Unapproved Products ~ Jelly Vibrators

Over a year ago I began posting videos on some of my least liked products, unfortunately the site I was using to provide the videos on (YouTube) didn’t like my “belittling” products so they flagged them and removed them from the site. So much for caring about their users safety, heath and well being!

Fortunately another site came along (Girls Teach Guys) that allowed me to upload content without much restrictions and instead fully supported what I was trying to create as an “educator” and content provider.

Thanks to the website I still have a copy of the initial “Unapproved” videos to post for you so that you may learn and understand why I am in such support of well made toys that have your safety, health and the environment in mind.

Health risks in regard to jelly sex toys

As with any harsh chemical, there are side effects to our usage of them. In regard to phthalates;

· High doses of phthalates have shown (in rodents) damage to the liver and testis as well as birth defects
· In 2005 a study reported exposure of pregnant women resulted in decreased anogenital size. (the space between the anus and the testis)
· Undescended testis in young males due to exposure while in the womb
· Lowered sperm counts in men

Now I’m going to assume your next question is…

How do phthalates get into your body?

Through “leeching”, a reaction that heat, agitation, and extended shelf life can accelerate…So if that toy you just purchased spent a very long length of time on the showroom floor, there is a very good chance that over time its started to give off the reaction faster then one that was just packaged up. The same goes for the friction provided in thrusting the toy during intercourse; Body heat + Friction = leeching.

Now that you’re all scared about phthalates I want to let you know they don’t stay in your body forever. Your body will naturally expel them in various forms, urine is a primary one, for the unborn the problem lays in the transfer from within the womb and for newborns in breast milk.

How to know if your toy is high in phthalates:

This may sound silly but smell them. If they stink like rubber or chemicals, have an oily or greasy feel to them (and not because you forgot to wash off the lube from playtime the night before) and finally if they are sticky or tacky or made of a jelly material, they most likely have a very high amount of phthalates in them.

Other problems with Phthalates are due to them being very porous. By this I mean that they absorb fluid like lube or vaginal secretions. So if you have a yeast infection and you unknowingly use your jelly toy, it will (in most cases) absorb the bacteria and unless you clean it very VERY well, live within it until your next bought of midnight play time, with you inadvertently re-infecting yourself.

My suggestions:

*If you own any jelly toys your best bet is to start using a condom with them. This will help to limit the amount of contact that the material has with your body.

*If you can afford it, I suggest that you buy a silicone toy like the platinum grade ones that Tantus makes. For those of you wondering why, silicone is non-porous, hypo-allergenic, hygienic, anti-bacterial, non-toxic, eco friendly, phthalate free, odorless, they wont cause irritations, rashes or infections, they can be used anally or vaginally and they are the best you can buy for quality and craftsmanship.

Silicone toys like Tantus will be a bit more expensive then the generic brands but in the long run and in regard to your health and safety, trust me, its definitely worth it.

Hopefully you all learned something from reading this…and will make better choices with your toys the next time you go shopping.

To read my full article on Phthalates and the dangers associated with them, find useful links to further your education along with a video on healthy choices for toys check out my website.

Kara_sutra

Unapproved Products ~ PVC Softee Beads

Over a year ago I began posting videos on some of my least liked products, unfortunately the site I was using to provide the videos on (YouTube) didn’t like my “belittling” products so they flagged them and removed them from the site. So much for caring about their users safety, heath and well being!

Fortunately another site came along (Girls Teach Guys) that allowed me to upload content without much restrictions and instead fully supported what I was trying to create as an “educator” and content provider.

Thanks to the website I still have a copy of the initial “Unapproved” videos to post for you so that you may learn and understand why I am in such support of well made toys that have your safety, health and the environment in mind.

California Exotics Softee Beads

From the moment I took the California Softee Beads out of the package I was not a very big fan. Not only do they smell horrible (a sign that phthalates and other harsh chemicals have been used) but they are flimsy, poorly made, sticky and leave a horrible stench on anything they come into contact with.

