Product review: Ionic Hair Dryer with Powerful AC Motor

 

 This is a powerful dryer with two attachments. It generates a strong warm flow. The dryer came with terrible instructions. It is a thick book, but only two or three pages in English. The instructions are minimal. My issue is that after I attached the curly hair attachment, I cannot take it off. There are no instructions on how to do it, and all my attempts have failed.

The hair dryer weighs 17.75 oz. The hair dryer is 5" wide (the barrel front to back) and 7.5" tall (the handle and the dryer barrel height).  I liked that it has a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFCI) protected plug.

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

Review of Ionic Hair Dryer with Powerful AC Motor

Product review: MLKIN Portable Super Absorbent Cotton-Super Absorbent Potty Pads

 

 The MLKIN strips are very narrow. Each strip is 2.5" wide and 10".

The cotton pads absorb small amount liquid well. They become dry but still pliable. However, if the pad encounters a large amount of liquid it falls apart becomes a pile of sticky pulp, which is hard to clean up.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

  You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Review of MLKIN Portable Super Absorbent Cotton-Super Absorbent Potty Pads

Product review: Saavy Naturals Gift Basket For Women Gift Set

 

The Savvy basket was a disappointment. It contains ten pieces, and I only liked four of them.
Below are the details of why the basket was a disappointment.
1) The packaging was messy, unattractive, and very wasteful. The cardboard tray had crumpled brown paper
covered with paper shreds. It did not look gift-suitable.  
2) The sugar scrub leaked, so the inside was sticky around that area. The scrub was not properly closed, and the seal was only attached to one small area, the rest was opened. The scrub package was either defective
or a returned product. Two body scrubs are included.
3) The soaps were 3.5" x 2" bars. They were discolored on one side. They looked unattractive, and the
I did not care for how they smelled. Two soaps included.
4) The bath bombs are large, 3" in diameter. They work fine, but their scent was not pleasing to me. Scents preferences are very personal; there is no defect in the bath bombs, and I just did not care for the scent. Two bath bombs included.
5) The package includes two body creams and two body washes. I liked the body washes best. Each tube is 7/14 inches long, not counting the cap.

Given the price, I expected better from the Saavy gift basket.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Saavy Naturals Gift Basket For Women Gift Set
 

Product review: Air Compressor Tire Inflator with auto shut-off by OneAmg

 

OneAmg has several good features but one massive flaw. The flaw is that the light yellow readout is very hard to read on the gray background, even in the shade. The PSI, BAR, KPA, and KG/CM² are so small and faint that I could not see them at all, even with reading glasses. I think this inflator is for young people with keen eyesight.

Here are the good features:
1. Quick-connect valve. Once I had a tire inflator with a nut that had to be rotated to connect to the tire. This was painful, especially in the winter. It was hard to do in gloves, and touching metal when it was freezing outside was painful. Lesson learned, I only buy inflators with quick connect.

2. Auto shut off. I need to be able to set the desired PSI pressure and have it stop automatically at that level. I do not want to keep retesting with a separate gauge.

3. I am looking for a long power cord so it can easily reach my SUV's front and back tires. This inflator has a power cable that is approximately 10 feet long. Long enough. The Air hose is 21.5 inches.

4. The size of this inflator is smaller than my old units. It is 7.5"L x 7.5"W and 2.75" thick. It weighs 31.30 oz. The airflow speed is 35 liters per minute, which is decent.

Things that could be better:  
1. Hard to read display, light yellow on gray background, very low contrast and hard to see in the shade, invisible in the sun.

2. The inflator had no carrying case. It would be nice to have a case where I can store extra fuses, connectors, and the unit itself.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Air Compressor Tire Inflator by OneAmg

Product review: KIDINIX Adjustable Height Standing Desk sit stand computer table

 

I have been using the desk for over a week for work. Which means I use it 8-10 hours a day. The mechanism that raises and lowers the desk works very well: it is smooth, and I can adjust to be at a perfect height when I am standing. When I am sitting, the desk is a couple of inches too high for me. I would have preferred it to be 2 or 3 inches lower, so it would be at the height of a keyboard tray, and my arms could be at a 90-degree angle for the proper ergonomic position. I am thinking of taking off the wheels to make the desk shorter. The top of the desk is not as sturdy as I hoped; with a big monitor on top of it, it has a bit of a shake when I type. Not terrible, but not as steady as I would like.

The top of the desk is 29.82" wide × 18.89" in depth
The height can be adjusted from 29.3" to 45."
The desk weighs 25.8 pounds.
The wheelbase is 23.82" × 19.29."

