All posts for the month December, 2020

Subscription Satelite: No Make No Life January 2021

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe! I am back with the last beauty box for the month!

No Make No Life January 2021

I know it’s weird to see January in this box’s title but got to remember this does magazine logic for its months and that is No Make No Life. This is a beauty box from Japan that contains beauty products from Japan and Korea ranging from make up to skin care and even a lifestyle item. This is $35 plus $10 shipping. Let me rant a little about shipping. Normally this is supposed to be shipped with DHL but this month it was not that. It was with a different company and it caused my box to be a bit late. If they advertise 2 to 5 DHL Express Shipping, keep it at DHL Express!!! No one else! Please! I hope for my February box it won’t happen again. Now, let’s see what I got this month since I got eight items this month which by the way you tend to get or if you’re lucky, you can get nine items.

MediHeal Essential 40: Mask: First up is a product from MediHeal. I heard of this brand through my first box but there was no mask from these guys in that but it’s well known in the K-pop scene since a lot of celebrities do use these masks, especially when you fly the air does dehydrate your skin a lot. This mask has been voted #1 by It Cosmi and is created by the help of dermatologists and is able to work with the skin not against it. You could either have gotten Collagen Impact, Placenta Revital, Tea Tree Healing Solution, V Life, Vital Light Beamed that’s it. I will be using this and coming back for the Review Round Up!

Mise en Scene Extreme Damage Repair Hair Mask: Next up is a product from Mise en Scene. It’s been a while since I’ve bottom any hair repair masks in my boxes and this is interesting to say the least since it requires a cap and good thing it gives you directions in the booklet. This is a #1 hair care brand in Korea that uses uses natural oils, heat and steam in this mask to help repair damage. This uses Hahoba Oil, Coconut Oil, and Shea Butter as some of the ingredients.

BT21 Bia Hair Clip: Next up is a pair of hair clips from BTS’ character line, BT21 and it’s a collabe with Bit Hit Line Friends. You can get one of the characters that each member has created in a set of two clips. I am wearing them, they’re pretty big which I do prefer when it comes to holding my hair back a bit. Will have to keep on wearing these then!

Innisfree Mineral Setting II Powder: Next up is a setting powder from Korean brand Innisfree. This is a soft setting powder that can be worn on top of makeup to lock it in or anywhere to keep shine away. I can’t wait to use this as well. I think I got a powder during last month’s box but it’s kind of awesome to try other brands from different parts of the world with the same products we tend to use. I will see how this goes.

UR Glam-Lip0011: This is a lip tint that is a hybrid between an oil and a balm. With this item you can pop on some color with some shine with any of the colors they have chosen and they are nude pink, coral, clear purple and a few others. I wonder what I got.

L Fascy Moisture In Balm Hand Cream: Next is a hand cream which is a popular one in Korea and contains shea butter and aloe vera extract which helps with dry skin. You know how cold it gets here on the coast and glad to get one of these in my box, since the cold snaps did start coming early this month, heck we even had a cold Christmas after so long! I got mine in strawberry which is amazing! So far it feels good on the skin but will update in the Review Round Up!

UR Glam Eye Shadow Pallet: This next item is also from UR Glam and it’s an eye shadow pallet. This is an everyday wear shadow pallet with nine shades and it features mattes and glitter with beige, brown, and red. Which is interesting to hear red in a shadow pallet like this. Also, this is a product that sold out after being rated for bestmulti-pallet. I do find this a nice compact pallet since we tend to have bigger pallets here in the U. S. but this is good enough size for travel. I will definitely try this out!

Micro Fiber Hair Drying Glove: And final item is a lifestyle item which surprised me. I never thought I would see a hair drying glove. To be fair, in Japan they have a head band to keep shampoo out of your eyes while washing your hair, why don’t we have that here in the U. S.? I did hear you can get that at Daisou! Anyways, this is a glove to help with reducing time with a hair dryer and keep hair healthy. It is very soft, I have to wash my hair this week so I will try this out and see how it goes.

