Product review: BEE and YOU Natural Propolis Nasal Spray 1 Fl oz

 

We have hot air heat, so the air is pretty dry, and I like using Ayr Nasal spray before I go to sleep to keep my nasal passages from drying out.  For the last week, I have replaced  Ayr spray with Bee and You Nasal spray.

What are the differences?
★ Bee and You Spray has a scent. It is not a pleasant scent but tolerable.  Ayr saline solution is totally unscented.
★ When I initially spray, it stings.  Ayr saline solution does not hurt at all.
★ After I apply the Bee and You spray, my nose runs for a few minutes.  I think it is reacting to the stinging sensation.
★ However, after the initial unpleasant stinging, the nose feels moisturized.  

Bottom line, I like how Ayr saline solution feels and smells better.  But I am giving myself a few more weeks to see if I get used to it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: TiegeSou Ear Nose Hair Trimmer for Men Women, Portable 3in1 USB Rechargeable

 

This battery feels cheap (lightweight, how things fit together, how warm it gets), but it is cheap.  For the price, it does a reasonable job, with the rotary shaver being the best head, in my opinion. I can't use it for a long time because it gets warm, which does not feel pleasant.

It charges quickly.  While it charges, the green light is on, and when it is fully charged, the light goes off.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Extra Strength Kojic Acid Serum 7.5% Dark Spot Corrector

 

 

 

 

Kojic Acid is a natural melanin inhibitor and reduces unwanted dark spots and uneven skin tone. This serum contains a 7.5% concentration. Instructions state to use once a day. Cleaning and moisturizing before application of the acid serum are recommended.

I found it is effective, but I am concerned about 7.5% concetration. My research shows that 2% Kokjic Acid is concenred to be safe, but higher amounts were linked to tumor growth in studies.

I also found information that the Kojic acid breaks down quite easily and is prone to oxidize, which means that the acid is sensitive to air, heat, and light. This is helpful to know for how to store the bottle.

It has been slightly over a week since I began using the serum.  My dark spots look lighter.  One of them was slightly raised, and now I no longer feel the height difference as I move my finger over this area.  The skin on my hand does not look irritated.  

Active Ingredients:    Lactic_acid, Kojic Acid, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Glycolic_acid

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆  

Product review: Ama Dablam Small Crossbody Bag Genuine Leather Phone Purse

 

 

My new phone, Pixel 6 Pro, is too larger to fit into a pocket. I needed a different solution for carrying it. This bag is a good solution.  It is not too large, yet it is a good fit for the Pixel 6 Pro phone.

★ Pixel 6 Pro is 6.5" long, 3.0" wide.
★ The bag is 7.5" long, 4.5" wide, 2.5" thick.

The bag has three compartments; two compartments fit the phone.  They also fit my sunglasses.
The smaller front compartment has slots for credit cards. It also holds tissues, lipstick, or whatever other small things I might be carrying.

I like that the bag is made out of genuine leather. It is soft and subtle, and as a leather bag, it will wear well for a long time.  The shoulder strap is not flimsy; it is substantial and adjustable.  I can wear it as a crossbody, over the shoulder, or around the neck.

Each of the three compartments closes with a zipper. The zippers operate smoothly and keep content more secure than snaps.

This bag meets all my requirements. I am very happy with it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★
 

Product review: GaxQuly Baby Wipes Dispenser Baby Wipe Case

 

 This dispenser box is 7.5" long, 4.75" wide, and 2.75" tall. It is more narrow than the standard Kleenex tissues, so it does not work well as a paper tissue dispenser.  However, it works very well for most wet wipes, as they are typically under 8" long. It is okay if the first tissue does not pull up the next tissue because the opening is big enough to pull tissues up with your fingers.

The box closes firmly, so it keeps wet tissues moist for at least a week.  I am a big fan of wet wipes in the bathroom but dislike the plastic packs with sticky flap covers they are often sold in as they become less and less sticky as I keep using the pack. Now, I immediately transfer the wet tissues into this box, and this dispenser works better for me than the plastic packs.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: L'Anbaiti Cordless Water Flosser Teeth Pick Oral Irrigator

 

It works very well once you figure out how to put this flosser together.  The flosser comes very compactly packaged.  The water tube is hidden inside the body and must be pulled out.  The water tank is shipped as a cover to the flosser. The instruction manual is not very good, and it took me some experimentation to put everything together.

What I like
1. The water hose is metal not plastic, so it is straight and reaches the very bottom of the water tank.  I can drain the tank well.
2. The water container is big; one tank gives me more than enough water to do all my teeth in four sections.
3. The power of the water stream is good,
4. The body of the flosser is not too thick and fits my small hand comfortably.
5. It is powered with a c-type generic cord. It chargers fast, and not it is not a special cord; I can use any c-type cord I want.

Overall, I like it, even though the first impression was frustrating.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Obeamiu RGB Led Video Light, Video Conference Lighting Accessory for Clip on Laptop with Tripod Stand

 

 This light is compact and provides a decent amount of light. It is 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" x 1" wide in size and weighs ? oz.  The color temperature is 2500-8500K and has many color modes.  The video light feels well constructed and sturdy.  

In addition to the video light, the package includes a clip, a tripod, a remote for the light, a cold shoe adapter, and a ballhead.  I was particularly impressed with the clip; it is very heavy duty.  The tripod is plastic and lightweight. It is okay for home use and as a selfie stick, but I would not trust it as a tripod as it is too lightweight for a gust of wind with a phone sitting on top a sail.

