Product review: KAIRNE Reusable Cotton Rounds 16 Pack Washable Makeup Remover Pads

 Cotton pads work well to remove makeup and sunscreen. But after washing and drying in provided laundry bag, they no longer lay flat. They dry better (flatter) if I hand wash them and hang them to dry attached to clips.

The package includes a small washbag for laundering the pads.  I do not like it because it does not close with a zipper; when I tie the bag, it gets untied in the laundry. In addition, as mentioned above, pads ball up in the laundry bag.

The metal case is cute, but I think it is over-engineered with two covers. The case is made similar to a tea tin, with the inner and outer covers.  For tea, it provides good sealing.  I don't see why such a seal is necessary for cotton rounds. I repurpose the cute tin for loose tea and put the rounds in the cotton balls dispenser, so it is easy to pull out fresh cotton rounds.

Bottom line:
1. cotton rounds - good
2. laundry bag - not good due to closure and how pads dry in it
3. metal box - cute, but not ideal closure for the purpose

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Winner Facial Dry Cloths for Disposable Face Wash, Makeup Remover. wet to foam

 

Winner wipes are just under 8 inches square.  They are perforated for texture, and when you wet them, they generate a small amount of light foam.  Amazon description describes it as "rich foam." I would describe it as very light foam, and I show what it looks like when I wet them in the attached video. I prefer it this way, so it is not a problem. In fact, I was concerned it would be too foamy, but they are just right.
 
The Amazon description says, "30 counts per pack".  What they mean is that there is a total of 30 sheets, separated into three packs with ten sheets each.

The wipes are soft and gentle; they work well both as face and bathroom wipes.  They have a very light scent when they are dry, but they become totally unscented as soon as I wet them.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: SWEETVALLY 10 Pcs Hair Scrunchies Satin Scrunchy

 

I like these scrunches. They are colorful scrunchies that will match with just about everything I want to wear. They are made are fairly large: 5.9" length and 2.3" width.

Material is confusing, descriptions refers to imitation silk polyester one place, and of mulberry silk in another, and satin in the title. Not sure what they are, but they fit me nicely.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: SACRONS Toilet Brush and Holder Set for Bathroom,Soft Silicone Bristle

 

This is a lightweight plastic brush and cup.  I do not like the idea of attaching it to the wall: the thought of someone missing the cup and smearing the brush on the wall is too unpleasant to contemplate.  Because it is so lightweight, it is not very steady on the floor compared to my ceramic toilet brush holder.

The toilet brush holder has a little tray that can be removed and emptied with the brush in the cup.  This tray is a clever idea.

The bristles of the brush are soft silicone and do not always clean as well as the stiff bristles of a regular toilet brush.  Most of the time, it does fine.

The top of the handle hides a pair of tweezers.  Not sure what I would ever want to remove from the toilet with tweezers, but I suppose if something fell into it, using tweezers might be more pleasant than using my fingers.

Bottom line: okay toilet brush, looks and feels a bit on cheap side.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Beard Apron Hair Catcher For Mens Shaving. Women's bang hair cutting catcher.

 Since COVID, I have been cutting my own hair, and I got this apron to keep my hair from falling into the sink as I cut my bangs looking into the bathroom mirror.  It works pretty well.  The suction cups attach to the mirror and keep the trimmings contained.  It works best if you have a wide mirror.  

The package also includes a carrying pouch for the apron, small scissors, and a template for beard trimming. I can't comment on the template since I am not using it, but the scissors are not good.  They are very lightweight and cheap; they are so thin that the handles overlap each other when you cut.  

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: JZCXword Flexible Peri Douche Bottle for Feminine Care Manual bidet

 

 This portable bidet has positive and negative features.  I am comparing this bidet bottle to an excellent model I have been using for several years (Giraf bidet which is no longer sold on Amazon, unfortunately).

1. This bottle has a relatively weak stream
2. After each spurt of water, I need to wait until the air enters to bottle to equalize the pressure.  This happens because this bottle, unlike Giraf model, does not have an air escape valve  on the bottom
3. Air makes a loud slurping sound. If you are trying to freshen up in a public bathroom this noise might be embarrassing.   A bottle with a valve is totally quiet.
4. The angle of neck is not ideal.  A sharper angle up works better. Otherwise you need to compensate by holding the bottle at an uncomfortable to hold angle.
5. This bidet has a cap that closes the nozzle to prevent spills.  Unfortunately, as you can see in the video, the cap does not keep all liquid inside; it leaks.
6. The bottles come with a silicone ring that goes under the cap.  However, despite the ring and tightly closed lid, the bottle leaks slightly from under the cap.  Because of the two leak issues it is best not to travel with bottle filled with water.

I started using a portable bidet after surgery a few years ago. Then came COVID-19 and a toilet paper shortage, and the usage of the bidet bottle went up for everyday use so we could cut down on the amount of toilet paper needed.  Turned out I liked it so much for everyday use that even though toilet paper shortage is not a problem, it became a regular part of my routine. I decided to get another bottle to have one in every bathroom.

Why is this model not as good as the Giraf model?

1. It is missing the special valve on the bottom that lets the air escape
   Why is this important?
    (1) This bidet does not produce as strong of a stream as the Giraf model and not for as long as it needs to let the air through the nozzle.
    (2) This bottle starts the stream as soon as you turn it upside down, so you don't have time to aim to avoid getting water on clothing. Giraf model gives you time to aim to keep everything else dry.

2. It is made out of soft plastic, not the soft silicone of the Giraf model
    Why is this important?
    Silicone is easier to squeeze, and it does not deform after repeated squeezes. My original bidet bottle is over ten years old and works like new.

On the positive side, this bidet holds a good amount of water.  It has multiple nozzles and this provides additional flexibility.  The nozzle that works best for me is the one that has holes only on one side, it helps compensate for the low angle of the bottle neck.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Nespresso Compatible Pods - Dark Chocolate Flavored Espresso (food review)

 

The package includes ten pods of Dark Chocolate flavor by Artizan Coffee Roasters. I did not detect any chocolate flavor; I would describe the scent and flavor as a rose flower.  I did not like it. I thought the coffee was somewhat weak and the chocolate flavor absent.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