Everyone remembers their first sex toy purchase - well, this was mine. I tentatively entered the sex toy store and was instantly overwhelmed by all the colors and phallic-shaped objects. As a young, 19-year-old sex toy virgin, I needed something safe and simple (and cheap – these were my college days after all). That is when I found the Velvet Touch Vibe. To be honest, I had no idea what I wanted, but saw that it was waterproof and cheap - that was enough for me to buy it.

USES:
The Velvet Touch can be inserted into the vagina. Grasp the end with the dial and push it into your vagina (pretty straightforward, right?). Motions for this toy include thrusting, rocking the toy up and down, side to side movements, and twisting/circular motions. Once inside, you can turn on the vibration settings or not, depending on your preference.

You should not use this toy for anal because there is no flared base.

External play is also an option. You can also use the entire length of the shaft and rub it up and down your genitals - people who enjoy more friction will like this feature. To add variety, place the toy on a pillow and grind on the vibrating shaft. The vibrations can be applied to ANY body part: nipples, inner thighs, perineum, outer part of the anus, etc. Get creative!

Users can use the rounded point for more localized sensations or the entire length for more generalized stimulation.

This toy has a multi-speed function, but the vibrations are one type (continuous). Turn the dial clockwise to increase the intensity of the vibrations (I counted 5 levels).

MATERIAL/TEXTURE:
The Velvet Touch is made of PU (polyurethane) coated plastic. PU is a polymer that offers stiffness and hardness. It is hypoallergenic, phthalate-free, waterproof, and non-porous (which helps prevent bacterial growth).

The feels smooth and velvety, gliding over the skin and genitals easily and comfortably. It's texture is almost analogous to silky soft skin. There is a slight drag, so lube is a must. The shaft is stiff and inflexible, which may be uncomfortable for some.

DESIGN/SHAPE:
The design is very straightforward - it is a long, straight, cylindrical shape that comes to a rounded point at the tip. At the other end, there is a plastic dial with multiple vibration settings. The lowest setting is a good starting point for beginners, while the highest setting is extremely intense. Beware: this toy is LOUD, which could pose problems if you live with others.

The slim girth of the shaft is great for beginners or those who want a slimmer toy. A length of 6 inches gives you plenty of room to hold the toy. Vibrations stimulate the Gspot, but almost in a taunting way. A more curved design would make for better GSpot stimulation.

CARE/MAINTENANCE:
In order to sanitize this toy, use mild soap and warm water or a special toy cleaner. Do not put into boiling water (there are plastic components). Because you cannot boil this toy, put a condom on it if you are planning on using it between partners.

Only use water and silicone-based lube. Do not expose it to light because that could wear down the polymer.

It takes 2 AA batteries, so make sure you have your battery stash ready. You can store the Velvet Touch in it's original packaging (a small box), a plastic bag, a sock, a cloth baggy, or just throw it into a drawer.

PERFORMANCE:
Insertion is where this toy disappoints. Its smooth texture allows it to glide in nicely, but the straight design is uncomfortable and awkward. It's like inserting a large tampon that vibrates, creating a "poking" sensation. The strong vibrations coupled with the hard plastic make internal vibrations intense and somewhat unpleasant. In addition, the strong vibrations can be irritating to the hand when holding it for longer periods of time.

Externally, the Velvet Toy performs well. Having the choice of using the tip or the shaft provide multiple possibilities.

I have an affection for this toy because it was my first sex toy experience and gave me plenty of clitoral orgasms. Its simplicity is both its best feature and worst enemy. If you are looking to buy cheap, then this would be the way to go solely for the fact that its texture is amazing. It gets the job done, but there are so many better (but more expensive) options out there over this one. I recommend this to beginners only who are looking to experiment with sex toy play. I do not recommend this for G-spot stimulation - the straight design makes insertion awkward and uncomfortable. I personally find the vibrations of the hard plastic to be too intense for internal use. It was a great first toy experience, but I've moved on.