1 Impact and Sensation Toys Our bodies are full of erogenous zones besides the genitals. There are toys that can enhance the sensations of sex: blindfolds, feather ticklers, handcuffs, whips, riding crops, and more. When experimenting with sensations and kinks, it’s important to keep safety and preference in mind. “People choosing impact toys should familiarize themselves with safe striking information, since some parts of the body shouldn’t be hit,” says Queen. “They’ll also want to learn which toys are more ‘stingy’ vs ‘thuddy’, as people sometimes have a strong preference on which they like.” Self-care is one of those buzzwords that’s been used so often that it’s gone on to cease all meaning. These days you can whack on a scented candle and munch on a carrot stick and call it self-care, but what does true, unapologetic self-love really mean? It means, putting your own happiness, needs, and pleasure first and foremost before everything else – and with that, cue the dildos. Masturbating and sexual pleasure should be up there with your Garnier sheet mask when it comes to your self-care routine. And since it’s so integral to our psyche, why not elevate your experiences by investing in a toy or two? Knowing where to start in choosing the best one for you and your specific needs can be daunting. So we’ve done our research and found an array of sexy toys to suit every person and desire, so you can go ahead and skip straight to the good bit.

 Dildos We’ve all heard of a dildo, but do we actually know what it is? Well, they’re non-vibrating sex toys that are for penetration and internal massage. They can come in all different shapes and sizes, so it’s important to choose the right one according to your body and needs. A dildo is perfect for people who are looking for straight-up vaginal penetration and/or g-spot stimulation. SILEXD – DUAL DENSITY MEMORY SILICONE PREMIUM PINK 7 – €295 Vibrator Now, if your standard dildo won’t be enough to get your rocks off, you can turn your attention to the vibrator instead. A vibrator is any sex toy that buzzes and vibrates, and can be used on anywhere you please, not just genitals. If you’re looking to stimulate your endogenous zones, wherever they are for you, then this is your toy. Svakom Siren Fluttering Rechargeable Vibrator – €90 Clitoral Massager

 From robust wands to tiny bullets, the clitoral massager comes in many forms. If you’re a female who needs clitoral stimulation during your alone time then a clitoral massager is the best way to bring yourself to climax. Womanizer Duo Rechargeable G-Spot and Clitoral Stimulator – €202 Anal Plugs/Beads Many sex toys aren’t just targeted at the vulva and vagina. For the slightly more adventurous, anal plugs and beads stimulate nerve endings at the opening of the anus, making them perfect for women who are looking for pleasure in that area, whether you’re going at it alone or with a partner. KissToy Orville Anal Vibrator – €50.99

 Toys Designed For Partners If you’re looking to add a little bit of excitement to yourself and your partner’s love life, then investing in some toys that will pleasure you both is the way to go. Penis rings work by providing stimulation to both your partner’s penis and your vulva, and double-ended dildos can provide penetration to two people at once. Rechargeable Vibrating Bullet Cock Ring – €32 Accessories Other than your classic dildo or vibrator, you can spice up your sex life with yourself or a partner by using some accessories designed to get your senses tingling. Massage gels, lubricants, blindfolds, and handcuffs are all perfect for getting you in the mood and adding an extra layer of fun and excitement on top of your pleasure.

  Feeling adventurous? In this witty and well-informed consumer guide, best-selling author and sex educator Violet Blue shows couples how to choose and use sex toys to play and explore together — and have mind-blowing sex. She leads readers through the maze of sex toys on the market, explaining the many options available, including different materials, care and cleaning, and how to see through exaggerated marketing claims. Along the way Violet offers tips on creative usage and ideas for introducing sex toys to a relationship: how to ask your boyfriend to use the blindfold in your bedside drawer or how to surprise your wife with a saucy gift without getting your face slapped (unless that was the point). The Adventurous Couple’s Guide to Sex Toys takes a practical, sex-positive approach to pleasure, with plenty of safety advice and a list of websites for savvy online shopping. But why stop with the basics? Care to enact a threesome fantasy with two people? Set up the sexiest lighting for a webcam show? Dream of owning a steel cage dining table for captivating dinner parties? From the tried-and-true to the truly spectacular, you’ll find it here in The Adventurous Couple’s Guide. But when it comes to talking with adults, I could talk about sex toys for days. I mean, there's a reason Sex Toy parties are a thing. Once you get past the awkwardness, it's just fun. And maybe it's the company I keep, but every girls night ends up on the topic at some point. But there's good reason to dish about what you like! After all, pleasure, alone or with a partner is one of the best ways to de-stress, relax, and connect. (Who doesn't need as much of that as possible right now?) And while you don't necessarily need an object to make it enjoyable, the addition of a vibrator or sex toy definitely ups the ante.

