and if that phrase which is right on the side of the bottle doesn’t make you want to get it just for that I don’t know what will. They won a 2009 AVN “O” Award for their Sliquid Organics line, the only line of theirs I had tried thus far when I reviewed the Sliquid Organics Natural Gel a while back.

The gel was thick, which was great especially for anal, and I’ve been wanting to get my hands on more Sliquid products ever since. I was lucky enough to get my hands on Sliquid H2O Intimate Lubricant and Sliquid Sizzle Warming Lube, though this review is only about the former.

Sliquid H2O is surprisingly thick, especially for water-based lube without glycerin in it, though not as thick as the Organics Natural Gel. Glycerin-free water-based lube tends to be thin and doesn’t last long without having to reapply and reapply and… you get the idea. H2O, however, does not need so many reapplications. It can be “reactivated” by reapplying or adding water, however, should you be staging your own marathon sexcapades within your bedroom.

It has virtually no smell or taste to it, just a slight plant-like twinge to it which doesn’t really take anything away from the lube and is difficult to detect once it has been applied as other scents take over. Since it doesn’t have glycerin in it there is no icky sticky factor like lots of other water-based lubes, so you don’t have to worry about it becoming uncomfortable.

Basically, it works like a dream. If you like thick lube or are concerned with ingredients Sliquid is definitely the way to go. You can find Sliquid H2O Intimate Lubricant, along with other Sliquid products, Dildos and sex toys of every flavor on SexToy.Com.

Name: H2O Intimate Lubricant

Manufacturer: Sliquid

Type: Water-based Lubricant

Compatibility: Works with all toy types. Latex safe. Body safe.

Glycerin-free: Yes
Paraben-free: Yes

Organic: No
Vegan: Yes

Flavored: No

Ingredients: Purified Water, Plant Cellulose, Polyquat 007, & DMDM Hydantoin (100% Vegan)

Smell: Almost no smell unless you put it right up against your nose. It smells faintly plant-like, unable to describe it perfectly, but not unpleasant.
Taste: Practically none, just a faint plant-like taste similar to the smell, but not unpleasant.
Sticky? Not a bit!

Rating: 4 Lotus’ (out of 5) – Very Good & Highly Recommended

Much thanks to SexToy.Com for letting me review H2O Intimate Lubricant!

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10 Comments

April 16th, 2009 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 3 Lotuses - Good, 4 Lotuses - Very Good, Flavored, Silicone-Based, Text Reviews, Water-Based, Wet

Lube Review: Wet Naturals

I was very interested in trying out the Wet Naturals line because I am trying to only use lubricant which is both glycerin- and paraben-free, and the three products in this line are specifically designed for those who are sensitive to or trying to avoid these chemicals.

They also boast of being enriched with natural ingredients such as aloe, grapefruit seed extract, and red clover extract, though I’m not really sure the added benefit of these things. They are all “designed to enhance a woman’s natural moisture” according to the Wet Naturals website, and are supposed to be hypoallergenic.

Product Line: Wet Naturals

Manufacturer: Wet

Glycerin-free: Yes
Paraben-free: Yes

Organic: No
Vegan: Yes

Overall Rating: 3 Lotuses (out of 5) – Good & Recommended

wetnatbb

Name: Beautifully Bare

Type Water-based

Compatibility: Works with all toy types. Latex safe. Body safe.

Ingredients: Water, PEG, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate-20, Sodium Benzoate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus
Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cran-berry) Fruit Extract, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Ascorbic Acid.

Rating: 3 Lotuses (out of 5) – Good & Recommended

Experience

Usually water-based lubes that are glycerin-free are pretty thin, and unfortunately this is also the case for Beautifully Bare, which is annoying. The positive side is that the lube itself lasts quite a long time even without glycerin, though since it is quite thin you have to use quite a bit of it.

After a while it does end up absorbing into the skin, which is purposeful according to the Wet Naturals website, because “[o]nce absorbed, it leaves your skin silky soft and smooth.” A little strange for that to be part of it’s purpose, but it’s not really a negative though I wouldn’t really say that should be one of it’s main marketing points.

One big plus is that it has no negative taste or smell whatsoever, which is something I’ve run into with the last two glycerin- and paraben-free lubes. Overall it’s a great water-based lube, nothing too spectacular, but because it’s glycerin- and paraben-free I definitely recommend it over most other lubes.

wetnatss

Name: Sensual Strawberry

Type Flavored water-based

Compatibility: Works with all toy types. Latex safe. Body safe.

