The Bon Bon is a small, yet powerful vibe that’s designed for external stimulation. It has three different speeds and a pulsation function, which really make this vibe stand out compared to similar toys. While the vibrations aren’t the most powerful, they are impressive based on size and the fact that it runs on a couple of AAA batteries. It’s obviously great for your naughty bits, but I use this one for shoulder massages and really like it.

Made out of non-toxic ABS Plastic, the Bon Bon is a body safe toy that’s also splash proof. That means it’s good for a round in the shower, but that you shouldn’t submerge it. I took mine in the shower and did a quick check later to make sure there wasn’t any water in the battery compartment. I’m always nervous about mixing water with my toys, but this experiment proved to be a great success.

One thing I’m pretty excited to point out is that I would think this toy would be a good gift for someone who has problems with their wrists or hands. It sits right on the pubic bone and is much easier to use and control than a bullet vibe or pocket rocket. While only an individual can gauge what’s right for them, I think it’s at least a good toy to suggest!

Finally, this small vibe (measures 2 X 2.75 inches) is great for travel. If you’re someone who’s a little more discreet, it’s far more likely to go unnoticed as you pass through security than a giant vibrating dong. It also comes with a cute bag for storage.

Overall, this is a really nice toy on the low end of the price scale. I love the way the shape allows you to pinpoint where you want to concentrate the vibrations and the fact that it’s multi-speed. If you’re looking for an affordable toy that’s well built, you should definitely check out the Bon Bon and the rest of the Natural Contours line.

Long before there was a marketplace of women making dirty movies for women, there was Candida Royalle. Just about 25 years ago, Royalle moved from in front of the camera to behind the lens and began creating porn she was interested in watching with her studio, Femme Productions. Considered a rock star by lady porn lovers (including us HM4Her gals), Candida was one of the first to start releasing movies made from a woman’s voice and created with women viewers in mind. Without her vision and perseverance, ‘for women, by women’ porn might never have taken off like it has, and we might not even exist. So thanks, Candida!

And because Candida was a pioneer of the field and fought on the forefront of female porn, the woman has a lot of wonderful memories and stories! So to let us take a glimpse of the past and experience all Candida has to say, we’ve broken her interview into four parts, complete with some of her personal pictures from other the years!

Look for the four parts of Candida’s interview, posting on Monday’s and be sure to check out part one and part two!

11. If you were president, what’s the first thing you’d change?
That’s a real tough one. There are so MANY things we need to change, as our current president is trying to accomplish. I don’t know…I think I’ll just leave him to make that decision. I trust him!

12. What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?
Oh gee, that’s a tough one. I think it’s too embarrassing to tell! I’ve got my pride, after all!!

13. Which is your favorite project that you’ve worked on?
You keep asking for one choice in all these categories and as you can see I have a hard time coming up with just one of anything! As I accumulate more and more experience and personal history there are so many things I’ve done, so many opinions, so many likes and dislikes, I just can’t put my finger on one. In my twenties I would have said it was one of fun, crazy theatre productions I did in San Francisco, or a singing act I helped put together.

Another 10-15 years later I might have pointed to one of my film-projects…probably shooting Eyes of Desire, parts one and two back to back, with Missy and Micky G and my friend and producer Michele Capozzi and cinematographer Jane Waters…Maybe I’d say the early days of creating Natural Contours with my industrial design partner from Amsterdam…I’ve had a very rich life!

14. If you could have 1 superpower what would it be?
To take away all the pain and suffering in the world, both for people and especially animals – farm animals and those in the wild – who suffer so at our hands.

15. Meat or veggie?
I’ve been a vegetarian since 1985 but I do occasionally eat fish. I reverted back to chicken, trying to stick to free-range, for a couple of years but I prefer not to eat it. They’re treated too brutally and without mercy.