That is it for this box. A lot of items for the hair this month which makes sense since hair does get affected by cold weather and of course for the hands since the hand cream is a handy item. I will have to see about the glove which is interesting to see. I am also excited about the eye shadow pallet since I am glad my eyes are better but dust from unpacking has been causing them to water slightly, I will have to see how this pallet goes. Next up is the best shadow pallets from ten brands! Stay tuned!

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by moonleopard85 on December 28, 2020  •  Permalink
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Posted by moonleopard85 on December 28, 2020

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2020/12/28/subscription-satelite-no-make-no-life-january-2021/

Subscription Satelite: BoxyCharm December 2020

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe! I am back with a new post!

BoxyCharm December 2020

So, my BoxyCharm arrived on Monday and glad I got it since all the holiday deliveries are at a big high. I am still waiting on No Make No Life since it’s still on transit mode. Will do the post once I get it. Now to this! This is the base box for $25 and you get prestige and luxury brands that you sometimes find online and on Sephora. They even some indie brands as well. Let’s see what I got this month!

Artist Coutor Caliente Shadow Pallet: First up is an item from Artist Couture. I remembered getting a loose highlighter from this brand but didn’t work out for me since it looked like I had that white sunscreen look according to someone that found it weird. I did toss it afterwards. This pallet is an eight-shade pallet that features five mattes, two metallics and one multi-dimensional shade. These shades are picked and curated to make versatile looks. I will have to try this pallet out then since I do enjoy warm toned shades. This pallet retails for $30.

Ofra Cosmetics Pressed Banana Powder: Next is the item I chose for this month and that is the Ofra Pressed Banana Powder. It’s been a while since I got a banana powder and when I saw this, I decided on it. I think I preferred it over the other choices. This is a versatile powder with a light banana scent. You can use it to conceal dark circles and set concealer and foundation. I will be using this to set my under-eye concealer and I remembered I did that with a sample of a banana powder I got in Ipsy. This retails for $35.

Tarte Man Eater Mascara: Next up is another mascara and this time it’s from Tarte. Is it me or is this starting to feel like Ipsy since they are known more for getting Tarte items? Except when I got back to Boxy, I did get a Tarte Rainforest of the Sea pallet. Anyways, this has the claims of curling, volumizing and lengthening the lashes. It also has a very plush wand and lightweight black formula. I will have to see with this one since I did enjoy the Surfer Curl one. Let’s see how it goes! This retails for $23.

Mac Matte Lipstick: Okay, I am getting Ipsy vibes with this since they also get Mac Cosmetics. I’m happy to see them here too but I feel like this would be a GB Plus item or GB X since that’s starting. I did hear that Boxy and Ipsy did merge. Anyways, this is the iconic lipstick that Mac has released for many years and it’s known for high impact color, which I’m not going to lie, it is amazing in color. I had to re-purchase my tube of Dubonnet because it broke so be careful with some of these. I received mine in Russian Red, which I purchased one tube from Ipsy since they were doing a discount on Mac lipsticks at the time. It’s good to have a back up just in case. This retails for $19.

Eloise Beauty Metallic Liquid Shadow: Final item is a liquid shadow from Eloise. I never tried this brand before and glad to do it here. I thought it was a lip gloss due to the scent but glad to get this. So, I got a double shadow bit this box. This is supposed to be a long wearing formula and it has a metallic and glittery mix. I got the shade Pure Gold which is of course gold. I don’t mind since I do enjoy gold shadows. I will try this out and see how it goes. This retails for $26.

Okay, to be perfectly honest, I feel this month’s box felt more like an Ipsy to me but more full-size with a hint of luxury. Even though BoxyCharm has given out Ofra and Artist Couture but with the Tarte and Mac items, it felt like they were getting out of the Ipsy leftovers. I don’t know guys; I feel that with the merger they may be another ipsy. Will I unsubscribe? I am not sure at this moment, I will have to give it a few more months.

With that being said, stay tuned for No Make No Life when it arrives. In the meantime, I will be doing a post as an inspiration from 90s Love Child. Stay tuned!

