Reviews by j9j

j9j says "Works great to hold on non-stick pads or gauze pads" about HEB 2" Tender Tape

j9j — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:45:59 GMT

HEB 2" Tender Tape works great to hold on non-stick pads or gauze pads. I also really like the 1" tape for smaller jobs (like toes). This stuff sticks to itself and not the hair. Unlike regular tape, it doesn't leave residue. It's latex free (good because I'm allergic to latex).

Not only is this stuff much cheeper than the namebrands (Johnson and Johnson, Nexcare, etc.) it works better. The J&J one doesn't work well at all. It doesn't "stick" to itself very well and tends to unravel easily. The HEB version doesn't have the same problem. It does exactly what it is supposed to do. My only complaint is that there isn't a great deal on each roll, so you go through it fairly quickly (although it has as much as the name brands).

I also like the fact that this is atleast somewhat "flesh" tone in colour. It's the only one i could find that came in a colour other than white. I like the flesh tone because it makes it a little less obvious that you have a wound wrapped up.

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j9j says "Always finding a new use for this stuff" about Sudocrem Sudocrem

j9j — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:29:05 GMT

Sudocrem is like the magic cream that you put on everything. I'm always finding something new that it works on better than anything else. I have been using it for some time to help heal acne breakouts or other irritated red spots. It also works well on small cuts and burns. But recently I discovered a new use for this stuff. My family recently went on a trip to the coast to do some flounder fishing. We happened to go during one of the worst mosquito breakouts the area has ever seen. Long story short- my fiance got over a 175 mosquito bites and each one swelled up rather badly (the smallest about dime size, the largest over half dollar size). We tried everything and nothing seemed to work. Then we tried sudocrem. It didn't stop the itching right away, but the next day the bites that we put the sudocrem on where much better than the bites that we did not put it on. It helped the bites heal faster and also helped keep them from getting infected (a serious risk with this many bites). I've never...

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j9j says "Works well for smaller numbers of bites, but not enough for tons" about Benadryl Extra Strength Itch Stopping Cream

j9j — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:15:49 GMT

Benadryl Extra Strenght Itch Stopping Cream works better than any other topical itch cream I have found. I live in an area that gets lots of mosquitoes, so getting a few bites a week is pretty normal. I keep a tube of Benadryl Extra Strenght cream in my purse, one by my bed, and one in the kitchen drawer. It does a great job of stopping the itch for mosquitoe bites, ant bites, and cat scratches/reactions (I'm allergic to cats, and if I have a cut on my hand and I get near a cat it will start to swell up). This does great to stop that reaction.

However, it does have its limitations. Recently my fiance got over 175 bites on a fishing trip (we were having one of the worst mosquitoe outbreaks the area has ever seen- and he atracts mosquitoes like crazy). This cream did not cut it for that type of reaction. So it does wonders, but don't expect miracles.

But all in all, I highly recommend this cream for every day reactions (a few bites, a slight itch, etc.)

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j9j says "Works ok, but leaves a residue" about DHC SunCut Q10 SPF 30+

j9j — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:04:52 GMT

I was disipointed int DHC SunCut Q10 SPF 30+ facial sunscreen. I burn extremely easily and was looking for a daily sunscreen that didn't feel or smell like sunscreen... in other words, I wanted something that I wouldn't notice that I was wearing. I typically am very pleased with how light and natural feeling DHC products are. Unfortenantely, this product was not what I was looking for. It left a slight sheen to my face that even a fair amount of power had a hard time covering. And even worse, it felt a bit sticky.

In the end I found a product from Olay that worked better, cost less, and didn't feel sticky like this one. So if you are looking for a daily facial mosturizer, I recommend checking out Olay's sensative skin moisturizing lotion (spf 15).

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j9j says "Best waterproof sunscreen for those who burn easily" about Coppertone Ultraguard Waterproof SPF 70

j9j — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:56:27 GMT

Coppertone Ultraguard Waterproof SPF 70 broad spectrum sunscreen is the very best sunscreen I have found for a long day in the sun (particularly if there is water involved). I burn extremely easily- to the point that I wear a light sunscreen every day in the summer because otherwise I will burn walking from my car into the grocery store (or wherever). But when I'm going to be in the water or out for an extended period of time I turn to Coppertone Ultraguard Waterproof SPF 70.

I used to use the SPF 50 of the same line, and people who think the extra SPF doesn't help aren't people who burn easily. Trust me, you can tell a difference. This works better. I also think it doesn't smell nearly as bad as the SPF 50. It still smells a little funny- a bit like rubber- but a funny smell is a price I'm willing to pay for good protection. It costs a little more than the SPF 50, but it is worth every penny.

