Product review: BelleSha Moisturizing Gel Heel Socks for cracked heels

I get cracks in my heels if I don't moisturize them, and those cracks can be quite painful and difficult to heal. The idea behind the heel socks is to provide cracked heels an intense moisturizing. The inside of the heel sock is covered with a silicone skin (see attached video) and it keeps moisturizer from evaporating.

I have a small foot (I wear size 6.5 to 7 shoes) and I found these socks very comfortable. They are snug without being tight. They stretch very well as I demonstrate in the video. Snug fit is helpful for keeping the keep the heat and moisture inside the socks.

The cleaning instructions say machine wash or hand wash. I have been hand washing them with gentle soap and air drying. I think hand washing will prolong the life of the silicone lining.

I have been treating my heels right after a hot bath while the feet are still warm. This is a more effective treatment than just putting a cream on my feet without the gel socks. If your heels have a tendency to crack these socks are worth a try. Even if you don't have a problem but enjoy soft and smooth heel these socks give you the "spa" treatment at home.

You can find these socks on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: BelleSha Round Facial Sponge pack of 12 Cosmetics

I have been using BellaSha sponges for over two weeks and I love them - the thickness is perfect, the texture is nice, I found more uses for them than I expected.

This package has 12 sponges. Each sponge is approximately 3 inches in diameter. As you see in attached video which shows all sponges on 1 inch grid mat they are slightly different in size. They feel stiff when they are dry and become sift when you wet them. Neither the packaging nor Amazon description states the material that they made out. I contacted the manufacturer and learned that they are made out of natural cellulose (wood fibers).

They feel great on my skin, and I now use them not only in my skin but in the shower as well. They are not harsh but remove dead skin very effectively. For cosmetics use I particularly like using them remove the facial facial mask.

The sponges are durable and can be re-used many times. The easiest way to keep a sponge bacteria free is to let it air dry between uses. Once a week I wet the sponge and throw it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Note: wetting the sponge is important so the sponge does not catch on fire.

I like these sponges, they have a nice texture and just the right size.


You can find these sponges on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Pyle PSTM60 Pure Clean Steam Floor Mop and Sweeper

After using this steam mop for close to 2 months once or twice a week I am very pleased with it. It is easy to work with (under 9 pounds in weight) and it does a nice job cleaning.

This floor mop combines a sweeper and steam mop. The bottom of the mop has two parts: the front is a roller brush which picks up particles and the back part has a pad which cleans. With a new England winter we drag in a lot of stand that used to cover up ice spots. The brush did a very effective job collecting this sand in to a container so the pad was not as dirty as I expected after the cleaning was done. The dust container just lifts up when you need to empty it. I found that it is easier to empty not right after you clean, but before you clean the next time. The dust compartment gets some steam coming up from the floor, this makes some of the sand and dust absorb wetness and stick to the sides of the pan, so it is easier to empty the dust pan completely when it dries out.

This map is designed for sealed hard wood floors, tile, and vinyl floors. It also comes with a glider that can be attached to the bottom to use on carpets. The cleaning pads attach to the mop by Velcro. The bottom of the mop has heavy duty built in Velcro strips that grab on to the Velcro on the bottom of the mop. I suppose with time they will pick up dirt and will not hold as well, but so far the hold is very secure, the pad did not come off during cleaning and took a strong pull to remove it. The mop came with two micro fiber pads.

The mop came disassembled and was very easy to put together. The instruction were very clear (words and pictures), and the pieces fit together easily without any fussing.

From the floor to the tip of the handle is 47". The handle is not adjustable. I am 5'2" and found that height just right for me. It comes with a nice long cord which is 95".

I thought the mop did a fine job cleaning. The steam is released by a button on the handle. Pushing the mop on the tiles floor were easy. The mop head is fairly large (10.5" inches across) and there were some places where I wanted to clean but could not fit in in.

The mop is not perfect, some of the minor nits I have are

1) The water container is difficult to remove. It is large, smooth, and fits tightly into the base. There is nothing to grab on to pull it out.
2) After the cleaning some water drains onto the floor, so don't leave it on wood leave it on a surface that does not mind being wet. I found a plastic container cover which is almost the exact size as the mop head and when I store it I put the mop on top of this cover so any small amount of drainage stay on the plastic and evaporates.