The first problem that I have with this product is the materials that were used to create it, PVC. If you haven’t read my previous article on Jelly or PVC products and the dangers they can create for your body I suggest you do. You will more then understand my immediate dislike for the product!

Secondly, the string at the base of the product has been threaded through the looped handle (“for easy removal” and so that it can’t possibly travel up your anus) and glued in place ~ unfortunately this makes me very wary and afraid that the product could easily tear or come unglued leaving you with beads stuck somewhere less then ideal.

The third issue I have is the string used to link the beads. While it does have a bit of stretch, it is created from thin, smelly PVC that does not make up for the flexibility. Aside from that it is not knotted or glued to any of the beads which means that they can slip or slide up the cording possibly creating a dangerous situation if one was to get lodged inside you.

Fourth, the last bead on the cording is not tied or glued in any way ~ if it was to break or tear off it could again lead to a potentially dangerous situation landing you in the emergency room.

Finally, the product it self is very porous (being that it’s PVC) leading to the absorption of bacteria which can possibly infect (or reinfect) you or your partner without your knowledge. Aside from that it makes the product harder to clean (especially if you use a silicone lube) and sterilize.

The only good thing I have to say about the Softee Beads is that is has soft, squishy beads rather then hard acrylic ones making for a much easier insertion and removal. However that one feature is no where near enough to sell me or make me a fan of the product.

All in all I think California Exotics Softee Beads were a very poorly made product that should never have even made it to market. Sorry California Exotics, but you really let me down on this one.

That said, over the last 3 years (2007 was when the Softee Beads were created) California Exotics has really stepped up its game, creating safer toys like the Couture Collection Utopia, Butterfly Kiss, Calla Lily, Jesse’s Raging Bull, all made from silicone or chemical free TPR materials that don’t harbor the same ill effects of jelly toys. Aside from that they are easy to use, not at all scary or overwhelming and made with the safety of its users in mind.

Hopefully you all learned something from reading this…and will make better choices with your toys the next time you go shopping.

To read my full article on Phthalates and the dangers associated with them, find useful links to further your education along with a video on healthy choices for toys check out my website.

Kara_Sutra

Unapproved Products ~ Wireless Extended Ring Matador – California Exotic Novelites Sexpert Review #1

For my very first review as a California Exotic Novelties Sexpert I was sent the Wireless Extended Ring Matador – a cock ring designed to not only stimulate a male and is partner, but also provide lasting support through its stainless steel support system and extended design.

While the Matador seemed to have quite a bit going for it from what I read on the packaging, out of the box it did not live up to my expectations for quality, ease of use and design.

Like any product there is usually some good and some bad qualities, for this review I’m going to start with the good;

The Matador is made of TPR (thermo plastic rubber) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) making it phthalate free, super stretchy, light weight, pliable and soft.

Another nice feature was the addition of a Bulls Head (similar to Jesses Raging Bull) designed to hold a powerful bullet that adds great cushioned clitoral stimulation during intercourse.
As for the bad;

The design of the Matador is where it seems to fall flat. Not only does the added length of the ring make it hard to put on and adjust, but also uncomfortable to remove making the ease of use an unfortunate let down.

Another problem we found with the Matador was the two “built in” stainless steel “pleasure beads”; one located at the top and one at the bottom of the ring. While they are a great idea in theory, not only did they painfully dig in to my partners genitals but the top one came out during intercourse leading me to believe the product wasn’t that well made.

The biggest let down was the stainless steel dual semi-circle supports created for comfort and stamina. Rather then adding support, one of the corners broke through the surrounding soft material and dug into my partner so badly we had to stop “testing” and ice the bruise that was already starting to form.

Due to the negative experiences we had if I was to have to make a choice in the cock rings California Exotic Novelties provides, the Wireless Extended Ring Matador is one I would take a pass on.

Instead, Jesses Raging Bull is a much better option considering ease of use, quality and design.