#KikiThinks: IPHONE VS. ANDROID

Hey guys! I know you missed me, and I'm sorry for not posting in a while. Since we're close to the end of April, as you may know, the curriculum is getting more rigorous and I find myself swamped with papers and tests! But since I've FINALLY found some time to post, I decided to grace you guys with yet another #KikiThinks.

It's the 21st century--an era of "smart" everything. SmartTV's, Smartcars,  and of course, Smartphones. I'm sure you all are aware of the ages-old debate among people all around the world---is the Apple IPhone or Android Samsung Galaxy smartphone "better"? And you're probably expecting me to pick a side. Welp, prepare to be disappointed because in my honest opinion, it DOES NOT matter. A phone is a phone. Plain and simple. I mean think about it. There are much more important things that we as a society should be worrying about. Famine, war, disease, poverty. People are dying at the hands of corrupt governments, totally deprived of their human rights and in some countries, treated worse than animals. Only the privileged have the opportunity to debate about such nonsense as a smartphone because I guarantee you, if privileged folks lived for one day as impoverished citizens subject to torture based solely on their social class, the last thing they would even think about is how well a smartphone can perform.

Now, in no way am I bashing smartphones in general. I think they are truly amazing for their abilities to multitask. The smartphone can be used for so many great things. It may be used as a camera, camcorder, calendar, alarm clock, stopwatch, daily planner, calorie counter for fitness, etc. etc. The possibilities are endless. The smartphone makes life so much easier. However, the topic of whether one brand is "better" than the other is completely insignificant and it annoys me to no end when I see people get into this debate on social media. So my advice would be to just shut up and be glad that you're blessed enough to have a cell phone in the first place.

For those who may be curious, I myself currently own a Samsung Galaxy S5 and I am very pleased with the many functions that the Galaxy can perform. And almost all of my friends own IPhones but we never argue about which is better because we have better things to talk about. As long as the phone gets the job done, I am happy. And I am truly grateful to have the privilege of owning a smartphone because it is truly one of the greatest inventions of all time. If you have an IPhone, cool. If you have a Galaxy, cool. There are some things that the IPhone doesn't have that the Android has, and vice versa. Apple and Samsung are the top 2 competitors in technology. They both release some awesome products that are sure to get people's attention every time. But instead of arguing about which is "better", why not talk about things that actually matter and make an attempt to do something about them?

Love always,

--Kiki

BATH AND BODY WORKS VELVET SUGAR REVIEW

I don't know about you but I absolutely ADORE sugar! I just can't get enough SUGAR! Although it may be a little obsessive, you gotta admit, sugar is pretty damn intoxicating. And I'm not talking about those white crystals you see in your local supermarket. I'm talking about one of Bath and Body Works' most beloved scents, Velvet Sugar! Although Velvet Sugar has gotten plenty of great reviews on the B&BW website, as well as on YouTube and other blogs, Velvet Sugar has been discontinued, meaning that it is no longer available in stores BUT can still be purchased online. I purchased the 3 fl. oz. travel-sized body mist before it was kicked off the shelves.

According to www.bathandbodyworks.com, the main fragrance notes are as follows:

Top Notes: Wild Strawberries, White Nectarine, Pear Blossom, Apple Nectar

Mid Notes: Pink Jasmine, Golden Plum, Red Velvet Creme, Dewy Honeysuckle, Freesia

Dry Notes: Golden Amber, Vanilla, Tolu Balsam, Caramel, Baileys' Irish Creme, Sugared Musk

Before I get into the actual scent, I just want to point out that the package is uber-adorable! It reminds me of Valentine's Day! The bottle is a deep red, almost burgundy color. It has hearts and lattice patterns going all around it. And the pretty blue-laced bow in the front is a great contrast to its red background. It's gorgeous! And it's basically what drew me to this product. As for the fragrance itself, hence the name, it's really sweet. But not sickeningly sweet. It's just right. As soon as I spray this mist, I get a burst of fruity freshness coming from the strawberry and the nectarine. The floral notes are detectable but not as prominent. Then immediately after, I get the warm, delicious sweet notes such as the caramel, red velvet creme and vanilla. 