To be continued…

Long before there was a marketplace of women making dirty movies for women, there was Candida Royalle. Just about 25 years ago, Royalle moved from in front of the camera to behind the lens and began creating porn she was interested in watching with her studio, Femme Productions. Considered a rock star by lady porn lovers (including us HM4Her gals), Candida was one of the first to start releasing movies made from a woman’s voice and created with women viewers in mind. Without her vision and perseverance, ‘for women, by women’ porn might never have taken off like it has, and we might not even exist. So thanks, Candida!

And because Candida was a pioneer of the field and fought on the forefront of female porn, the woman has a lot of wonderful memories and stories! So to let us take a glimpse of the past and experience all Candida has to say, we’ve broken her interview into four parts, complete with some of her personal pictures from other the years!

Look for the four parts of Candida’s interview, posting on Monday’s and be sure to check out part one!

6. What did you do today?
I got on a plane and flew home from LA to NY. I’ve been in LA for the Adult Novelty Expo with my Natural Contours line of Intimate Massagers for the last week, and now I’m returning home. Isn’t it great that I can do this interview from thousands of feet up in the air??? Gotta’ love the lap top!

7. What would you rather have done today?
Well, relatively speaking, this is just what I would like to have done: come home! I love my home! But when we were taxiing out on to the runway I spotted a jet plane from an airline from Tahiti and wistfully saw myself on a balmy white sandy beach with palm trees and calm turquoise water. Sigh. It’s been too long…

8. If you could do a movie with anyone (living or brought back from the dead) who would it be?
Hmmm….not a big celebrity watcher. Just give me some leading ladies and men who are alluring in a natural way, can act, and are able to project a raw sexuality and eroticism while staying in character.

9. Who is your favorite adult performer?
I don’t have one, but I’ve had several I very much liked directing over the years. Missy was a rare gem, an ethereal beauty who was remarkable on screen. She probably gave too much of herself and in the end was far too fragile to survive a culture that judges women like her while consuming them for their own pleasure.

Nina Hartley is a wonderful professional woman who gives her all to her work, and loves her work! She was in several of my movies and won some awards for her work for me. Alexandra Silk also gives so much of herself and worked very hard for me in “Stud Hunters.” She received a nomination for best actress for her leading role in “Stud Hunters” from AVN that year. Ava Vincent, her co-star, was also an ethereal beauty whom I couldn’t wait to feature in one of my movies.

 Shanna McCullough, who was in several movies for me including her starring role in “The Gift,” was a very talented actress and very professional as well. I’m sure I’m forgetting some, especially from my early movies…like Chelsea Blake who embodied the confident ‘older’ woman who was so comfortable in her skin and with what she was doing; and Carol Cross who came alive on screen with such a pure, natural beauty. Lauren and I always thought she had a real milk-maid quality, and loved how her chest and butt cheeks would turn rosy red during the erotic scenes. She starred in “Christine’s Secret” for us, which won several awards. As for the men, Mark Davis was always one of my favorites. He was so handsome and while some criticized his acting skills I managed to get good performances out of him.

Micky G was very sexy and had a great screen presence, and Tom Byron let me cast him in some of the silliest roles and pulled them off brilliantly, like in “One Size Fits All” and “Eyes of Desire, part 2” where he cross dressed for the role! I found Alex Sanders very hot with his long golden locks and buff body and he always really delivered for me.

10. You’ve got 20 bucks left to your name; what would you do with it?
Oh wow, what can you even do with $20 now??? Pay for a cab to the nearest person you know who you trust will lend you more? LOTS more!

To be continued…

Long before there was a marketplace of women making dirty movies for women, there was Candida Royalle. Just about 25 years ago, Royalle moved from in front of the camera to behind the lens and began creating porn she was interested in watching with her studio, Femme Productions. Considered a rock star by lady porn lovers (including us HM4Her gals), Candida was one of the first to start releasing movies made from a woman’s voice and created with women viewers in mind. Without her vision and perseverance, ‘for women, by women’ porn might never have taken off like it has, and we might not even exist. So thanks, Candida!