Another good thing: This is a broad spectrum sunscreen: meaning it protects against UVA and UVB...

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j9j says "A great thing for the car and travel" about Playtex Fresh Scent Antibacterial Wet Ones Moist Wipes

j9j — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:43:31 GMT

Playtex Fresh Scent Antibacterial Wet Ones Moist wipes are great for busy lifestyles. In genteral, I'm not fond of the millions of hand sanitizers on the market (I have a sneeking suspision the cemicals are worse than the germs). When possible I prefer soap and water, but I like to keep Wet Ones wipes around for occasional use. I love the individual wipe packets because I can throw a few in my purse, a few in the car, and a few in the suitcase for when soap and water are just not readily avaliable. They are great for cleaning up your hands before and after a snack when on a car trip. And they are very useful on the airplane- when it might be hard to get to the restroom to wash up before meals. These wipes have a very mild scent so they aren't overwhelming or give you (or the whole room) a headache like many brands of wipes. The only drawback I have is that sometimes the packets dry out even when they haven't been opened... but if this happens, a few drops of water on the pad fixes everything....

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j9j says "Wonderful light lotion" about Caswell-Massey Cucumber Hand and Body Emulsion

j9j — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:30:29 GMT

Caswell-Massey's Cucumber Hand and Body Emulsion is a wonderful, light lotion. It has a very pleasant, mild, fresh scent that even the guys in your family wont mind using (but it isn't just for the guys, girls will like it too). It is great for everyday use. It goes on easily, soaks in quickly, and leaves absolutely no residue. I have very dry skin and it just loves this stuff. When my skin is so dry it hurts (which happens a lot) it instantly makes my skin feel better. I also find it very soothing when I have a sunburn. I mix this lotion with aloe vera and rub it in- nothing works better at taking the "burn" out of a mild to moderate sunburn.

The one disadvantage is that it can be rather expensive. Caswell-Massey occasionally puts in on a really good sale, but even then it is on the pricy side, but it is worth it because it is so very nice. I particularly recommend it for summer use- like I said, it does wonders on sunburns.

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j9j says "Soaks in like you wouldn't believe" about Caswell Massey Damask Rose Body Lotion

j9j — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:14:53 GMT

Caswell-Massey's Damask Rose Body Lotion is my very favorite moisturizer of all time. I have very dry skin and need to apply lotion ever day (well, twice a day- morning and night). So you can imagine that I've tried a lot of different lotions. This is by far my favoirte. It has a wonderful rose scent. Don't be fooled by all the "rose" lotions on the market, most of them smell like some aweful imitation of a rose, but this smells like the real thing. And the lotion itself is fantastinc. It is rich and creamy but leaves absolutely no residue. It leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturized without any stickiness what so ever. However, there are a few disadvantages: 1) it is quite pricy... so you should stock up when there are sales. 2) Caswell-Massey keeps trying to discontinue it (thankfully they have always brought it back after a few months). 3) it is really too thick to be in the bottle that they put it in- so you have to cut open the bottle to get the last of the lotion. But despite...

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j9j says "not worth the price" about Gillette Venus Breeze 2 in 1 Razor for Women

j9j — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:00:00 GMT

The Gillette Venus Breeze 2 in 1 Razor for Women was a disappointment to me. Venus razors are rather pricy, so I was expecting a truely exceptional razor, but that is not what I got. I do not see any advantage this razor has over less expensive choices (like Bic Soleil). It didn't give any closer of a shave and I nicked myself sever times, something I don't do on a regular basis with other razors. The moisture strip doesn't seem to work any better than those on other types of razors. I certainly couldn't use it without a seperate shave cream- which is the whole idea of the two in one razor. And I didn't find the scent particularly "soothing."

So in conclusion, I recommend that you save your money and do not buy the Gillette Venus Breeze 2 in 1 razor. Find a different razor that costs less or works better. This model is too expensive and offers no true advantages over other types of razors.

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j9j says "Waterproof sunscreeen that works" about Coppertone Ultraguard Waterproof SPF 50

j9j — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:38:12 GMT

The Coppertone Ultraguard Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Waterproof Sunscreen is the best high intensity sunscreen I have found. (Note: I am not talking about the spray on version; I refer to the lotion version). This is what I put on if I'm going to be swimming or sweating while in the sun. I burn really easily so I need strong sunscreen that wont wear off quickly (even if I'm only going to be out for 30 minutes to an hour). This is one of the few sunscreens I have found that I would say is actually "waterproof." It is not going to come off when you get in the water. Of course, this means you have to scrub to get it off in the shower. I also like that this is Broad Spectrum- meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays. Since skin cancer runs in my family, this protection is very important to me. The biggest drawback to this product is that it is quite greasy. The bottle says "non-greasy" but that is not true at all. It leaves you feeling sticky and smelling like sunscreen, but it protects well...