Ingredients: Water, PEG, Flavor, Aspartame, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate-20, Sodium Benzoate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cran-berry) Fruit Extract, Trifolium Pratense ( Clover) Flower Extract, Ascorbic Acid.

Rating: 4 Lotuses (out of 5) – Very Good & highly Recommended

Experience
It smells like strawberry soda, which is pretty awesome actually, but not everyone would like to be reminded of strawberry Shasta while having sex. The taste isn’t really very strong at all, which I like, and is very pleasant, which is somewhat rare for a flavored lubricant. This is the first flavored lube that I have no qualms with the smell or taste of, which is pretty impressive.

I’m not super into flavored lube in general, but I enjoy the natural taste of my partners and don’t usually want to cover it up too much. One thing I’ve thought flavored lube may be wonderful for is analingus, especially for those wanting to try it but worried about potential yuck factor. While thorough cleaning will usually take care of any potential negative taste adding flavored lube may just simply help someone who is worried about negative taste be less nervous.

As far as the lube itself goes, it’s quite similar to Beautifully Bare in almost every regard. This makes sense considering it is also water-based and from the same line. It is fairly thin, but doesn’t absorb too quickly into the skin, and overall is extremely pleasant and my favorite flavored lube to date.

wetnatsss

Name: Silky Supreme

Type Silicone-based

Compatibility: Works with all non-silicone toys. Latex safe. Body safe.

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Cyclomethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate).

Rating: 3 Lotuses (out of 5) – Good & Recommended

Experience

This is actually the first silicone lube I’ve ever used, mostly because I tend to prefer silicone toys and since silicone lube plus silicone toys is not a good idea. Because of that I’ve stayed away from silicone lube, though I’ve always been curious to try some. Luckily I have quite a few glass toys which silicone lube works well with, as well as the Njoy Fun Wand, so I was able to enjoy this lube alone as well as with toys.

Unfortunately, it being my first silicone lube I don’t have a whole lot to compare it to, but I did notice a distinct difference between it and it’s water-based counterparts. The silicone lube simply feels different, though it’s difficult to explain. It definitely lasts a lot longer, which is a plus, because it seems to create a layer that never goes away until you wash it off unlike the water-based lubes which have a tendency to absorb into the skin. It’s simply silkier, hence the name I would presume, not because it’s smoother but because of that added layer, the extra silicone ingredient which gives it it’s own special texture.

It has no particular taste or smell to it, but that silky feeling is left on your tongue if it is tasted. It’s not necessarily a negative, but it’s definitely strange, especially to someone who is not used to silicone lube.

Overall I enjoyed Silky Supreme, although I doubt I’ll end up using it too often since it is silicone-based and most of my favorite toys are made of silicone. However, it is wonderful for partner sex and for non-silicone-on-silicone experiences.

You can find water-based Beautifully Bare, silicone-based Silky Supreme and flavored water-based Sensual Strawberry Wet Naturals lube, along with other Lubes and Lotions and sex toys of every flavor on SexToy.Com.

Much thanks to SexToy.Com and Wet for letting me review the Wet Naturals line!

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18 Comments

April 8th, 2009 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 5 Lotuses - Exceptional, Sliquid, Text Reviews, Water-Based

Lube Review: Sliquid Organics Natural Gel

sliquidorggel

I’ve been trying to expand my experience with lube lately, but I’ve narrowed my scope of acceptable lubes to those that are glycerin- and paraben-free as glycerin plus vulvas can equal yeast, and no one wants that! Also I’ve reacted to lubes with parabens and other nasty chemicals within them, so I find it’s best to just avoid them all together.

This is one of the reasons I contacted Sliquid to see if they would be willing to let me try out some of their products. Sliquid is wonderful because all of their products are glycerin- and paraben-free! In addition to that, they have a new line, Sliquid Organics that is also (as one might imagine from the name) certified organic! I knew I needed to get my hands on some of those.

They were nice enough to send me one of their Organics line to try out, the Sliquid Organics Natural Gel which is a water-based lube unlike any other I’ve tried before. A lot of water-based lubes tend to be very runny, especially if they don’t contain glycerin which while being vag-unfriendly still has a great lube consistencey. As one would imagine due to the name including “gel” the consistency is thicker than most water-based lubes. It’s not runny at all.

