xoliana
Member Since: July 31, 2016Reviews
Life Brand Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask with Hyaluronic Acid & Konjac
The Life Brand Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask with Hyaluronic Acid & Konjac is a really great mask. These are sold at Shoppers Drug Mart for $1.99 each or 3/$5, which allows you to mix and match which mask varieties you want. This is a Korean-style... +
The Life Brand Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask with Hyaluronic Acid & Konjac is a really great mask. These are sold at Shoppers Drug Mart for $1.99 each or 3/$5, which allows you to mix and match which mask varieties you want.
This is a Korean-style sheet mask. There's one sheet mask per package, and when you open it up, you'll see that it's very soaked through with the product. This is a good thing because a lot of cheaper sheet masks can skimp on product, but this one definitely doesn't. The mask is a white sheet, with small holes for your eyes, mouth, and nostrils. You place it over your face and let the moisturizers soak in for about 20 minutes.
The mask remained very moist the entire time it was on my face. It wasn't so slippery that it was falling off, but it was definitely very wet, and it didn't dry out over time. It has a smell to it, but not a terribly strong one, and it's not unpleasant by any means. I have very sensitive skin and I'm sensitive to fragrance, but this didn't irritate me or my skin in any way.
I left the mask on for longer than the recommended amount of time because I've been feeling a little dehydrated. After peeling it off, I rubbed in the excess as best I could, but ended up having to splash my face with a bit of water since I felt a bit of a sticky residue. I did, however, feel incredibly moisturized and very soft.
This is a great mask for the price. I can see myself using this a couple of times a month to help with dryness. It was a very soothing and effective experience.
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Jesse James Beads Nickel-free
The Jesse James Beads are a nickel-free variety of strung beads. They were available next to the new display of Bead Landing Nickel-free bead strings (brown label) and have a very similar look to them. They're available in different sizes and... +
The Jesse James Beads are a nickel-free variety of strung beads. They were available next to the new display of Bead Landing Nickel-free bead strings (brown label) and have a very similar look to them. They're available in different sizes and colours, all available on a 7" strand.
These particular beads are a gorgeous sapphire blue shade. There's one large bead in the centre, surrounded by matching pairs of beads of various size and material. Some of the beads are crystal, some are beaded beads, and some of them appear to be some sort of gemstone. My favourites are the pair that look like little Christmas ornaments, with little swirls and crystals wrapping around them. I made these two beads into a set of earrings and used the others with a strip of Bead Landing Nickel-free beads to make two bracelets. The blue and white worked together beautifully.
As I mentioned for the Beax Landing Nickel-free beads, these are strung on nylon-coated wire with crimp beads on either end. I found it difficult to safely remove the beads from their string as there was very little space between the beads and the crimps. The largest bead in the centre appeared to have suffered some very minor damage upon removing them from the string, as I found three blue seed beads on the ground afterwards. I think perhaps they weren't glued down quite well enough, and this reflects in the minor deduction I've given to the "quality" criteria of this review.
Overall, these are very beautiful beads which I would recommend. The price is a little high for the amount that you receive, but with a coupon, they're very reasonable.
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Bead Landing Nickel-free Beads
The Bead Landing Nickel-free beads are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. They have a new display available at Michaels for you to peruse, and all of these beads are simply stunning. They're part of the brown label line, which... +
The Bead Landing Nickel-free beads are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. They have a new display available at Michaels for you to peruse, and all of these beads are simply stunning. They're part of the brown label line, which means their regular price is $11.99, and they come in 7" strands.
The beads that I bought are a beautiful ivory white. I thought that these would be perfect for winter and holidays. The largest bead in the centre works perfectly as a focal point for either a bracelet or a necklace, and all of the surrounding beads come in pairs. Some of the beads are little crystals, some are beaded, and some remind me of faberge eggs. They're really stunning and very decorative, and one string can work well as a single bracelet or can be paired with a second string of a different colour -- which is what I chose to do.
Typically, beads come on a sort of fishing line which can be easily cut, but these were strung onto nylon-coated beading wire with crimp beads. Due to the fact that there was very little space between the beads and the crimp, I found it difficult to remove the beads from the string. This is my only complaint and has nothing to do with the quality of the beads but how they were packaged.
Although these are a little on the pricey side, I would highly recommend these beads for projects that require something bold and beautiful. Try to catch a coupon to save some money!
