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25 August, 2013

Review - Shunga Erotic Art - Arousal Gel - "Secret Garden" Female Orgasm Enhancing Cream

Note:  I started writing this review in 2011 and am posting it now for the sake of completion.  Babeland no longer sells this product, to my knowledge, and it is not clear to me whether Shunga is still an operating business.

However, there are still a number of sites selling this product.  It concerns me that they may be selling a product that is actually many years old.

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The word Shunga refers to erotic Ukiyo-e Japanese art of the 16th to 18th centuries, one of the major historical roots of pornography and sex manuals today.  





Shunga Arousal Gel comes in a classy, thick black box with the image of a Geisha on the front.  On the back of the box, "gently apply with your fingertips to your secret garden," *eyeroll* My secret garden?  Really, Shunga?  Who are you trying to protect from the word clitoris here?  Is someone who is too delicate to read the word clit supposed to be buying a product like this? "and you will discover new sensations that will take you to the limits of the female orgasm..."


I open the box to be hit with a strong but pleasant minty scent, a small 1 ounce black bottle, instructions, and a warning card telling me that every woman is different and I may find the orgasm cream too strong or too weak on the first try.  I may need to rinse off the product right away if it's too much or I might need to apply it as many as 3 times to get any effect from it.  Interesting.  


The instructions, which are in English and French, include advertisements for other Shunga products, and go into slightly more detail about how to use Shunga Arousal Gel, specifying that it is for the clitoris, should be massaged throughly into what says under the clitoris, but I think they mean under the clitoral hood, and that I may need to apply 3 consecutive days if I don't feel sensations immediately.  I have to say that I really think the outer instructions should be more specific that it is for the clit and not meant to be a sex lube, because someone out there is probably going to think that "secret garden" is their vagina.  


The instructions specify that Shunga Arousal Gel is not for pregnant women, or women with genital herpes.  Ingredients include glycerine, l-arginine, l-ornithine, damiana, peppermint oil, vitamin E, and also, unfortunately, parabens.  Yeah, I'm not happy using a product with parabens on one of my most delicate and porous body areas.  Product made in Canada.


There are also several wording inconsistencies and misspellings on the packaging, instructions and bottle, which is a pet peeve of mine and does not inspire confidence.  The ingredient list on my package and the ingredient list on babeland.com do not match. Babeland's ingredient list has capsicum, no parabens, and overall a healthier list of ingredients.  Babeland states that the product is not for internal use, and I agree that it's not a great idea, but Shunga does not have this written anywhere.  Shunga says their product may be used with a partner, but does not specify whether it is safe to use with condoms, or whether oral sex is safe after applying the product.  If you are prone to vaginal or urethral infections, I would recommend using this product with care, as some of the ingredients are irritants for some people.  


Technically, I believe this product is safe to use with a condom, however, I unfortunately couldn't not find any handy to test it on, since I haven't used one in a couple of years.  My guy and I have been monogamous for many years now and since I can't get pregnant anymore, I see no point in him wearing one, I hate them as much as I'm sure he does.


There is no silicone in this product, therefore it should be perfectly safe to use with all sex toys and dildos, however, again, I don't particularly recommend using this internally.  I'm sure some women might like it, but I personally have yet to really enjoy using any kind of warming or cooling lube, and if this gets into your vagina, it's basically going to feel like a cooling lube because of the peppermint oil. YMMV and it's your risk to take, but be aware you may experience unpleasant irritation, dryness, or infection later.


Going to the Shunga website, after some digging, I see that they state Shunga Orgasm Cream is edible, however their ingredient list seems to support the one I have listed with the box I received.


Test one, just seeing what the cream did on its own - I applied a nickel-size dollop of the clear gel onto my clit, lifting up the hood, and let it soak in for awhile.  I felt some tingling almost instantaneously, and frankly, my clit started feeling a little oversensitive and "bruised" in just a minute or two.  I also got wet quickly.  The tingling and sort of a "heavy" feeling in my clit lasted about 30 minutes.  Later on I masturbated and my clit still felt kinda bruised from the start, but I did come more quickly than usual.


Test two, [never completed.  Do not want to use a cream that is years old, for safety, at this point, sorry.]


I feel that Shunga needs to use less of their instruction page on adverts and more on important product information.  It should always be clear what a product is used for and what is safe and not safe.

Final Verdict - Indeterminable.  Did not test enough to feel comfortable giving a rating.



Babeland new arrivals

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Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.

Review - Shunga Divine Oral Pleasure Lip Gloss

Note:  I started this review in 2011.  It's probably a little pointless to post it now, but I figure better late than never.  I made the mistake of taking on a review item that I wasn't as interested in as I first thought - and I intend to think more carefully about assignments in the future.  

Babeland no longer sells Shunga products.  I'm not really clear if Shunga is still in business.  The market is more flooded with these kind of tingling minty lip products than before, so I still believe this product is a bad value.

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Shunga is a Canadian sex aid company that specializes in classy couple-centric items.  The word Shunga refers to erotic Ukiyo-e Japanese art of the 16th to 18th centuries, an important precursor of pornography and sex manuals today. 


Divine Oral Pleasure Lip Gloss, a "little Geisha's secret," is meant to "sensitize and excite both the male and female intimate areas" and help kickstart orgasms with its "warming-cooling effect".  Ideally, after one puts the gloss on, you can indulge in a tingly kiss with your partner and then you can both go down on each other and sensitize each other's naughty bits.  Obviously, this would work great for "69".  


I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work marvelously for a pairing of any two genders (or even more people).  I wonder if Shunga couldn't reach more customers by making it a more unisex, purely mint lip cream/balm in less girly packaging?