  It's time to get raunchy and rampant, with this new no-holds-barred guide to sex toys! Perhaps you've always been curious and want to find out more, or if you think you're already an expert, Ann Summers' Raunchy and Rampant is the definitive book on sex toys, full of saucy ideas to spice up your play-time. Whether you want to know more about your and your partner's bodies, the joy of the joystick and the power of electric love, you'll find out about all the fun you can have with your flexible friends. There's advice on choosing the best toys for you, and the most exciting ways to use them in the bedroom - or anywhere else for that matter! Plus with 40 sizzling and red-hot photographs, you'll get all the inspiration you need, whether you're straight, gay, single or in a relationship. Your sex life just got a whole lot more fun...

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  Whether you’re perusing the aisles and displays at a store or scrolling online, shopping for a sex toy can be a little overwhelming. We’re here to help with this beginners guide. Bringing a sex toy into the bedroom isn’t something you reserve only for steamy nights with your significant other. Sex toys open women up to a range of sensations that you just can’t experience with your hands or with a partner. As well as offering pleasure and fun, sex toys can provide an array of health benefits. Studies conducted at Indiana University in the USA found that 53% of women and 45% of men aged between 18-65 years had used a vibrator, and that vibrator use is associated with improved sexual function and being more proactive about sexual health. For women, sex toys can be helpful in the treatment of menopausal symptoms such as vulval/vaginal pain and tightness. For men, there are a number of sexual problems that may be helped by using specific sex toys. These include erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, lack of libido, and post-surgical problems for a variety of conditions. Using sex toys to enhance sexual pleasure and orgasm can help you to sleep, boost immunity, relieve pain, reduce stress, and boost your brainpower. For men and women, one benefit of introducing sex toys into the dynamic is to open up a dialogue about healthy sex and what they enjoy as individuals and a couple.

  Similar to experiencing new sex positions, it may be something you haven’t tried before due to embarrassment or fear of purchasing items, but you may find that your sex health benefits from this new openness. Here is a guide to help you choose healthy sex toys: Dildos A dildo is anything vaguely phallic-shaped, that’s designed to penetrate a vagina, mouth, or anus. Standard dildos: They most resemble biological penises in shape and function. Our pick: Lynx Textured dildos: Changing the material the dildo is made out of to vary the sensation. Our pick: Pure Love Double-ended dildos: Depending on the shape, double-ended dildos allow you to experiment with double penetration either in the same hole or in different holes, for a sense of fullness. Our pick: Lynx Vibrators A vibrator is a vibrating tool used for external and internal sexual stimulation, whether by penetration or application to various erogenous zones. It comes in many shapes and sizes.

  External Vibrators Palm vibrator: designed to cover the vulva and stimulate your labia and clit. Our pick: Svakom Panty vibrator: clip into your panties for hands-free clitoral stimulation. Our pick: Pelepas Wand vibrator: have a bulbous head that’s designed to deliver super intense, rumbly vibrations anywhere on the body. Our pick: Pure Love Finger vibrator: slide onto or sit between two digits so you can bring your hands between your legs to enjoy the vibration. Our pick: Paloqueth Bullet vibrator: provide buzzy, low-intensity vibration to your bits. They fit inside most harnesses to give the strap-on wearer stimulus. Our pick: Phanxy Vibrating penis ring: slide over the penis and offer stimulation to the scrotum or a partner’s clit during penetration. Our pick: loverbeby Penis vibrator: designed specifically to fit over, or encase, the penis with vibration. Our pick: Alllovers Internal Vibrators G-spot vibrator – The G-spot is a nerve-dense pleasure zone located 2 inches inside along the front vaginal wall. G-spot vibrators are ergonomically designed to stimulate this zone. Our pick: Phanxy

  Egg vibrator: Slightly larger than a bullet vibrator, egg vibes are designed to be inserted vaginally for internal stimulation. Also comes on a stick for beginners. Our pick: Phanxy Anal vibrator: Any vibrator with a flared base qualifies as an anal vibrator. The most common are vibrating butt plugs. Our pick: Paloqueth Combination Vibrator A combination of internal and external vibrators. Rabbit vibrators – the most common type of combination vibrator feature a curled nub for G-spot stimulation and an external nub for clitoral stimulation. Our pick: Paloqueth Alternative Sex Toys Blindfold – by removing one sense, your other senses become much more heightened. Feather teaser, oils, and scents – provides gentle touch and sensation across the body, great after impact play on sensitive areas. Our pick: Romantic Getaway Kit

