Product review: Foldable Reading Glasses Stainless Steel Telescopic Legs Unisex Anti-Blue Light Reader Glasses with compact case

 

I need to carry reading glasses in my purse to read menus and small print on items I buy. I want something small and something in a hard case not to get the glasses scratched by things I carry in my purse like keys and pens.  These folding eyeglasses are exactly what I was looking for.  The glass in eyeglasses is very clear, and the power seems to be just right.  The case opens by pressing the lines on the top of the cap.  When the glasses unfold, they are the same size as my regular readers.  The earpieces are thinner, but they rest on my ears without any problems.

The package includes a nice size cleaning cloth, and I was able to fold it and fit it at the top of the cap, so I always have the cloth when I need to clean the glasses.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Sweet Nature Birch Xylitol Sweetener

 

Sweet Nature Xylitol sweetener comes in a large resealable plastic bag. It is 5 pounds, and it seems to be in line with other 5 pound bags on Xylitol on Amazon. Sweet Nature estimate is 1 cup of sweetener for 1 cup of sugar to my taste buds Xylitol is not as sweet as sugar.

I mix real sugar and Xylitol for my morning coffee to lower the overall sugar level, yet the same sweetness and flavor I enjoy and reduce the unpleasant side effects.  The side effect of Xylitol sweetener gives me gas and loose stool.  However, during the COVID pandemic, I am working at home, so I can handle the unpleasant side effects.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: PARASOL 3-ply Disposable Medical Face Mask, COVID-19 mask

 

This package contains 10 masks.  The masks have a nose clip and passed a number of tests I do on each paper mask to ensure they are reliable (more on the tests below).

The masks fit comfortably over my face, do not pull on ears too much, and breathing in them is very easy.  I took the mask on and off several times while testing it, and the loops stayed attached and did not snap off, which appears to be a common issue with some of these masks.  The masks are a little bit smaller than other masks I have, so they don't cover as much of my face, and there is a little bit of bunching going on the side, forming gaps.  I believe because the mask ends in the middle of my cheek rather than going closer to my ear.

I found five tests to tell apart fake surgical masks and real surgical masks and performed three of the tests. The main test is the "water" test, which shows that the mask does not let through the water.  This means it keeps my spittle inside the mask and keeps other's people spittle away from me.

Since the masks passed those tests, I did not do the burn test, so I would have to destroy the mask.

Below are the five tests to tell part a good surgical mask from a bad one:

1. Light penetration
The real mask does not let the light through; the fake mask lets the light through.

2. Blow out a flame
You cannot blow out a flame through a real mask; you can flow out a flame through a fake face mask.

3. Hold water
The real mask holds water, the fake mask leaks.

4. Burn test
The filter in the real mask melts but does not burn; the filter in the fake mask burns with a flame.

5. Electrostatic attraction test
The real mask attracts particles; a fake mask does not.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: LAVAU Womens Winter Snow Boots Fur Lined Warm Ankle Boots Slip On Waterproof Outdoor Booties Shoes

 

 The boots are cute, but they run small. Once I put the boots on, it is difficult to close the zipper. The zipper is tight and on an angle that is hard to pull. It feels like the pull will come off soon as I have to apply so much pressure to try to close it.

The inserts included in the listing do not provide much arch support because they are made out of memory foam. However, it is useful to have them as a template to trim a more supportive arch support insert.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Sweet Nature Monk Fruit Sweetener, Golden - Sugar Substitute - Keto Friendly

 

I purchased both Sweet Nature Allulose sweetener and Sweet Nature Monk Fruit sweetener.  To compare both with regular sugar, I used the same amount of each as I use to sweeten my sugar.  Monk Fruit is sweeter of the two, and I liked its flavor best; however, both were less sweet than regular cane sugar.  Sweet Nature estimate is 1 teaspoon of Monk fruit sweetener equals one teaspoon of sugar; to my taste buds, that is not correct.

The main difference between the two is that while Allulose causes me to have sudden loose stool, Monk Fruit sweetener has no unpleasant side effect. The bottom line for comparison: I like Monk Fruit sweetener better; however, its high price is a negative strike against it.

For my morning coffee, I mix real sugar and Monk Fruit to lower the sugar level's overall level and decrease the price of the sweetener I use for each cup.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.  

Ali Julia review ★★★★★   

Product review: Superthotics Deluxe Bundle, adjustable orthodics

 

Superthotics Deluxe Bundle listing includes memory foam slippers, 3/4 insoles, and a small tube of cream.