The gel lube also has no taste whatsoever, and only a very slight smell. The smell is almost glue-like, or that’s the closest smell I can liken it to. However, I can only smell it when it’s right up against my nose, so when it’s in use the smell is not really noticeable due to natural body smells being more potent.

Unfortunately, it does have a tendency to absorb into the skin quicker than I would like. The more you use, of course, the longer it lasts, and when mixed with natural juices it definitely lasts longer, but without any other natural lubrication the more friction applied the thinner it gets until you are left with thin coating of lube that needs to be added to.

Due to the shortage of organic lubes out there, however, I am more than willing to reapply when needed rather than use a product with substances in it I dislike. I still think the benefits outweigh the negatives in the lube, but I realize not everyone would think the same way as I do.

In addition to all the other wonderful things, Sliquid also made their Sliquid Organics bottles “100% recyclable, and the labels are printed on partially recycled stock” which is pretty fantastic of a lube company to do! If you’re at all body-, chemical-, or environmentally-conscious I would definitely say Sliquid is the brand for you.

A big huge thank you to Sliquid for allowing me to review their Organics Natural Gel

Name: Sliquid Organics Natural Gel

Manufacturer: Sliquid

Type: Water-based

Compatibility: Works with all toy types. Latex safe. Body safe.

Glycerin-free: Yes
Paraben-free: Yes

Organic: Yes
Vegan: Yes

Flavored: No

Ingredients: Purified Water, Plant Cellulose (from Cotton), Aloe Barbadensis*, Natural Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Cyamopsis (Guar Conditioners), Extracts of Hibiscus*, Flax*, Green Tea* & Sunflower Seed*, Citric Acid (Citrus Fruits), Phenoxyethanol (Rose Ether)
* Organic botanical extracts are independently certified by Quality Certification Services in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program.

Rating: 5 Lotuses (out of 5) – Exceptional & A Must-Have

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March 25th, 2009 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 2 Lotuses - Okay, Intimate Organics, Text Reviews, Water-Based

Lube Review: Intimate Organics Hydra

hydralube

The more I try different types of lube the more I realize what I like and don’t like. While I haven’t actually tried as many lubes as I would like to have a good rounded idea of everything to do with lube I have tried enough to realize that there are things which I don’t like.

I don’t like glycerin in my lubes. I find that lubes with glycerin in them tend to get sticky, not to mention glycerin (which is a type of sugar) plus vulvas very often equals yeast! I do wonder why lube companies include glycerin in their lubes at all, considering it could produce health problems in their customers (probably because they can get away with it and make a profit).

The other thing I don’t like in my lubes are parabens, even though they’re supposed to make the products safter (they’re bacteriocidal and fungicidal). I admit, I’m not as strictly anti-paraben in other substances, although I’m slowly getting to be. Parabens can cause skin irritation in a small percentage of people and are correlated to cancer. While I do know that correlation does not always equal causation, but these make me nervous nonetheless. I have had allergic reactions to lube with parabens in it, as well. So why would I want to take the risk and rub parabens into the very vulnerable tissue of my cunt? I mean, really.

Luckily, there are a small handful of companies who take the things I’ve mentioned above into consideration. One such company is Intimate Organics. Not only is it glycerin- and paraben-free, it’s also DEA-free, semi-organic, vegan, and naturally derived. What’s not to love?

One thing that irks me about the company, however, is the name. Having a company name like Intimate Organics makes me assume all of their products are going to be organic, which isn’t true. Their products are made with organic extracts, which is awesome, but the products overall are not organic. Highly disappointing. The company is trying to get in on the natural/organic products trend going on and hoping that consumers aren’t looking too closely at the lables.

Intimate Organics Hydra Lubricant is water-based, so it’s safe to use on any toy type (including silicone), and it does not get sticky. Ever. I have not ever found it to get sticky in the many times I’ve used it, and I don’t believe that it’s makeup allows it to get sticky. This is a huge plus, as sticky lube is just not fun to use at all. I mean, sticky is basically the opposite of what lube should be!

The lube is silky and smooth, wonderful to the touch, and does exactly what lube should do: enhances lubrication without adding too much or taking anything away (in my opinion, anyway, some may not be able to overlook the negative below). It also simply feels like natural juices as opposed to synthetic like many lubes.

The only negative about Intimate Organics Hydra Lubricant is that it doesn’t taste or smell very good. The taste and smell is almost glue-like, it’s difficult to describe of course. While the taste and smell are things I am able to overlook due to the other merits this may be the turning point for some of you, and that’s okay.

