I wanted to review the Blush Novelties Gaia Eco Biodegradable Recyclable Vibrator for a few reasons. First, it’s (way) under $50. It’s that classic vibrator design. And it’s made of starch-based bioplastic.

What the hell is starch-based bioplastic? Uhm, I’m not really sure. But what I do know, because I asked a Blush rep, is that it’s as nonporous and nontoxic as ABS plastic.

And apparently, according to Blush, the Gaia Eco “is created using less energy and creates less greenhouse gas emissions than any other sex toy on the market.” That’s why I chose to review this particular vibrator over the countless others of the same design.

I also wanted to review the Gaia Eco because it uses 2 AA batteries which tend to make vibes more powerful than the more commonly used AAA batteries. Plus, I like the idea of the twist dial control. I have another inexpensive, battery operated vibrator with a twist dial and I think the variable speed is better than a button that gives you three set speeds.

First impressions out of the box started with, wow and ended with, puzzlement. I took the Gaia Eco out of its minimal packaging, popped in the batteries, turned the dial and thought:  Wow, this thing is pretty strong and rumbly, especially for a battery operated vibe.

Then I noticed this weird loose ring thing right above the cap. This is where I became puzzled. Why did they do that? It’s kind of annoying because even with the cap closed tightly, that ring is still loose. You can spin it around. So, I guess it would suck if you lost it and it also provides an area for lube and vag gunk to live.

Seriously, what’s with that ring?

You could remove the ring and carefully wipe that part of the vibe clean. In fact, you should be careful whenever cleaning this vibe anyway because it’s splash-proof only.

You can clean this vibe (don’t submerge it) with soap and water or a toy cleaner. Any kind of lube will work. It doesn’t come with a travel pouch but a vibe like this would be good for travel because you can pack it separately from the batteries and not have to worry about a TSA incident.

Alright, now for the real test. Does the Gaia Eco impress me enough to add it to my Sex Toys $50 and Under That Don’t Suck list?

Well, first of all, I’d like to mention that you can use this vibe internally and externally (but don’t use anally). The thing is, for me personally, the shape of this vibe does nothing for my vag. Some folks might like it though. This is just a preference thing, really. It’s not going to provide much girth either at 1” in diameter.

Because of my personal preferences, I mainly consider vibes like the Gaia Eco to be clitoral vibes. So, how did it feel on my clit? Lets just say that after the first orgasm I was left thinking: did a $15 vibrator really just do that? The vibration is nice and rumbly and I found that I didn’t need to turn the dial up to high. It took a little longer to achieve orgasm than it does with my favorite clit vibe but maybe because of that, the orgasms felt more intense. And yes, I said “orgasms” because I tried for my magic number – 3 in a sesh – and The Gaia Eco didn’t let me down. Also, some folks will be interested to know that the vibration doesn’t seem to dampen under pressure.

So, what’s the verdict? Can I put the Blush Gaia Eco in my Sex Toys $50 and Under That Don’t Suck category? I want to scream, “yes” but I can only say, “yes.” And that’s because of that weird loose ring. Some might find it annoying. But I don’t think it’s a total deal breaker. I just wish they hadn’t made it that way. Maybe they can take this feedback and update the design to eliminate that ring and possibly make it waterproof too. Then I could enthusiastically recommend it as a great toy under $50.

***

I would also like to share a few words about Blush Novelties. They haven’t always been a company beloved by some bloggers. There was once a little dust-up between Blush and another company that is widely respected in the industry. That angered a lot of bloggers.

They also still do make toys out of porous materials that I don’t recommend but lately, I’m excited about Blush’s new offerings. I think they’re focusing more and more on body-safe nonporous materials and that’s awesome. Especially so when you consider that they tend to produce toys on the more affordable end of the spectrum. I am considering several new Blush toys that I’d like to review for you.

Blush once acknowledged the role us bloggers have had in helping them design toys that we can approve of. But I also think there’s something else going on. Blush has hired one very well-known and respected sex educator, Ducky Doolittle, and I’m sure that she has a lot of input on product development and design.

So, I can comfortably say that at this point, I like the direction that Blush is going in. Because we need more lower cost, body-safe toys that don’t suck.

Think $14.99 is a good price for a vibe? Try taking 10% off with code: DIZZY

Betty’s Toy Box provided the Blush Novelties Gaia Eco in exchange for an unbiased review.

The post Review: Blush Novelties Gaia Eco appeared first on Toy Meets Girl. © 2018 Toy Meets Girl All rights reserved. No part of this feed may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission from the website owner.

