O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream review

a newer version of O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream

It has been over three years since I wrote a review on O'Keeffe's Hand Cream, and I didn't like it. I can't say whether it was a quality control issue or if I just stumbled upon a terrible faulty version of this product.

I bought this newer version by accident. I had an emergency hand cream issue (I needed to use a hand cream and forgot to bring some with me, so I rushed into a nearby drugstore)... I didn't realize I picked up this brand and same product again (I didn't recognize it because of the new packaging) however, to my surprise, it did a much better job than the previous tube had.

My hands are in better condition (I was in a pandemic during the last review) so please factor in this when you compare this review to my previous one.

thoughts and impressions:

• very creamy (like the previous version)
• unscented (like the previous version)
• hands absorbed this cream instantly
• you need more than a pea-size, maybe 1.5-2.0 pea-sized amounts
• protected my hands up to 2 washes
• didn't do a good job moisturizing

It is thick, but unlike the previous version (or previous container I had) it did not do a reverse and instead of pulling water and moisture from my skin, it protected my hands from drying and chapping but didn't moisturize as it claims it should.

score: 6.5/10

website: https://okeeffes.ca/products/working-hands?utm_id=go_cmp-193473816_adg-9002795256_ad-302025413458_kwd-84349096118_dev-c_ext-_prd-_sig-CjwKCAiAloavBhBOEiwAbtAJO8-M1kUBuqFx5J8_HE4FijFsZs0LZrmvTz3e4lvhbb78tTXPluf_iBoCBPsQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAloavBhBOEiwAbtAJO8-M1kUBuqFx5J8_HE4FijFsZs0LZrmvTz3e4lvhbb78tTXPluf_iBoCBPsQAvD_BwE

Rohto Cooling Eye Drops Max Strength review

 

Aside from dry skin, our dry weather makes my eyes extremely dry and red. I wanted to get Lumify eye drops but they were sold out everywhere!! 😢 I went on iHerb and found these Rohto Cooling Eye Drops Max Strength Maximum Redness relief. 

Rohto is a multinational company based in Japan (specifically Osaka) and throughout the years, their products have been good, so I was hopeful these eyedrops would be good.

I have used Rohto eyedrops for years (in Japan), and I am glad they are available in North America. They were good, but I always felt they needed to be stronger... so I wanted to see what this Max Strength would be like.

These eye drops do two things: Redness relief and lubricate the eyes.

I got these to see if they work as well as Lumify eye drops, and also since they are almost half the price, if they are as effective, I would have found a good product.

thoughts and impressions:

• slightly minty sensation (but wasn't irritating)
• easy to control the amount of drops
• I like the safety feature on the lid
• didn't have an immediate effect

Mint/Cooling effect:

First, the level of the mint cooling effect is not comparable to the Japanese version. This can be a good or bad thing depending on your preferences, if you have sensitive eyes, the cooling level might be tolerable for you. However, if you are looking for that burst of refreshing sensation, this might not satisfy your needs.

packaging and lid's safety feature:
I appreciated the ergonomic shape of the container as it allowed my fingers to properly grasp it. The firmness of the container also allows me to properly dispense the needed amount of eye drops. I also really liked the lid's safety feature (to remove the lid, you need to push down and twist open). It addresses the common issue of accidental spillage and contamination, especially when carrying the eyedrops in a purse.

effectiveness of the product:
While the product is effective, it does not deliver an immediate outcome as claimed. To reduce redness, one must apply the product and wait for at least 30 minutes for noticeable results. However, if the goal is to lubricate and moisten the eyes, the effects are nearly immediate and the effectiveness lasts for up to 8 hours.

Score: 8/10
Website: https://rohtoeyedrops.com/products/rohto-max-strength-redness-relief-eye-drops

Cheetos Ketchup short review

I saw these at Costco, and there were only a few remaining, I was very fortunate to even get a bag, the moment I got a bag, 3 other people came and snatched a few bags. There were none left after that. People were snatching these up like hotcakes!

This combines two of my favourite snacks, ketchup chips and Cheetos. I misunderstood the packaging and thought there was a cheesy underlay to these Cheetos, so I was surprised on the first bite, that these are purely ketchup-flavoured. I can't say I'm disappointed though, the ketchup flavour is very delicious, even better than Lay's. It has the right amount of tanginess but is not too tangy to the point it can be sour.

thoughts and impressions:

• no cheesy taste at all
• mild and perfect ketchup taste
• no sour vinegar taste (like Lay's Ketchup chips)
• very crunchy
• addictive

I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and I couldn't stop munching on them. I highly recommend them! However, if you are looking for a sharp tanginess, than these are not for you.

Score: 9.5/10
Website: no website (product couldn't be found on any of the Cheetos official websites! 🤔 )

McDonald's McRib short review

McRib

Pork is hardly ever my first choice of meat. I have always missed the McRib limited-time offering, so I could never understand the craze over it. 

After a 10-year hiatus, the McRib finally made its way back to Toronto, and this time, I can finally taste it! (And it is good 👍 )

impressions:

• cute packaging ❤️ 
• bigger than I thought it would be
• lots of BBQ sauce
• only 5 ingredients: the bread, barbeque sauce, raw onions, rib steak (without the bones, of course),  and the pickles.
• it is super tender, smooth ribby, meaty and delicious

it's not like I haven't seen it in pictures, but it definitely looked bigger than I thought it would be. 

One of the reasons why pork is hardly my first choice of meat is because it is tougher and "rougher" than others, but McRib's pork is tender, soft and smooth.

The combination works so well. It is simple, but they all complement each other so well :D

score: 10/10
website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/mcrib.html

Twinings Prince of Wales pure black tea review

During my trip to New Orleans, I came across this tea. This is the first I have heard of it. I searched for it online and learned it is only available in the US rather than Canada. This was strange for me because Canada, as a Commonwealth, I would expect this tea to be a bit more popular, so I did some digging. 

