Brand Names Are Not Always the Best

I received the products mentioned in exchange for an honest review on my blog. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I’m a big fan of products that work as well (if not better) as their more expensive counterparts. While there are times when buying brand-name products is better, I like to save money whenever possible. One of my favorite things about doing product review is discovering companies that make quality products at affordable prices. The following are some of my favorites.

Cheap Replacement Toothbrush Heads

I have a fancy Sonicare toothbrush that I love because my teeth always feel so clean. The problem, however, is that the replacement heads are so expensive. BrushBrite sent me its Philips sonic toothbrush replacement heads, which cost nearly $20 less than the brand-name replacements. 

Here’s a video of my review:

Knife Sharpener

I like to use a sharpening steel to sharpen my kitchen knives, but there are times when I need to sharpen other tools, like scissors, garden shears and garden knives. For these items, I rely on sharpening tools, like Priority Chef’s 2-Stage Knife Sharpener. Instead of sharpening knives into a V-shape, it gives them a concave, or curved, finish so they stay sharper for longer periods. 

The first stage of the knife has tungsten carbide blades that sharpen dull blades. The ceramic blades in the second stage give the edge of a knife blade a concave finish. You only need to pass the blade through each “stage” of the sharpener a few times. 

I like how simple the sharpener is to use, as well as the no-slip material on the bottom. The only downside is that you cannot use it with ceramic knives and serrated knives. It may be difficult to use on santoku knives. 

For under $15, this knife sharpener is a good addition to your kitchen if you don’t have (or don’t know how to use) a sharpening steel.

Smartphone and Tablet Stand

I love watching videos on my smartphone, but I always have to hold it in place. Scopo sent me a universal tablet and smartphone stand that’s compact and folds flat. It has a grippy material at the bottom, so the stand doesn't slide around the surface that I'm using. I wanted to try this product because I don't have a smartphone or a phone cover with a kickstand, which I like to use when watching videos or looking at instructions online. The stand works perfectly and I'd recommend it to those who want one for their own phone or tablet.

The only thing that I didn't like about the stand is that it did not come with instructions. I knew how the product was supposed to look when assembled, but it was a little tricky for me to figure which end to lift to create the triangle-like shape seen in the picture. If I were to send this to someone as a gift, I'd have to explain what it is and how to assemble it.

Makeup Brush Set

I love to wear makeup, but lack a quality brush set. I just have random brushes that I received as free-gifts-with-purchase. Xtava hooked me up with its 7-piece Essential Brushes Kit makeup brush set, which comes with a carrying case. The kit comes with one of each:

• Powder brush
• Foundation brush
• Kabuki brush
• Precision eyebrow definer brush
• Eye shadow base brush
• Eye shader brush
• Lip brush

The packaging that the brushes come in is nice and the brush case has an extra pocket in which you can store some makeup or other beauty tools. The brushes feel as if they are good quality and have a good blend of natural and synthetic bristles (natural isn’t always the best). 

The carrying pouch has a faux leather material and pockets for each brush, which I like. I wish Xtava would have labeled each brush so I had a better idea about how to use them, especially eye shadow ones.

Body Lotion

My skin is always thirsty. With the weather drying up, my skin feels irritated and itchy. Thankfully, the Adamia Therapeutic Repair Lotion came right on time. The lotion uses macadamia nut oil, which mimics the oil found in your skin. It’s fragrance-free, absorbs into the skin quickly and doesn’t stain clothing. 

The cream feels rich, but it’s not greasy. Even when I think I have too much lotion in my hands, my skin soaks it up. It moisturizes my nails, too. With regular use, Adamia can heal and fortify fragile, stressed or damaged skin. I plan to use this on my feet daily this summer. I’ve even used it on my face with good results. The bottle in which the lotion comes is big and you only need a bit of cream to sooth your skin.

Hand Sanitizing Wipes

One of the big brands of hand sanitizers sells hand-sanitizing wipes, which I like to keep in my purse or travel bag. The problem with these wipes is its smell. While I don’t mind the strong rubbing alcohol-like scent, other people do. 

After trying Softy’s surface sanitizing wipes and liking them, I tried the Softy Hand Sanitizing Wipes. The wipes come in individual packets, and at the time of publication, a box comes with 100 wipes for under $20. 

The wipes are larger than any other brand of wipes that I’ve used. They’re also stronger and softer. I tested the wipes after using castor oil, which is sticky. I thought the wipe would rip for sure because I was rubbing my hands pretty hard, but it never did. Furthermore, I only needed one wipe to clean both hands. 

The wipe’s scent is mild and has no alcohol scent, so it’s safe to use around those hate the smell of rubbing alcohol. My husband likes the wipes so much that he grabbed a handful for his hobby kit.

Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries are initially more expensive than traditional ones, but they last a lot longer. I had no idea that rechargeable D batteries and 9-volt batteries existed until a few weeks ago, and was instantly interested in testing SunLabz D Rechargeable Batteries. 

You need a special battery charger to charge larger batteries because traditional chargers are too small. SunLabz’ batteries come with a bit of a charge, but you need to charge them further when you receive them. So far, I’m happy with the battery and am happy that I don’t have spend my money on new regular D batteries anymore.

I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review on my blog. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on an Amazon.com link and make a purchase.