Blush Noveties has released Real Nude, their brand new line of dual density silicone dildos. They call their dual density technology Sensa Feel and it’s constructed with a firm inner core surrounded by a soft squishy outer layer. This is similar in concept to other dual density lines on the market and it’s purported to provide a more realistic sensation. I have had the opportunity to try out the Ergo and there are some things I really like about it but I do have one complaint.

There are six dildos in the Real Nude line and they have all been hand sculpted. They come in two color choices, almond and toffee. They’re all available in purple. They have suction cup bases and I have to say, they are pretty damn strong. If I had a good place to suction it to, I’d definitely be using it that way.

I chose the Ergo because out of all of them, its shape and dimensions seemed to be the most compatible with my anatomy. Ergo is 8 ½ inches tip to base. From tip to balls it is 5 ½ inches of insertable length. It has a nice girth of 1 5/8 inches in diameter through the shaft and 1 ¾ inches in diameter at the head. It’s not so big that it stretches me uncomfortably but it is enough to fill me up nicely. This dildo is modestly phallic and the head is a good large size. It gives a pretty strong pop as I push it in and pull it all the way out. As I insert the Ergo my vagina really grabs onto that head and pulls the dildo into me.

The base is easy and comfortable to hold on to. I’m not sure I really need this dildo to have balls but they don’t get in the way and it gave me a good place to spot test various lubes. I love how pliable and squishy the outer layer of silicone is. I find myself just wanting to squeeze it every time I pick it up. The firm inner core gives this dildo a good backbone. The firm core stops just before you reach the head, leaving it deliciously squishy. It reminds me of those stress relieving squish balls that you squeeze to release tension.

The medical grade silicone is smooth with a shiny finish. Silicone is among the best materials for sex toys because it’s nonporous (meaning it can be sanitized) and free of latex and phthalates. Cleaning this dildo is easy. You can wash it in antibacterial soap and water or use toy cleaner. To sanitize, bathe it in a 10% bleach solution or boil it for about three minutes. I don’t really recommend cleaning sex toys in the dishwasher but that is an option with this toy. The thing about using the dishwasher is that the toy truly isn’t sanitized unless your dishwasher has a sanitize cycle. If you decide to use your dishwasher, do not add any detergent and the dildo should go on the top rack. The packaging for this dildo is basic and transparent (not discreet) and includes a storage pouch.

There is so much I like about the Ergo and just one thing I don’t. It has a tremendous amount of drag and eats lube for breakfast.¹ I’m starting to notice a pattern here with silicone. It seems like the glossy, shiny finishes produce the most drag. Now, I don’t self lubricate well at all and I always need lube for anything that’s going into my vagina but still, the drag of this silicone is significant. The first time I used the Ergo I started with water based lube, which is recommended for silicone toys. I had to keep reapplying many times. It’s like the lube would just vanish. I’d pull the dildo out and it would be dry. The drag of the silicone around my vaginal entrance got uncomfortable so I switched to a different dildo to finish off my session.

Later, I decided to test some Sliquid Silk hybrid lube because I thought it might last longer. I put a small amount of the lube on the balls and rubbed it in for a good long time to make sure there wasn’t going to be a reaction. Some silicone lubes can react negatively with some silicone toys and it damages the finish, making it gooey and sticky. Seeing no evidence of incompatibility, I proceeded to use the dildo covered in the hybrid lube. It was quite a bit better than the water based lube, lasting longer and reducing the drag. I didn’t need to reapply as often but still had to more than I like.

So the next time I used the Ergo I tested some Wet Platinum silicone based lube on the balls and again, I observed no reaction. I slathered it up well with the silicone lube and had a much more pleasant experience. The dildo glided better and the lube lasted a lot longer. And that’s pretty much the only way I can completely enjoy using this dildo. If you decide to use silicone lube on this or any silicone toy, make sure to do a spot test first. If the two are incompatible the finish of the toy will start to get gummy and sticky. If this happens you can scrape the area off with a fingernail and then wash it really well. Make sure you test it on the base or somewhere else where it won’t interfere with use of the toy if a reaction occurs.

There is a lot I like about Ergo and Blush’s Sensa Feel dual density silicone. I wish there was a way to cut down on the drag. Maybe if these dildos had a silky matte finish, they would glide better. I have no idea if the wonderful squish of the Sensa Feel silicone could be retained while giving it a matte finish but if it could be done, I think Blush could achieve perfection. If you’re willing to experiment with silicone lube and/or you self lubricate well, the Ergo could work out quite well for you. If Ergo’s dimensions aren’t right for you, there are seven other Real Nude dildos to choose from so you can find a perfect fit.

 Thanks to Blush Novelties for sending the Ergo in exchange for my unbiased review.

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