 Sex furniture – designed to help you and your partner get in more comfortable positions during positions you already love — or want to try but can’t due to physical limitation. Our pick: Sex Pillow Wedge What’s The Best Sex Toy? It all comes down to knowing what you like and finding a toy that helps you do it. Or, knowing what you like, and finding a toy that gives you a little extra-extra while you’re doing it! So, before you hand over your credit card, spend some time getting down with yourself and learning what you like. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BREAK A CYCLE OF DEBT? Toys: fun! Sex: usually great! But put those words together and you run the gamut of reactions from clueless blank looks to passionate enthusiasm to terrified images of spikes in places where there should NOT be sharp objects. But as millions of people know, there is very little to fear and a lot of fun to be had. Half of women who use sex toys purchased their first toy in their 20s, which as you may notice, is the age of most Literally, Darling readers. Therefore, it is my journalistic duty as Health Editor to report on such important matters, because I know in the age of online review overload, there are lots of questions. Adam & Eve, the nation’s largest marketer of adult products, has offered up a great infographic as starting point—and reassurance that sex toys are quite common (and have been around for 28,000 years!). They also granted us access to their resident sexpert, Dr. Kat (yes, she actually has a PhD in Human Sexuality/Clinical Sexology from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality), to answer some of LD’s most pressing questions about sex toys.

  What should beginners look for in a sex toy? Dr. Kat: “Think about how you masturbate and what stimulation feels the best. Clitoral, vaginal, G-Spot, anal? Then begin looking at toy categories that target these areas. Read reviews. There can be a wide variety of power options and intensities. Some people prefer stronger vibration so they may want to choose a vibrator that plugs in; others might like indirect or mild stimulation. Choose a rechargeable vibe if you don’t want to deal with batteries. Many better products have USB options. Avoid plug ins if you don’t like wires.” What kind of price range should we be looking at to be sure we get something high quality (like, is the material of an $8 vibrator eventually going to give me cancer or something)? Dr. Kat: “Although research has been inconclusive on the direct relationship between sex toy material and cancer, it is assumed that there are materials that are more body friendly than others. Silicone, glass and certain metals are considered higher quality [If you have sensitive skin, you probably want to shop in this category]. Granted, some people don’t mind using lower grade plastic sex toys as they will probably not be coming into continued contact with the vaginal membranes—you won’t be wearing it all day. Lower priced toys may be a good way to initially figure out what stimulation works well for you; then you can upgrade later on. If you want to start with quality, there are plenty of mid-range products ($25-45) that can meet your needs.”

  Do you have any lube advice? Dr. Kat: “Use lube! Lubricant makes everything more slippery, and will undoubtedly make any sex toy experience more enjoyable. A toy that feels too big or vibrates too strongly might feel just right with the addition of a little lube. The main thing to remember is to test it on your skin to be sure you don’t have any reactions to it, preferably on the inside of your wrist versus the sensitive skin in your vagina. Although water based lubes seem to do the trick for most people, make sure that if you are sensitive that there are no additives like dyes, colors or alcohol. You can also go organic if you prefer. Be aware that some oils and silicone lubes may make some sex toy materials break down, especially if they aren’t cleaned properly.” Speaking of, can you tell them more about keeping toys clean—especially keeping in mind most of us have roommates? Dr. Kat: “Keep a good anti-bacterial soap near your sink. There are also specialty toy cleaners on the market. You can use condoms on your toys if they are easier to dispose of versus clean. If your bathroom isn’t en suite, keep a small clean towel to wrap your used toy in to take it to and from the bathroom for cleaning. Air drying toys tends to be best, but if you don’t feel comfortable keeping them out in your room, make sure you dry them completely (every nook and cranny) with a clean towel.

