Recipe: Summer Detox Smoothie

Sweet and spicy, this smoothie is great for starting your morning, hitting the gym, or even hosting a pool party! This easy recipe will only take minutes to make, but the sensational taste will leave you craving more all day long! The fruity sweetness is contrasted with a spicy aftertaste for a kick to your everyday smoothie. Let's get started!

All you'll need is...

Watermelon

Pineapple

Lime

Sea Salt (Just a pinch!)

Cayenne Pepper

Ice

Simply throw all of these ingredients into the blender. You may add as little or as much of each ingredient as you'd like! You will end up with something that has more of a juice consistency so you can add ice to make more of a slushy consistency! 

Cayenne pepper is great for so many things. It is loaded with nutrients, boosts immunity, and helps with weight loss. That's why this smoothie is perfect to take with you to your workout!! 

Let me know if you try this, I've been addicted to it!

Bottoms Up!

xo, Kiana

Burn Baby Burn: Summer Edition

Left to Right: Voluspa "Santiago Huckleberry", Bath and Body Works "Honeysuckle",
Bath and Body Works "Poolside", and Voluspa "Goji Tarocco Orange"
Sorry for the bad quality photo! =(

Who says that candles are only for cuddling up by the fire with a nice cup of hot cocoa? These candles are my favorite for adding that fun zesty smell to your room or just to help you relax while your favorite show is playing!

Below I will put the company's description as well as my person thoughts on the candle!

Disclaimer: I want to let you guys know that if you are going to buy a Voluspa candle, I highly recommend the glass packaging, as the tin can be impossible to open and close. But definitely check out Voluspa, the candles burn beautifully and smell heavenly! =)

Voluspa "Santiago Huckleberry" - "The combination of rip huckleberry mixed with vanilla pods and crushed sugar cane for a sweet, delicious scent." To me, this candle just smells like a slice of berry pie. It is very sweet, but it maintains a certain maturity to it. The vanilla adds a hint of muskiness to it for a yummy smell that will fill the room.

Bath and Body Works' "Honeysuckle" - "The scent of early spring contained in a blend of sweet honeysuckle, pink peony and freesia with a touch of creamy vanilla." Don't be scared by the strange mixture of vanilla and honeysuckle, the vanilla simply adds a creamier vibe to the floral scent. This candle reminds me of when I was younger at the park and we used to suck the honey out of the honeysuckles. It is just fresh and floral and the absolute perfect spring/summer candle!

Bath and Body Works' "Poolside" - Unfortunately this was limited edition, but they usually bring it back seasonally. I'm sure you guys can find this on the internet if you do your homework! It's completely worth it! "Lemon, orange, and tropical blossoms get a splash of coconut in a fragrance that revels in the cool side being poolside." Now to be honest with you all, I don't smell the fruitiness that this candle describes, but nevertheless, this is one of my all time favorite candles, which is why I am using it sparingly. This smells like the pool. The chlorine, the tanning oil, the warmth of the sun, and the fond memories that accompany summer. This tends to be a controversial scent, I've noticed some people love it and some people hate it. This just makes me think of pool towels, umbrellas, and a nice, cold margarita! Don't worry, it burns as nicely as it smells in the jar!

Voluspa "Goji Tarocco Orange" - "A blend of citrus notes: goji berry, ripe mango, and tarocco orange." This candle is delicious! It makes my mouth water. It is a very tarte, fruity, energetic fragrance! It is bubbly and fun and essential for this time of year! With this aroma floating in the air, I just want to dance around to some music! I love this scent and every other Voluspa scent! Go give it a go!

So those are my favorite summer candles for you all! I hope that you enjoyed this post and you are all having a very fun summer!

Cheers!
xo, Kiana

Products I've Used Up/ Empties #2

1. Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion - Clinique says that this is not a toner. It is a clarifying lotion. Apparently, the difference is that this solution contains zero alcohol. Now that that is clarified, (see what I did there?), I will say I really like this product. I don't notice that it plays a huge role in clearing my acne, but I use this after I cleanse my face and it removes excess dirt, oil, and other icky things from my pores that my cleanser could not get to. This solution has 1.5% Salicylic acid in it, but it does not burn and I just like the way that it makes my skin feel, so I will continue to repurchase this.

2. Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst - Well, this won't be the first time I rave about this product. You guys have seen this product in my favorites many times. This has become a holy grail product for me and I never want to be without it. This fluffy gel consistency really hydrates my skin and makes me feel refreshed and it also acts as my S.O.S. product when I have dry patches. This formula is allergy tested, oil-free, and fragrance free. You can use this under or over makeup and it makes foundation apply beautifully. I HIGHLY recommend this moisturizer! You will not regret it!

3. Gillette Venus Tropical Disposable Razors - I don't know what to say about these... I have tried everything ladies! HELP! I have tried expensive men's razors, expensive ladies razors, and finally I said I'm tired of spending so much money replacing blades, I'll just buy disposables. Bad decision. These did not suit my fancy. The razor head wobbles while you are trying to shave and I just didn't get that close shave I like, although the handle bars do smell tropical! I think I will go back to my Men's Gillette until I find something better. Otherwise, waxing it is. If you ladies have any recommendations for a razor that gives a really close shave, please let me know in the comments!

4. Trapp No. 15 Vanilla Tarte Candle - This is a higher end candle, but boy is it worth the money! At first, I was not impressed by this candle. It smelled delicious, but it would not fill the room with the fragrance. Once I trimmed the wick it performed so much better. The packaging of the Trapp candles is so elegant and nice! All of the scents are just bliss, and after sticking my nose in about 10, I finally decided on this one. It is a delicious sweet vanilla scent. I can't do it justice. Go try them now! I will definitely be repurchasing a few more of these!

5. Softsoap Body Butter Coconut Scrub - Let me clarify this for all of you, this is body BUFF wash, not simply a body wash, which explains my confusion the first couple of times I used it. This does not sud up because it is a soap-free formula. This is a rich body scrub with crushed coconut and jojoba butter extracts. It smells yummy and the price is yummy too! You can use this all over your body. I love using this on an exfoliating towel before I shave my legs. I enjoyed using this, but it is not my favorite. I would probably skip this next time.

Those are all of my empties! Until next time,
xo, Kiana

First Impression: Sephora Tinted Self-Tanning Body Mist

I was hesitant to try this tanning spray because it seems as though Sephora was going for a bronze bottle and it turned out to be orange. Similarly, I didn't want to spray it on my body hoping to be bronze and turning orange! Not only that, but the lid does not stay on, but I guess you get what you pay for. This tanning spray is extremely affordable, and, contrary to the packaging, surprisingly natural and not at all orange!! The scent smells like coconut, and not the annoying "now I have to go shower because it smells so bad" kind of tanner smell. If you are not a fan of the scent, don't worry, it goes away after a few minutes! This formula has an instant bronzer in it so you can ensure that there won't be any streaks. I was the most surprised by how the formula dried within seconds! No need to stand around and wait for it to dry, just go hop on the couch or lay in bed and read Beauty With Kiki! Haha I will say though that after it dried it felt  sticky for about 10 min. This spray is very subtle you won't go from alpine white to "I just spent a week in Cabo" just by using this, but it adds that extra oomph to your tan. I think that overall for the small amount you pay for this tanner, it is great! Definitely worth trying! 

Let me know what you think!

xo, Kiana

(Belated) June Favorites!

I know that we are now half way through July and this post is long overdue, but there have been products this month that I just couldn't keep from you guys! I apologize for the delay, but I hope you enjoy what I have in store for you! =)

1. Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash - Around the beginning of June, I began to get a skin irritation. My skin was constantly itchy and due to my constant scratching, little bumps would form. My sister, who has mild eczema, suggested trying her Skin Relief Body Wash. I tried it and my itching was significantly reduced and my skin felt so moisturized. I ran to the store to buy a bottle for myself right away. This body wash is dermatologist recommended, fragrance free, and uses oatmeal as a key ingredient. It is a highly accessible body wash, you can find it at Target, Walmart, Ulta, and pretty much any other drug store!

2. Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish - I was browsing around Sephora when I came across the Laura Mercier "Face Polish". I dispensed a small amount on the back of my hand to feel the consistency. It was interesting, unlike any product I had ever tried before. I use this face polish when I have dry patches from my acne medications. This is the best exfoliator I have ever used. The particles are so tiny, almost like sand. I found that depending on how you work this into your skin, it can be both gentle or abrasive. After you rinse your face, your skin will feel brand new!

3. Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer - What a mouthful! Similar to a BB Creme, this moisturizer is great for a handful of things! Jergens created this gradual facial moisturizer to accompany their body moisturizer and it is perfect for those of us who are conscious of the sun's damaging properties. I don't like to get too much sun exposure on my face when I am laying out or at the beach/pool. As a result, my face is always significantly more pale than the rest of my body. I use this moisturizer when I feel like the color difference is just too much to bare. I promise this formula is NOT orange! (Neither is the body moisturizer) I love this because it really does moisturize, in a few days you will feel more evened out, it doesn't break me out, AND it is UVA/UVB SPF 20! Does it get any better? 

4. Dove Clinical Protection Antiperspirant & Deodorant - How do you begin to talk about deodorant? Hmm... well I guess I'll just get into the facts. This deodorant has prescription strength wetness protection and is dermatologist tested. I use the "rebalance" formula, which almost smells like japanese cherry blossom - deodorant version? Dove calls this a solid but it is more like a cream consistency that twists up at the bottom. Any-who... its great and I've been loving it this month!

5.  Aveeno Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment - Do you have tangled hair? Do you heat style your hair a lot? This is the ultimate leave-in conditioner for you! After I wash my hair, I like to let it try about 40% and then I spray just a few sprays between the mid-shaft and ends of my hair. Warning: too much product will make your hair feel greasy. But this does make your hair feel moisturized and refreshed! And it smells nice too!

6. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream "Addis Ababa" - Ignoring the strange name, this is my new holy grail pink lipstick. To start, the consistency of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams are to-die-for! They are moisturizing rather than drying and will stay on your lips for the longest time! The color I have is SMLC07 Addis Ababa which is a hot pink that is perfect for summer will red undertones rich enough for winter and every other season! This is SO flattering and so easy to work with! I'm in love with it!

7. Three Custom Color Specialists - Light Clarifier - This peachy nude pencil is a little pricy, but worth every single penny. This is a multi-purpose pencil that can be used for spot-concealing or lining your eyes! I have never used a pencil in my waterline that has the ability to make me look so "bright-eyed and bushy tailed". It completely distracts from the redness of your eyes and the effect that it gives to your make-up look is just indescribable! I highly recommend trying this out!! 

Those are all of my June Favorites! Like I said, sorry for posting this so late, but I hope you learned about some new products! As always, feel free to ask any questions in the comments below and go click that Follow button on the right hand side of the page =)

Love you,

xo, Kiana

Add A Zest To Your Summer Quench

Hi Everyone! 

I hope you all had a fantastic Fourth of July! As easy as it is, I wanted to share how I add some flavor and color to your ice cold water! This is great for a summer pool party or whenever you have guests over!

Start by filling your glass pitcher with 1 cut cucumber and a few sprigs of mint, then fill the pitcher with water. This gives the water a refreshing spa-like essence to it. Refrigerate the water and the flavor will increase by day. Once the pitcher is out of water, no need to replace the cucumber and mint, just refill water. 

When you're ready, I love putting drinks in these mason jars, it looks so much cuter than a plastic cup. All you have to do is recycle your peach jars and peel off the sticker ;) 

Lastly, top it off with a fresh slice of fruit like an orange, lime, or strawberry!

Stay Refreshed!

xo, Kiana