Along with being the queen of women’s porn, Royalle wears quite a number of different tiaras, including being the first erotic filmmaker to have been invited to become a member of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), as well as a celebrated sex toy designer with her Natural Contours line of discreet, high-style toys.

And because Candida was a pioneer of the field and fought on the forefront of female porn, the woman has a lot of wonderful memories and stories! So to let us take a glimpse of the past and experience all Candida has to say, we’ve broken her interview into four parts, complete with some of her personal pictures from other the years!

Look for the four parts of Candida’s interview, posting on Monday’s!

When I got to the agency the guy asked me if I would consider being in an adult movie. I had never even seen one, so, with visions of sleazy motel rooms, sweaty directors and drug-addled performers, I stormed out of the office in a huff… but my boyfriend, a musician, decided he wanted to try it, as did a close girlfriend of mine who became known as “Laurien Dominique” in the business. He ended up getting a lead role in a big budget Anthony Spinelli movie called “Cry for Cindy”, so I decided to visit the set and see what it was really like. I was very surprised to discover that it was all very legit…big crew, attractive cast, scripts, and of course Spinelli was a beloved director who everyone loved working for. So I decided it was a great way for a struggling artist to make some extra money. After all, it was a time of open sexuality, there were no life-threatening diseases, and I always enjoyed performing, so I figured, we make love behind closed doors, why not for others to view and enjoy?

I was in about 25 movies in the course of five years, and while the experience was generally OK, I came to feel that most of the movies were boring, formulaic, not the least bit erotic, and in particular they paid absolutely no attention to what women wanted or were really like in bed. I was in my last movie in 1980. Then, as I wrote articles for various men’s magazines and a really fun expose on my career for “High Times” Magazine when Larry ‘Ratzo’ Sloman was editor, I observed market trends and thought about my next career move. I could tell that, thanks to the woman’s movement, of which I was active when in college, women had received permission to explore their sexuality and were curious to view sexy movies, but there was nothing out there that catered to their tastes. Suddenly home video and cable TV were born and women could watch in the privacy and safety of their homes, but the adult industry wasn’t noticing this untapped market. In my desire to create a new career for myself I decided to take a chance and go with my gut instincts.

With the support and financial backing of my former Swedish in-laws and a little help from my ex-husband who was a very talented and respected young producer in both adult and indie films, I formed Femme Productions in 1984 with a woman named Lauren Niemi who was an erotic photographer from the Midwest, and we set out to create erotic movies that we felt reflected what women like while also appealing to men who would enjoy something besides the standard formulaic porn that dominated the industry. Lauren and I worked together for 3 years, and then I went on to form Femme Distribution, Inc with my husband while continuing to develop the Femme line. He and I separated after 9 years together and I continued to do the international distribution for Femme. After 8 movies I moved over to Adam & Eve who financed 10 more Femme movies and took on the distribution. I’m a free agent now and looking to do something that’s still erotic but even more of a departure from standard adult fare.

2. If you weren’t in the adult industry, what would you be doing?
I have no idea. I’ve had many opportunities and things I like to do that I’m trained in and good at…singing, dancing, performing, illustration, writing…but I’ve never been good at working for and answering to others. I have to be my own boss. So I suspect I would have created some kind of entreprenorial business or maybe gone on to write full time, and considering that I’ve always been political minded and something of a rebel-rouser, it probably would have had a social agenda of some sort, much the way Femme Productions does.

3. What’s the best thing you’ve learned or best advice you’ve received from industry?
I’ve learned that even when you’re faced with a wall of naysayers who view your ideas with skepticism it’s important to follow your gut. If you know something is a good idea don’t let anyone discourage you. Your gut is your best judge and you just might be right.