Once the lube is mixed with natural juices, however, the taste and smell are actually less apparent. Also, since it doesn’t get sticky you can use less of it than some water-based lubes, as I’ve noticed often the less one uses often the stickier water-based lube will become.

While I’m still not thrilled about the smell and taste I’ve gotten used to it, and the fact that it’s not only glycerin- and paraben-free but also even semi-organic just tips the scales far in it’s direction for me. I would recommend Intimate Organics Hydra Lubricant above any lubes with glycerin or parabens, but I do think there are better tasting body safe lubes out there.

Thank you very much to Tabu Toys sex toys for allowing me to review the Intimate Organics Hydra Lubricant!

Name: Hydra Lubricant

Manufacturer: Intimate Organics

Type: Water-based

Compatibility: Works with all toy types. Latex safe. Body safe.

Glycerin-free: Yes
Paraben-free: Yes

Organic: No
Vegan: Yes

Ingredients: Aqua, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methylisothiazolinone (and) Phenethyl Alcohol (and) PPG-2-Methyl Ether, Water (and) Alcohol (and) Certified Organic Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry) Fruit Extract (and) Certified Organic Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemon Grass) Leaf/Stem Extract (and) Certified Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Extract.

Rating: 2 Lotuses (out of 5) – Okay & Indifferent

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18 Comments

December 29th, 2008 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 2 Lotuses - Okay, Babeland, Text Reviews, Water-Based

Lube Review: Babeland Entice

I don’t really have a whole lot of lube experience, though I’m working on changing that. The two I’ve reviewed are only one more than I’ve ever owned. Water and oil based thus far, and Entice is no outlier.

Entice lube by Babeland is a water-based lube and is glycerin-free, something I’ve only just become conscious of when it comes to lube. Glycerin definitely adds an easy texture for lube makers, but it’s not good for your “down there” parts because it is a sugar derivative, which means it can cause yeast infections and other nasty things.

Entice is not, however, paraben-free, which surprised me considering the maker. Parabens are harmful chemicals that mimic estrogen and have been linked to breast cancer. Though there is no definitive word if they directly cause cancer, studies show various findings from null to bad, so it’s really best to err on the side of caution and avoid them. That’s not to say I won’t be using Entice, however, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

Entice may have my favorite lube bottle design yet. It has a pump, which is definitely the handiest lube bottle design, since you don’t have to do much to get some out in a hurry, just press down on the pump and let it squirt onto your fingers (apologies, I couldn’t help myself). Instead of being a screw-top pump bottle like my O’My Flavored Lube or most liquid soap dispenser bottles, it has a cap to keep it from being pushed when you don’t want it to, which I prefer.

The lube itself has practically no smell or taste to it either, so it won’t offend the senses. It is a very nice consistency: slick and smooth. I found that it turned sticky if I didn’t use enough of it after a bit of friction. However, if I used a good amount I didn’t feel it getting sticky at all, which is a plus. Water-based lubes have a tendency to get sticky in my experience, so I wasn’t surprised, but some tend to get stickier than others. Even if it does get sticky since it is water-based Entice is easy to wash off with just water.

In my quest for the perfect lubricant I still have many more to try out, but because of the ease of it’s design Entice will definitely be one I keep on my nightstand when quick easy lube is needed.

Name: Entice

Manufacturer: Babeland

Type: Water-based Lubricant

Compatibility: Works with all toy types. Latex safe. May cause irritation.

Glycerin-free: Yes
Paraben-free: No

Organic: No
Vegan: Yes

Flavored: No

Smell: Practically none.
Taste: Very little, and pleasant.
Sticky? Nope.

Rating: 2 Lotus’ (out of 5) – Okay & Indifferent

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November 28th, 2008 By Tai Quyn Kulystin Posted in 2 Lotuses - Okay, 3 Lotuses - Good, California Exotic Novelties, Clitoral Vibrators, Flavored, G-Spot Toys, Lubricant, Other, Text Reviews, Vibrators

Review: Strawberry Cheesecake O’My Lube and G-Spot Dream Massager

Strawberry Cheesecake Flavored O’My Lube

The only time I’ve used flavored lube before was in small sample-packs that came with safer sex kits handed out by the Queer Resource Center three or so years ago, and then I didn’t really end up using them so much as tasting them and accidentally spilling them on top of my dresser. This was before I was really into using lube, and mostly I took them to get the other stuff in the package.