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by moonleopard85 on December 23, 2020  •  Permalink
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Posted by moonleopard85 on December 23, 2020

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2020/12/23/subscription-satelite-boxycharm-december-2020/

Subscription Satelite: Glam Bag Plus December 2020

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling from the vast nerd universe! I am back with another subscription post!

Glam Bag Plus December 2020

It’s that time again and it is for GB Plus this time. Glad I got this before the holiday mail rush took place, that is why my No Make No Life is taking a bit so don’t worry that is still coming. This bag, on the other hand, is $25 a month and it has full-size items ranging from indie to luxury. You also get to pick three out of the five items you will be getting. What came in this month’s bag? Let’s see!

Il Maki age Color Boss Multi-Dimension Eye Shadow in Alter Ego: First up is an eye shadow from Il Maki age. I did get this in another month but this time it’s a purple color! I’m glad to receive this one since purple does look good on my eyes after all and I do enjoy the formulation on this shadow. It’s kind of wet when it’s in the small compact but does dry down once on the eyes. I will be definitely using this one! I am surprised that Ipsy would give me another shadow from this range when there are new pallets, I haven’t tried yet that were offered but hey, what can I do?

Tula Skin Care So Polished Exfoliating Sugar Scrub: Next up is an item from Tula and this time it’s an exfoliating scrub. This is another face scrub but it’s a full-size item that I got in this bag. This has not only papaya and pineapple extracts but also has natural sugar to help with buffing dead skin off without stripping the skin. This one is supposed to be used twice a week which I will use it that much since I do use these scrubs before sheet masks so the stuff can sink in better into my skin. I will have to try this out.

QMS ACE Day Night Vitamin Cream: Now into the items I chose for this month. First up is this ACE Vitamin Cream from QMS. So, this is a two-in-one moisturizer that can be used during the day and night. This contains Vitamins C and E to help with protecting the skin from UV rays during the day and does help with refreshing at night. I decided to get this because I have less day moisturizers and have been getting used to using SPF due to my skin not liking it before. I do enjoy sitting outside for some fresh air and do check the mail so does help with keeping my skin protected. I’m using a moisturizer from HEMPZ during the day so I will be using this after finishing that.

Ofra Truffle Lip Gloss: Next up is a product from Ofra! I haven’t gotten anything from this brand in my bags for a while, I think last time I did was the Madison Miller collection that they did a year ago. I haven’t tried out the lip gloss formula yet since I do love the liquid lipstick formula, except for Havana Nights which bled on me like crazy that I had to get rid of it. This is a sheer, nude gloss that hydrates and conditions the lips with antioxidants and jojoba oil. I only wore this once and it was hard to apply, not sure if it’s due to the applicator or not wearing anything on my lips. I have to keep on trying it out to see if it will work out for me and also not bleed all over my lips.

Complex Culture Set Go Setting Powder in Clarity: Next is a product from Complex Culture. In the last group of items, I’ve been noticing that they aren’t as good as the last two groups. As in, Group 1 are really good and hard to choose from, Group 2, I feel I have to think about it, while Group 3, I am like why does this group suck? I felt this setting powder by them was the best out of the group since I don’t mind getting them and it does help keep my stash going in my face needs. Not only this powder does the blurring bit but it does help hydrate the skin with ceramides and botanicals to keep the skin from drying it out. I could wear this alone if I wanted but I do like putting it on top of makeup. I can’t wait to try this powder out!

Add-On: I only got one add-on this month and that is the Micro Derma Needle Roller Set from Grace & Stella. When I read about this, I had to get it because it is supposed to help with any acne scarring since I do have some marks around my face that don’t want to go away. When I got it, I tried it out and it was pretty prickly but the serum did feel good though. I am glad to pick this up since I need some extra skin help sometimes and glad to get this when I did.

Well guys that is it for this post! Next is BoxyCharm since I got that yesterday and it did take a bit to get here due to the holiday rush. I hope to get my No Make No Life so make sure you follow us on Twitter for that post! Stay tuned for the BoxyCharm post!

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by moonleopard85 on December 23, 2020  •  Permalink
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Posted by moonleopard85 on December 23, 2020

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2020/12/23/subscription-satelite-glam-bag-plus-december-2020/

Cosmetic Controversy: Iris Implants

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast universe. It’s time for a Cosmetic Controversy!