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j9j says "Great when it first came out, but now there are better options" about Texas Instruments - TI 83

j9j — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:52:30 GMT

When the Texas Instruments TI 83 calculator came out (about 7 years ago... or so) it was an amazing thing. Here you could do all sorts of things... graphing, matrices, etc. However, now it seems bulky, slow, and hard to use compared to its newer cousins. To qualify, I have tutored mathematics for years so I have seen a wide range of graphing calculators. The TI-84 is a big step up from the 83 AND the TI-89 is worlds better. One of the things I find most annoying about the 83 is that it is cumbersom to correct mistakes. For example, if you type in a long equation and realize you left out something at the beginning it defaults to overwrite... so if you are not careful you end up deleting something you want instead of inserting what you are missing. And you cannot go back to previous entries (one of my favorite features of the TI-89).

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j9j says "Top of its class" about Texas Instruments - TI-89 Graphic Calculator

j9j — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:40:51 GMT

The Texas Instruments TI-89 Graphic Calculator is the best graphics calculator I have ever used. I've worked as a mathematics tutor for years, so I've seen my fair share of them. My only warning is it is easy to get too dependent on its features and forget how to do things for yourself (which could be bad as this calculator may or may not be allowed in a particular class).

It is only slightly more expensive than the TI-83 or TI-84, but it can do far more (and it is much easier to use than either of those). It can solve equations, do matrices, diferentiate, intergrate, and loads more.

One of the best features is that is saves the last 20 or so entries you have made AND you can scroll up to those inputs and use them again. It is also really easy to go back and correct mistakes. If you give the 89 a chance you will never want to go back to and 83 or 84.

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j9j says "A wonderful point and shoot camera" about Canon - PowerShot SD 850 IS Digital Camera

j9j — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:29:28 GMT

I love the Canon Power Shot SD 850 IS. It is the best small, easy to use digital camera I have found. The picture quality is amazing, and it doesn't require an incredible steady hand like many cameras in its class. It has very good point and shoot options as well as a few manual settings for the more talented photographers.

It is also a farily durable camera. Mine withstood several minor falls (off the coffee table, out of my purse, etc.) It even lasted a few months after a 6 foot fall onto rock... but it was a little tempermental after that. I finally replaced it with the EXACT same model because I liked it so much.

One of my favorite features is the custom timer. You can take up to 10 pictures on a custom set time, say, 20 seconds. So you set it up, press the button, get in place, and then it takes x number of pictures about a second or two between each shot. It means you can give the camera lots of different expressions without going back to the camera. My fiance and I used this feature...

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j9j says "Not bad, but not great" about Dell Latitude D520 Laptop

j9j — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:08:00 GMT

The Dell latitude d520 laptop is not a bad computer. It has good screen resolution, a sensative touch pad, plenty of usb ports, and a good keyboard.

HOWEVER, there are a few draw backs:

1. The battery life is awful even on the lowest possible power settings and a dim sceen setting (mine lasted about an hour new, about 15 minutes after a year).

2. My CD drive never worked well. It has trouble reading the last track on CD's and it makes a racket when playing DVD's.

3. It's a bit heavier than many laptops in its class.

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j9j says "So comfortable you can forget they are there" about Playtex Sport, unscented

j9j — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:05:21 GMT

Playtex Sport tampons (unscented) are amazing. I used to hate tampons because they were uncomfortable, but I like to swim so I didn't have a choice. I tried a lot of differnt brands and styles, but I was never really happy with any of them. When Playtex started making the Sport tampons I decided to give them a try; I have never used another brand since. They are so comfortable you can literally forget you are wearing one. The yellow "regular" ones are great for lighter days, but you have to be careful because a bit of leakage can occur. The pink "super" ones are great for heavier days (or ligher days when you absoluely can not have any leaks).

These tampons really are great for active people. They remain comfortable no matter how much you twist and bend. The applicator has a nice shape and they are easy to insert and remove.

They are a bit on the expensive side, but they are worth every penny.

Warning: the scented ones are really strong. Once I picked up a box of the scented onse...