You're probably wondering what the actual heck is tolu balsam? That is exactly what I thought upon smelling this for the first time. And after some extensive research, I found that tolu balsam is actually a sticky sap-like substance from the Peruvian Myroxylon tree, literally meaning "fragrant wood". But don't be alarmed! This body mist won't make you sticky! The tolu balsam note does have a musky, amber smell that gives Velvet Sugar a bit of mystery and maturity. This is one fragrance that I think is versatile enough to be enjoyed by women of all ages. It's sweet enough to appeal to younger women but sophisticated enough to appeal to older women.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend wearing Velvet Sugar in warm weather, simply because of the musk that may become quite overpowering when mixed with high humidity. But this scent is perfect for fall and especially winter. It's one of those cozy, dessert-like fragrances that is bound to receive plenty of compliments! It's casual enough to wear during the day, but sexy enough to wear on a date night, for example. Because I have not yet purchased anything else in this scent, I wasn't able to layer it. But I will say that wearing the fragrance mist alone, the scent lasts me about 4 hours, which by itself is not bad at all! I can't wait to try out the Velvet Sugar body creams to see how long it can really last!

On a scale of 1-10, I give Bath and Body Works' Velvet Sugar an 8. Still not my FAVORITE but I REALLY REALLY like it nonetheless. It's a shame that B&BW retired it because I'm not really a fan of ordering stuff online. I'm way too impatient to wait for the mail because I want my Velvet Sugar now!
The 3 fl. oz. mist was $6. A full-sized 8 fl. oz. version is available for $14.

Peace!
--Kiki

WHAT I USE FOR MY HAIR!

Hey! Hey you! Just want to wish you a Happy April! I decided to take a mini-break from body care items and show you guys some products that I use to wash and condition my hair. As an African American female with coarse, natural hair that has never been relaxed, I have to say, taking care of my hair is one hell of a project. Even from babyhood, my hair has always been thick and abundant but two of my main problems were dryness and breakage. For a long time, I've wanted to grow my hair longer. And any time I made progress it seemed as if I took one step forward and two steps back. Why? Because the dryness of my hair caused so much breakage, it looked like I didn't grow any hair at all! I knew something had to be done.

I was just leisurely searching around my local beauty supply store and came across Shea Moisture hair care products. Mind you, I have heard of this company before and it has gotten awesome reviews from other natural gals like me. Even though the price was a bit...up there ($12 for each bottle), I chose to give this company a shot as I was desperate for a solution. I purchased the Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and the Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner. 
Upon reading their labels, I thought these products sounded very promising. First off, Shea Moisture products are made of natural ingredients meaning there are NO sulfates, NO parabens, and NO synthetic fragrances or dyes. Shea Moisture does NOT test on animals. These are certified organic products and may be ideal for vegans/vegetarians. They consist of Shea butter (to moisturize and condition hair and scalp), sea kelp (to help strengthen hair cuticles) and argan oil (to restore shine and help build hair elasticity).

SHAMPOO: What can I say about this product? Well, I give it two thumbs up for changing the texture of my hair as soon as it makes contact. As I said before, my hair is usually dry and brittle but as soon as this shampoo hits my scalp, my hair immediately becomes so much softer, it's like magic! I enjoy running my fingers through my hair in the shower. The texture is like cotton. I love it! I also like that this shampoo doesn't burn my eyes as much. Trust me, I've had terrible experiences where I used products like Dr. Miracle, Herbal Essences and Garnier Fructis and for some reason, my eyes would burn so badly they'd turn red. This would happen even though the products themselves never actually made contact with my eyes. I don't know, maybe I was sensitive to the fumes? I made sure to never buy those items again. But Shea Moisture shampoo is a little gentler on my eyes. The only problem I have with this shampoo is that a little does NOT go a long way. This shampoo sucks at lathering. I have to use quite a bit just to get some suds. And that is a shame because I feel I like I would go through these bottles quickly, not really something I'd like from a semi-expensive product. This (and conditioner) can also be used on over-processed hair.

