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One of my favorite parts of my job as a lifestyle writer is that I get to spread awareness about sexual wellness, which includes getting to try the latest and greatest pleasure tools available. Orgasm and pleasure in general are connected to experiencing lower stress and increased mindfulness—and those are two healthy-living effects that I can absolutely get behind. And after testing dozens of sex toys through a professional lens as a sex writer, I can say with confidence that a few of my favorite sex toys fit into the must-have category.
Of course, any toy you enjoy using is a good one, so there’s no need to abandon your personal “old faithful” to instead try one of my favorite sex toys. But, if you’re curious about expanding your pleasure horizons, need a recommendation for a first sex toy, or are otherwise bored of your current go-to, feel free to check out my favorites.
What I, personally, look for in a toy is something that’s not too loud (my apartment has thin walls, so this is a big one for me), provides strong clitoral stimulation (I have a vagina and prefer clitoral orgasms to other types), and won’t run out of battery before I have the chance to really feel sexually well. It’s also important to me that it’s light enough for me to use for at least 10 minutes without my wrist getting sore.
After trying a number of contenders, I can confidently say that the following six winners get a gold star in all the categories that are important to me. Check them out below.
My 6 favorite sex toys, as a sex writer
Womanizer Starlet 2 Rechargeable Clitoral Suction Stimulator — $80.00
If you can only get one sex toy, I recommend this one, which is what I’d want to have with me if I were ever on a deserted island. My favorite aspect of the Womanizer Starlet 2 is that it gets to the point—and fast. Because there’s no penetrative component to this toy, my clitoris gets all the glory, and speaking as a clitoral-orgasm stan, that’s a win for me.
The Womanizer Starlet 2 offers four intensity levels, is made of body-safe and soft-to-the-touch silicone. It’s also rechargeable, which is great because I don’t love running to the store to get batteries.
Smile Makers The Artist — $129.00
Let’s say you’re looking for clitoral stimulation, penetration, and vibration—like I was after using my Womanizer a little too often. (Sometimes, you just need to change it up.) If that’s the case, Smile Makers’ the Artist is definitely worth adding to your sex-toy arsenal. Since it’s a vibrator made of silicone, it’s quite flexible, in addition to being soft.
I especially appreciate how lightweight the Artist is, so I don’t have to worry about my wrist giving out if I want my self-love sessions to last a little longer. Furthermore, its physical flexibility allows it to be used for simultaneous anal and clitoral stimulation.
Womanizer Duo — $219.00
This might sound a little weird, but when I showed my mom that I’d gotten this sex toy, she immediately asked if I could get her one, too. As borderline-cringe as that was for me to experience, I can’t say that I blame her. Just from looking at the Womanizer Duo, you can tell it’ll make you feel things. It certainly did for me. Thanks to the curved wand, it was able to simultaneously hit my G-spot and my clitoris, ultimately providing a super-powerful orgasm.
The silicone toy is compact enough to discreetly take on the go; has a two-hour charge; and has 10 vibration modes, including a regular vibration, a pulse, and a wave, as well as air technology—which felt like someone was blowing on my clitoris (it was honestly amazing).
Velvet Co. the Thruster — $280.00
I measured the Thruster by Velvet Co. before trying it, and it came in at a whopping 11 inches from tip to base, which I initially found to be intimidating. Once I tried it, though, I realized that it’s really only the base that’s so long—which is necessary for the toy’s thrusting power.
Upon insertion, though, I realized the thrusts weren’t at all painful—they just moved in an up-and-down motion, which I could adjust to one of 10 settings. Since I’ve had it, I typically “pair” it with the Womanizer (the Thruster first and Womanizer second), so that I can enjoy penetrative stimulation and then a clitoral orgasm to finish.
Lelo Mona 2 — $160.00
I first assumed that the Lelo Mona 2 focused on internal stimulation based on it looking like a wand. When I used it exclusively as such, it wasn’t as intense as a clitoral orgasm, but it still felt really good. However, I was wrong in my initial assumption! Once I realized that the toy can be used directly on the clitoris for the big O, my opinion of it totally changed—for the better.
It comes with six settings that are all pretty quiet, which I liked because, again, my apartment has thin walls. And even though my roommate shares my sex-positive views, I still prefer to have my self-love sessions all to myself.
Evolved Thump & Thrust Dual Vibrator — $149.00
This is a really heavy vibrator, so if you have trouble holding not-so-light things, I’d stay away from this. But, while I’m also not a huge fan of heavier sex toys, which can get uncomfortable to hold up, the Evolved Thump & Thrust Dual Vibrator is the exception to the rule.
I detected the thrust level pretty easily, which I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do before trying it out. I love that this toy also has a semi-curved head, because it targets my G-spot in a more subtle way than other toys might. The clitoral component of this also thoroughly gets the job done. It boasts seven different thrusting speeds as well as three vibration modes.
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