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& Tried Tested

T D RI E ED ✶ UST TESTED ✶ TR GoodTh e Housekeepingm ost intimate test…ever!

Does this look like a to you?

We’ve come a long way, ladies. Vibrators are no longer giggly gifts for hen nights, they are serious aids to sexual pleasure. But how to choose? Don’t worry – we’ve done the (ahem!) hard work for you

goodhousekeeping.co.uk MAY 2014 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 95

■ GOOD ADVICE

& Tried Tested

T D RI E ED ✶ UST TESTED ✶ TR

hink sex toys and Good Housekeeping CHOOSE THE are unlikely bedfellows? TRIED & Well, it’s not the first RIGHT time we’ve tested TESTED Don’t just Google the word ‘vibrator’ – you’ll get vibrators to find out if How was it for them? 77 32,200,000 results, many of them off-putting and Tthey’re hitting the spot for women. But We asked sex therapist Sarah 100 entirely unsuitable. Women’s needs differ, and a a lot has changed in the five years since Berry to help us choose five THE WINNER vibrator is a very personal choice. Some women our last survey; the ‘nice women don’t’ vibrators that deliver on looks as JE JOUE MIMI like a steady pulse or, if you have problems tag has gone, there are more vibrators well as pleasure. Each tester £64.99 tipping into , a model with different than ever on the market and they’ve A silicone pebble that fits in vibration settings may be the answer. Follow this received two vibrators. Our your palm for external use, with changed beyond all recognition. Last advice from expert Susan Quilliam and sex survey, conducted by Tpoll a range of settings from subtle time we tested them they looked like Market Intelligence and compiled pulsing to deep vibrations. therapist Sarah Berry on how to decide which gadgets designed by men, for men! by GH experts, was made up of ON THE UPSIDE… ‘Cute, feminine, vibrator is right for you. feels nice in the palm and is not Not any more. A pebble, a leaf or a a 100-strong panel of women Nice girls do: the a bit scary.’ lipstick, today’s vibrators are far less newest websites cater ♥ Do your research! aged 30 to 80 (50 single women ON THE DOWNSIDE… ‘The buttons likely to resemble part of the male for women more likely Compare prices and functions; think about what and 50 couples), with varying are in an awkward place to anatomy – and for good reason. to pick up a Lakeland you want from your vibrator, and use it with a catalogue than Cosmo experience of sex toys, who filled change speed during use.’ Psychologist Susan Quilliam, who in a detailed questionnaire. Stockist: jejoue.com water-based lube. Think about safety, too. You re-wrote the latest version of The Joy Of clearly need to be careful about what you are using Sex, explains: ‘Manufacturers used to think testers said it was easier to reach orgasm in such an intimate place! Like us, only buy from that women needed a vibrator designed with a vibrator than with their partner, and reputable retailers and websites. Watch out for like a man’s penis. They now realise it needs a quarter said they had more sex because of cheap fakes – you probably won’t want to complain, to be more like a woman’s hand. They’ve the survey. Many told us the trial had made and the fraudsters will be relying on that! become less biologically realistic – and 62% a positive difference to their lives, with one more socially acceptable.’ of women said person saying of the Lelo Tiani 3 vibrator for ♥ Pick a shape And women are driving the change. ‘We couples, ‘It was a pleasure to test, particularly 74 70 First, decide whether you want to use your vibrator are better educated, earn more and have as our has fallen by the wayside 100 100 for penetration, for your , or both at the more choice about whether we walk away the new-look recently.’ Of the winning vibrator, the Je same time – that will determine the shape of the from an unsatisfying relationship than our vibrators were Joue Mimi, one woman wrote: ‘I always FOR COUPLES GOOD ALL-ROUNDER toy you want to buy. You might also want it to bend mothers did. We are far more willing to take struggled to orgasm before, but now LELO TIANI 3 LEAF VITALITY at the top to reach the G-spot. Either way, buy a control of our own pleasure,’ says Susan. She because of this creation I feel like I know £118.95 £105 water-based lube to use with it, otherwise it can An eco-friendly toy with two believes that Baby Boomers, who were at the much more my body better and am happier in myself.’ A silicone vibrator designed to be painful if you experience vaginal dryness. be worn during sex – remote individually controlled leaves, for forefront of the , are far attractive and controlled by you or your partner. internal and external stimulation. more aware and adventurous when it comes ON THE UPSIDE… ‘I love ON THE UPSIDE… ‘Pretty, and not ♥ Good (quiet) vibrations to sex toys. ‘Women use them with their Women still need to say how it looks!’ obviously a vibrator – handy if As women get older, many find they need a discreet you have young children.’ partners, but there is also a flurry of women what they want ON THE DOWNSIDE… ‘My husband stronger vibration to feel an effect, so it’s worth ON THE DOWNSIDE… ‘The shape in their late 40s, 50s and 60s who suddenly What our results show is that women today But if you’re hoping a vibrator will be the was rather put off by the buying a vibrator with varying strengths. But some mechanics of it.’ doesn’t really work for me.’ find themselves single and don’t want to want sex toys that are not intimidating or answer to all the problems in your sex can be noisy; if you don’t want others knowing Stockist: simplypleasure.com Stockist: whistleandhum.co.uk forego their sex life, who want a modern, girly. It’s exactly this market that has inspired life, be careful, because it’s not a cure-all, what you’re up to, check out online reviews. more approachable kind of vibrator.’ the launch of online boutiques like Whistle warns social psychologist Dr Petra So, in what we believe is the largest ever & Hum. The site promises never to ‘talk Boynton. ‘If you don’t feel like having sex, ♥ Pleasure any time, anywhere survey of its kind, we asked 100 GH readers, about pink furry handcuffs, fifty shades of it might be better to have a conversation If you travel a lot and want to take your vibrator aged between 30 and 80, to test this new nylon lingerie or twelve inches of kinky about your relationship in general. Are you through customs, you either need to be brazenly generation of sex toys to see if they deliver pleasure.’ There’s even a button you can press arguing a lot? Do you feel exhausted? confident or carry a lipstick-like version that you can discreet, grown-up pleasure. The verdict: a to replace the page with innocuous What’s the division of labour in your 68 57 keep in your make-up bag. Otherwise, you might chorus of approval – 90% of testers said pictures of cappuccinos and dogs, should home? It’s not sexy, but it is important. A 100 100 find yourself facing a very surprised customs officer! they are now more likely to buy a vibrator, someone appear over your shoulder. But vibrator isn’t going to take the bins out or and 62% felt they wouldn’t be embarrassed even without that button, the vibrators look help with the school run – although I wish SMALL AND DISCREET FOR BEGINNERS ♥ What will he think? to own one of today’s chic little numbers, so unlike sex toys you could – almost – it did – and it won’t just give you your ROCKS-OFF BULLET DISCRETION MINI VIBE One tester said: ‘I enjoyed telling my husband we with one satisfied tester of our winner, the browse the site in public. The store’s back.’ The variety of answers we £11.99 £9.99 were going to trial a vibrator – and he was happy, A powerful, seven-speed A handbag-size, quiet vibrator Je Joue Mimi, commenting, ‘I would be founder, Sally Young, says, ‘Anecdotal received for each vibrator proves that one vibrator that is cheap, small with just one setting – a good too!’ But not all partners will feel the same. So, talk happy to buy this as a gift for curious evidence tells us that visitors to our site are size does not fit all: our experiences are as enough to fit in a lipstick case place to start. before you buy, says Dr Boynton. ‘If the idea of a friends as it is an object of beauty.’ Another likely to be in their late 30s, 40s or 50s, individual as our bodies. Petra says, ‘Sex and comes in a range of ON THE UPSIDE… ‘I can take it formal discussion about buying a vibrator sends said of the Rocks-Off Bullet, ‘It’s like a best and the page on menopause issues is one toys have their place, but they’re not for colours and patterns. anywhere and because it’s so you into a cold sweat, try having a series of chats friend: discreet, great fun, and always there. of the most viewed.’ This is a shop catering everybody. Some women find them helpful ON THE UPSIDE… ‘It gives me quiet, new locational avenues instead,’ she suggests. ‘You might do it face to such a quick orgasm; I’ve have opened up!’ And it’s so small I keep it in a lipstick case!’ for women more likely to pick up a and enjoyable and use them regularly, already ordered more batteries!’ ON THE DOWNSIDE… ‘I was face, write a letter or an email, or even show him It’s a far cry from vibrators’ beginnings Lakeland catalogue than Cosmo. some once and never again – and others ON THE DOWNSIDE… ‘I find it disappointed – it looks dull this article and suggest giving it a go. It’s okay to as medical contraptions that were used in And the latest vibrators don’t just look don’t want to try.’ But for some, the results slightly too small and fiddly.’ and basic.’ say you’re a bit nervous or embarrassed, and it Stockist: rocks-off.com Stockist: simplypleasure.com

Victorian times as a cure for . great – they work, too. Nearly half our truly are orgasmic… MODELS): GETTY (POSED BY PHOTOGRAPHY SARNER. MOYA FEATURE: might help if you keep the tone light-hearted.’

96 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAY 2014 goodhousekeeping.co.uk MAY 2014 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 97