Yoni Investments: 4 Standards Your Sex Toys Should Meet
Did you masturbate today?
This is my girlfriend's greeting for me almost every time she enters my home (because any other greeting would be in poor taste).
And because I sleep with my favorite vibrator under my pillow (small but mighty), the answer is always a solid "yes."
Arousal and pleasure achieved through masturbation is pertinent to maintaining our sexual health. Nonetheless, safe sex (equally pertinent) is always better and still applies when you're sexing yourself. That said, before going rabid with your favorite rabbit, bullet, or whatever you're packing, let's go deeper to understand what this mean. Really, it's simple:
Stop. Being. Cheap.
It can be all too easy to simply request the most powerful, inexpensive toy in the building. However, pleasure is not a luxury but a necessity. With that said, we should invest in our sex toys with the same candor and care that we invest in our bundles, flattering jeans, and time spent teaching ourselves how to please others.
However, bear in mind that your orgasm can only be bought to an extent, as the amount of money you spend on a toy holds little proof of pleasure. Take it from someone who has tested some of the prettiest, priciest, and somehow reputable sex toys (I suppose not everyone likes to be shooketh after masturbation). Conversely, there's certainly a reasonable starting price point that ensures you find a quality toy, and spoiler alert, it's probably not the bullets found in the fishbowl on top of the counter.
To aid you on your mission to investing in a quality sex toy, I've consulted with some of the most sought after sexperts to help you choose wisely.
1.Be Materialistic
Womanizer 2go Clitoral Stimulator in Chic Black Gold
When I say "be materialistic," I don't mean in the most literal sense but do be picky and research what your toys are made of. If you are what you eat, then you're probably also whatever enters the orifices of your body as well. Right?
Dr. Lenae Saint John, founder of the Mamasutra, recommends steering clear of any toys with a "harsh plastic smell," as she stresses the importance of quality materials. She explains that toys with this odor are presumably "off-gassing" and thus she doesn't want it near her body. Meaning you probably shouldn't either. "I won't purchase an item if it's not made with high quality medical grade silicone, for example. It feels very nice to touch and it's body-safe."
We also spoke with Dr. Jess O'Reilly, Astroglide's resident sexologist, to get her take on the material we should look for. Her recommendations include the "use [of] 100% silicone or borosilicate glass toys to reduce the risks associated with pores." She offers ABS plastic and stainless steel as additional options, adding that silicone and glass toys are examples of non-porous materials and only require soap and water for sanitizing.
Alex Fima, founder of the Velvet Co. pleasure collection, seconds the emphasis on silicone. "Body-safe silicone is best. Other materials can break or fray more easily. Cheap silicone will also gum up if used with a silicone-based lubricant," he writes.
However, should you continue to use toys with porous material including jelly, plastic, rubber, and PVC, Dr. O'Reilly recommends using a condom with these toys when possible due to the difficulty of conducting a deep clean, given their porosity. She notes: "Even if you clean the surface or purchase a so-called antibacterial sex toy cleaner, bacteria can live in the pores."
Want more stories like this? Check out these related xoNecole reads:
Using A Crystal Dildo Changed More Than My Sex Life
It's A Vibe: The One Vibrator Every Woman Needs
So Your Man's Not Feeling Your Sex Toys, Here's How to Change That
I Became A Dominatrix To Reclaim My Power After An Abusive Relationship
Featured image by Getty Images
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- The Shame-Free Guide To Buying A Sex Toy | HuffPost ›
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- 7 Tips for Getting Your Sex Toys Through Airport Security | Travel + ... ›
- 7 Things You Should Consider When Buying Your First Sex Toy ›
Motor City native, Atlanta living. Sagittarius. Writer. Sexpert. Into all things magical, mystical, and unknown. I'll try anything at least once but you knew that the moment I revealed that I was a Sag.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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ItGirl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
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Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
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BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
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