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  Store them in a cool, dark and dry location. Make sure you don’t allow your toys to touch in storage. Sometimes the materials may interact with one another and cause them to break down. There are even anti-bacterial bags and incognito storage units designed specifically for this purpose. Take the batteries out if you don’t use your toys regularly. Batteries can corrode, ruining your toy. Also, don’t forget that you can transfer certain STIs via unclean sex toys. Try not to share them with your partner unless you use a condom or wash them thoroughly. Never transfer your sex toy from your anus directly into your vagina as this may cause an infection.” Do vaginal toys interfere with an IUD at all? Dr. Kat: “Typically vaginal toys do not cause any issues with IUDs. However, if for some reason your IUD wasn’t placed properly or dislodges, I could see how there might be an issue. Also, if you are more prone to infections, make sure you keep your toys very clean so that additional pathogens don’t make their way up the string.” When and how should beginners incorporate sex toys into a relationship? Dr. Kat: “You may not want to break out your vibe the first time you have sex with someone, but I do suggest that you introduce your partner to it within the first few times you have sex. This way, they’ll know that you already incorporate the use of a toy and may be less intimidated by it. If you wait too long, you run the risk of your partner thinking you are hiding it from them. Plus you will potentially miss the opportunity to be more orgasmic.

  You may want to purposely leave your toy out one night so it is readily accessible and/or ask them if you can show them how to use it on you. Too many women don’t do this and then their partners end up never learning how to pleasure them with their own toys.” Any other advice for sex toy beginners? Dr. Kat: “Go solo. Play with your toy alone before introducing it into couples play, this way you learn what feels good and can show your partner. Try one toy that does several things. Instead of committing to one type of toy, try a toy that vibrates and is insertable, or one that can be used in a harness and for anal stimulation. You might find that you really like to use your new G-spot vibrator for stimulating your nipples. Start small. When buying a toy for insertion, it’s better to err on the small side. If it’s too big you probably won’t play with it, but a toy that’s a little too small can still bring hours of enjoyment.

  If at first you don’t succeed, try again. If one sex toy doesn’t thrill you, use that experience to decide what you do want the next time around: different size, stronger vibration, softer material, or a remote control vibrator. Testing several different toys is the best way to find what works.” Did you know that deep sea scientists know more about the Mariana Trench than they do about sex toys? At least, such are the conclusions we’re forced to draw when we see the Vajankle, the Shrek butt plug, and all those tentacle dildos on Etsy. While we may not be able to speak for the NOAA, we do fancy ourselves explorers of certain [hoists sail] bodily depths and horny holes. At Rec Room, we spend the better part of our days wading through the 3,000 results on Amazon alone for the terms “sex toy,” and helping you, our beloved readers, understand the difference between a direct-contact and “sonic”-stimulation clitoral toy; a bullet versus a lipstick vibrator; and all of your other salacious, sex-toy-related queries. ADVERTISEMENT To penis pump, or penis sleeve? That is the question—among many—when it comes down to understanding not only how sex toys work, but which ones will work for you. The answer is always found in a blend of practical information, self-exploration, and a helping hand (or foot). Maybe you’ve never used a sex toy, or you’re just wondering why Lovehoney has a section called “Love Eggs and Jiggle Balls.” Perhaps you’d like to spice up your spank-sesh drawer with something a little kinkier than your average bullet vibrator, or maybe you’d like to finally understand why the hell they call it a “rabbit” vibrator. Whatever you’d like to know about the many types of sex toys out there, consider this short list your own horny accomplice to navigating them all, from anal beads to zapping paddles and so much more. We’ll start out with some of the most iconic sex toys on the market, and inch our way down to some of the more obscure finds. Strap in, strap on, and let’s ride.

  Dildo Ah, the dildo. This is perhaps one of the most iconic sex toys, because you’ve probably seen a realistic “jelly” silicone dildo such as this one at some point in your life. One of the more traditional toys, dildos are basic penetrative toys that can come in many shapes and styles, but are almost always somewhat phallic or elongated; sometimes they’ll be made of silicone, but they can also be made out of metal and glass, such as Gem, the best-selling double-duty dildo by Unbound Babes. As with most dildos, Gem can be used for vaginal and anal penetration. Just be sure to clean your toy before and after use in any hole—and to keep your sex toys prepped and clean in general. UNBOUND BABES Gem Dual-Ended Glass Dildo $34 at Amazon Buy Now $35 at Unbound Babes Bullet Vibrator Bullet vibrators are a popular first sex toy, because they’re affordable vibrators that are about the size of their namesake, making them a discreet sex toy travel companion. Bullet vibes can be used during foreplay on the nipples and around (but NEVER in) the anus—don’t wanna take an embarrassing trip to the ER when you lose one up there—and they give direct stimulation to the clitoris or anywhere else on the body that gives you or your partner(s) pleasure. Many bullet vibrators run on batteries, so keep an eye out for those such as the Zee by Dame, which is fully rechargeable. DAME Zee Bullet Vibrator $30 at Amazon Buy Now $30 at Dame