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Beadalon 7-strand Bead Stringing Wire
The Beadalon 7-strand Bead Stringing Wire is wire used for stringing beads, and comes on a spool of 100 feet. There are seven different strands of thin stainless steel threaded together with a nylon coating. The number of strands will indicate how... +
The Beadalon 7-strand Bead Stringing Wire is wire used for stringing beads, and comes on a spool of 100 feet. There are seven different strands of thin stainless steel threaded together with a nylon coating. The number of strands will indicate how strong the wire is and how many pounds of weight it can hold (the more strands, the more weight). The 7-strand variety can hold up to around 20 pounds in weight, but is somewhat less flexible than a higher strand.
I really enjoy this particular wire for simple projects that don't have much heft to them. Something with lightweight crystals, pearls, and glass work well with this type of wire. I don't find that there's an issue with flexibility, or with the design not laying flat. Likewise, I've used some heavier beads and never come close to breaking the wire. I can't say I've ever made anything heavy enough to really test it.
The wire has a nice smoothness to it which I like. Some cheaper wires have a rough coating, or they fray easily at the ends. This is very good quality through and through. The spool has suggestions for crimp bead sizes -- size 1 bead and size 2 tube. This wire is very thin, even when folded over, so I typically use a 1mm bead or 2mm tube. These fit well. I wouldn't go any larger or the wire will slip through.
I recommend this beading wire for any stringing project you have which isn't too heavy. This is a great wire.
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Artistic Wire Tarnish Resistant Silver
This is a review for the Artistic Wire in the Tarnish Resistant Silver variety. I have a spool each of 22 gauge (8 yards) and 18 gauge (4 yards). Artistic Wire is copper wire with a silver coating. The coating on these is very beautiful, with a... +
This is a review for the Artistic Wire in the Tarnish Resistant Silver variety. I have a spool each of 22 gauge (8 yards) and 18 gauge (4 yards).
Artistic Wire is copper wire with a silver coating. The coating on these is very beautiful, with a natural-looking shine and finish. Because they're tarnish resistant, they won't become easily discoloured over time like most other wires with a silver plating. So far I can indeed say that these wires hold up very well, as I've made myself a ring and a couple of ear cuffs, and it's been a year now without the wire showing signs of wear.
I find this wire to be of very excellent quality. It's some of the easiest wire to work with and is very beginner-friendly. It's very pliable yet sturdy, and it stands up well to hammering on a bench block, which I have done many times. The coating doesn't flake off, nor does the wire get easily damaged or break. It's just really easy toflatten and work-harden as needed.
This wire comes in a variety of gauges and some different colours of coating. I use silver the most, but I would definitely be interested in buying more of this wire in any colour or gauge. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who works with wire.
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Artistic Wire Permanently Coloured Copper Wire (20 gauge)
This is a review for the Artistic Wire in the colours Rose and Peacock Blue, in the 20 gauge thickness. There's a total of 25 feet on the spool that I have, but I believe other sizes are available. If you're unfamiliar with Artistic Wire, it's a... +
This is a review for the Artistic Wire in the colours Rose and Peacock Blue, in the 20 gauge thickness. There's a total of 25 feet on the spool that I have, but I believe other sizes are available. If you're unfamiliar with Artistic Wire, it's a jewellery wire used for different wire projects. It's a copper wire coated in silver, and this silver can be dyed different colours.
These particular colours of Artistic Wire are very lovely shades of rosy pink and teal blue. Rose reminds me of flowers, while Peacock Blue reminds me of very clear pool water. I bought these two colours together thinking they would not only work well separately, but that they would complement each other in a project. They do! These colours are beautiful and incredibly versatile.
The quality of the wire is excellent. It's 20g so it's not too thick and hard to work with, but it's also not too soft ans flimsy. It's sturdy. The colour has been permanently dyed to the silver coating and it's not going to come off on your skin, regardless of any oils on your skin. It's also not going to wash off if you happen to get it wet.
This wire comes in so many different and gorgeous colours. I'm certain there's something out there for everyone! I highly recommend this for any jeweller who enjoys working with wire.
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Beadalon Nickel-free German Wire
Beadalon Nickel-free German Wire is a jewellery wire suitable for many different wire projects. It comes in a few different colours as well as a variety of gauges, shapes, and thicknesses. I have personally tried the following... +
Beadalon Nickel-free German Wire is a jewellery wire suitable for many different wire projects. It comes in a few different colours as well as a variety of gauges, shapes, and thicknesses. I have personally tried the following varieties:
-Silver-plated wire, 20g, half-hard, round, 6 metres
-Silver-plated wire, 22g, half-hard, square, 4.1 metres
-Brass-plated wire, 20g, half-hard, round, 6 metres
Most German wire is not nickel-free, so I'm happy that this is. Many people have a sensitivity to nickel, myself and family members included. I can use this wire knowing we won't have a reaction. The wire is very good quality and I would say it's comparable to Artistic Wire. It's very easy to work with, not too expensive, and has a nice, high-shine appearance. Overall you do actually get less than most variety of Artistic Wire, so it depends on personal preference and what you're looking for.
