The Mistress is a deceptively simple yet extremely versatile and enjoyable toy. Those who haven't had the pleasure of being either on the giving or receiving end of a well-made silicone dildo such as the Mistress might dismiss strap-on play as straightforward, but the experience can be as imaginative and nuanced as you please. I identify as a true switch and can vouch for the surprising sensitivity my body had to wielding a dildo for the first time. When worn at the right angle, a dildo can act as an extension of the wearer's body in a very real and exciting way. The Mistress is perfect for vaginal or anal penetration (it is small enough for gentler play for newbies), strapped on or wielded by hand. It is also a great size (and material) for oral play, and can be brought into the bath for solo masturbation sessions (or anything else). Its range of colors and slightly abstracted form make it a good choice for pretty much anyone regardless of aesthetic, gender or sexual preference.

Vixen Creations uses 100% hypoallergenic and food-safe silicone to make their toys. After washing, the dildo might pick up lint because of its texture, so a quick wash before use is recommended. The Mistress has no taste or smell and is an incredibly satisfying texture- unbelievably smooth and pliable, yet firm. Mistress doesn't feel as realistic as their more expensive Vixskin models, but is nevertheless an enjoyable sensation, both, with or without a condom. Realism isn't the point for me- I want a toy that builds off what a body can do and intensifies experience rather than mimicking a body part.

The Mistress that my partner chose is a beautiful opalescent purple, opaque yet catching the light in an incredibly pleasing way. I've found that all of Vixen's models are made in rich and exciting colors that have appeal regardless of aesthetic preference. In terms of the shape, I was wary of the smoothness of the Mistress, at first equating it with less feeling, but it was designed with pleasure in mind and is curved in all of the right places. It is similar to the shape and size of the Nexus Jr's smoother end, but is larger, which I was pleased with. The Mistress is a good mid-range size for someone who knows they like penetrative play but isn't ready to take the plunge with a larger model. The base is compatible with most harness models (I used it with my Spareparts Joque and it was a perfect fit).

The Mistress is elegant, no-frills, and exciting, both to wield and to receive. To those who enjoy more girth, the Mistress might be disappointing, but overall it has a wide appeal for many different types of play. Its versatility is definitely its selling point- I feel I could use this toy with many different partners at different levels of comfort with penetrative play. It fits securely in a harness and its base is wide enough to be pleasurable to the wearer. Also, there is an alternate model with an insertable bullet vibe.

Vixen prides itself as "the world's premier manufacturer of premium silicone sex toys since 1992" and as such, the Mistress is 100% silicone and is non-porous and hypo-allergenic. Silicone toys are also safe for use with multiple partners, provided they are cleaned properly. The Nexus can be cleaned by boiling, in a dishwasher, with soap and warm water or with a toy cleaning solution. As far as lube goes, NEVER use silicone lube with a silicone toy as it degrades the toy! Although it isn't advertised, most if not all lubricated condoms on the market use silicone based lubes. When I use condoms with this toy (for easier cleanup or to make switching partners easier) I go for unlubricated condoms and use water-based lube. The Nexus comes in a thin plastic tube which it can be stored in safely. Even in the tube it does tend to collect dust and lint, so I recommend a thorough wash before and after each use.

The Leo (and many other Vixen dildos, sans the Vixskin ones) comes in a thin but sturdy transparent plastic tube with caps on both ends and is suitable for storage use. Although it's not really my aesthetic, it is rather handsome packaging and would look fine on a shelf (if you like to have your toys on display.) Vixen's packaging is tasteful and devoid of figurative drawings or photos, which I find, is a testament to the fact that they are a company I would ideologically want to support. Perhaps being women-owned has something to do with the lack of objectifying packaging. Allowing the product to be the main draw of the packaging suggests dedication to quality. It's also nice to buy toys without packaging that suggests hetero use or panders to male gaze. I did wish the packaging had the dimensions of the toy written on it, though.

My partner had never used a dildo before and loved the ease and variety of ways they found enjoyment with it.