The desk is made of wood and steel. The adjustment mechanism is located on the underside of the desktop (right front).  I have to press it when I move the desk up or down. The wheels have breaks. The wheels are pretty big (2.36") and move okay on the carpet. The load capacity is 33 pounds. I have a 29" monitor and a full-size keyboard/mouse on the desktop. The 18" laptop did not fit next to the large monitor, so I had to keep it on the small rolling table next to this one, as I like working with two monitors active.

Bottom line: This desk allows me to vary sitting and standing, quickly changing positions throughout the day. My back is happier when I don't sit all day.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of KIDINIX Adjustable Height Standing Desk

 

Product review: Geologie Dark Under Eye Duo - Eye cream and sunblock

 The seller combined several products under one item. I am reviewing "Geologie Dark Under Eye Duo," which includes a tiny bottle of eye cream and a small tube of sunscreen. When I write this review, the duo of products is priced at $80.

I like:
1. The sunscreen goes on clear
2. It is practically unscented
3. It is based on Zinc Oxide
4. The eye cream is unscented
5. The eye cream is not greasy and is absorbed well

I don't like:
1. The price
2. After one week of use, I do not see any difference in the under-eye area. Perhaps it takes longer. However, with a high price tag, I expect fast and noticeable results.
3. SPF 30.  My dermatologist recommends I use a high SPF sunscreen, so I use this one for short outings.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Geologie Dark Under Eye Duo

Product review: BHR Wall Calendar 2023-2024 Wall Calendar 14" wide

 

This calendar is not pretty, but it is practical. I used to order beautiful Lang calendars, which are not only practical but decorative, but they got so expensive that last year I went with this less pricey option and decided I like them enough to re-order this year. This calendar has no images; calendar info is printed on one side of a relatively thin paper (compared to the textured thick paper of Lang calendars). But the finish of this calendar is flat (i.e., not glossy), so it takes well to pen and pencil for notes.

The calendar is 14" wide and 11" long. Each calendar square is 1.75" x 1.375", and it has space on the reverse side of the page.  

The calendar has a metal hang inserted into a spiral that holds the pages and works very well. It is the most significant improvement over the Lang calendars. The metal hanger is sturdy and easy to hang and flip pages. It also has a hole on the bottom of each page, so if you want, you can hang it using that hole and have extra space for notes at the top of the calendar. Given how much I like the spiral hanger, I am not using the alternative hanging option, even though the calendar came with an extra sticky back hanger.

Bottom line: not attractive but practical and works well.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of BHR Wall Calendar 2023-2024

Product review: Metene AGM-513S Test Strips for Diabetes

 

 

This item contains 100 strips. I purchased these strips in August 2022, and they expire in May 2024. The glucose monitor is not included. I own a Metene AGM-513S glucose monitor, which works with these strips.  

My last glucose test crept into the pre-diabetes area, and I wanted to keep track of my glucose level. I thought the strips and the monitor worked well. Instructions were clear, and everything worked smoothly once I figured out how much blood I needed to do the test.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★  

Review of Metene AGM-513S Test Strips for Diabetes 

Product review: Duru Extra Coarse Bulgur (food review)

 

I use Bulgur in stews (works great in an Instant Pot) and tabbouleh salads.  I thought this Bulgur had a nice nutty flavor.

Bulgur Wheat comes in four different grinds: fine, medium coarse, coarse, and extra coarse bulgur. A fine or medium grind is good for salads and baked goods, and medium or coarse grinds are better for pilafs or stuffings.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★    

Review of Duru Extra Coarse Bulgur

Product review: Krediz One Power Readers Glasses, Flex Focus Optic Lens - exposed as a marking scam

 

I thought these were progressive lenses by another name, but they are not. I own progressive lens glasses, and when I hold them next to the computer screen, I can see how the font changes in several bands depending on which part of the lens I am looking through. Krediz glasses have the same power over the entire lens, and the font on the screen remains the same from top to bottom.

My eye doctor never mentioned this type of lens, so I began looking for an explanation of how these lenses work. I found the answer in 16 WNEP ABC investigative report posted on YouTube, where these exact glasses (same box) were analyzed by Northeastern Eye Institute, located in Scranton, PA. The bottom line is that the glasses have one power (+2.5) and do not adjust. It is the person who needs the eyeglasses adjusts by how they look through them; there is no magic. If the person needs glasses with power around +2.5 they adjust the angle by how they look through the glasses or how they place glasses on their nose. Since I usually wear +2.5 power in my reading glasses and about +1.5 power in computer glasses, I can make Krediz glasses work for me. They are fine for reading and slightly blurry for working on the computer screen, but I could improve my vision of the text on the screen by moving how close I am to the screen.

Bottom line: these glasses work fine if you need +2.5 power, but do not pay any more than you would for regular reader glasses. These glasses do not do anything special; the claims are just a marketing angle.

