Product review: OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength Volumizing Conditioner

This 13 oz of conditioner has a nice light scent, and I like how it feels in my hair.  My naturally curly hair has more defined curls using it. So overall, I like it.

This bottle is short and wide.  I liked it enough to buy a bottle for my mother, who did not like it because she found it hard to use. It has no pump. It is made out of hard plastic and as mentioned earlier is winder than a typical shampoo/conditioner.  My mother has some arthritis in her hands and she was not able to squeeze it to get the conditioner out.  Something to keep in mind if you are shopping for it.

Strengthening hair is slow-acting, after 2 weeks of usage I do not see significant difference looking at the drain.  I am hopeful that I will see better results with time, in the meantime, I like how it feels and smells.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Laptop Power Bank, RYOKO 27000mAh Portable Power Charger with AC 85W Output

Ryoko battery has a large capacity of 27000 mAh in a very compact form. Its size is Size 6.2" x 4.8" x 1.3" and weighs 26 oz.

The battery can be recharged either by AC power or by USB C power.  The AC input 26 Watts (13V x 2Am), the USB max capacity is higher at 45W, however it depends on whether you have an adapter capable of 45W  and I don't.  So for me, using AC is the fastest way to recharge this battery. Note that the AC adapter is included in the package.

The power pack has two USB outputs (I use it for my camera), one USB-C Output (I use it for my phone), and one AC output (I use it for my laptop).  The front of the battery has a button to switch from AC power to DC power (used by USB). Plugging in a device into USB port immediately turns on DC power. However, in order to activate the AC port, you need to press the AC button and hold it down for a few seconds. AC port is active when you see a green light next to the AC outlet.  You can see how this works in my video.

I try to never discharge the battery fully so preserve its longevity, yet I still I can recharge my laptop twice and my phone six times.

This is a good capacity external battery and it is very helpful when I lose power or travel.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Portable Charger, Vancely 10000mAh Power Bank

This power bank is 2.5" x 4.75"  and 1/2" thick. It weighs 6.8 oz.  I carry it in my purse, and it can recharge my phone twice from about 15% full state.

The battery has two ports, so I can recharge the phone and something else, like my headphones.

It recharges my battery at 800mAh rate at 15% full, which is not as fast as some other power packs I have but it gets the job done and I like its small size and lightweight for 10K capacity.

I have been using it every day to extend my phone's battery life and it is working well.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Kenruipu Power Bank 24000mAh

♦ size: 6.5" x 3.25" x 0.75"
♦ weight: 15.7 oz
♦ number of out ports: 4
♦ capacity: 24000 mAh
♦ number of in ports: 2 (mini USB and lightening)
♦ charge indicator: digital display
♦ flashlight: yes
♦ pass through charging: no (i.e. the battery can charge while being charged itself)
♦ cables: 1 charging cable and 1 AC cable

This battery has a large capacity (24000 mAh) and four ports.  This capacity and a large number of ports works well for traveling.

One of the things that is important to me is how quickly the battery charges my phone. To test how well the battery performs I use the same phone, at the same level of charge to compare the current draw for each external battery I test. This corrolates to how quickly the battery is charged. This allows me to do a relative comparison of different external batteries.  The battery performed at a good rate, even though it was not the absolutely optimal I have seen.


I also tested to see if the battery supports pass-through charging (i.e. whether the battery can charge mobile devices while it is being charged). This battery does supports charge through charging. It continues to charge the phone while the battery is being charged, but does so at slower rate than when the battery is not being charged.

Finally, I check if the cable that came with the battery is a charging cable (i.e. capable of charging at full AC rate) or a data cable (charging the battery at USB rate). The cable that came with camera charges at AC rate.

The battery has a flashlight, but it is quote dim.  Never the less it could be helpful in an emergency when you need to light a small area like a keyhole.

Samsung Nexus phone:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
port 1: 1.02A/5.06V (excellent comparing the performance of the same device with other chargers)
port 2: 1.00A/5.06V (excellent comparing the performance of the same device with other chargers)
port 3: 1.02A/5.06V (excellent comparing the performance of the same device with other chargers)
port 4: 1.00A/5.06V (excellent comparing the performance of the same device with other chargers)

(for comparison the best charging monitor result for this phone is 1.00A/5V)

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: FAVOLCANO® 20000mAh High Capacity Ultra-thin Dual USB Port External Battery Charger Power Bank

Initially I liked this battery because of slim form factor.  However after one months of use I became disappointed with it as it seem to run out of juice faster than expected. I believe the capacity is overstated.