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j9j says "Great for sensative skin" about Dove Anti Perspirant & Deodorant Ultimate Clear Original Clean

j9j — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:38:17 GMT

Dove Ultimate Clear Original Clean deodorant is wonderful. I have fairly sensative skin. I used to use Secret deodorant, but it started making my underarms itch every time I put it on. I switched to Dove about 5 years ago and have never had a problem. I can even put it on right after shaving without any discomfort. In fact, it seems to help sooth razor burn. It has a lovely, mild, fresh scent, but it is not perfumy (most perfume and strong scents give me terrible headaches- this does not).

I wouldn't say it is completely clear. If you rubbed it across your black dress it would leave a mark, but in general it is better then other solids I have tried.

I would say I am a medium sweater. This deodorant gives me great protection. I stay nice and dry even in the hot Texas summers. I have a little underarm sweating when I workout, but at least it keeps me from being smelly. I'm not sure it would be enough for a heavy sweater, but it works great for us light to medium girls.

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j9j says "Reasonably good starter set" about Tools of the Trade Triple Riveted knives

j9j — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:19:28 GMT

I bought the Tools of the Trade 22 piece Triple Riveted knives set two years ago. It has been an excellent starter set. It has a nice selection of knives so you can normally find the perfect knife for any job. In particular the smaller knives and the santoku knife are useful. The 9.5 inch chef's knife is a bit too thick. It makes it extremely hard to cut into anything, even when the knife is very sharp. The kitchen shears are decent, but the locking scissors broke after only a few uses.

I cook a lot, and these knives do have the tendency to dull rather quickly. After two years, it is getting hard to keep my favorites (3.5" paring and 7.75" utility) sharp.

These knives are certainly not on the same level as the top brands (j a henckels, wusthof, etc.), but they are far less expensive. All in all they are a good set of knives for someone just starting out or for someone who doesn't cook all the time.

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j9j says "Light, powerful, reasonably priced: what more can you want?" about Kenmore Magic Blue Vacuum

j9j — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:51:36 GMT

The Kenmore Magic Blue vacuum is an amazing little guy. I bought this vacuum 2 years ago. I have owned some top of the line canister vacuums including an Oreck and a Miele, but my budget was a bit tight so I chose the Kenmore Magic Blue. It surpassed all my expectations. In truth, I like it as well, if not better, then those far more expensive brands.

Positives: It is a very reasonably priced, small canister vacuum. It is light and easy to use, but it has plenty of power. My favorite feature is the power slide on the handle. You can turn the vacuum on or off without bending down to the canister. This is particularly helpful when you are up on a latter doing drapes or a ceiling fan. The bags are easy to change. The hard floor and carpet attachments are great. The extendable handle is easy to use.

Negatives: The crevice tool/dusting brush isn't fantastic, and the power cord could be a little longer. Also, the button you have to press in to change the attachments is small and stiff;...

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j9j says "much better then arosol shave creams" about kiss my face shave creams

j9j — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:15:13 GMT

I have tried many different products to make the shaving experience more effecitve and pleasant. I have tried many different razors and creams. I read a few reviews for the Kiss My Face Moisture Shave and people raved about its quality so I gave it a try. It is the single best change I have made. It does a wonderful job. I get a much better shave with this product than other shaving products I have tried. A little goes a long way so it is good value for the money. I particularly like the fragrance free version as I have trouble with many fragrances (they give me a rash or a headache or both). This is an excellent product for the ladies and the gents. My boyfriend was suprised how well it worked on his face(and it didn't smell girly). And I have been pleased with its performance on legs and bikini line. It can be a bit hard to find but it is worth seeking it out. I first bought it online (drugstore.com) but I have since found it at my local health food store (that also carries lots of natural...

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j9j says "Best razorless cream I've found... but..." about Nair Hair Removal Creams

j9j — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:02:52 GMT

Nair Hair Remover Lotion (Baby Oil scent) is the best razorless hair removal lotion I have found (and I have tried quite a few). It doesn't remove all the hair, but it does a better job then any other hari removal lotion I have tried. Unlike so many creams, the scent is not completely overpowering. Note: do not bother with the Aloe scent... for some reason it doesn't seem to work at all. And the sensative skin version doesn't work well at all. All my comments regard the baby oil scent only. It does a pretty good job on bikini hair as well. It is good value for the money as well since it comes in a nice big bottle that lasts much longer then most removal creams. Unfortuanely, the last time I used it my legs had a really bad allergic reaction (at the same time I used it on bikini line with no problems- even though I left it on the bikini area longer). So I am afraid that I will no longer be able to use the Nair Baby Oil Hair Remover Lotion... which is a shame because I have been quite...

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