The Durex Play Allure is a nice, quiet shower toy that would make a great first vibe. It is suited to beginners for a number of reasons: it has a relatively small size, quiet vibrations, unintimidating design, and offers a variety of different sensations.

There are really only two ways to use it as a clitoral vibe: pressing either the pointed tip or the shaft to your clit. However, the Allure's dial control allows for very precise control of vibration speed. Instead of a handful of settings, the speed increases gradually, allowing for maximum variety. This, combined with a very light "low" setting, makes this toy fantastic for full-body teasing, or as an aid to those new to vibrators for finding their perfect speed. The vibrations are strong and deep, and do not decrease with pressure. Unfortunately, while using this toy I often found myself wishing it went a little higher. The vibrations were definitely enough to get me off, but I'll admit to reaching for my louder-but-stronger "Old Faithful" toy to finish the job quicker.

If you're looking for a toy to introduce you to the wonders of penetration, the Allure is just about perfect. Not too pointy, nice and smooth, and a subtle but noticeable bulge placed perfectly along the shaft. Although anatomies differ, I find that most toys are too long for me - some even having ridges or rabbit attachments that my body can't reach. The Allure's smaller size fits me perfectly, even for deep thrusting. I wouldn't call it a g-spotting toy, but the slight bulge adds a very nice sensation, and can be used to reach shallow g-spots pretty effectively. The smooth texture and tapered end makes insertion nice and easy. My only gripe with the Allure as a penetration toy is that its short length and small diameter makes it a bit hard to hold onto.

The Allure has a rock hard shaft and is made of smooth plastic. Plastic has more drag than glass or metal, but still provides for easy insertion and is compatible with both silicone- and water-based lubes. The smooth texture is great for insertion and allows for fast thrusting, but can get a little slippery when applied to the clit. Another problem with the texture is that it can be difficult to hold onto with lubed-up hands - even the slightly rougher texture of the dial (which is also hard plastic) doesn't add enough grip to help.

Despite the quality of this toy in use, it does feel a little cheap compared to other toys in the $30-40 price range. The plastic cap squeaks and seems fragile when unscrewed. There is also a visible seam running down the shaft, but it is smooth and can’t be felt during play.

The simple design of this toy makes it both beautiful and unintimidating. Due to its smaller size, when stored in the provided satin pouch it is very discreet and easy to travel with. The pouch also makes it almost impossible for the dial to be turned, so it will not be turned on at inopportune times.

The bulged design of the shaft is delightful for those who like smooth toys, but are looking for a gentle added sensation. Unlike other toys I've tried, the curve wasn't placed too far down the shaft to be fully inserted and provide maximum g-spot stimulation. This makes it especially good for women with shorter vaginas.

I have never used a toy with a dial before, but it's been a pleasant experience. You will need two hands to change the settings, but the dial turns smoothly and easily and presents no significant problems. It’s kind of hard to guess how to turn this toy on at first, which is actually a good thing - if anyone were to find it, they'd be unlikely to know how to use it.

The Allure is water resistant, not waterproof. That means it can be used in the shower, but is not meant to be fully submerged. I have used it in the shower extensively, and even dropped it in the tub once with no problems. A bit of water does get behind the dial, but is in no danger of reaching the motor. The only problem with it is that the dial will squeak a bit as it dries.

Cleaning this toy is easy: the directions say it can be washed with good ol' soap and water. If you plan on sharing the toy, you can sterilize it with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball. I haven't had any trouble cleaning the smooth surface - even the dial requires no special effort, and I have yet to find anything such as lube or soap stuck in the grooves. The Allure's hard plastic body is non-porous and can be used with any kind of lube, which makes it great for shower play, as many toys can only be used with the easily-diluted water-based stuff.

The Allure comes in a nice, relatively discreet cardboard box with “personal massager” printed on the front. The Durex logo is fairly prominent, though, so most people will have a good idea of what's inside. The box has a magnetic flap that reveals a window through which you can see the whole toy and a swatch of the storage pouch.

Inside you'll find the Allure, a beautiful purple satin storage pouch, and a little booklet detailing use and care of the toy in English and French. The plastic insert is suitable for storage in that it is easy to open and close, but the provided pouch is all that’s really necessary.