CONDITIONER: This is a LIFESAVER! It really hydrates my hair. My hair looks shiny and healthy! I like to use this conditioner in the shower before shampooing (a little odd, I know but it's actually better for your hair!) I've been using these products for a while now and I've noticed that for me, this conditioner can also double up as a detangler. After I blow dry my hair, of course, it still gets tangled. Soft, but tangled. I like to take a little dab of this conditioner, rub it into the strands and comb away. My hair becomes noticeably more manageable. And as a result, I experience less breakage! I finally get to retain my hair growth! As far as the smell, well, the conditioner and shampoo both smell the same. Again, they have no SYNTHETIC fragrances but they do have a smell that's a little hard to describe. The best way I can describe it is...it's earthy, kind of woodsy. A bit musky but it does have a nice natural, organic smell. However it's not fruity or floral. Although Shea Moisture was originally made for ethnic hair, it can also work well on Caucasian hair.

I just want to tell you guys about one last product that I use before AND after I wash my mane--coconut oil. Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer to help condition and nourish hair and skin. Because my scalp is so dry that I sometimes suffer from the annoying effects of dandruff, coconut oil does a great job preventing it. It also helps restore the shine in my hair and promotes growth. I usually let it sit for about 30 minutes before washing my hair. Then after the washing, I apply more. Using coconut oil is another great way to detangle your locks. And of course it smells amazing! Always use 100% PURE coconut oil for best results! It doesn't matter what brand you get, just make sure it's 100% pure. I purchased LouAna coconut oil at my local supermarket for about $6.

On a scale of 1-10, I give Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo an 8. I love how soft it makes my hair feel. The smell is very much tolerable and it doesn't sting my eyes. But I really don't like that it doesn't lather up well, for a product that costs $12. I feel the bottle could be bigger, as it is only 13 oz. Nonetheless, I will be purchasing again. The Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner gets a 9. I love everything about it, just wish I got more for the price. The coconut oil gets a 10 of course! It does the job and it does it well. No complaints! Shea Moisture can also be found at Walmart, Target and various pharmacies.

Catch you later!
-Kiki

LIPLICIOUS LIP GLOSS REVIEW (BERRY BELLINI)

I know it's been a while, I just had a lot going on from essays to midterms and so much more! And Easter was a couple of days ago, so there's that. Well, I am back and I will be reviewing Bath and Body Works' Liplicious lip gloss in the flavor/scent Berry Bellini. This is a 0.47 oz. tube. Small enough to fit in your pocket. I actually received this as a gift therefore, I did not purchase this myself but I will give the price it's selling for at the end of this post. 

So let's get into it!

As you can see from this picture, the lip gloss has a nice sleek, silver twist-able top. And when you open it, you will see a chiseled tip, which allows precision when squeezing the gloss from the tube. It doesn't come with a brush applicator. The actual product itself is a deep plum color, however, it shows up clear on the lips. THIS IS NOT A TINTED GLOSS. I love that the product has tiny specks of glitter in it, to make your lips shine brighter than my dad's bald head on a sunny day! As far as the consistency goes, it's perfect. Not too watery, not too thick. It never dries my lips out. To be honest with you, my lips feel much more moisturized. Sometimes I like to wear this as a base before I apply my lipsticks, which I will also be reviewing later on.

This lip gloss tastes and smells INCREDIBLE. It really does have a sweet, juicy berry aroma and let me tell ya, it tastes just as good as it smells. I've worn plenty of "flavored" lip glosses in the past and I would always get this weird, plastic-y aftertaste that made me want to vomit. But I 100% guarantee you, this brand of lip gloss has absolutely NO weird aftertaste. It tastes so good, you'll probably even mistake this for candy, but just letting ya know, it's not edible haha. And...if you have a special someone that you want to impress, this wouldn't be a bad idea *wink*. In fact, my ex-boyfriend was crazy about this lip gloss. Anytime I wore it, he gave me never-ending compliments. He would even lean his nose in specifically to smell my lips (a little weird, I know but that's how good it smells!). He loved it so much he had to ask what it was called and where I got it from. Now you know guys don't usually ask these kinds of questions when it comes to our cosmetics. But Liplicious lip gloss can definitely make your guy curious!

On a scale of 1-10, I give Liplicious Berry Bellini a 9. I was quite shocked at how delicious it is without a nasty aftertaste. I love the flavor, the smell, the precision tip, basically everything except the fact that it's not tinted. I would have loved for this to give my lips a pop of purple. But because it goes on clear (which I'm not really a fan of), I docked one point. Nonetheless, I totally recommend Bath and Body Works' Liplicious lip gloss! They have so many other flavors/scents, such as Cotton Candy, Fruit Punch, and Watermelon, just to name a few. Bath and Body Works does have a number of non-sheer flavors/scents. I definitely look forward to collecting them and figuring out which one I like the best!