4. What’s the funniest thing that’s happened while filming?
I’m saving that for my next book!

5. What do you think is the biggest misconception about women in the industry?
Ten years ago I might have answered that the greatest misconception about women in the industry is that they couldn’t possibly choose to be in adult movies for anything but self-destructive reasons, but attitudes have changed quite a bit. That said, I would say that, regardless of all the talk about the ‘mainstreaming of porn’, adult film actresses are still judged harshly. Our culture has a vested interest in condemning women who use their sexuality to their own financial gain. It’s a way of protecting the status quo, the double standard. Women are supposed be the ‘moral arbiters’, the ‘good mothers’, the ones who keep men in line. Women who are sexually empowered are viewed as dangerous. A threat to the institutions of marriage and motherhood. They couldn’t possibly go hand in hand. So it’s important to continue to portray “loose” women as bad or troubled victims or losers so young women don’t strive to follow in their footsteps.

To Be Continued…

The first feel of the Petite Pink Ribbon sitting on my pubic bone was one of smooth coolness.  Smartly named “Natural Contours,” the shape contours just so to my body and fits perfectly in my hand. It really is shaped specifically for a woman‘s body. The soft touch is just that, absolutely soft and the toy is ultra light. I held it with my hand putting my middle and index finger on the top base, similar to holding one of those wider razors to your legs. However, I was guiding this mini miracle to my most sensitive spots.

There are three speeds on this gentle design. The highest speed comes on first, so if you’re looking for a build up, skip over two notches. The differences from one to three are enough to notice, but not shockingly so. For me, one and two are almost a waste of time. Three is a good vibration, but not a rocket punch. With all the speeds, if you are not holding the Ribbon firmly, you’ll hear almost an echoing sound. Sounds like there is emptiness and something may be moving around in there. When it’s turned off and you give it a good shake, there is definitely battery movement. The loudness factor is pretty high. Even on the lowest speed, you can hear it in the other room.

The contoured shape is just enough to lay on your pubic bone while stimulating your clit. If you slide it down just a bit, you can lay the bulb end between your labia and have a nice stimulating massage. The contour makes this ergonomically designed massager more of a sensual device than a hard core sex toy. Although the Ribbon has a nice soft exterior touch, the device itself is hard and not flexible by any means.

I think this is an ideal toy for first timers and perfect for a romantic Valentine’s Day get away.
The Ribbon is not usable in water, so save it for after the tub with the low light burning candles. It is a sensual, pink addition without extreme boldness. This massager can be used as an excellent relaxer after a long stressful day.

When I used this on myself, I was having difficulty reaching an orgasm. It took both hands to change between intensities, the shape was new to me and the noise was a distraction. After it was all said and done, I needed fingers to complete the job. I think for future use, this will be a toy I grab when I need some mellow relaxation and want to be one with myself and my womanhood.

And we can’t forget that Natural Contours donates 10% of the proceeds from the Petite Pink Ribbon to Breast Cancer Action.

Come for a great cause with the Petite Pink Ribbon!

Today we have a special little treat for you. We offer up weekly toy reviews on the site, but thought it was time we changed things up for you, dedicated readers.

Besides looking for a little knowledge, we thought our older readers would appreciate to hear from a peer occasionally, so we invited our favorite cougar to review the Natural Contours Energie for us! We really appreciate her perspective and hope you will too!

For years I’ve known about the benefits of kegel exercises, as my gynecologist advised me to do them, but I haven’t done much about. They are done to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that can be weakened by childbirth and age. These exercises are helpful in controlling incontinence and to tighten the vaginal walls to aid in better sexual pleasure.

Having had three children and being post-menopausal, these exercises would be especially valuable to me now. So when I heard about the Energie, a kegel exerciser made by Natural Contours, I was interested in trying it.

The device is shaped like a barbell, made of metal covered in plastic and is phthalate-free. It weighs a little over a pound and comes in a nice plastic box. The Engergie is very easy to use and care for, and even comes with instructions!