Overall, I thought the mop did a nice job. It was easy to use, it did a nice job cleaning, and I liked how it swept up the sand before mopping so the pad remained fairly clean. The Velcro pads are still sticking well.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: computer mouse pad by Lovedonna

Lovedonna mouse pads come in great variety of designs. You can even send in your own photo to be made into a mouse pad. I selected the Boundless Universe and the Earth and Space designs. I like dark mouse pads but they both look attractive while being dark overall. I tried both pads with both optical and laser mice and both mice tracked well.

The mouse pad is 9.5" and 7.75", it is fairly thin 0.10". The design goes edge to edge. The backing is made out of non slip neoprene. The design is sealed and it is machine washable. I tested the colorfastness of the mouse pad by washing one of the two mouse pads and the water remained clear (see video).

Both mouse pads had a bit of a chemical scent. I left one mouse to air out and I washed the second mouse to test how well it washes as well as to see if this would remove the scent. Washing removed most of the scent right away, the mouse that I left airing out also lost the scent but it took about a week.

Overall, these are very nice mouse pads - they look good and the mice track well on them.


You can find Lovedonna Customizations on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Bestlight Ultra High Power 160 LED Video Light Panel with Shoe Adapter

I have been using this light for the last two weeks for every photo and video I include in my reviews.  I am very pleased with it.  What I found most useful is the ability to change the amount of light it generates with a simple turn of the knob.  The light coves with two filters and one diffuser. I like the color I get with the yellow filter as it matches my other light very well.  This light is always on, it does not communicate with the camera.  You can mount it on the camera shoe, but I use it mounted on tripod so I have more control of where the lighting goes.

The photo light is 4.5" by 3" and has 160 LED lights.  This light is not as bright as my 800W studio lights, but it works very well for table top photography, fill in light, or a light that you might put behind a model to put highlights in the hair.  In my video you see how I use this light on a small tripod for the table top photography.

The light can run using several different types of batteries. The light has connections for several different battery types (it comes without batteries).  I am using it with six AA batteries. It can also run from Panasonic lithium batteries and Sony lithium batteries.  The pack cover has an open design, meaning that the battery door is a frame keeping the batteries exposed.

Color temperature of the lights: 3200-5600K
The light weighs 9.8 oz, its size is 5.25" * 3.75" * 1.75", the area with lights is 4.5" x 3"

Overall, I like this light very much. It is easy to set up and easy to change the amount of light I get to fit any situation.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Cotton Hypoallergenic Pillow Encasement by Deneve® - White, 27" x 21" Standard Size

This is very nice pillow protector. In my video I pour several tablespoons of water and you can see how the water pools and does not go through the material.

The pillow cover finish feels like terry cloth material on top, and has water proof liner on the reverse side. Waterproof liner does not crinkle and feels soft.

The pillow cover is 27" x 21", standard pillow size is 26" x 20" so it is a little loose. It has a zipper closure. The fact that it is a little larger than standard size is the only thing that reduced the score from perfect to good.

Cleaning recommendation is to wash it in cold or warm water and either air dry it or dry it on low heat to prolong the life of the liner. I have washed and dried the cover and repeated my "tablespoon of water" test and the cover remained waterproof.

This is a nice pillow cover. I like it! If you have a drooler in your family a waterproof pillow cover is a must. It will be the pillow clean and fluffy for a long time.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Waterproof Mattress Protector by Deneve® - Queen Size, White, 60"W x 80"L x 18"D

I own a Luna mattress protector which is very similar to this mattress at twice the price ($23 vs $40 at the time I write this review).  The SleepGuard mattress cover finish feels like a terry cloth material on top, and has water proof liner on the reverse side. Waterproof liner does not crinkle and feels soft. In my video I pour several tablespoons of water on the cover and you can see how the water pools and does not go through the material.

The sides of the mattress cover are thin almost sheer material and are 16" long. My mattress is 10" long thus 6" of the cover need to be folded under the mattress to get a tight fit on top.  The mattress cover is rated to fit any mattress from 6" to 18".  It size is 60"W x 80"L x 18"D (where  60"W x 80"L is a standard Queen size mattress).

One of the things I was worried about is that a waterproof liner might be reflecting the heat of the bodies back up rather than absorbing the heat into the mattress and it might make me too warm but this has not been the case.  The mattress cover did not make feel warmer than normal.

Cleaning recommendation is to dry it on low heat to prolong the life of the liner.  I have washed and dried the cover and repeated my "tablespoon of water" test and the cover remained waterproof.

This is a nice mattress cover at a good price.  I like it!
You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★