B&BW usually sells these for around $7 to $8 but they always offer a deal of buy-one-get-one-half-off or buy-one-get-one-free.

Buh-bye!
-Kiki

VS PINK HOT CRUSH REVIEW

Hey guys! Today's review is on the Victoria's Secret PINK hand and body cream in the scent "Hot Crush". I purchased this at (of course) Victoria's Secret during one of their winter semi-annual sales. I absolutely adore the VS and B&BW 75% off sales because you can buy so much for a good bargain! The original price of this body cream was $15 but since I got it on a discount, I only paid $5.25! This is the 6.7 fl. oz. bottle.

What drew me to this product was the bright red packaging and the big bold white letters. VS definitely gets a thumbs up for creativity. This bottle is perfect for display on your dresser or vanity. You may not be able to see from this picture but it has polka dots all around it. Super cute.

The cream itself is not super thick but it does leave my skin really soft without making it greasy or shiny. It absorbs into my skin very well.

Now let's get into the fragrance. "Hot Crush" mainly consists of jasmine and caramel notes, to make you "totally crush-worthy", as said by Victoria's Secret. This is considered a warm scent, meaning that it's best suited for fall and winter.

Giving my complete honest opinion here. When I first smelled it and put it on, I liked it. I wasn't IN LOVE with it but it was wearable...at first. Upon putting it on, it reminded me a little bit of Bath and Body Works' Forever Midnight, which I really liked because they both have caramel and floral notes. The caramel really helped to make the fragrance more gourmand, ya know, smell more edible. But THEN after about a half hour, I started getting this sickening powdery smell from it. I kid you not, it went from a sexy caramel gourmand to a scent that smelled like baby powder. It was awful. I'll have you know, I am not, I repeat NOT a fan of powdery scents at all, which is why I can't stand Bath and Body Works' Moonlight Path, but I would have to say this was a lot worse. On me, Forever Midnight has never turned into a weird powdery fragrance.

Not trying to be dramatic but this scent made me gag. It made me feel sick to my stomach. And trust me, I tried to like it. I tried giving it a chance. But I just could not take it so I ended up giving it to my mother. She loves powdery scents and loves this so I guess that makes scents (sense, haha get it?)  Just not my cup of tea. So if you do like powdery scents give "Hot Crush" a try. The powder note will sneak up on you.

You can wear this any time of the day or night. The scent lasts about 3 hours on me. Kinda short amount of time, I know. But in this case, I'm glad!

On a scale of 1-10, I give Hot Crush a 4. While the cream itself is very good quality, and softens my skin, the scent is just very off-putting to me. It's great that I got a discount and didn't have to pay full price, but I will not be purchasing this again.

Hasta luego!
-Kiki

LET'S TALK: FEMININE HYGIENE (VAGISIL REVIEW)

I know feminine hygiene is something that not many women like to talk about. It's somewhat of a taboo topic of conversation. But it's extremely important and it's something that I think women should be comfortable with talking about. Now although the topic of keeping your hoo-ha clean may make people cringe and turn red with embarrassment, it's a necessary lesson that must be taught to women and young girls for the sake of themselves and erm...those around them.
So today, I'll be reviewing Vagisil Feminine Wash!
I purchased two 12 fl. oz. bottles in pH Balance and Odor Block Protection. These are safe enough to use every day.

Now before I get into the review, I just want to give a few pointers.
First off, it's a known fact that women sweat down there. We have sweat glands, so we sweat. And unfortunately, that sweat can cause odor. You don't necessarily have to have an infection for there to be odor. Even on extremely warm days, or when you're working out, there's always a chance that your natural scent can get a little stronger than usual. And that's where Vagisil comes in.