Iris Color Implants

Disclaimer: This post is about eye anatomy and major grossness that involves surgery. And of course, may include videos about this procedure that may make someone squeamish, you have been warned!

I bet you’re wondering, Mari, what the heck? Well, I watched the Illuminati’s recent Company Casket episode on Bright Ocular, who is a company that specializes in giving colored implants to people by laying it on in the iris of the eye. I did watch this video while eating breakfast and hearing different parts of the eye being worked on and how it affects the eye going for a bit with this implant as well. You know that I’ve went blind due to a rare form of Retinitis Pigmentosa and have met and made friends with blind people but what they went through is natural depending on what they have except this is more extreme in my book.

I remembered years ago that this video brought back and that was Tyra Banks’ video on black market surgeries where a woman went to Panama to get this same surgery done and had major pain from it because of how the surgery was done. I will include the video on this so you can see what she went through because it felt that this was similar to what she went through. After watching Blair’s, Illuminati by the way, video on this I was just surprised and a little annoyed since I felt people are going blind unnecessarily from this procedure. Not only that, but a celebrity also even endorses this surgery because of her results.

How Does It Work and What Is It Meant For? According to Blair’s video, these implants are meant for someone who was born without an iris and is very light sensitive. But when some people found out about this procedure, that is when it was changed for cosmetic purposes, except it was not approved for that, it was only approved for medical situations. It’s one thing to get this done if you had a Coloboma or born without your iris, but having it done for cosmetic reasons is not the way to go, especially when you not only have to pay for the procedure but also to travel to have this done, which some people did so they can have something cool to look with.

What Is the Harm? Even though these are used medically but with cosmetic, people do go through bad effects of having these implants placed into the eyes. For one thing, they can cause the iris to chafe and have particles end up in the Trabecular Meshwork and cause Glaucoma since that part of the eye is known for help the eye with lubrication. Once those holes are filled the pressure builds up. Some people even lost a good portion of their vision due to these implants, especially at the 80% range. Plus, it can cause major light sensitivity due to how the iris is important with light refraction taking place. Plus, it can possibly damage the cornea which would cause a transplant to be needed. Remembered that person I talked about in the beginning? She had a hole in her cornea and not only that ended up with Cataracts and who knows by now she may be blind, since that episode of Tyra was from 2010 before articles about this dangerous procedure was made and what I find ironic is that people travel to Panama to get this done along with Mexico and Africa on top of it. Tiny Harris and her daughter did have to go to Africa for their implants except Zonnique had to get her implants removed when her mom turned out fine. Most people are different but who knows if Tiny’s implants might give her trouble down the road?

What Are My Thoughts? I understand the idea of it’s your own body and respect whatever you do is your thing but from being a visually impaired person myself, don’t do this procedure. I see it work better for someone who needs it more if they were born without an iris but for cosmetic purposes just go with colored contacts. Reason being is that you don’t have to get them surgically placed and just wear them for a certain amount of time without the harm that an implant can give. Contacts aren’t for anyone but this procedure is not either. I don’t want you guys to take the risk and go blind because once you lose your sight you have to relearn skills but with adaptive techniques. It’s pretty much starting your life over and it can be hard. Heck, when I found out I was going to go blind from Retinitis Pigmentosa and lost my vision at 23, I did find it hard at first because I couldn’t get my Driver’s permit at 15 and had to learn new techniques to live on my own. I don’t wish this on anyone not even my worst enemy, which I did run into a former friend who did say he wished he was blind like me. I would have told him that’s a bad thing to say since blindness is not easy. All tangents aside, just stick with contacts, cosplayers do it so just do the same.