For reference here are the readings I got with a current monitor:
IpadMini draws 1.63A one the 2A port which is good for the iPadMini. It draw 0.93A on 1A port which is typical for iPadMini on 1A port.

It under performed for Nexus phone (drawing 0.43A on one port and 0.87A on another) where 0.43A is USB rate and 0.87 AC rate but below optimal.

The battery is very slim 6" x 3" x 3/8". It has two USB outlets and one (fairly dim) flashlight.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Joway JP51 6000mah Ultra-slim External Battery Portable Charger Pack with builit-on cable

We own a number of mobile devices from different manufactures, we have Android devices, Apple devices, Samsung devices. I prefer external batteries that work well with all of our devices. Unfortunately this external battery is not one of them. It works well with my Android phone charging it to close to optimal rate from both of its ports, but it could not charge my iPad Mini. The battery supposed to turn on automatically when the device is plugged in but iPad Mini never showed it was charging and my current monitor did not show any current. I am able to charge iPad Mini from other batteries, so it is something very specific to this battery. I double checked with the manufacturer if the battery should turn on automatically and he confirmed that it should. He also said that only one port at a time can be used, two devices cannot be charged at the same time. iPad Mini was the only devices I was trying to charge.

I tested this battery with a current monitor, and I am including the readings for those who are interested in the details. I always use the same two devices and I do my tests with the devices charged to the same level and running the same applications. These test show me the amount of current the battery is delivering to the device and also allow me to do a relative comparison of different batteries to each other. This helps me identify the batteries that do not perform well. Note that these tests are not testing for the maximum current each device can draw on each port as neither of my devices can max out the port.

iPad Mini
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Port 1 (built in cable with adapter) - did not charge
Port 2 (my own cable) - did not charge

Nexus phone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Port 1 - (built in cable) - 5% up charge in 10 minutes (average)
Port 2 - (included charging cable) 1.04A / 5.05V (AC rate, excellent, for comparison other ex batteries produce 1.00A/5.05V)

Overall,  disappointing external battery.  With so many choices of external batteries out there I cannot recommend this one.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: AGPtek 5V 21W 1Ax4 USB Ports 110V-220V Input Portable Power Strip

The AGPtek travel extension cord is aimed at the international travellers visiting USA. It takes appliances which have different international plugs and allows them to work in American outlets.  Since the outlet on the plug is American it is not the right plug for traveling abroad as you would need another converter.



The strip also has 4 USB outlets. However when I measured them with a current monitor I discovered that they are delivering only the USB rate of current (which is half as slow as the AC rate).

Because of this speed limitation I don't see this power strip being used by people who already have appliances that have US plugs. The cord is useful for international travelers in USA so they can use their devices that otherwise would not work in American outlets. I don't see this strip being useful to Americans as it is easy to find USB converters that perform better.

Here are the current monitor rates for those who like the technical details for Nexus Phone, Android OS.
port 1: current monitor ~~~~~ 0.42A and 4.95V
port 2: current monitor ~~~~~ 0.42A and 4.95V
port 3: current monitor ~~~~~ 0.42A and 4.95V
port 4: current monitor ~~~~~ 0.42A and 4.95V
(for comparison a good charging monitor result for this phone are 1.00A/5V)

I would pass on this power strip for the US-based buyers, but it is useful for international visitors.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: KMASHI 20000mah External Battery QC3.0 Quick Charge

This is a review for Kmashi MP828 20000mAh Lightning Fast Charging Dual USB 2Amp Input External Battery Backup Pack Power Bank.

♦ size: 6.25" x 2.25" x 1.25"
♦ weight: 14/6 oz
♦ number of ports: 2
♦ flashlight: no
♦ pass through charging: no (i.e. the battery can charge while being charged itself)
♦ cables: 1 charging cable and 1 AC cable

The external battery performed very well charging both my Android and Apple devices. The test results showed it to be at the top of ratings for both devices on both ports.

