Product review: Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 60

 

I like that this sunblock goes on invisible and gives me SPF 60 protection. I also like that it is unscented.

It is pretty pricey, since $17 is for a very small bottle, just 1.7 oz. The small size is a plus when I need to take it with me because it easily fits into my purse.

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

Review of Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum  

Product review: Ergonomic Lower Back Support, Office Chair Cushion, Posture Corrector, Mesh, Black by Mind Reader

 

While wandering around Rockport, Mass, I spotted four chairs with these mesh back supports and a sign saying, "Sit, relax your back." I gave one a try, and wow, it felt amazing! I grabbed my phone, used the "Lens" feature to figure out what they were, and ended up on the Amazon page that sold them.

I just got my set of back supports, and they're just as comfortable as they were on that first try. The box comes with four supports: two pairs tied together, each pair in a separate plastic bag. I initially thought I only got two supports, but I quickly realized that the two were just nestled into each other, and I got all four, as stated in the description.

These supports have a wider and narrower side, so you get two different angles to play with. Some chairs feel better one way, others the opposite, depending on the backrest's angle. It's super handy for switching between chairs and keeping that comfortable vibe wherever I sit!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Mind Reader Ergonomic Lower Back Support

Product review: Cocofloss Woven Dental Floss, Dentist-Designed Oral Care

 

My dental hygienist recommended Cocofloss, and I was amazed by its performance. After using my regular Glide floss, I tried this product and was shocked to see it remove significantly more plaque, even when I thought I'd already done a thorough job with Glide floss. I'm now a convert.

This floss is marketed as "expandable" floss. I thought it should be called "contractable" instead because it actually contracts to slip between my tightly spaced teeth without threading. Then it hugs the teeth closely, providing a superior clean compared to Glide.

However, not everything is rosy. The floss is expensive, and while it comes in a large container, the spool itself is only one inch in diameter, containing 33 yards (1,188 inches). I use 15 inches per session and floss twice daily, totaling 30 inches a day. This means one spool lasts approximately 39 days.

I was also disappointed by the flavor. I chose the orange option, expecting a citrus taste, but the floss is essentially flavorless, the only thing that is orange is the color. This wasn't a dealbreaker, as I'm fine with unflavored floss, but it was not what I expected.

Despite the cost and lack of flavor surprise, the exceptional cleaning power makes this floss worth repurchasing. It's now a staple in my dental routine.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Cocofloss Woven Dental Floss

Product review: SmartHeart Automatic Digital Blood Pressure Arm Monitor (video review)

 

 The blood pressure monitor fits arms from 8.6" to 16.5". The latching mechanism works well; latching the cuff with one hand is easy. I find it easier to work than Omitron. The results seem to match close the results that my doctor gets in the office. The measurements are not exactly the same, but they are close enough. If I take multiple measurements one after another, the measurements stay within 10 points of each other. This is not perfect, but not too bad.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of SmartHeart Automatic Digital Blood Pressure Arm Monitor

Product review: AIRSIDUN Neck Massagers for Neck and Back with Heat Adjustable Strap Shoulder Massager

 

 This is a massage pillow with straps. The straps help me position the rotating balls on the exact spot that hurts, and I can control the pressure of the massage by pulling or relaxing my grip on the straps. I have a painful shoulder from working on the computer, and it is particularly effective on working the shoulders and the upper back. It is more comfortable than a hammer-type massager for self-massage because I can keep my hands relaxed while holding the strap handles. This massager is almost as effective as human physical therapy. I am finding it very helpful for my bad shoulder.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of AIRSIDUN Neck Shoulder Back Strap Massager

Product review: Noova Massage Gun for Neck, Back Shoulder and Foot, Lateral massager, strap massager

 

The unique feature of this massage gun is the lateral belt that gives me an easy and effective way to work the upper back and shoulders, which are my paint points from working on the computer 16 hours a day. I have used other massage guns in the past, and none are as comfortable and effective as this belt with attachments that are Velcroed to it.

In addition to the belt, the package includes six other attachments:
Large ball head, small ball head, flat head, bullet head, crescent head, and U-shaped head.

What could be better:
The manual included in the package is pretty pathetic. It does not describe how to attach heads or the belt. It does not contain any instructions on how to use each head (which muscle groups, what movements). I had to research on the internet to fill the void.