I would recommend this type of wire to those looking for something simple and easy to work with. It doesn't come in as many colours as Artistic Wire, so as I said, it really just depends on what you want.
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Gold-plated Beading Wire (34 gauge)
There is no brand name listed for this wire either on the package -- which I obtained from Lens Mill Store -- or online. It simply lists the wire gauge, wire amount, and place of manufacturing on the spool. I have this wire in one of the other... +
There is no brand name listed for this wire either on the package -- which I obtained from Lens Mill Store -- or online. It simply lists the wire gauge, wire amount, and place of manufacturing on the spool.
I have this wire in one of the other gauges/colours, which I have also reviewed. This review is for the gold-plated 34 gauge wire, which has a total length of 24 yards. I made a mistake when I picked it up -- it was in the wrong spot on the shelf, so I ended up with something much thinner than expected. Because this wire is so thin, it's incredibly delicate and flimsy. It's pretty hard to use it for wire-wrapping, because even gemstone briolettes -- which have very small holes drilled into them -- require something a bit thicker than this, like a 28 gauge. I may not get much use out of it for that purpose, and may instead use it to string lightweight beads.
The quality of this wire is a bit nicer than the silver-plated variety. Instead of being dull and discoloured, this has a nice colour and shine to it. I haven't noticed any areas where it's tarnished or left behind weird stains on the skin. I'm unsure of the base metal, but I haven't had a reaction, and I do have a nickel allergy.
I would recommend this wire IF you can get it in a larger size. This one is simply too small, and I'm really not sure how much use I can really get out of it. For that reason only, it gets a thumbs down.
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Silver-plated Beading Wire (26 gauge)
I'm not entirely sure what brand this is because I bought it at Lens Mill Store and it doesn't say on the package. Likewise, I've visited online retailers who sell this particular wire, and there's no mention of a brand. It just states the... +
I'm not entirely sure what brand this is because I bought it at Lens Mill Store and it doesn't say on the package. Likewise, I've visited online retailers who sell this particular wire, and there's no mention of a brand. It just states the gauge/thickness of the wire, the amount, and that it's made in Taiwan. I wish I had more information.
This wire comes in a few different colours and thicknesses. This particular one is silver-plated, 26 gauge, and there's a total of 24 yards. I believe this spool was under $3. This is a very affordable option if you don't want to buy something like sterling silver, or even Artistic Wire. You get a lot of product for the price, so you can fool around with it and do a bunch of different things.
This isn't the best quality of wire around. I find that the coating is quite dull, and it can tarnish easily. Sometimes it leaves stains on the skin. I'm not entirely sure of what the base metal is here, but if I had to guess,iit's probably nickel. That's why it's so cheap and the colour is a bit off. I can't say that with 100% certainty, though, as I haven't had a reaction when handling it.
I would recommend this wire more for practice than anything else. This allows you to get used to wire-wrapping different things, using different techniques. If you make a mistake, you don't have to feel bad about having wasted good quality wire which cost you a lot of money.
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JB Pro Plier Gun Handle Crimper
The JB Pro Plier Gun Handle Crimper is an angled crimping plier. This can be used in jewellery-making to use on crimp beads and tubes. I found these at a Lens Mill Store for under $10. I am not familiar with the brand. Before buying these, I'd... +
The JB Pro Plier Gun Handle Crimper is an angled crimping plier. This can be used in jewellery-making to use on crimp beads and tubes. I found these at a Lens Mill Store for under $10. I am not familiar with the brand.
Before buying these, I'd only really had experience with my micro crimping pliers. I decided to buy something bigger because the micro crimpers can't really crimp larger beads. These were cheap, but they looked pretty nice. The handle is a soft material, making them very comfortable for me to use. They are quite large, which can be quite cumbersome for someone like me, but as long as I find a good place to grip I'm fine.
The biggest issue here is that these don't really crimp very well. I tried these out on a larger size of crimp bead, bigger than what my micro crimper can handle. It didn't put a dent in the bead. It felt like I was squeezing as hard as I could, but these pliers just couldn't crimp them. I wasn't using anything too big, so I'm not sure why these didn't work. I guess they just aren't strong enough.
I wouldn't recommend these, even if they are cheap. I'd suggest saving up for something from Bead Landing or another trusted brand.
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