Dr. Laura Berman's shades of purple playroom kit - bdsm kit discontinued by Cal Exotics - review by SimpleHedonist

So, if you have just finished reading 50 Shades Of Grey, or are curious, but have never dipped your toes into the BDSM pool, then this is the perfect kit for you! For those of you that are more advanced users, you might still be charmed by this pretty purple set, but don't expect it to be more than what it is.

What is included:





All of the items included are very basic, and entry level. You get a set of basic stainless steel handcuffs with a safety release lever, 2 keys, and removable soft faux fur covers, a very plain and basic cotton mask, a small feather tickler, and 2 weighted stainless steel ben wa balls.

While this kit is adorable, and I love the purple feathers and fur, I would have to say that the overall quality and craftsmanship were a bit disappointing considering the price point. This kit is great for an introductory taste to BDSM, or maybe even a sexy bachelorette party gift, but don't expect it to stand up to repeated play sessions. Some pieces are better made than others, and I will break down my thoughts on each piece below.

Fur covered handcuffs and 2 keys- The cuffs are pretty typical entry level handcuffs. They are equipped with a safety lever so despite be "locked", they can easily be opened even without the key. This can be a great feature if you or your partner are not totally sold on the idea of bondage. However if you are looking for a more intense experience, the ease of removing these may take away from the desired effect. The fur covers provide enough comfort that your wrists should not get raw or sore from use. They covers also give this kit a playful and sexy feel that makes it very approachable to beginners. The cuffs are adjustable and can fit small to large wrists.

Mask-




The mask is made from a not so soft, almost canvas type feeling fabric. It wraps around your head with two very stretchy black bands. The straps have enough stretch to accommodate most any head size. While I did not enjoy the feel of the mask at all, I did love the dark purple color. I may try washing the mask a few times to see if I can soften up the fabric.

Feather Tickler-




Of all the pieces in the kit, I was most disappointed with the quality of the tickler. It contains very few feathers, and they appear to simply be taped around a plastic stick with some basic black electrical tape. I was very careful when using this, and still ended up loosing feathers from it. Even if you are careful, do not expect this piece to last more than a few uses at most.

Ben Wa Balls- I was actually very pleased with this portion of the kit! While these balls are not anything terribly special, they are really pretty great for kegel exercises. The balls are made of stainless steel, are silver in color, and are pretty heavy for their size. They do not have any kind of inner movement or sound. I have other vaginal balls that I like, but the small size and heaviness of these really gave my pelvic muscles a workout.

All of the items included work well for light BDSM play, but no more than that. The cuffs are very easy to escape from. The blindfold does not 100% block all light and vision, but does a pretty decent job of keeping you in the dark, especially if the lights are low. The ben wa balls may be a bit of a challenge to those new to vaginal balls, due to their small size and heavy weight, but they will give your kegels an amazing workout if you are able to keep them from falling out. I am afraid that due to its poor construction, the feather tickler doesn't provide much tickle.

Overall, if you toss the tickler, I think most BDSM beginners will find this a great kit to experiment with.

The kit comes in a fairly tasteful thin cardboard box. The pieces inside come in individual resealable plastic bags, with the exception of the ben wa balls that come in their own taffeta drawstring bag. While the packaging is nothing to write home about, it could definitely be used to store your items in to keep them safe and tucked away under the bed or in the nightstand.

When I saw this kit, the thing that attracted me to it was the pretty purple color! I love purple, and figured that alone was a good enough reason to get this. I did not have high expectations for the quality of the items, so I was not disappointed. This kit is cute, fun, and as long as you realize it is a basic beginners set, you will surly find it worth owning!

It is also worth noting, that this kit is almost exactly the same thing as a previously released kit by Dr. Laura Berman. If you are not interested in the ben wa balls, check out the Mistress Kit. It is exactly the same as this kit, minus the balls, and almost $20 cheaper.