Babeland describes the lip gloss as "strawberries and champagne", but I think it smells more like strawberry bubblegum, and tastes like that, with a pepper and mint edge.  It's not unpleasant, which is good since you're going to be eating this stuff, essentially.


As makeup, it disappears quickly and is like a lot of other tingling, lip-plumping lip glosses.  It is just as smooth as tacky, texture-wise, at first, but becomes more tacky over time.  The moisturizing qualities are better than average for this type.  It is neither the worst, not the least tingling I've ever tried, but it is the most expensive by far (although I did not pay for this item, I mean comparatively by what I've paid before).  There is a one dollar lip gloss out there that is more tingly if that's what you're looking for, but if you are looking for a gift for someone else, then this product offers much classier packaging.


Divine Oral Pleasure Gloss comes in a lovely black paper box with the image of a Geisha and her client kissing in Ukiyo-e art style, and a magnet closure.  It's very attractive and tasteful.  The gloss is nestled in a lovely inset, and the bottle itself, clear, black, and gold, is also classy.  It's twice as much gloss as many other companies offer.  It is fairly intense, and manages to linger a surprisingly long amount of time.  


Since it's not as intense as a couple of other similar glosses I've tried, that can actually be a good thing if that means there is less drying peppermint oil in it, or more buffering moisturizers, since it might be going onto various delicate bits of skin.  Some glosses leave your lips dryer and more chapped than before you put it on, but this one is not bad.

I agree with this other blogger, that it's off-putting to use a product with a lot of unrecognizable ingredients.  They could all be harmless, but you wouldn't know unless you did a ton of research.

As a couples-oriented sex aid, I think that if you ask a lot of guys if they want to put on some lip gloss, even to get some nooky, they will be reluctant.  A lot of men don't like makeup products, even to see or feel on their girlfriend or wife.  My husband is like that, and he is also very sensitive to strong scents.  He's also vehemently opposed to combining food and sex.  So, this was a non-starter.  And many women feel the same way.  

But if you and your partner like getting messy, you can make each other tingle at all the erogenous zones and make oral sex more adventurous.

As a solo sex aid, tingling lips is somewhat arousing.  It could be rubbed on the nipples, or the clit, as well, but unless it is licked or rubbed off completely before penetration, I would personally be concerned about any potential chemical reaction with this gloss and your toys, because this really isn't an appropriate lube, or getting this inside the vagina or urethra, where it could potentially be irritating or trigger an infection.


Rating:  3/5.  Shunga, I would consider marking the price down a little on this item, you just don't have anything different enough to offer with your tingling lipgloss that justifies the cost to a cost-conscious buyer, and you might sell more of them if it wasn't such a huge price jump from comparative products.


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Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.


24 August, 2013

Review - Soft On Demand (SOD) Mobile Denma cell phone strap vibrator

Soft On Demand (SOD), a major adult product manufacturer in Japan, has made a cell phone charm sized vibrator that is equal parts joke and ingenuity, I think.  Ever wish you could carry a convenient vibrator in your pocket wherever you go?  Mobile Denma can help you out for your emergency sexual health needs.

This massager/vibrator is very small.  The smallest one I've ever seen.  It can be attached to a cell phone or bag, etc, with the lanyard that comes with it, either just the massager, or the massager inside the "pill" case it also comes with.  The pill look to the whole package, including the adorable "plus sign" on/off button, reinforces the toy's intended "for your health" image.  With the pill case, it just looks like a random dangly phone strap charm, so no one will know you are actually carrying a vibrator with you everywhere.


Mobile Denma with iPhone and quarter



Mobile Denma size as compared to rabbit vibrator

I bought this because I thought it was cute, funny, and also out of curiosity of how powerful could this little toy actually be?

Well, it's got a bigger kick than you would think, surprisingly effective, possibly due to the motor being 12,500 rpm (cannot confirm, but that is what several web sources said).  I think if you are a more sensitive person, you could most likely orgasm with this thing.  It's actually a little more effective than some cheap bullet vibrators I've used.  Maybe a 2 out of 5 on the buzz scale.

However, I think the main function of SOD Mobile Denma is as a teaser toy, something to run over sensitive body parts like the lips, neck, nipples, vulva, clit, etc, in order to tease and warm-up yourself or your partner, before other sexual activity or using another, stronger, toy.  This toy is far too small to be used on any orifices.  It is absolutely not safe for anal use.

Although it may be carried in public, it can't really be used in public, even to massage your temples or something, since it's obnoxiously loud, unfortunately.  Not the loud vibrator ever, but it's definitely not quiet.  The batteries rattle a little in the casing.  I have found that a lot of "hard plastic" type vibrators have this problem.  Around a 3 or 4 out of 5 on the loudness scale.

The massager runs off of 2 LR44 coin batteries, which lasts for approximately 30 minutes of continuous use.

I am not sure of the exact material, but this is made out of some kind of smooth, hard plastic - nonporous but cannot be totally sterilized.  If you think you might like to widely share this toy, consider just using it over clothing.  Any lube could be used with this toy, but you probably won't need to use any.

Mobile Denma is not waterproof.  I would suggest cleaning with a damp washcloth or antibacterial wipe, and never attempting to immerse in water or take into the shower.

Final Verdict: 2/5, not a must-have, but a fun conversation piece, a cheap gag gift, or something to try out as a teaser. 

Among other places, SOD Mobile Denma may be purchased at J-List.com, in black, pink, purple, or lime green.

Disclaimer - This item was purchased solely by me.  I am not affiliated with SOD or J-List in any way and am not receiving compensation for this review.