The Crystal Chic Wand by Cal Exotic is made to make playtime exciting, in and out of the water. Although it's not limited to anal use, as one could use it to tease other erogenous zones with its escalating vibrations, it should always be thoroughly cleaned beforehand, and then just save the best location for last! When used properly, it can trigger some intense orgasms for either gender.

The base parts are constructed of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and then covered with a PU (polyurethane) coating to give the toy a satin/matte lustre appearance, with a somewhat rubbery-feel to it, giving it a bit of drag. I have a feeling that the latter is mostly to make the toy look a bit classier and less like a shiny plastic toy; however, it may reduce slippage to a certain degree once a lubricant is applied. Regardless of the coating, the beads alone usually do a good job of keeping the toy in place. The texture of the toy as a whole, particularly the beaded portion, is, well, bumpy, but pleasurably so, which is how it is intended to be!

No taste was noted and only a slight smell was present, but nothing unpleasant.

I'm a big fan of the vibrating anal wand, but especially of the general design of this particular model. Rather than just having a minimal number of beads with large spacing in between, the entire length of the insertable 7 1/4" portion (minus the handle), from the cylindrical/bullet-bead on the tip down to the handle, has 12 tightly-packed, independent, graduated beads, with the largest being approximately 5/8" in diameter. These are strung along a flexible rod, which allows the wand to be bent in multiple locations so that the user can hit those hard-to-reach spots. This feature allows the toy to be maneuvered so that the user can find the most comfortable position in which to use it.

The handle is smooth and comfortable, with 6 crystals embedded just above the battery compartment. Although they are pretty, I could do without the added bling, as with the satin finish, if it really serves no purpose other than making the toy more stylish and classy. I'm all about simplicity, functionality, and durability. Stylish is nice, but it isn't necessary in my opinion, especially if it causes issues. Read on for more on that matter in the "Care and Maintenance" section.

It is available in pink and black. My favorite color is black, so I went with that one, but it does have its advantages, especially for those new to the ups and downs of anal play.

The toy is suitable for users of any level. Beginners will enjoy the introductory appeal of it, specifically its slim design, whereas an advanced user may appreciate finding multiple ways to use it in conjunction with other toys.

Whether or not it is easy to conceal depends entirely on the method of concealment! With a total length of 11 1/2", it's too large for your coat pocket; however, because of the fairly thin overall diameter, it could be carried at the bottom of a purse.

If a toy doesn't provide some intense vibrations, it's not going to appeal to me. This one has 3 levels of steady, increasing vibration, with the highest setting being quite powerful. There is a small button on the bottom of the handle to get things started, and it cannot be easily turned off by accident. Even though the motor is located in the handle, I felt the strongest vibration in the oblong bead at the tip, which is great for prostate stimulation. I'm a sucker for a lot of "vroom" and this toy didn't disappoint me at all in that category.

Maintaining a firm hold on the handle seems to reduce the noise a bit on every setting; however if silence is a must, you may want to stick to the low or medium settings, as high does rattle some.

The battery compartment twists off right below the crystal embellishment, revealing space for one-AA battery, which will last for quite some time. It boasts run times between 6 hours for high and up to 12.5 on low speed. That is quite impressive! As with any toy, batteries should be removed when not in use, but honestly, how many of us remember to do that all the time? I know I don't. Screwing the compartment back on securely permits you to use the toy in wet environments such as the shower or the tub. I've tried neither, as waterplay isn't my thing.

Crystal Chic has a material safety rating of 8, which makes it very appealing for a plastic toy. It is non-porous and phthalate-free, so it's safe for the body and the delicate, highly absorbent tissues of the anus. There is a trick to cleaning it though, which is easily overlooked if you hastily throw away the packaging, in which lies a tiny, easily-overlooked instruction card. Basically, the wand can be pulled taught and twisted into an "open" position so that rod locks in place and extends a bit extra so one can clean between the beads, either by using water and anti-bacterial soap or isopropyl alcohol. Just be sure to let the toy dry thoroughly before reconfiguring it to its original position.

Various lubricants can be used, ranging from water-based to silicone, even oil; although I cannot attest to what kind of oil. It is best to be safe and stick to actual toy lubricants.

***Now, having said all that and following the recommended care and maintenance procedures for plastic toys, the only problem I experienced with this toy is that the PU coating cracked and peeled after a couple of uses. Why? I have no clue. Again, I did everything right, so I am stumped. I recently submitted an inquiry to the manufacturer, and as of this review, am awaiting a reply. I will update if and when I hear something.

Overall, I like this toy, I really do; but I'm torn between giving it a 3 and a 4. I'm going to give it 4 stars because it is well-made, powerful, and gets the job done. It looses the last star though because of the coating issue. I'm not too worried about it, it's not coming off in chunks, and the price-point makes it reasonable enough to be replaced, but it is still a shame it's occurring in the first place.

I enjoy using this toy in conjunction with my rabbit vibrator for some double-penetration action. When I'm feeling so close to orgasm, but I need that extra push, the Crystal Chic triggers the necessary reaction to send my entire body into orgasmic bliss, presumably because my sphincter muscles are being squeezed around the toy. By itself, it feels nice, but doesn't do the trick.