The light has three cold shoes and one 1/4" screw, so it has multiple options for mounting and combining lights. I own an Unlazi video light, which is slightly smaller, and I was able to couple it with this light via the hold shoe connector.

It has a USB-C port for charging the light.  The charger and cable are not included.  Using fast charger and C-type to C-type cable from depleted to fully charged on my fast charger takes 3 hours.  The light can be used while it is charging.

The light is not waterproof, but I can still use it when it rains by putting a plastic zip lock bag over the light.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: iO CLEAN Carpet Cleaner Shampoo – Deep Cleaner & Deodorizer

 

I use this carpet shampoo to clean the entrance mat and the walkway carpet.  I use the shampoo in a spray bottle, mixing 50% solution with 50% water.

After I spray the solution and let it sit for 10 minutes, I use a carpet brush to work the carpetsm and then go over the area with a vacuum. The solution has a very strong unpleasant industrial scent that lasts for many days. I even opened doors and windows (in December in Massachusetts) with a fan blowing, and still could not get rid of the scent.

The carpet looks cleaner but did not get rid of a discoloration in the middle of the carpet. I am attaching before and after photos.

I do not fill my Bissell steam cleaner with this shampoo, as instructions on the steam cleaner say to use only water.  The manufacture of this shampoo mentions the use with a steam cleaner, but my Bissell is not compatible with it.

Shampooing a carpet involves using a detergent, while steam cleaning uses hot water vapor and steam mop to break down dirt.  My experience shows that steam cleaning is gentler on carpets and dries faster, but shampooing gets stains out better.

The bottle was not sealed on the inside and leaked in transit.  It arrived sticky and unpleasant and the bottle required to be cleaned on the outside.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆
 

Product review: Asalle USB Nail Drill, Electric Nail Drill

 

This drill is a corded drill.  The cord and the on/off mechanism look really cheaply made. I find it hard to turn on and turn off, and the cord gets in my way. The corded drill is hard to use on my toenails.  I prefer cordless nail drills.  On the positive side, it has many drill heads and comes with a very nice case.  The slow speed feels comfortable for the natural nails, which is how I use it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Product review: Goheekgo Electric Eyebrow Trimmer for Women

 

 This trimmer worked better than I expected.  The small head makes it easy to remove only the hairs I want, leaving close-cropped stuble. The trimmer works on thick eyebrow hairs, not just fuzz.
It comes with a very short cord (5"), so I replaced it with a longer cord of my own.  The good news is that it has a mini USB port, so it is easy to substitute.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Aleve Arthritis Pain Gel, Diclofenac Sodium Tropical Gel 1% (NSAID)

 

The most important thing to know is that this gel is aimed ONLY at particular body areas and ONLY for pain from arthritis.

☆ Hand
☆ Wrist
☆ Elbow
☆ Foot
☆ Ankle
☆ Knee

Aleve states that their studies show that the gel does not help with pain from strains, sprains, bruises, and sports injuries.  So people should not risk side effects for that type of pain.

The instructions say that it may take up to seven days to work, but you should stop using it if there is no relief after seven days.  It also warns that people allergic to aspirin should not take it, as the gel can produce an allergic reaction (hives, blisters, rash).  And it also has the same "liver damage" potential as the pills.

Active Ingredients: Diclofenac Sodium 1% (NSAID*) (Arthritis Pain Reliever), (Equivalent to 0.93% Diclofenac), (*Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) Inactive Ingredients: carbomer homopolymer Type C, cocoyl caprylocaprate, fragrance, isopropyl alcohol, mineral oil, polyoxyl 20 cetostearyl ether, propylene glycol, purified water, strong ammonia solution

The gel has a slight medicinal smell, but not bad. It is absorbed quickly, and it is not sticky.  I found it helpful with slight knee pain.

I hoped to use it for arthritis pain in my neck and shoulder, but this gel does not target those areas, so I am a bit disappointed.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Hairatin Premium Root Touch Up Cover Up Gray Hair & Root

 

This touch-up is basically a very expensive mascara (same size, same applicator, same appearance of coverage).  I was not satisfied with the results.
☆ It smears with any water (not just soap and water): sweat and rain make it smudgy.
☆ The coverage on hair or skin is not even.
☆ The color looks more like a black color than brown.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: MelodySusie Professional Cordless Nail Drill

 

 MelodySusie drill has a very convenient shape and does not feel bulky.  It has a built-in rechargeable battery, so there is no wire to get in the way like some other nail drills.  I particularly notice this advantage when I do my toenails. The battery is slim and is part of the drill, not a separate unit attached to a drill via a cord like an older unit I own.  It is charged by a c-type cord, so it charges fast.  A C-type charging cable is included in the package.

It came with a nice set of drill bits, and I  thought it was a well-put-together package.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Jaloma Elastic Bandage Comfortable Stretch Wraps Swelling or Inflamed Area Support Joints and Sprains

 

The elastic bandages are 2.75" wide.  I have used many different elastic bandages over the years as I tend to twist my ankle. Compared to the last bandages I have used, these are very thin, almost transparent, and do not stretch all that much. I do not see using them more than once, but that is not too bad at the current price of one dollar per roll.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