Apr 1 2015

One for mum: The Mystim Electric Eric review

Posted on April 1, 2015 by admin

I get to review so many toys for the kids, it’s pretty awesome when I get to review a toy for me!

First up, let’s hit the critics head-on…

Some of my readers might smirk that I’m happy to review an adult toy on here, but for me it’s the perfect fit. I don’t think I could handle half the stress of parenthood without me-time, and imagine this to be the same for women all over the country. Getting to grips with your body independently leads to a more healthy and fulfilled sex life and, if we’re all honest, who doesn’t want this?

Of course I’ve imagined what it will be like at nursery if another parent reads this review. Would they snigger? Well to be blunt, who cares? If they’re not one for a little light relief of an afternoon, more fool them! Craig and I are quite happy to notch up those hours in bed and ditch our iPhones for a more sociable bit of kit.

So let’s meet the Mystim Electric Eric

The Mystim Electric Eric is a rechargeable e-stim vibrator. What’s e-stim I hear you ask? Well it’s designed to be inserted inside your body so performs beyond clitoral stimulation. In fact, Eric combines tingling, pulsating, pounding and vibrating in one slick device.

You control which setting (and at which intensity) are active at any one time, meaning your vibrator has the capability to deliver both quick bursts of vibrating pleasure externally, or longer sessions via e-stim (with or without additional vibration) with your partner, or indeed yourself. Got it? Probably not, just think of it as an all-rounder. It’s got 8 vibration modes and 5 e-stim varieties plus a pelvic floor training program - Excessive? yes. But really freaking cool.

Design

Well first up, he’s a whopper:

Length: 9.5″
Insertable Length: 5.5″
Girth: 4.9″ at largest point
Width: 1.5″ at largest point

Material-wise he’s a mix of the smoothest pure medical-grade silicone (a prerequisite) and ABS plastic. This makes him 100% hypoallergenic, supremely hygienic and 100% waterproof. He’s also amazingly supple and has a bit of “give” if you give him a wobble. Ergonomically he’s shaped and proportioned similarly to LELO’s Mona so women with weeny hands might get hand-ache.

My only slight reservation here is that there is a light seam down the shaft which could get a little unpleasant if he becomes a regular bedside companion. I’d have thought this was a major no no in sex toy manufacture and am verging on disappointed to see it, but to be honest, it doesn’t affect its use.

Eric is also USB rechargable and I love the unnecessary but really novel charger magnet (it attaches to the logo on the front of the toy). He also arrives in snazzy storage case as an extra line of defense if you live with little people.

It claims to deliver 3 hours of uninterrupted use on full charge (chance would be a fine thing!) which works for us, but I have heard it contested by the pros. Charge will also weaken between sessions when not in use so I would recommend keeping him regularly topped up.

Setting him to work

Oh my. You might well need to enlist the help of an engineer for this one as there are eleventy billion buttons to get your head around. The instruction manual does its level best to help you spur him into action, but you will spend a good five minutes tweaking the intensity here and there before you find your ideal. Since you’re advised not to operate the e-stim outside of your body, this can mean you have to cycle through less preferred modes until you get to get to the good stuff - A memory setting would certainly help here.

The interface lights up in the dark for those who prefer playtime in the dark. You get three buttons for vibration and a further three for e-stim. This compromises of one to turn it on (naturally!) and cycle through modes, and plus and minus symbols to increase and decrease intensity.

Noise-wise, I’d give him a 7/10. In a silent house, hubby will hear it from downstairs - but your neighbours won’t know what you’re up to.

And so, onto the good stuff…

It goes without saying that you’ll need lube - and lots of it. The fact it takes a good five minutes of refinement before it gets pleasurable will mean your body isn’t producing the optimum environment for conduction.

And conduction is the key here - I mentioned that e-stim is designed to be used inside the body, and this is important. If only clitoral stimulation will do, even with the standalone vibration mode, this won’t be the toy for you (I’d recommend the LELO Gigi). There are two conductive plates placed strategically within the toy that will zap you much like an electric shock if you get too hung up on external play and only one plate is in contact with your skin (on the e-stim setting that is, it’s perfectly fine on vibrate-mode, but just not that effective).

It’s also well worth saying this isn’t the best toy for beginners no matter how adventurous you may think you are. It would be a little like learning to swim and attempting the English Channel. Getting to grips with what works for you is a slow and sometimes laborious process - inviting an emotionless uncommunicative gadget with more buttons than your telly to your bedroom is apt to put you off sex toys altogether.

I’ll admit to being a bit taken aback by Eric. In fact, my overwhelming thought when I opened the box was “Oh shit”. Even having put him to work several times since, I’m still a little confused as to how I feel about him. If you aren’t 100% in the mood he becomes a heady mix of frustrating and intimidating, yet when the going is good (and Craig is at the controls) you can evoke a fascinating set of sensations.

