A unique foray into the world of Ben Wa balls and stronger Kegels, the Smile Drops can certainly make you smile. With their discreet, ergonomic design, soothing tone when jingled, and ability to fit together to match your shape, you may find yourself turning to them for discreet office PC muscle exercise. And if they turn out too large to be in charge, you can always use them as a cat toy. The sound may lull you to a peaceful dream.
For those of all skill levels looking for Kegel toning after a vaginal birth or simply new explorers of the world of Ben Wa balls, these Drops by Smile may be your toy. Sleek and hygienic, the Drops combine the powers of silicone and plastic to create a visually pleasing set of loveballs that is low maintenance, easy to insert, and exudes a calming melodic tone when shaken. The inner balls are not visible but we can assume they are similar to Chinese hand massage balls which make a windchime-esque sound when they touch each other, are jingled, jostled, or simply rolled around in their dew drop cradle.
Those with smaller vaginal cavities who've experienced painful sex with objects larger than 'average' (1 3/4" girth and 5" long, in my opinion) may find these too large for much comfort, so keep that in mind when purchasing.
These are discreet enough to slide under the radar of inquiring minds. Only one with Ben Wa Ball experience would recognize the Drops as such a pleasure item. And if they did, you could joyously trade tricks in the art of Kegel toning and how much they've improved your sex life.
Smile's loveballs come in a set of two. Their surface is 1/2 plastic and 1/2 silicone, with a silicone cord connecting the two and extending from the end ball about 4 inches. Plastic and silicone are two of the most versatile materials, being very hygienic, easy to clean, and carrying no detectable odor.
The choice of plastic and silicone in these loveballs creates an interesting dynamic. The hard plastic side of the toy provides good resistance, allowing for deeper toning of the Kegel muscles when squeezed. The softer silicone has the firmness of a flexed muscle: soft until about 1 cm deep, then satisfyingly firm. This provides a bit of relief from the harder plastic and adds variation to the toy and your technique, and adds a bit of comfort to your playtime.
The silicone is matte and therefore carries a bit of drag, which is a wonderful contrast to the smooth finish of the plastic. This velvety finish allows lube to stay on longer, adding to your personal lubricant and increasing the pleasure of your playtime.
These ergonomic drop shapes are made to fit to your body. They also smartly fit puzzle-like one nestled into the other. This allows for a more customized fit when placed inside the vaginal cavity. At 5" insertable length and 1 3/8" diameter, they're plenty large enough to be felt and create a difference in the inner landscape of your flowerpot.
With this design and size, if you're practicing squeezing your PC muscles (the same you use to start/stop the flow of urine) you should experience a significant difference in vaginal tightness within a few weeks of use.
The silicone removal string offered here is a great feature. It is stretchy, allowing for an easier more gentle expulsion of the toy. The plastic parts encased in silicone move seamlessly from one material to another, leaving no raised bumps. However, upon a bit of tugging, the cord between the two balls slightly separated from the plastic component of one ball, creating a tough-to-clean small space that could easily harbor bacteria and cause infection. Certainly a dab of superglue inside the hole could remedy this. I'm certain that would cause no further problems afterwards, as long as excess glue was quickly wiped away and not allowed to dry and encrust around the opening, creating bumpy parts that could potentially fall off in unwanted areas.
The box these came in has a cute magnetized peek-a-boo window where you can store the toy in its custom plastic case and display it if you're so proud, or tuck it in a box with other toys. It can also be stored in a plastic bag or other non-porous container. The matte silicone component will attract a small amount of lint if not in such a container, and therefore a quick rinse before use is recommended. Waterbased lubes are all you should be using around this toy, and you should be using lube, especially if this is your first time with these balls, and if your vagina is on the smaller side.
When finished playing with these, you may wash them with soap and water, adding a 10 minute boil once a month or so for assurance of cleanliness. Silicone is practically immortal in fire, and the plastic will survive a hot pot as long as it's not allowed to touch the metal edges in the process. If you're wary of this process, or simply don't want to risk it, use alcohol to sterilize instead.
The Smile Drops do make you smile when you open them! They are packaged in a unique way, with the box alluding to nothing sexual whatsoever, and the box's model looking as cute as can be--nothing offensive here!
Being that it can also double for storage as well as excitement-enhancer upon the toy's initial mail arrival, the packaging gets two thumbs up for me. Plus? It's recyclable!
For best results, insert the balls as far as they will comfortably stay. Adjust them with fingers if needed. While going about your daily activities, the feeling of the spheres inside you should remind you to squeeze and hold your Pubococcygeus muscles (those you feel squeezing when you orgasm in a fluttering motion, those you use to hold your partner inside you, and to start and stop the flow of urine) for 2 seconds, then release, and repeat.
Good places/moments to Kegel train: Waiting in an elevator
At a stop light
At your office desk (no one will be able to tell!)
During a shower
While waiting for your computer/other exasperatingly slow technologic device to load/resume proper functioning
While brushing your teeth
While waiting on your partner to quit primping so you can leave the house
While waiting for a seat on a public toity
Waiting for a dial-up connection... wait, why are you still using dial-up?
As someone who enjoys a girthy dildo every once in a while (the Fun Factory 'Curve' is one of my favorite thick toys at 1 5/8" thick) but these balls just didn't feel right in me. I used lube and pushed and pulled but having them inside me felt like a trip to the gynecologist and having that cold evil metal nose being pushed up in me. Heating them up helped a lot with the warmth issue. I placed them in hot water for about five minutes and they felt much nicer. I still however was unable to enjoy the sensation of them inside of me. Contrariwise, they still felt too big. Perhaps it was their nature to bend, one ball in one direction and the other ball in another, that created a 'too full' feeling. My suspicions are that trying with a vibrator to excite me before insertion may help, though I simply cannot see myself enjoying the feeling of these inside me. I also did not like the string hanging out of my ticky, as I no longer use tampons and never liked that annoying string. It reminds me of those olden messy days.
This is not to say these couldn't work for you. Just that Ben Wa balls do not get my goiter.
Follow-up commentaryI still don't like it2 months after original review
After boiling these, the silicone actually separated from the plastic, creating an unsanitary crevice between the two materials.
These ended up a cat toy. My cat chewed the bits of silicone off into pieces all over my floor. I wigged out a bit and had to find them all before assuring myself she hadn't swallowed one of them. Then I threw them away.
This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer. This review is in compliance with the
FTC guidelines.
thanks, padmeadmidala. you're a pretty great reviewer too, if i remember correctly. have you gotten into the mentoring program yet?
sexyintexas
Fab review! Thanks. Sorry they didn't work out too good for you.
aliceinthehole
thats alright. i honestly have yet to see many women who are very into them. still questioning the usefulness of this kind of toy.
thanks for the compliment!
FaerieLove
Awesome review. Lots of great details (Plus Pictures!!) Honestly I was wondering about the string bit being uncomfortable and I can see from your review that my suspicions were correct. I love that you included the whole vaginal cavity thing (penis size an such) that really helps to give you an idea of the size of these things. Do these things actually chime? And can could you hear it while they were inside you?
aliceinthehole
You know, as it turns out, I listened to them again and I was definitely mistaken about the chime. It doesn't sound like the Chinese relaxation balls at all. It just sounds like a rattling, really. And I would let them stay in me long enough to hear them. They were simply uncomfortable.
thanks for the compliment!