In my latest lube testing I was expecting it to have some sort of taste, and I was a little disappointed, so since I’ve heard good things about O’My I decided I wanted to try O’My Flavored Lubricant in Strawberry Cheesecake, ’cause it sounded extra yummy.

The first thing I did once I got it was take some and rub it between my fingers for a few minutes, testing out the general feel of it, how well it lasted, and if it got sticky. I was pleasantly surprised as my (somewhat limited) experience with water-based lubes is that they tend to get sticky, and I figured a flavored one might just tend to get even more sticky, but it actually held up pretty well, not really getting sticky at all.

The next test was to taste it. Right from the bottle the lube has that strange flavored-lube aftertaste which my tongue relates to artificial sweeteners, but it’s not quite the same taste. Aside from the aftertaste, the lube does indeed have a strawberry taste to it, and close to a cheesecake hint, but mostly just strawberry, which I found to be quite enjoyable.

After actually using the lube, however, the taste changes. Mixed with juices the strange flavored-lube taste goes away simply to reveal a delicious strawberry flavor that I thought tastes pretty delicious. It was amusing to think that I then had a strawberry-flavored cunt.

Upon realizing this I had to think about the actual practical uses of flavored lube. It could be a way to entice a lover to go down on you, should they be wary of the natural taste, or great for using during penetrative sex with a condom to try to minimize the latexy condom-taste should there be some oral action after condom use. Or, as in my case, it can be just campy and fun to use every once in a while to have flavored genitals. I figure it could be great for the analinguist, as well, who doesn’t enjoy the taste of the backdoor.

What I really liked about the lube was the bottle it came in: a pump bottle. I’ve always thought these would be the best kind of bottles for lube to come in, since they’re super easy to get lube out of. A regular shampoo-type top of a lube bottle is fine, but it definitely takes longer and can be irritating in the heat of the moment.

G-Spot Dream Massager

I’m a big fan of G-Spot Vibrators, and so when I saw the G-Spot Dream Massager I was definitely intrigued. It looked sleek and gorgeous, while also being a very affordable price. While it’s not the most exciting name for a toy, more descriptive than fun, luckily it far surpasses the name’s expectations.

The G-Spot Dream Massager is made out of rubber cote, which is non-porous and phthalate-free, a winning combination in my book. It can be easily cleaned with soap and water, and won’t soak up bacteria like porous toys. It’s very smooth, almost silky, to the touch, somewhere between silicone and plastic and simply a delightful texture.

I found it both aesthetically and anatomically pleasing, a nice deep blue for the eye and a wonderful curve for the g-spot. If the controls were different (and it came in a black box instead of a plastic one) I would almost swear it was a LELO toy, and that’s quite a compliment coming from someone who loves LELO as much as I do. It’s gorgeous and feels sleek, smooth, and expensive, attributes I associate with LELO.

The curve of the shaft is just perfect for g-spot stimulation while the bump in the shaft adds wonderful sensation while thrusting. I also found it to be wonderful for clitoral vibration. My perfect clitoral toys have a little curve on them to ease placement while pressing against my clit. I found the G-Spot Dream Massager to fit against my mons just right so that I could easily maneuver it against my clit with just the right pressure. The width of the handle while using it on my clit deminished the vibrator claw-hand that I often get with small clitoral vibrators, while the tip was just the right size.

It takes two AA batteries in the base and tightens up to become a waterproof toy, so you can take it into the shower or bath with you, and I couldn’t resist doing just that! The base is also where the vibration control is, a simple twist-dial bottom that changes speeds from off to low to high quite easily, though it can be a little hard to get a hold of in the heat of the moment, especially with lubed-up fingers should you have them.

I couldn’t help using the G-Spot Dream Massager and Strawberry Cheesecake Lube together, since I knew I would be reviewing them together, and found they worked very well. The lube made the rubber cote material of the massager nice and slippery, not too slippery to still get a hold of, but slippery enough that it had no trouble sliding in.

Onyx and I used these two ways, first with him thrusting the toy into me while I rubbed my clit, and then we switched so that I was using the toy on my clit while he was thrusting in me with his fingers. Both ways were delightful, and it didn’t take me long at all to come once the toy was buzzing away at me.

You can find the G-Spot Dream Massager, O’My Flavored Lubricant, and other sex toys at Vibrator.Com

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