===============
INSOLES
===============
The insoles are adjustable; you are supposed to slide in a piece on the sole that raises the arch support in the insole. On paper, this is a clever idea. In reality, sliding the yellow strip is difficult, and in the end, I never got it to lay flat. Perhaps it is not mean to be flushed with the insole, but the instructions have no pictures of what each level 1, 2, 3 should look like when inserted. I could only compare how they looked with the inserts that were inserted when I received the insole.

The second problem I had with the insole is that the heel cup is very narrow, and even though I don't have a wide foot, the edges on the heel bowl dug into the bottom of my foot and feel very uncomfortable. I tried them with various shoes, and it could not find a shoe in which the heel did not hurt.

I feel where 3/4 of the insole ends all the time; the height difference is not gentle enough.

Finally, a problem that is not unique to these insoles: 3/4 insoles slide forward when you insert your foot into the shoe. So once my foot is in, I need to stick my finger under my foot and slide the insole back.

===============
SLIPPERS
===============
I wear size 7.5 shoe and got 6.5 - 8 (Women) size. Length-wise, my foot fits and goes to the very end of the insole. I think a foot with size 8 shoe may be too large. The rise of the shoe is pretty low, and initially, it felt too tight. I could not wear the slippers with thick wool socks. I wore them for a week with thin socks, and they became more comfortable as the foam got matted down.

===============
CREAM
===============
The foot cream is minty, and since I don't like the scent of mint, it is not for me. I know many people like the mint scent, so probably this is not a problem for most people.

The insoles are innovative but, unfortunately, did not work for me.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.
 

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Face Mask Reusable，Cloth Face Mask Washable with 6 Filters（Black Mask），Adult Adjustable Face Masks, COVID-19 cloth mask

 

 I got the adult size mask. The package contained one cloth mask. The cloth mask's effectiveness is affected by the number of layers, material, and fit.
 
I liked:

1. The mask is large and covers my face starting from the nose going well under the chin as a good mask should.
2. The mask has two layers; the inner and outer materials are the same - appears to be regular cotton fabric.  It has a pocket for a filter.  And the package includes 6 filters.
3. This mask has a nose clip, so the fit is pretty good.  

I did not like:

1. I run all my masks through the water test: I pour some water into the mask and see if it leaks or not. This mask does start leaking after it gets soaked with water. It is not totally surprising for a cloth mask to let through water, but I have some cloth masks that do not leak and hold water.
2. It has hard holders that allow me to adjust the elastic that goes around the ear.  These plastic clips are not bad; I feel them less than other designs I tried. However, I prefer one-size-fits-all elastics as I find them more comfortable.

Comparison of mask effectiveness:
1. Cloth masks provide 30% protection
2. Surgery masks  provide 60% protection
3. N95 or KN95 masks provide 95%

When I go into crowded places, I actually double mask.  This washable mask goes on top of a surgical mask.  A surgical mask does not let through water, so it gives me additional protection against droplets.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Ethereal Nature Hair Oil Biotin

 

This listing combines many different oils, so reading reviews was a little confusing as they describe scents that were not relevant to the biotin oil I was purchasing.  I got the biotin oil.  It has a pleasant floral scent. It has a nice consistency, and the cap serves as a dispenser. You need to twist the cap to open up the dropper.  The dropper gives me good control over the amount of oil I release every time.  Biotin helps my hair look better, reducing hair breakage (less hair in the drain).

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.  

Ali Julia review ★★★★★  

Product review: Care Science Hydrocolloid Gel Blister Cushion Bandages, Cushions & Protects Blisters for Foot, Heel and Toe

 These bandages are thin and meant to go over blisters.  They are not meant for open cuts.  The entire surface of the bandage is sticky; they have no pad to create a non-sticky area. The package has three different shapes/sizes.

These bandages come in a nice case, good for taking along when I travel - it is flat, and it closes really tightly.

I purchased these bandages in November of 2020, and the expiration date is April 2023.  I have used these bandages in the past, and they stayed sticky well past their expiration date.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.
 

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Sweet Nature Birch Xylitol Sugar Free Honey - Keto Friendly

 

This product is imitation honey, made with xylitol sweetener, water, honey imitation flavor, and food coloring.  The "honey" is very watery, and I did not find its taste pleasant.  And turns out Xylitol gives me the runs and gas. 

Unlike real honey, this product needs to be refrigerated after opening.  Would I buy it again? No.  However, if someone could not have real honey and is fortunate not to get Xylitol runs, I can see someone finding it acceptable.

This honey imitation came in a terrible container. Half of the cap was smashed into pieces and only slightly attached to the bottle.  This made a bad first impression, which only got worse when I had to run to the bathroom 30 minutes after eating two teaspoons.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.
 

