Hearts leather blindfold - sex toy by PHS International - review by redhead1977

This was my first assignment and I was so damned excited to get it! The packaging it came in looked like standard molded plastic clam-shell packaging and I was preparing to grab the scissors and rip into it, when I noticed it was actually resealable. Always nice because then you're getting 2 products in one: storage! You grab the two sides and just pull it open. They're molded well so they fit snugly together and can be resealed and sued for storage, which is really nice because the product is made of leather and you don't want it to get dirty or dusty. There does seem to be some excess space in there, which is unfortunate, because it takes up more space in your drawer or toy box; however, you can use it and perhaps store some other small toys (a gag, a scarf, etc) in there to utilize the space with your blindfold.

I love the look of this product for a few reasons. It's very pretty. The delicate little hearts along the eyebrows are whimsical and cute and, in a sexual context, it's sexy because it's black. It isn't slap-you-in-the-face obvious that it's a sexual toy, though, so if you forget it out and Mom stops by, you can easily explain you were napping and keeping the light out of your eyes...which, in all seriousness, you could do. That's another thing I love about this product. One huge perk is that because it's structured leather, it's flexible along the width making it nicely shape and wrap around the sides of your face; but, it is firmer along the height so it doesn't crease horizontally along the middle and fold in and press uncomfortably against your eyes unlike cheaper material made-for-napping blindfolds sometimes do. You -totally- could use this for napping. Double duty! A slight bit of light sneaks in by my nose when I wear it, but I can't easily make out anything in the room. If I close my eyes, which I usually do when wearing a blindfold, it isn't an issue in the slightest, and the soft snug fit wrapping around my face makes me feel very secure and comfortable even with the bit of light that sneaks in.

The elastic band is about 1/2 an inch wide so it's a bit wider and feels a bit more sturdy than other blindfolds I've tried, which is nice, because it holds it snugly to my head and I don't feel it sliding or moving around when I move. The elastic appears to be glued in between the layer of outer leather and the layer of suede on the inside that rests against your skin. Then, it's sewn into place with the red stitching that runs along the entire perimeter. It seems really secure.

The only down side I found to this product is the edge that rests against my nose. The two layers of leather (leather and suede) are bonded and sealed along the edge and this seal is rigid and, while I don't notice it anywhere else along my face, the part that rests against the bridge of my nose was sharp and pointed. Being leather, I realized it would probably soften with use like a baseball glove or a good pair of shoes, so I took it with me on a car trip and fiddled with it during the ride. I rubbed my thumb against the edge of the sealant on the nose piece and I did notice it rounding and becoming less pronounced. It feels slightly more comfortable and with each use it gets more comfortable as well. So, while it initially was surprisingly stiff and rigid, I can see this malleable leather eventually molding to fit the wearer's face comfortably.

You can clean the blindfold with a warm damp cloth and, if necessary, a mild soap. I think if the water mucks up the suede, you can use a suede brush on it and try to raise the soft fibers, again. So, if it does need to be cleaned, a gentle wipe-down should do the trick.

I think this product is kind of perfect as a gift, as well, for a kinky friend's birthday or, even, a vanilla friend's bachelorette party because it isn't overtly BDSM. It's sensual and it feels sexy against your skin. It's "safe" naughty for that good girl who likes to play at being bad.

Since writing my review, I've used my mask on a few occasions to sleep while traveling. It worked very well. Because of its structured nature, it didn't fold up and get mangled in my carry-on luggage and it's so thick it blocked out all lights going on and off in the airplane, which was nice because I usually find that distracting. Also, it's sophisticated-looking and it's leather so when I go to sleep in my airplane seat, even if my mouth is hanging open and I'm drooling, I feel like a badass.