Well guys that is it for this post. I will be putting the clip from Tyra’s show with that person with the implants and Blair’s video since you may want to see where I’m coming from and what I’ve seen. And sorry if some of the stuff Blair shows may be a bit squeamish but this is for educational purposes of course! Next up is Glam Bag Plus!(39) The Tyra Banks Show – Black Market Plastic Surgery (Part 1 of 4) – YouTube

(39) Bright Ocular: Corporate Casket (Would You go Blind for Blue Eyes?) – YouTube

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by moonleopard85 on December 20, 2020  •  Permalink
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Posted by moonleopard85 on December 20, 2020

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2020/12/20/cosmetic-controversy-iris-implants/

Subscription Satelite: Ipsy Glam Bag December 2020

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast universe! It’s that time again and that is beauty subscription time! Which one are we starting with this time?

Ipsy Glam Bag December 2020

It’s the Ipsy Glam Bag first! This was shipped out earlier than usual but glad it did come before Christmas. This bag is $12 a month and you get four to five sample to deluxe size and even full-size items in this bag ranging from drugstore to indie and even luxury. What did I get this month? Let’s find out!

Beau Gachis Limited Edition Powder Brush: First is a brush from Beau Gachis. I think I got a brush from this brand before in past bags or not. Plus, this is my choice item for this month. This is a powder brush that can also be used for blush and highlighter. The bristles are loosely packed so it won’t cause any streaks after powder is applied. I didn’t read the description until now since this did catch my ear on the choice items more than the other items since I rarely get a powder brush. I know I got an under eye concealing brush but I used that to set me under eyes due to how big of a brush that was. I’m glad to choose this since I did get one product I wasn’t expecting.

Feel Enzymatic Exfoliating Cleanser: Next up is a product from Feel! I think I have gotten a product from these guys in the past but in Glam Bag Plus. This is an exfoliating cleanser that is made with extracts from pineapples and papayas alongside pumpkin seed oil. This helps with getting rid of any build up on the skin in order to clear it and even softens the skin, plus it’s gentle on the skin. I do love exfoliating scrubs since I do use these when I am about to put a sheet mask on to help the moisture sink into it. I can’t wait to use this item!

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder: Next up is a product I was not expecting but goes well with my new powder brush and it’s the Bye Bye Pores Powder from IT Cosmetics. This is a mattifying and translucent powder that has antioxidants, peptides, and collagen are in this powder to give a blurring effect. My skin’s dry but I will give this a try since I do wear a dewy foundation that doesn’t need much of an application due to how easy it blends and hoping this doesn’t irritate my skin since there are times some mattifying products can do that. I will see how this goes and glad to try it as a trial size instead of a full-size.

Laura Make Up Labs Glozzing Sparkle Lip Gloss: This is a brand I never heard of before but glad to try these guys here! This is a lightweight and non-sticky formula that also hydrates the lips. I got the shade Mystic which is a sheer peach with gold sparkle. Perfect for Christmas time since gold is a nice color anywhere. I have to try this baby on and see how it goes!

Use Me Hair Curl + Wave Cream: Final item is from another brand I never heard of and that is Use Me Hair. I love trying new hair products since my hair is dry and frizzy most of the time and it loves to tangle with the curls I have. This cream helps hair stay healthy and dreamy even if you chemically process it. You can even use it before heat styling. I have to try this product out and see how it goes!

That is, it for this bag. I find it interesting how Ipsy noticed that I picked the powder brush and threw a powder in as a way of having me try a new powder out. I’m glad to get another exfoliating cleanser since it does help with having my sheet masks sink into my skin. I will have to see how the lip gloss and hair cream goes since they are new to me. What is next? I will be writing a new Cosmetic Controversy post which has been a while since I done one. So stay tuned guys!

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by moonleopard85 on December 17, 2020  •  Permalink
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Posted by moonleopard85 on December 17, 2020

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The Technology Quadrant: Battle of the Bluetooth Earphones

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe. I am back with a post in time for the holiday season!

Battle of the Bluetooth Earphones!