I have managed to get where I wanted several times but not without plenty of effort. Popping him in can feel a little like the beginning of a smear test when the speculum is inserted, but once he whirs into action he does manage to hit spots you might not be aware existed. I like to think it’s a neat little prep before the main event, not one for dessert.

Yet another included mode of e-stim was created specifically for kegel strengthening, precisely targeting the muscles responsible for a strong pelvic floor. This is where Electric Eric really comes into his own, and he smashes the silicone off the LELO LUNA Smart Bead I’ve reviewed before. In fact, if you mentally tell yourself this isn’t a toy and is serving a greater purpose (namely getting your kegel muscles ripe for longer orgasms, or indeed, as part of post-birth conditioning) you’re likely to get more out of it.

Where to buy? This bad boy made his way to me in discreet and robust packaging from Jo Divine - where you’ll find a veritable menagerie of adult toys to enhance play-time. The Mystim Electric Eric is currently £99.99 with free delivery.

Mar 31 2015

Discover the Perfect Pedicure with Clearzal and Win a Luxury Spa Break for 2 at Champneys

Posted on March 31, 2015 by admin

The holiday is booked. Bikinis have been tried on, discarded, and ordered in the next size up, the kids have been on a couple of emergency practice sessions at the swimming pool, and we’re ready for what promises to be, yet another, stressful and anticlimactic week in the sun!

I’ve been quite organised this year. The important bits have been waxed and I’ve even squeezed in a couple of sunbeds to get the all-important base tan. I figure I’ll have no time to sunbathe at our villa as the kiddies will be flirting dangerously with the pool at every opportunity.

All that is left is the pre-holiday pedicure, and boy have I been sent the perfect hamper of goodies to help me with this!

ABOUT CLEARZAL

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Clearzal are foot care specialists who literally wipe the floor with other brands. Their products are formulated with pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and they’re the go-to brand for Podiatrists throughout Europe.

I might be an all-natural skincare blogger, but the buck most definitely stops below my ankles. The skin on our feet is entirely different in composition to that elsewhere on our bodies - an aloe and pumice solution diluted with essential oils might smell nice, but just isn’t going to be appreciated by your feet. Clearzal is therefore formulated to blast away the calluses and hard skin that is providing a safe haven for thousands of germs that cause fungal and bacterial infections.

THE PERFECT PEDICURE WITH CLEARZAL

Step 1: Soak it baby!

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Yep foot soaks aren’t just for old ladies and pregnant women, and you don’t need a fancy foot spa either. A washing up bowl lined with stones from your garden is just as effective, and just as relaxing. This step is perhaps the most important you’ll take as it’ll cleanse, deodorise and kill germs, leaving your feet perfectly prepared for the remainder of the pedicure.

I used Clearzal Tea Tree Foot Soak which is really refreshing. It arrives in powder form and smells of tea tree (obviously) and menthol. There’s also a healthy dose of eucalyptus and peppermint oil to really awake the senses. You simply add 2-3 tbs to warm water and let it do its thing. Handily it’s non-foaming should you want to use it in an electric “jetted” spa (you know, those things that were all the rage in the 90s). Crucially it also contains dead sea salt so you get that fresh-from-the-beach feeling.

Step 2: Scrub

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It’s now time to lift those dead skin cells and reveal the fresh skin beneath. Clearzal’s offering contains all natural ingredients including ground pumice, aloe, soy oil, jojoba oil and vitamins E, A & D. Although you won’t appreciate this (as you’ll be rinsing with the remnants of the foot soak elixir) this smells heavily of jojoba and shea butter. It’s fine yet gritty to the touch (as a good foot scrub should be) and doesn’t lose its edge under a flow of water. There’s no need to be gentle, give a deep and thorough massage to blast away rough and chapped skin.

Step 3: Buff to perfection

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Despite scrubbing like a demon, tough areas of hard skin will still need a lot of help. That skin has been comfortably hardening for a number of months and won’t yield easily. Use a foot file or pumice stone and move it lightly back and forth on your heels and on the pads of your feet.

Tip: Don’t get over ambitious. Friction generates heat and being too aggressive will damage the delicate skin underneath.

Step 4: Snip those nails

Okay, admittedly Clearzal’s clippers look a little frightening. Even I was reminded of dentist’s implements and I’m a firm believer in no-pain-no-gain. But you simply have to accept that toe nails are tricky beasts. Under the beds, bacteria growth is rife, and it’s thick. Funnily enough, in terms of harming your health, the dirt beneath your fingernails is worse, but all that gunk under your big toe is fungal, and the best way of stopping it in its tracks is taking away its home.

Snip STRAIGHT across horizontally. You can then gently file away any sock-snaggling right angles with a nail file - but don’t get too close to the nail bed. Curved nails might look lush on your talons, but your toenails are an altogether different ballgame - trust me, you never want to get an ingrown toenail.

