Until recently, I avoided sliding skin dildos because I hadn’t found any that were made with body-safe materials, but thankfully, Blush has fixed that with the launch of their Renaissance line. I was lucky to get my hands on Raphael, a 9.5″ realistic dildo with sliding foreskin & squeezable balls.
And, well. I have some thoughts. I originally unboxed this dildo on my PornHub channel (NSFW review with usage), and I ask you to consider this post a follow-up now that I’ve had time to use the toy off-camera.
Sometimes, my opinions may change after an unboxing review because I then take time to further test toys. You don’t need to have watched the video review before reading this, though there are several minutes of SFW footage before the usage portion of the video cuts in.
Hellllloooooo, Raphael!
Unlike any other dildo in my collection, Raphael is a sliding skin, silicone dildo with squeezable balls and a whole lotta length. Measuring in at 9.5″ in total length and 7″ of insertable length with 1.75″ diameter. Raphael does have a suction cup base and is a dual-density dildo made with Blush’s Purio® Liquid Silicone. The dildo is anal-friendly, and the suction cup base makes this dildo harness compatible!
The dual density is made with Blush’s Sensa Feel®, an exclusive, dual density technology. The dildo is firm at its core, while the outside is squishy soft. That exterior layer of silicone is very pinch-able, and in my opinion, it is easier to pinch the skin away from the core than it is to slide the skin up & down. For me to really be able to slide it up & down, I had to have a firm hold on the base.
Pros:
- Realistic design
- Dual-density silicone
- A prominent coronal ridge is good for g-spot or p-spot stimulation
- Balls are fun to play with
Cons:
- Sliding skin feels delicate. I worry about cutting it when I’ve got long nails
- It’s very shiny
- This silicone feels different from other Blush toys & is very sticky
Caring for Raphael
I’ll be honest, I don’t know if sliding skin dildos need any extra care beyond a normal, dual-density dildo. I tried doing some research, but Google and DuckDuckGo compete to have the least helpful search results for anything adult-related. Blush’s website also provides no additional information specific to sliding skin dildos.
So, I’m just going to assume that you should follow normal means of caring for this dildo: wash with warm water and your preferred toy cleaner or unscented, non-silicone-based soap. Because this dildo is quite sticky, make sure to wash it before & after each use to avoid any dust, lint, hair, etc being inserted into your holes.
You’ll also need to take care when storing it – no sharp edges, no rough or abrasive surfaces. And when you’re using it, be sure not to pinch, bite, or pick at the silicone.
My Experiences with Raphael
As my first sliding skin dildo, I have a lot of mixed feelings about Raphael. When I originally unboxed him for that PornHub review I mentioned earlier, I was excited to use him. He feels surprisingly pleasurable – the shape and size are fantastic for me! But the silicone feels different from other Blush silicone toys. It’s super soft, so it’s prone to picking up lint, dust, hair, etc. It’s got a lot more drag than other silicone dildos I have from Blush, and it’s also a high-gloss silicone.
In my opinion, it’s too shiny. It takes away from the realistic look of the dildo, which I think is part of why I’m somewhat put off by this dildo. I want my realistic dildos to be realistic, not shiny. I’m just not a fan of shiny toys, as I think it makes them look more plastic-y and cheap. And Raphael is not a cheap dildo by any means ($118 on Blush’s website). I had hoped that the shine would slowly diminish, but even after multiple uses, I haven’t experienced that happening (yet).
I felt that the silicone was also much stickier than other soft silicone toys in my collection. I did a little drag test holding Raphael in one hand and touching some of my toys from indie brands, like The Wanding Bard Toys and Faux Phallus. When comparing stickiness, I would rate it as about the same sticky level as the softest silicone toys in my collection.
The sliding skin silicone also feels very delicate, in my opinion, and I’m afraid of ripping or tearing it. When I pinch it, it doesn’t look or feel very thick. I can even feel a seam running up the shaft of the inside core, something I don’t think I should be able to feel so easily. I can’t feel it while I’m using the dildo, but when I hold & squeeze it, I know exactly where that seam is.
Speaking of the core, it does run from the balls up to the very tip of the dildo. Some dual-density dildos have a core that stops an inch or more (I’m looking at you Tantus Gary 02) from the head, but not this one! That gives it a somewhat realistic feeling throughout the entire shaft.
When using Raphael on myself, it felt good. Like, really, really good. The dual density is pretty nice! Plus, the coronal ridge was fantastic for stimulating my G-spot. I loved using this one for long strokes because of that nice head!
Final Thoughts on Raphael
I do think Raphael by Blush is, overall, a well-made dildo, and the balls are silly-fun to play with. The dual density is nice, and I appreciate that the inner core runs from balls to tip. The suction cup is quite strong and works well in a harness. The dual density does feel good, and it’s quite likely that I’m being overly paranoid about ripping the silicone. I’m afraid of ripping or tearing any soft materials, even though I know that silicone is a pretty durable soft material.
Raphael ended up not being the dildo for me. The size & shape are fantastic, and it does feel satisfying, but the stickiness and shine knock this dildo into a weird, uncanny valley feeling for me. If I saw this toy in a brick-and-mortar toy store, I’d probably skip over it.
If shine and stickiness don’t have the same effect on you, then I’d say that Renaissance by Blush: Raphael is a good dual-density dildo option. The length and girth may not be for beginners; however, I find it easier and more comfortable to take dual-density dildos when I’m less-than-ideally warmed up.
Blush also has a second, smaller dildo in the Renaissance collection, DaVinci, which may be better suited for someone looking for a smaller version. I have not tested DaVinci, as Blush only sent me Raphael, but they’re part of the same collection and have similar details. DaVinci is an 8″ dildo with a 5.5″ insertable length.
If you’d like to buy a Raphael or DaVinci dildo of your own, please shop using my affiliate links. Use coupon code “SYDNEYSCREAMS” at checkout to save 20% on your order!