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Lotrimin Daily Sweat & Odor Control Medicated Foot Powder, Topical Starch Skin Protectant, Talc free

 Lotrimin is a very fine powder; it uses starch rather than talc and problems associated with talc. It has a scent that I am not fond of, but I can't smell it once I put on the socks. It definitely helps with sweating and itching between toes.

There are some things that I am  not fond of:

The cap has holes, and you can twist it to open or close the holes. However, the holes get covered with powder and I wish the bottle had an extra cap because the powder gets on the outside of the holes and falls off on the floor/shelves and creates a mess.

In general, a powder product is a messy product to use as it is impossible to put it just between the toes.  I wish it came with an applicator, not just a shaker.
You can find it on Amazon by following this link. 

 
Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Arctix Women's Aerial Winter Boot, waterproof, fleece-lined, warm

 

I got the size 8 boots of Arctix Women's Aerial Winter Boot.  I wear footwear with size 7.5, but I like getting boots half a size larger to account for thick socks for winter.  These boots are true to size.
The boots have a zipper on the boot side that faces inside and synch at the boot's top.  This zipper location makes it easier to close the boots with the zipper on the side facing outside. The zipper closes smoothly, and there is the material behind the zipper to protect from the snow coming through the zipper. The sole has good traction.

The boot is comfortable but does not have a lot of arch support, so I added an insole of my own for extra warmth and comfort.

Last weekend we had our first big snowstorm, and I wore these boots.  They were great, warm, dry, comfortable.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Sweet Nature Allulose Sweetener - Gluten and Sugar Free - Zero Net Carb - Keto Friendly

 

The taste of Allulose sweetener is acceptable. I mix real sugar and Allulose to lower the sugar level's overall level for my morning coffee and reduce Allulose's negative side effects. The downside of Allulose sweetener is that Allulose gives me gas and sudden loose stool. However, during the COVID pandemic, I am working at home, so I can handle the unpleasant side effects as I am never too far away from the bathroom.

I purchased both Sweet Nature Allulose sweetener and Sweet Nature Monk Fruit sweetener. To compare both with regular sugar, I used the same amount of each as I use to sweeten my sugar. Monk Fruit is sweeter of the two, and I liked Monk Fruit flavor best; however, both were less sweet than regular cane sugar. Sweet Nature estimate is 1 1/3 cup of Allulose sweetener equals 1 cup of sugar; to my taste buds, that is not correct, to me, it takes more than that to equal the sweetness.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.  

 Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Medd Max LED Ultraviolet Sanitizer Bag, UV Light Sterilization Box Disinfection / Banana Test for UVC light

 

I have a hand full of N95 masks I bought ten years ago, and I wanted to be able to sanitize and re-use them during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Med Max Satinizer box looks to be the right size for the job, and I liked that it operates closed so I would not be exposing my eyes to UV light.

How to tell if the UVC light is actually producing the light in the UVC spectrum and that it is strong enough to disinfect my masks?  Before  I purchased this sanitizer bag, I did a bit of research. I found an article in Discover Magazine, By Jeanne Erdmann, published on August 3, 2020, that describes the "banana" test and provides references to YouTube videos that demonstrate how to do this test. The tests show that UVC light changes the color of the green banana skin to brown color.  To make the color change more obvious, a portion of the banana is covered by tape, so when you peel the tape off, you can clearly see the difference for the products producing enough UVC light to disinfect. If the banana color is unchanged, the product does not generate enough UVC light to disinfect.

I performed this test on the Med Max Satinizer box, which you can see in the attached video. I performed two tests; the first test is a three-minute test because the auto-shut happens at 3 minutes.  And then, I ran the box 10 more times, giving the banana additional 30 minutes of light exposure.  In both tests, the banana color, unfortunately, remained unchanged.

Note that the human cannot see UVC lights. The LED lights in the Med Max Satinizer box are covered by purple plastic, so the light you see in the little window is purple. The purple glow you see is LED light + purple plastic, and that is a gimmick.

Sadly, since this box cannot change banana skin color, it cannot disinfect my N95 masks.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: RAKZU Rechargeable Hand Held Deep Massager for Muscles, Back, Foot, Neck, Shoulder, Leg, Calf Cordless

 

I got this massager to work on my shoulder and upper back. It is just over two pounds with a long handle, so it works very well on the back and shoulder, and I can do it on my own without help from another person. It comes with 6 different massage heads, but the simple round head is my favorite. After trying all of the heads, I am sticking with using just that one. It has three speeds and four vibration modes. The controls are on the handle and very intuitive to use. Overall, pretty good.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link. Ali Julia review ★★★★☆