To see how well different chargers and external batteries charge my mobile devices I use a Nexus phone and an iPadMini to test each of them. The current drawn from the battery depends on each device using the battery. The port rated with maximum capacity of 2A does not always deliver 2A, what is actually delivered is controlled by the device based on many factors such running apps, level of charge, and so forth. I always use the same two devices and I do my tests with the devices charged to the same level, running the same applications and using the same cables to keep everything the same. This allows me to do a relative comparison of each battery and identify the ones that do not perform well. Note that these tests are not testing for the maximum current each device can draw on each port as neither of my devices can max out the port.

I also tested to see if the battery supports pass-through charging (i.e. whether the battery can charge mobile devices while it is being charged). This battery does NOT supports charge through charging. It can not charge while being charged.

Finally, I check if the cable that came with the battery is a charging cable (i.e. capable of charging at full AC rate) or a data cable (charging the battery at USB rate). This is easy to tell using the current monitor, and this package includes a charging cable.

Samsung Nexus phone:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
port 1: 1.02A/5.06V (excellent comparing the performance of the same device with other chargers)
port 2: 1.00A/5.06V (excellent comparing the performance of the same device with other chargers)
(for comparison the best charging monitor result for this phone is 1.00A/5V)

As noted above these tests are not designed to test the maximum capacity of the port, so 2A port not showing 2A is not an indication of a problem

iPad Mini tablet:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
port 1: 1.31A / 5.08V (average for 1A port for the same device with other chargers)
port 2: 1.40A / 5.10V (good comparing the performance of the same device with other chargers)
(for comparison the best charging monitor result for this tablet is 1.70A/5V)

The battery has a nice capacity and fast charging rate both both Android and Apple devices. I have been using this battery pack for the past two weeks and have been pleased with it. During a 3 day heat wave I used it to power a USB powered fan and got three days on one charge.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

(Warning: I noticed that this seller has a history of re-using the same ASIN number for multiple products as it allows him to have a large number of reviews for new products, so be careful reading reviews to make sure they refer to the product you are interested in. Amazon adds a small title under each review which matches the product the reviewer reviewed)

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: CETIM Emergency Personal Alarm Keychain

This personal alarm is quite loud, my ears were not too happy while I tried it out indoors.  The documentation states that the loudness of the alarm is 130dB.

The alarm is fairly small in size about 2.75" long x 1.6" wide and 0.75" thick. It runs on three L4RR batteries.

The sound is initiated by pulling out a pin attached to the lanyard  from the side of the gadget.  The lanyard makes it easy to pull out.   To stop the sound you need to re-insert the pin back into the device.  Since the pin is totally separated from the alarm it might be possible to misplace it during emergency.  In that case it would be impossible to stop the sound until the battery runs out. 

The personal alarm also has a button in the center which turns on a small flashlight.  This small flashlight is not the strong point of the device, it is an extra feature to the main functionality of making a loud noise.  The light is not very bright but good enough in a emergency.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Product review: Jackery Bolt 6000 mAh External Battery with Built-in Lightning & Micro USB Cables

I like carrying an external battery in my purse so I am never caught with the discharged phone.  The batteries with built-in cables are my preferences so I don't have to carry another cable around.  This battery has one micro USB and lightening connector.  I would have preferred two micro-USB cables, but I can see how a manufacture might want to satisfy both Android and Apple market with the same product.

The battery  is 4.3" 1.9" x 0.9" with a maximum output of 2.4A. The battery weighs 6 oz. It recharge three devices at the same time - 1 Apple device, 1 micro-USB and one USB outlet to use with your own cable to charge whatever else you might need to charge.

What is nice is that this battery allows charge through charging, i.e. it can charge devices while it is being charged itself.  I often piggy bag my phone and battery in the car, so both are fully charged when we arrive to our distination.