I use Bulgur in stews (works great in an Instant Pot) and tabbouleh salads. I thought this Bulgur had a nice nutty flavor. Bulgur Wheat comes in four different grinds: fine, medium coarse, coarse, and extra coarse bulgur. A fine or medium grind is good for salads and baked goods, and medium or coarse grinds are better for pilafs or stuffings. Ali Julia review Review of Duru Extra Coarse Bulgur You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Review of Krediz One Power Readers Glasses - Flex Focus Optic Lens

Product review: SVINZ Hearing Aids, sound amplifier for hearing impaired

 

 These hearing aids have controls to amplify sound, but unlike more expensive hearing aids, they amplify sound at all frequencies simultaneously. These hearing aids cannot be tuned to the specific hearing loss of a person as people typically lose hearing differently at different frequencies. This means the sound feels less natural. However, my mother's hearing is better using them. She lost the more expensive hearing aids almost immediately, so these less expensive hearings are a good option.

The package includes two hearing aids, a charging station that doubles as a storage box, extra domes, a power adapter, a type C charging cable, and a cleaning brush.

The hearing aids are shipped with protective tape over the contacts; you need to remove them before the hearing aid starts charging. The hearing aids were shipping totally discharged, indicated by one blue dot on the charging box. It took a couple of hours for the hearing aids to be recharged. Note that all lights turn off after a short period, and you need to press a button on the back of the charging box to see the current charging status. If you see four blue LEDs, the hearing aid is fully charged.

The control buttons on the hearing aids are tiny and hard to use for someone who is elderly. My mother is not able to use them on her own. However, when I can help her put them on and turn them on, it improves her hearing, which is helpful. We got the hearing working without whistling, although the sound has some echo. Note that the hearing aid makes the voice of the person wearing the hearing aid really loud, which my mother finds disturbing.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of SVINZ Hearing Aids

 

Product review: Peermax Drop Smart Eye Drop Guide - Not a good guide

 I found this guide hard to use. It is harder to compress the bottle; it is harder to dispense just one drop, and it is harder to get a drop to fall into the eye.

The guide works with bottles with pointy tips, as the tip has to be inserted into the opening. The guide is not well suited for bottles that have blunt tips. See attached photos that show how my different drops work with this guide. Overall, I lose a lot of eye drops because they roll down my cheeks instead of falling into the eye. Given the price of eye drops and the insurance limit on how many bottles the insurance allows during a three-month period, I don't think I will continue using it as an eye drop guide.   

However, I found that it is useful for holding eye drop bottles upside down on the vanity overnight (when they are almost empty), so I can get the last few drops in the morning and not waste the last bits of the medicine.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Peermax Drop Smart Eye Drop Guide

Product review: ALIENTABI 0.4 Gallon Handheld Pump Sprayer

 

The sprayer works well. It generates a steady spray after a few pumps. The power of the spray can be changed by turning the ring on the nozzle. When the sprayer does not spray, it means the pressure is too low, and I need to pump the handle to build up the pressure.

⭐ This sprayer does not have a relief valve. The pressure is relieved by unscrewing the top and needs to be done very carefully to avoid getting splashed by the content spray.

⭐ This sprayer does not have a hands-free operation. This sprayer does not have a mechanism that leaves the sprayer spraying without holding down the lever, like some of my other sprayers.

⭐ Oddness: the bottle came with some water at the bottom. Not sure if the manufacturer tested every unit (which seem unlikely) or if this was a return (more likely). However, the sprayer worked fine, so if it was a return, it could have been one of the issues I mentioned earlier.

⭐ I liked that it came with an extra nozzle. Sometimes nozzles get plugged up, and the extra nozzle will extend the life of this sprayer.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of ALIENTABI 0.4 Gallon Handheld Pump Sprayer
 

Product review: Kauri Eyeglass Cleaner Tool Microfiber Cleaner Soft Brush

I received five brushes. The clamp on the lenses on both sides and clean the glass. The tool did a reasonable job. Is it better than using an eyeglass cleaning cloth? No.

⭐ If the shape of the eyeglasses were not round, the edges did not get cleaned. Using the cleaning cloth, this is not an issue.
⭐ I could not feel how strong I was pressing on the glass, whereas using a cleaning cloth, I do
⭐ It takes more room than a cleaning cloth. The size is significant if you need to clean your glasses somewhere other than sitting at your desk.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Kauri Eyeglass Cleaner Tool Microfiber Cleaner Soft Brush
 

Product review: OUTLAW TACTICAL Lens Cleaner Spray, glasses cleaner (video review)

 

 I like:

⭐ Large bottle
⭐ No strong scent
⭐ Cleans well

I do not like:

⭐ Not totally sold on the gel vs. liquid; it leaves more smears on glass than the liquid. Maybe I need to use less.  But results are good after some extra polishing.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of OUTLAW TACTICAL Lens Cleaner Spray