However, I loved the belt attachments, and the strong rating is based on how useful I find for my achy shoulders.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Noova Massage Gun for Neck, Back Shoulder and Foot
 

Product review: VisiVite Dry Eye Relief Omega 3 Supplement

 

I have been taking Omega-3 since 2011 on the advice of my eye doctor for dry eyes. It noticeably improved my condition.  

In this review, I compare Nature Made Triple Omega, which I have been taking for years, with VisiVite Omega-3.  

One Nature Made Triple Omega soft gel contains
♦ Omega-3 434 mg
♦ Omega-6 276 mg
♦ Omega-9 170 mg
total of 880 mg

VisiVite Omega-3 serving size is FOUR gels. Below is information for one soft gel for my apples-to-apples comparison.

♦ EPA 150 mg (EPA is Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids Eicosapentaenoic acid)
♦ DHA 100 mg (DHA docosahexaenoic acid)
total of 250 mg

My doctor's recommendation was to aim for EPA + DHA around 2000 mg, so I would need to double the recommended dose to 8 gels. To be fair, VisiVite contains other supplements they state are good for your eyes. My eye doctor has not mentioned them, so I can't confirm that assessment.

Now, the price comparison per one soft gel. When I write this review, Nature Made Triple Omega 150 gel caps are priced at $14.99 (10 cents per gel), with a daily cost of 20 cents, or 30 cents a day, to reach the recommended 2000 mg level.

VisiVite Omega-3 120 gels (which 30 day supply using their dosage of 4 gels per day) are $42.26 (35 cents per gel). This works out to a daily cost of $1.40 using their dosage of 4 gels and $2.40 per day if I wanted to reach 2000 mg of Omega recommended by my eye doctor.


Bottom line: Nature Made is more cost-effective than VisiVite Omega-3.

Purchased in January 2023, expiration date May 2024.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of VisiVite Dry Eye Relief Omega 3 Supplement

Product review: Good Sense Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder Orange Flavor

 This is a powder to make a drink with laxative results using Polyethylene Glycol as an active ingredient. The flavor is okay (orange-like flavor). The bottle is large - 8 inches tall. The bottle's cap is a measuring cup (white line inside of the cap). The instruction state to use it with 4 or 8 oz of water. Water can be hot, cold, or room temperature. Bowel movement is produced in 1 to 3 days. I find this powder helpful for an occasional problem, but note that it is not for regular use. The powder should not be used more than 7 days in a row.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Good Sense Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder Orange Flavor

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: 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: VICKS NyQuil & DayQuil High Blood Pressure Combo Liquid Cold, Cough, and Flu

 

NyQuil has always been my go-to medication, but I have recently developed high blood pressure. I was happy to see this version of it. It is missing a decongestant. Decongestants relieve nasal swelling by narrowing blood vessels in the nose. This narrowing can also affect other blood vessels, which can increase blood pressure. It also does not have sugar and alcohol, which is helpful for high blood pressure.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of VICKS NyQuil & DayQuil High Blood Pressure Combo Liquid Cold, Cough, and Flu

Product review: Carlyle Store Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc

 

The serving size is three caplets which deliver 1000 mg of Calcium.  My doctor recommends 1200 mg daily, so 1000 mg is on the low end.  It also contains 400 mg of Magnesium and 15 mg of Zinc.

Purchased in July 2022, Expiration date May 2025.

The price per tablet is reasonable, but since the amount is low, I alternate it with another Calcium vitamin which gives me a large amount of Calcium.
 
You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of  Carlyle Store Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc

Daily dose of three caplets is only 1000 mg

Product review: AQESO Blood Pressure Monitor Machine Upper Arm

 

 I own Omron 7 upper arm blood pressure monitor. I have taken it to my doctor's office to check against her measurements a couple of times, so I know it is accurate within a few points of her instruments. I compared AQESO blood monitor against it, and I found that its readings are similar to my Omron 7 when measuring systolic blood pressure but a little lower when measuring diastolic blood pressure.

I also liked the mechanism that closes the cuff on my upper arm. It was easy to do with one hand, and in fact, I like it better than the Omron latching system, which often takes me more than one attempt to tighten it right. Putting the cuff on correctly is the key to taking the correct blood pressure.