The battery has a tiny flashlight. It is not very bright but useful in an emergency where there is no other light source.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: ELEFT Anti Blister Pad, Medium Size, 4 Pieces

This package contains four blister pads.  They are very thin and made out of gel backed with adhesive paper that you remove to place it over the blister.   They stick well, I was able to wear one for several days.  They come in a small plastic container so you can carry them in a purse or backpack without worrying that you would damage the pads.   The only con is that they are fairly expensive.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Besiter 20000mAh Quick Charge 3.0 Portable Charger with Type-C & Micro Dual Input

♦ size: 6.5" x 3" x 0.75"
♦ weight: 15.95 oz
♦ number of ports: 2
♦ flashlight: no
♦ pass through charging: no (i.e. the battery can charge while being charged itself)
♦ cable: not included

This external battery as not as large as one might expect for its large capacity of 20000 mAh.  The battery itself can be charged using either micro USB or type-C USB cable. Both recharge the battery from almost empty to full overnight.  I like the digital display of the battery level, it is easier to read than the 4 LEDs that show your the level on many other batteries.

This charger performed very well with both my Android phone. I also tested to see if the battery supports pass-through charging (i.e. whether the battery can charge mobile devices while it is being charged). This battery does NOT support charger through charging. It can not charge while being charged.

I have been using this battery for several weeks without problems as I write this review. It does the job and does not get warm as it is charging. Om terms of capacity it lasts somewhat less than my favorite 20K battery.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Unifun 20000mAh Power Bank Backup External Battery

♦ size: 6 1/8" x 3 1/8" x 7/8"
♦ weight: 1 lb 1 oz
♦ number of ports: 2
♦ flashlight: no
♦ pass through charging: no (i.e. the battery can charge while being charged itself)
♦ cable: 21.5" charging cable

This external battery as not as large as one might expect for its large capacity of 20000 mAh. It has two ports and came with a charging cable (charging cables charge at a faster AC rate rather than USB rate). It has a bright blue charge level indicator.

This charger performed very well with both my Android phone and iPadMini. I am including the details of the tests at the end of the review for those who are interested in the nitty gritty numbers.

To see how well different external batteries charge my mobile devices I use a Nexus phone and an iPadMini to test each of them. The current drawn on each port depends on each device using the charger. The port rated with a maximum capacity of 2A does not always deliver 2A, what is actually delivered is controlled by the device based on many factors such running apps, level of charge, and so forth. I always use the same devices and I do my tests with the devices charged to the same level, running the same applications and using the same cables to keep everything the same. This allows me to do a relative comparison of various external batteries and identify the ones that do not perform well. Note that these tests are not testing for the maximum current each device can draw on each port because I do not own devices that can max out the current draw.

I also tested to see if the battery supports pass-through charging (i.e. whether the battery can charge mobile devices while it is being charged). This battery does NOT support charger through charging. It can not charge while being charged.

In addition to testing with my own cable, I test the cable included in the package to see if it is a charging cable or a data cable. This package includes a charging cable. For Android devices it matters if a cable used to charge the device is a charging cable or a data cable. Most of the time external batteries come with a charging cable, but every now I run across a manufacturer that encloses data cables with external batteries. It is not easy to tell what cable you got unless you have a current monitor. I always include this test in my reviews so people can improve the performance of the battery by switching to a charging cable.

Samsung Nexus phone:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1A port: 1.00/5.00V (excellent)
2A port: 0.91/5.01V (excellent)
(for comparison the best charging monitor result for this phone is 1.00A/5V)

iPad Mini tablet:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1A port: 0.92A/5.01V (average for 1A port)
2A port: 1.45A/5.02V (excellent)
(for comparison the best charging monitor result for this tablet is 1.70A/5V)


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Lumsing Grand Series A1 Mini Portable Battery Charger 6700mah External Power Bank

♦ size: 7/8" x 3 7/8" x 13/16"
♦ weight: 5.1 oz
♦ capacity 6700mah
♦ number of ports: 1
♦ flashlight: yes
♦ pass through charging: No (i.e. the battery can charge while being charged itself)
♦ cable included: Yes, 1 micro USB cable

This is a compact external battery with one port and small flash light.  I am using this battery with my Android phone.  It chargers the phone slightly below optimum, but I like that is fairly small for its capacity.  The flashlight is small and not very bright, it is bright enough for emergencies like to light the key hole or something that fell on the floor of my car.