Step 5: Seal in the goodness with a moisturiser

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Your feet will, by now, be feeling eternally grateful. But you still need to give them a good drink and feed. This will maintain the skin’s natural source of hydration and help combat against the effects of sweat. Clearzal’s Nutritional Creme (no idea why this is in French as the product is produced in Oxfordshire- still it sounds posher this way) smells dreamy and claims to deliver this in spades. With rosemary, lavender and thyme - the lavender wins out. You’ll find yourself wafting your tootsies under your partner’s nose for the first time ever.

For emergencies:

Try Clearzal’s Pain Relieving Gel - Smells like Deep Heat yet cools like ice cubes, this will stop that throbbing sensation when you’ve stupidly worn heels on a summer’s day.

Simiarly, their Busy Feet Energising cream will conjure memories of Germolene and Root Beer (> this is inescapable for family and friends) but who cares when those feet are delivered the promise of a few more hours of driving, pacing and, well, parenting!

Want to win a Luxury Spa Trip for 2 at Champneys?

Of course you do. In fact, that’s why you’re pretending to be interested in piccies of my feet! Well Clearzal and Champneys have tag-teamed to bring you the ultimate comp on Facebook.

Head HERE to enter.

Clearzal Comp

To recap, I was sent: Clearzal Barrel Nail Clippers £9.99 / Clearzal Foot File £5.49 / Clearzal Pain Relieving Gel £9.99 / Clearzal Silk Busy Feet £9.99 / Clearzal Silk Foot Food £9.99 / Clearzal Silk Foot Scrub £9.99 / Clearzal Silk Tea Tree Foot Soak £12.99

For more information visit Clearzal.co.uk, or say hello on Facebook

Mar 27 2015

Dermatique Recuperating Cream review

Posted on March 27, 2015 by admin

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Heidi is winning in her war against eczema. Fact. It’s been a hard slog for both of us, with me reviewing cream after cream that promises to alleviate her symptoms. Some work, some don’t, so it’s been in many ways, like playing Russian roulette with my daughter’s skin.

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She’s been plagued with dry skin from birth. She outstayed her welcome in my tummy and had to be ejected “through the sunroof” which is fairly common for babies with post-birth skin complaints. Sure enough, after a few weeks, the dry red flaky patches grew bigger and angrier-looking. Although I appreciate it’s a blessing in disguise she doesn’t know how to scratch an itch, it denied her of even the most temporary relief from a bout of eczema.

We were offered steroid treatment for Heidi, but I refused. I suffered from eczema as a child (although not quite to the same degree as Heidi) and was prescribed steroid-based ointment. My skin reacted badly. If I showed a propensity to the nastier side-effects of steroids, what might happen to Heidi?

Thankfully, I’m here with yet another winner that’s been incredibly kind to Heidi’s sensitive skin - Dermatique.

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So who are Dermatique?

Dermatique was born out of another parent’s quest to find a 100% safe alternative to steroids when their daughter Patricia became exhausted and restless due to the effects of eczema. After a fruitless search for healthy alternatives, they decided to develop their own products for Patricia’s sensitive skin with no damaging side effects. They carried out all the research themselves, visited dermatologists and chatted to businesses to get their hands on the best raw materials and ingredients.

They claim their Recuperating Cream worked within hours after application on Patricia, and have now bottled the elixir for others to try - babies, teenagers and adults alike.

The Recuperating Cream

Let’s cut to the chase. It’s free from steroids (obviously), mineral oils, peanut, perfume, colour and parabens. You might think there’s nothing new here, but that’s not quite true. This really smells unscented. Far from being unpleasant, this is bloody welcome.

Works with the skin´s natural repair process
Gives you immediate hydration, helps heal even the driest skin
Proven to work on healing dry skin conditions such as Eczema, Psoriasis and Dermatitis
Absorbs quickly, leaves skin optimally hydrated, calmed, soothed & protected

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It’s not completely without synthetic ingredients, with a few cetyl esters, polyethylene glycol ethers, but all are lox toxicity and perfectly safe in low doses (virtually all body creams will have them). Most of the ingredients are vegetable & plant derivatives and there’s no dreaded sodium laureth sulfate in sight.

Since its launch in 1996 users have reported a 99% success rate. In fact, so confident are they that they can alleviate the symptoms of eczema and psorasis, they offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

Our thoughts

Love it. It’s noticeably different to other creams we’ve tried in that is a little greasy upon application, and does remain sticky on the skin for approx 3 minutes. This might sound critical but it isn’t. All I’m interested in are the results.

After two weeks use, I’m pleased to report that Heidi’s skin (and my legs) are beautifully soft. In fact, I tested this after getting a horrid shaving rash on my left shin that cleared up completely after two applications.

At £29 per tub, it isn’t cheap, but Heidi’s comfort is paramount and I’ve paid double this for creams that haven’t worked. I’m happy to add this to what is turning out to be a long list of safe products for Heidi-bum, and eczema treatments that really deliver.