My doc says that even if the blood pressure is not totally accurate, it is still useful if its measurements are consistent. This lets someone monitor for changes which will let them know when they need to see a doctor to adjust their medication. AQESO works pretty consistently for me.


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: 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 ★★★☆☆

Product review: EverTears Dry Eye Relief, Clinically Proven Moist Heat Therapy

 

I have dry eyes, and I am always looking for products that might help my condition.  These pads are similar to hot hands hand warmers; a chemical reaction generates heat within a pack.  To activate the chemical reaction, you need to fold the pack in half, and once you feel the heat, you open the plastic package to remove a wet oval eye patch.

My issue with it is that the wet eye patch has an unpleasant smell and somewhat sticky feel. I also thought the pack's temperature was higher than felt pleasant on my eyelids. I like the feel of a hot wet hand towel better.  The pack continues to be hot for about 20 minutes.

I decided I didn't like how it felt on my face, but I could use the small packets as hand warmers without removing the wet pads.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Lifebox Nutrition Omega 3 Fish Oil - Dietary Supplement for Healthy Heart & Brain - 120 Soft Gel Capsules

 

I have been taking Omega-3 since 2011 on the advice of my eye doctor for dry eyes. It noticeably improved my condition.  

In this review, I compare Nature Made Triple Omega that I took for years with Lifebox Nutrition Omega-3.  

One Nature Made Triple Omega soft gel contains
♦ Omega-3 434 mg
♦ Omega-6 276 mg
♦ Omega-9 170 mg
total of 880 mg

Lifebox Nutrition Omega-3 serving size is two gels. Below is information for one soft gel for my apples-to-apples comparison.

♦ EPA 400 mg (EPA is Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids Eicosapentaenoic acid)
♦ DHA 300 mg (DHA docosahexaenoic acid)
total of 700 mg

My doctor's recommendation was to aim for EPA + DHA around 2000 mg.  This means that I need to take three gels.

Now, the price comparison per one soft gel. When I write this review, Nature Made Triple Omega is 150 gel caps is priced at $14.99 (10 cents per capsule).  Lifebox Nutrition Omega-3 90 gels are $11.99 (13 cents per capsule).


Nature Made has a slight edge over Lifebox Nutrition Omega-3 in both price and Omega-3 content.

Purchased in December 2021, expiration date August 2022.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Digital Hearing Aid Hearing Amplifier, Brand: YWFJYXDRM

 

 The hearing aid comes in a nice package.  The package includes a hearing aid for one ear, a carrying case, two batteries, and extra ear tips.  The case is very nice and closes securely.

This hearing aid is an amplifier; it makes sounds louder.  It does not correct hearing loss if the hearing is lost at specific ranges.  

The main issue I had with it was that I found it hard to control the whistling sound it makes.  The instructions do not explain how to fix it, what causes it.  The high pitch whistling sound is unpleasant.  

To control the volume, you need to use the small buttons on the back.  The plus and minus printed on buttons are very small printed in faint color; I could not see them until I saw an enlarged photo I made for this review.

It is hard to turn the hearing aid off; you have to take the battery out to turn it off (which requires you to have dextrous fingers).  The battery is tiny and is easy to lose.  The case has a place for a battery, but it just an indentation within a case; I wish it had a battery compartment that closed to keep the battery from being lost.

The documentation that comes with the hearing aid is bad.  First, it covers many hearing aid models, and none of the models matched the name of the model written on the box I received.  I had to guess which one I have by selecting an image in the instructions that looked most like the hearing aid in front of me.   Instructions said that right and left hearing aids are marked by red and blue dot. My hearing aid had no colorful dots.  Instructions did not explain how to fix whistling noises.  The documentation did not provide sufficient and clear guidance.

I got this hearing aid for my elderly mother, who is not good with technology, and this hearing is too hard for her to use.  It is hard for her to keep the sound at the right level, it is hard to deal with whistling noises, and it is hard to turn off.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Green Ekii Antaxid Reflux & Heartburn Calendula & Kaolin Liquid Suspension

 

 Green Ekii Antaxid Reflux liquid is a thick and slimy liquid with an unpleasant taste. Its consistency reminds me of honey but obviously not its taste. It does appear to coat the internals to decrease heartburn and bloating effectively, but it is difficult to consume due to unpleasant texture and taste.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