Second, there is talk going around that women only need water to wash their vulvas. No soap. And I've actually encountered quite a few who told me that they wash with just plain water and nothing else. Now I'm totally not judging them since it's their body and they may take care of it however they please. But personally, I cannot wash with just plain water alone. I need soap, of some kind. I feel more confident and much cleaner when I wash with soap because soap does a better job scrubbing away sweat and bacteria, and it also deodorizes. Water does not deodorize. I do, however, understand why some women may wash with only water. The vulva is an extremely sensitive area that does not react well to most soaps--ones with strong fragrances and dyes. There are lots of milder, gentler soaps that won't irritate the vulva such as Ivory, Dial, and Dove for Sensitive Skin, just to name a few. But Vagisil is a well-known company that specializes in that area so it's less likely to cause irritation. 

Lastly, it's very important that the vagina maintains a certain pH balance. Just giving you guys (girls) a little Chemistry 101: the pH scale measures how acidic or basic something is. The scale goes from a pH of 0 (most acidic) to a pH of 14 (most basic).The more basic something is, the less acid is present. Since the number 7 is right-smack-in-the-middle, it indicates neutrality. When something has a pH of 7, it is neither acidic nor basic. Any pH after 7 is basic and any pH below 7 is acidic. Makes sense? So a healthy vagina has a mostly acidic environment because its pH balance is normally between 3.8 and 4.5, according to www.everydayhealth.com. Now you may be shocked and curious as to why our vaginas are so acidic. Well, the acidic environment helps kill any bad bacteria that may cause infection. If for some reason, the pH increases, the vagina becomes more basic, less acid is available causing the bad bacteria to thrive. Thus, the vagina may become more vulnerable to infection.

VAGISIL pH BALANCE: You will always know what it is from the purple top. It's purpose is to keep your pH in check. I've been using this product for a few years and I get absolutely no irritation. It claims to have a "light and fresh" scent. I love it. It's noticeable but not too strong. And it has a fresh linen type of smell, which I appreciate because I don't really like to use feminine washes that smell like flowers and rain (which is why I stay away from Summer's Eve). Those floral/rain fragrances may affect pH. I love how well it lathers; it suds up really nicely and rinses off well! This may sound a little weird but not all bacteria is bad. There is such a thing as "good" bacteria--it's called Lactobacilli or LactoProbiotic. This "good" bacteria also helps to prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria, but it can also be destroyed by the acidity of the vagina. So Vagisil pH Balance wash is infused with LactoProbiotic to replace the good bacteria that is lost. LactoProbiotic does not cause odor or infection.

VAGISIL ODOR BLOCK: You will always know what it is from the pink top. It's purpose is to prevent odor from sweat, etc. Similar to the pH Balance wash, it suds up well, rinses off well and I get no irritation. This product also has a "light and fresh" scent. I also love that a little goes a long way. Since you're only washing your vulva, which is a relatively small area compared to the rest of your body, the most you need is a quarter-sized amount to wash it completely. My daily regimen is the "wash, rinse, repeat" cycle. In the shower, I wash my vulva twice--just to make sure it's clean. One 12 fl. oz bottle may last me a few months with daily use! All washes are safe enough to use during your period, during menopause or before/after sex. I never get a smell coming from the vulva when using this or even when I wash with Dove or baby soap. I do take extra precautions to keep myself fresh during my period but I will talk about that in another review.

On a scale of 1-10, I give both washes a 10. They do a great job of keeping me clean and feeling fresh all day, every day--even in the warmest temperatures. I never worry about irritation. They have a nice, clean smell. They lather and rinse off well. The bottles are big. They last a very long time. I only need a little to wash myself completely. What more can I ask for?

I bought both bottles from my local Rite Aid Pharmacy for around $7.69 each. I totally recommend you try it if you're looking for a good feminine wash. It's worth the price!

Later, girls!
--Kiki

#KikiThinks: DONALD TRUMP

If you don't live completely under a rock, then you may have heard of the name Donald Trump countless times, especially now that the presidential election is underway. I felt an overwhelming need to write a post about him considering the fact that this man has deliberately embarrassed himself multiple times on national television. Not sure how a wealthy businessman who has little to no actual experience in politics would even be considered a suitable leader for our country.