Basically, you insert it in your vagina and squeeze your kegel muscles. As you contract your muscles, you’ll feel the resistance of the device, which helps to strengthen the muscles. It is easier to do the exercises with the Energie than without it because you can feel your muscles contracting around something. It’s not the most fun thing to do, since I don’t love exercising, but it only takes 5-10 minutes a day (I spend more time walking on the treadmill.) Certainly the benefits of strengthening my pelvic muscles make a few minutes of exercise worthwhile.

Since I just started using it, I don’t know the long term-effects, but as with any exercise program, it will take some time.

To sum up, the Energie is relatively inexpensive, easy to care for, and easy to use. If used consistently, it is very beneficial in helping to strengthen pelvic muscles, which can make a huge difference in women’s health and sexual issues.

Add some bounce to your step with the Natural Contours’ Engerie!

Because kegels aren’t all work and no play, check out our review of the Pure Wand for a dirtier look at another Kegel muscle exerciser.

Banana. That’s the first thing I thought when I took the Liberte out of its stylish, discreet packaging. While that may sound a little weird, it’s true, this Natural Contours vibe looks a little like a banana. Well, an abstract banana, but still banana-esque enough to remind me of the fruit. Yellow and curved in the middle, the Liberte is a three-speed plastic vibrator specifically designed to hit the G-Spot.

The Liberte isn’t one of those fancy, one hundred speed toys that light up or remember exactly what kind of buzzing you like, but for a basic, phthalate-free vibrator, it’s pretty awesome. With only one button to manage, this toy is easy to use and doesn’t require pouring over the instruction manual. Hit the button once for full power, a second time for medium, a third for low and a fourth time for the special pulsation pattern. One more press turns it off. Plus, the vibrations are a great combo of powerful and quiet, so you get all the buzz you need without waking up your housemates. And in this economy, I can’t forget to mention the price. Less than $30 for a high quality vibe? Totally awesome.

Like I said above, the Liberte is a G-Spot vibe. The insertable end is a bulb that curves around to land directly on that special hot spot. Unfortunately there is no part that reaches the clit, but the vibe controller part doesn’t get in the way of your fingers (or another vibe, like the Jolie) if you want some added stimulation.

I really like the Natural Contours line as well. Created by porn for women pioneer Candida Royalle, the collection is comprised of toys that are all made to ergonomically fit a woman’s body perfectly. The actual company is super female friendly and really wanted to bring sexual health and pleasure together when they thought about their product line. If you’re looking for a totally non-threatening or overwhelming toy, this line is where to go. Seriously – if I wanted to give my mom a sex toy, this is what she’d get.

Liberate your pleasure with the Liberte!

The Jolie mini-vibe from Natural Contours is as simple as they come. Depending on what you’re looking for, this can be a really good thing or a reason to move on and look for something else. Personally, I think every woman should own a small clit vibe and this one is good and totally affordable.

This plastic vibe is only four inches long and runs on a single AA battery. In spite of that, it manages to offer a pretty strong buzz that’s good for getting off quickly or pushing you over the edge when you’re getting down and dirty with a good friend. The tip’s smooth end is pretty flat and makes it really easy to focus in on your clit and go to town. Unfortunately, it only has one speed, but at least it’s pretty powerful!

While hard plastic like the Jolie is made of isn’t as great as a high grade silicone, it’s a ton cheaper and is phthalates-free. Plus, plastic is pretty easy to take care of, you can clean it with soap and water. This little guy is waterproof, so you don’t have to be insanely careful about water when cleaning. Of course, in the interest of longevity, I wouldn’t be reckless around water unless you’re playing in the shower. Why risk it?

Natural Contours has essentially improved on the pocket rocket with the Jolie. This discreet toy is great for a weekend getaway and one I can definitely recommend. It’s a really great and relatively cheap present for Valentine’s Day that’s sure to please it’s recipient!

Add this discreet vibe to your toy box!