It’s that time again where we are shopping for that perfect gift for that perfect someone even with Chanukah coming up for all of my nerds who celebrate it and of course Christmas in two weeks for the other nerds who celebrate that. One thing I notice that is big and always on sale from Black Friday through Christmas Eve is technology. I admit I did buy the new Echo Dot Gen 4 and now waiting to do my trade in for the I Phone 12 Mini but one thing is big at the moment is Bluetooth headphones! One of the big ones is of course either the Beatz by Dre or of course the Apple Air Pods which have the ear bud style and now coming out with the over the head style which we have known and loved many ages ago. Unfortunately, with most people, the price tag is pretty up there. I was told the new Air Pods with the over the head feature will be in the $500 range which is around the same price for the I Phone 12 range and the new I Pad Air, which I will review soon since I have it myself. The question is that are their cheaper versions? Yes, I will be talking about three of them since I have used them and they are cheaper than the Apple counterparts. Let’s dive in!

Amazon Echo Buds

Price: $120

First up are the ear buds I have been using for over a year and they are the Echo Buds from Amazon. These will cost you around $120 unless you get them for a special price during Black Friday or Cyber Monday or even after both since you can get low prices on Amazon devices leading up to Christmas Eve and New Year’s. These work with the Amazon Alexa app and easy to set up as well. You can do a lot with Alexa with these and even play games on these if you wanted. One thing I can admit that is hard is keeping in my ears. They do slip out even with the wings that come with the ear buds. I don’t have those on there anymore since the wings even slip off the bud as well. You have to push down on them every so often to keep them in even while eating. I only use these if the next ones die on me as back ups since they do have the charging case that you can plug into any USB compatible chord especially a three-in-one chord. If you enjoy using Alexa, this will be handy for you.

Raycon

Price: Price: $79.99

I have been using these lately since Richard gave me his old pair after buying a new set thinking he lost them but Raycons are a highly rated pair of ear buds. These are amazing and I tend to use these while riding the bus to and from work because I can just press the button on these to play my music without bringing out my phone all the time. These have amazing sound and very comfortable to wear. Like the Echo Buds, they do also come in a chargeable case and they are small alongside the case. They come in many colors and if you guys watch YouTube, a lot of YouTubers do get sponsored and have codes with them so you can get these for 30% off. Richard used Some Call Me Johnny’s link for his buds so I would say watch for anyone who has a special link.

Aftershoqz

Price: $79 to $100.

And finally, the Aftershoqz headphones. I got into these because of co-workers like these to listen to music and hear their surroundings. I admit I do like that as well and do like how they wrap around the back of my head instead of going over my head. These are bone conduction headphones where they go near your ears rather than inside and use the vibrations from your bones to emit sound. Good thing too is that you can use these to make and answer calls with the button on the side, play music, and even control the volume on the other side near the right ear. I haven’t mentioned this with the Raycons but these, like the Raycon ones, connect to Bluetooth without an app. You just go into the Bluetooth settings and pair through there and ready to go. I heard some of the newer models of these don’t have the vibrations but if you can get the Titaniums then you will feel a slight vibration in your ear. One thing to consider with these is that have your device near you because if you stray too far the connection will drop until you get back to your device.

Which Is Better? It’s hard to say since some people have different preferences. If you prefer the comfort, I will say Raycon is the best for that since you don’t have to keep pushing them in. If you want to keep using an assistant to do certain things then the Amazon Echo Buds would be the best since you can use your device’s assistant alongside Alexa to do different tasks on your device. Trust me, turning on my lights using these was awesome to use as an example. If you prefer something that you can not only hear the audio but your surroundings, the Aftershoqz would be your choice since traveling with these or jogging with them is safer than having music blasting without hearing your surroundings. Best example, I was using these with Soundscape while heading to my mailbox to know what’s around me in the area as I moved forward until I asked a neighbor for help. If I had to pick a favorite out of the three, I would say the Raycon ear buds due to how I can just push the play button without bringing out my phone.

That is, it for this post! We don’t have a link for the Raycon unfortunately but you can watch people on YouTube about getting a link. These three have been my go-to Bluetooth earphones and they work very well and they are cheaper than the Air Pods if you don’t want to splurge during the holidays. So, happy shopping!

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by moonleopard85 on December 10, 2020  •  Permalink
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Posted by moonleopard85 on December 10, 2020

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2020/12/10/the-technology-quadrant-battle-of-the-bluetooth-earphones/