Many people will try to bring up Ronald Reagan. Apparently Reagan was a "great" president even though EVEN THOUGH he was only an actor. Because of Reaganomics, the middle-lower classes suffered greatly. My father went to college during Reagan's presidency. Reagan stripped my father and many other students of their federal grants. As a result, my father could not pay for his education and was forced to drop out. Inflation went through the roof. Reagan made it more difficult for those who were financially struggling to acquire aid, my great-grandmother being one of them. Reagan may have been a "great" president for the upper class, but was one of the worst things to ever happen to the middle-lower class.

Okay, okay, I get it. Donald Trump "tells it like it is". He (apparently) knows how to restore the American economy just because he's a billionaire and owns many different businesses, (four of them went bankrupt, by the way). He can "make America great again". Whatever the hell that means. I wouldn't necessarily call a country that rose to power through the blood. sweat and tears of enslaved people "great" but whatever sounds good, right? It just baffles me that out of all presidential candidates, people favor the one with NO REAL PLAN for this country. I can't tell you how many times I've seen news reporters and other candidates ask him what his plans are and instead of answering the question, he would beat around the bush and verbally attack others. Watch this video closely.

Are you kidding me? THIS is the man people want as president? He's like a bratty seven year old who throws tantrums any time he doesn't get his way. Notice when he says "I don't repeat myself", but then says it again immediately after. This guy is a joke and if America elects him, this country will be the laughing stock of the entire globe. So not only does he NOT have an adequate health care plan, but he refuses to tell the world exactly where he will be getting the money to build a wall across the Mexican border to keep out "rapists" and "drug dealers". He instead just tells the media that somehow SOMEHOW he'll get Mexico to pay for it. And here's what former Mexican president Felipe Calderon had to say.

So Trump, Mexico's not paying for the wall. What are you going to do now? Trump is making it seem as if all of America's problems are caused by Mexicans. He makes it seem as if it's only the Mexicans that come into this country causing the crime rate to increase. I can see from my own two eyes that Mexicans are some of the hardest working people in this country. Many of them do menial jobs such as housekeeping and janitorial work because that is all that's available to them. And if Mexico refuses to build the wall then who will? Not American upper class citizens. Not even the middle class. So who will do it? The lower class? Mexican-Americans who are already struggling?

Donald Trump's policies are frighteningly similar to Adolf Hitler's. Hitler blamed all of Germany's problems on the Jews. Hitler wanted to "make Germany great". And he also proposed that all Jews had some form of ID. Sounds pretty much like Donald Trump's attempt to ID all Muslims in America (after terrorist attacks) and even ban them from migrating into the country. Donald Trump's Islamophobia has gotten way out of hand and it's spreading like a virus. I don't care what anyone says. Donald Trump is RACIST and PREJUDICED. He would make a horrible president.

He has said awful things about women. Who would want a misogynistic hothead as leader of our country? He has undermined the successes of U.S Army veterans just because they weren't wounded or killed. He has openly poked fun at the disabled AND he refused to condemn the Ku Klux Klan and ex-leader David Duke. Now what does THAT tell you? Look at this clip.

. 
There is just no way in hell that Donald Trump could have NOT known about David Duke and the KKK. This reporter clearly is speaking on white supremacy. If Trump was smart he would have linked white supremacy with the KKK and refuse their support. But you see, Trump did NOT do that. He knew exactly what that reporter was saying but Trump pretended like he innocently just "didn't know". He just didn't want to denounce the KKK or David Duke. Save it, Trump. We're not stupid.

Just a few more points before I go. Donald Trump opposes increasing the U.S. minimum wage claiming it would hurt the economy even more. So what are we supposed to do, just sit there and let prices of food, clothing and other necessities increase while our wages stay put? How are we going to make ends meet? Trump opposes part of the 14th Amendment which states that those born on American soil have the right to be considered American citizens. He is pro-life and opposes gay marriage. Sad to say, but people in other countries are watching as elections get closer and they are just as surprised as I am that Americans love this man so much.

Donald Trump may "tell it like it is", but sometimes "telling it like it is" is not the best way to go. There is a little thing called diplomacy and Donald Trump is anything but diplomatic so yeah he can "tell it like it is" and before you know it, we'll be in World War 3. Oh but wait, I forgot, America profits from war so maybe that's the goal here?

Americans just might be stupid enough to elect this idiot president. And if they do, mark my words, I am packing my bags and moving to Canada.

Til next time
-Kiki