It turns out that this tea was crafted and created by Twinings for King Edward VIII in 1921, back when he held the title of the Prince of Wales.

However, in light of the historical context, considering King Edward VIII's later actions leading to his abdication, it's not surprising that this association could be seen as taboo and saddening and therefore, not available in a country as close to the UK as Canada.

It is sad to hear that, allegedly, we aren't able to enjoy this tea, because of its connection to a controversial chapter in British/English history. 

Prince of Wales Tea

Before I share my impressions, it's worth noting that this tea is a special blend that brings together tea leaves from the Jiangxi, Anhui, and Yunnan provinces in China. These leaves were carefully chosen from the high altitudes and mountainous regions of these provinces. The advantage of these elevated terrains is that the mountain mists act as a natural shield, protecting the tea bushes from excessive sunlight. This, in turn, allows the tea leaves and buds to develop optimally.

Prince of Wales tea

These tea leaves are artfully combined with tea leaves sourced from Hunan. (Hunan province is famous for its Pu'er tea leaves).

The tea's aromatic notes have a slight woodiness to them.

thoughts and impressions:

• a distinct Chinese tea flavour!
• it is exceptionally smooth and velvety
• accommodates the addition of milk.
• has a brownish-red colour
• delicate mild taste
• hints of a woody taste

It is evident that this black tea had incorporated Chinese tea leaves into the blend, but unlike most Chinese teas it has an incredibly smooth and velvety texture. The thoughtfully crafted blend allows for the addition of milk without compromising the taste. 

I'm very fortunate to be able to purchase this online (via iHerb). It's truly a pleasure to savor this smooth Chinese tea blend.

Score: 10/10

Website: https://twiningsusa.com/products/prince-of-wales

COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser review

I never paid much attention to the ingredients in facial cleansers, as long as they effectively clean the skin without harmful components, I was content.

My confusion peaked when I decided to try the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser. I couldn't fathom why snail mucin was necessary in a cleanser, especially one that remains on my face for less than a minute, primarily designed to cleanse the skin.

Initially dismissing it as a gimmick, my perception shifted after the first use. COSRX successfully convinced me of the importance of incorporating moisturization ingredients into the cleansing process.

Enriched with Snail Mucin, this cleanser not only eliminates impurities from the skin but also provides nourishment and moisture.

directions and info

Directions:

1. Gently massage the cleanser on wet skin. 
2. Rinse thoroughly with tepid water.

Caution:

For external use only. Do not get into the eyes.

Google Translated the Korean text

impressions:

• it is a bit slimy (similar to the all-in-one cream)
• it cleans my face but my skin feels so moist and clean!
• my skin is so soft and smooth!
• I love this!

So... this snail mucin gel cleanser is amazing. It is hard to go back to other regular facial cleansers (unless I am looking for deep cleaning).

My skin is gently cleaned, and it is moisturized. (this small container lasted me 2 weeks). I will definitely be purchasing the full size.

score: 10/10
website: https://www.cosrx.com/collections/snail-mucin/products/advanced-snail-mucin-gel-cleanser

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream review

product variations

Every now and then, we come across products that are so good, you know they will be part of your routine forever. This is definitely one of those products. Since I have sensitive skin, I wanted to make sure that my skin liked this product before committing to the full size. 

This product is formulated with 92% Snail Secretion filtrate (mucin), and this cream claims to help your skin naturally and create an appealing glow of healthy skin. 

ingredients, directions, caution

Ingredients: Snail Secretion Filtrate, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Arginine, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine

I didn't see any red flags in their ingredients (and my super sensitive skin did not have any issues or bad reactions to this cream).

Directions: Apply to face at least twice daily or as needed to soothe dry, uncomfortable skin. 

Caution: 1. For external use only. 2. Do not use on damaged or broken skin. 3. Stop using and ask a doctor if a rash occurs. 4. When using this product, keep out of eyes. 5. Keep out of reach of children. 6. If the product is swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. 

Translated Korean text to English

I checked using Google Translate to see if there was additional information that was not in the English text.

They mentioned Efficacy: helps improve skin wrinkles.

Usage: Take an appropriate amount of this product and apply it evenly to the skin.

I scanned the Korean text on Google translate

Most of the info was identical to the English.

except for the directions, The Korean text gave more directions to put the product on your hands before rubbing lightly on your skin and patting the remaining contents for absorption.

The English directions were to use twice a day or as needed to soothe dry, uncomfortable skin. 

slimy and stickiness of the cream

Since this is an all-in-one cream, you won't need to use it along with other products. This one is enough (at least, that is how I felt when I used it).

impression:

• the cap/lid is metal, but the container is plastic
• extremely sticky
• smooth on skin
• skin takes a few seconds before it fully absorbs the product
• makes skin feel so soft and smooth

In the beginning, I really hated the stickiness of this cream. It is called a cream but it has a gel texture (which I like) but the stickiness needs getting used to. It also left a thin residue layer on top of my skin. This cream did not irritate my skin or eyes at all. It is gentle yet effective.

It took 2-3 days before I started seeing the efficacy of this product.

Eventually, I got to really like this cream because it made my skin feel so soft and smooth. It got rid of all the dry patches and crustiness. I can look past the stickiness 😅.

gel-like texture

This cream is viral for a reason, and it is viral for all the right reasons. It works very well, it corrected my winter dehydrated skin and even improved the condition of my skin. If you haven't already, please give this product a try and don't let the stickiness prevent you from overlooking its benefits :).

Score: 9.8/10
Website: https://www.cosrx.com/collections/snail-mucin/products/advanced-snail-92-all-in-one-cream