I also tested to see if the battery supports pass-through charging (i.e. whether the battery can charge mobile devices while it is being charged). This battery does NOT supports charge through charging. It can not charge while being charged.

Overall, compact for its capacity and charges my Android phone at AC level.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Bestoss 20000mAh Portable Charger Power Bank External Battery Pack Slim High Capactity

♦ size: 7 3/4" x 3 3/4" x 1/2"
♦ weight: 14.9 oz
♦ capacity 20000mah
♦ number of ports: 3 USB ports
♦ flashlight: no
♦ pass through charging: Yes (i.e. the battery can charge while being charged itself)
♦ cable included: Yes, 1 micro USB cable
♦ The battery can be charged using USB, micro USB, and C-type cables


This is a thin battery with a large capacity of 20000 mAh. It has three USB ports.  At first I thought it could only be charged with lightening or type-C cable, but then saw that on the side it also has a port for micro USB.  So this battery can be charged by three different cables depending on what cable you are carrying for you phone. Pretty nice!

I am using this battery with my Android phone as well as to charge stand alone speaker MP3 player placed away from the wall outlet.  I run the speaker off external battery and it gives me a good way to judge the capacity of the battery as I know exactly how many days I can get out of it before the speaker runs out of juice.  This battery compares well with my best battery giving three days of power. My phone is charged at the optimal rate (I am including screen shots of the power meter readings).  It chargers the phone slightly below optimum, but I like that is fairly small for its capacity. 

I also tested to see if the battery supports pass-through charging (i.e. whether the battery can charge mobile devices while it is being charged). This battery does supports charge through charging. It can charge devices while it is being charged itself.

Overall, compact for its capacity. Its capacity and rate of charing compares well with  my best external batteries.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Shinngo 6700mAh Ultra Compact Power Bank

♦ size: 3 3/4" x 1 3/4" x 7/8"
♦ weight: 4.4 oz
♦ number of ports: 1
♦ flashlight: no
♦ pass through charging: no (i.e. the battery can charge while being charged itself)
♦ cables: 1 micro USB cable

The external battery performed well using Nexus 5 and iPad Mini.  Both charged at their optimal rate using the same single port. Pretty good! 

iPadMini 4.65 / 1.53A
Nexus 5 Android phone: 5.00V / 1.10A

I also tested to see if the battery supports pass-through charging (i.e. whether the battery can charge mobile devices while it is being charged). This battery does NOT supports charge through charging. It can not charge while being charged.

The battery is pretty compact for its capacity 3.75" x 1.75" x 7/8".  The capacity allows me to charge my phone twice from almost empty to full.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Type-C / USB-C Input & Output Lumsing QC 3.0 13400 mAh High-Capacity Power Bank

Type-C / USB-C Input & Output Lumsing QC 3.0 13400 mAh High-Capacity Power Bank



♦ size: 3 7/8" x 3 1/8" x 7/8"
♦ weight: 9.3 oz
♦ number of ports: 2 (one Type A USB, one Type C USB)
♦ flashlight: yes, but it is not bright
♦ pass through charging: no (i.e. the battery can charge while being charged itself)
♦ cables: 1 micro USB cable

The external battery performed well using Nexus 5 on with micro USB and Nexus 6p with type C cable.

The type C port can be used both to charge the battery and to charge devices that can take type C cable.  I am using this battery charger for Nexus 6p, and it is nice that I can carry only one cable, the type C cable.  I can recharge the phone three times.

The battery can be charged either using micro USB cable ot type-C cable. I was curious which one will charge the battery faster.  Type-C cable is a little faster.
Using micro USB cable the battery charger: 4.80V / 1.42A
Using type-C cable: 4.80V / 1.55A

Nexus 5 using micro USB cable: 4.97V / 1.12A using the Lumsing battery
Nexus 6p using type-C cable to type-C USB cable: 1.79A using the Lumsing battery
Nexus 6p using type-C cable to type-A USB cable: 2.20A using the Lumsing battery

For comparison, I use type-C to type-C cable and a wall charger: 2.13

I also tested to see if the battery supports pass-through charging (i.e. whether the battery can charge mobile devices while it is being charged). This battery does NOT supports charge through charging. It can not charge while being charged.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★