DIY Facial to restore natural ph

Right so, DIY time!! I know I've been MIA lately, but I've had so much going on that I've abandoned my little bloggity. But I'm determined to change that now!

Anyhoozle, I've been swimming a lot lately which has taken its toll on my skin. I've therefore had to search high and low for natural remedies to restore the ph of my skin and undo the damage the chlorine has done. So, here is a face mask I found that restores the natural ph of my face and moisturises it to combat the drying and stripping effects of the pool. So, here we are!

1 egg

1 tbsp honey

1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

-Seperate the egg, yoke in one bowl and whites in another.

-Whisk the egg whites until they're frothy. This will make it easier to apply the mask later

-Add honey and vinegar to the yoke, mixing until combined.

-Add the yoke mixture to the egg whites, stirring constantly until combined.

-Apply mixture to face. You can use a make-up brush, the back of a spoon, or I just used my fingers 'cos I'm lazy. Allow to dry for about 10-15 minutes, but you'll know when it's dry because you won't be able to move your face because it will be so tight. This is normal!!

-Wash off gently. It will be kind of hard to get off, but whatever you do don't scrub as this will just make your face red and blotchy and undo all your hard work.

Et Voilá! Your face should feel maaahvelous dahling. The key ingredient here is the vinegar to restore the ph(which is very important, trust me). But you can't exactly go dipping your face in a bucket of vinegar, so you add the egg to exfoliate and the honey to moisturise. I didn't invent this mask and I don't claim to, I just wanted to share with you! This is for women AND men, clear and healthy skin is not gender sensitive!!

So there ya have it, I really hope you try this and it works for you! I also have another facial post here if you want to take a look! You can use this as often as you like as there is nothing harsh in this mask, so prep and prime 'til you're black and blue!

Enjoy looking amaaahzing,

Aila Maritz xox

Personal Rant

How did I become so fucking weak?

I know this is a little bit personal, but I guess that's what happens when you have a blog; you tend to rant a little more than you should as it's your only outlet that won't get sick of you.

I used to be a very strong-willed girl. When I was little, it would take so much to phase me and any sickness or hardship I had, I'd just say era sure fuck it, I'll be grand. Although I didn't use the word fuck reader, being the little goodie two-shoes that I was, I merely use this for dramatic effect now. Now though......now. I'm kind of ashamed at how pathetic I've become to be perfectly honest. Now, I'm going to tell you some of my life story. If you feel you're going to judge or leave nasty comments, please stop reading now and I beg of you don't be mean!

Well, when I was 11 I had a spinal fusion, I was in 6th class at the time methinks. Needless to say, not being able to walk for more than five minutes at a time for a year made me stronger. I could have taken on the world at that time, and if I had been left to my devices then I would have been an amazing person. However, one has to go to secondary school. I fell in with the wrong crowd, not in a criminal way; I was one of the mean girls. I bullied a girl (not severely now, no physical contact was involved) who later became my best friend and still is 8 years later. I only did this because I didn't fit in myself and wanted to, desperately.

One day, these "mean girls" decided I wasn't cool enough any more, and turned on me. Now, I was the bullied. It just so happens that complete lowlifes around where I live where bullying me at the same time, telling me how annoying and ugly and fat I was and basically that I was a worthless piece of shit. Well, being a 12/13 year old lost little girl, I did something stupid, something I had no idea would effect my life so profoundly; I made myself throw up. Once I started, I couldn't stop until I had a full-on eating disorder. I hid this for 3 years from anyone, until I finally admitted it to my parents, but I still struggle with it to this day.

Since then I've never gotten my strength back. I can only cope with so much before I break down or panic. I can never live for the moment, or enjoy what I have right now. I'm always worrying about "if" and "how" and "when". Right now I'm on the verge of a panic attack for no good reason, other than a few things are happening that I have no control over. And yes, you can think I'm a bit pathetic because I think so too. This isn't putting myself down, I just want to cop the fuck on and stop being so weak and feeble-minded. I need to not worry about others, what will happen, how I'll do this, how I'll keep this person in my life, how I'll get there, how I'll get this money or that job. I need to be the little girl who doesn't care about anyone else and carries on with life because she feels like it. I need to stop panicking when I see a rainy day, or have no plans, I need to stop feeling physically ill with worry over every little fuckin thing. I need to COP THE FUCK ON and be the strong girl I know I can be and I know is inside me still.

Ok, sorry guys, rant over.

Aila Maritz xox

My new youtube channel!

So, strange thing about me; I love the sound of whispering. I find it hard to sleep at night but when I listen to whispers I sleep like a wee baabee. You will find a lot of whisper videos on youtube if you search for them.

Wanna know something else strange about me? I started my own whisper channel on youtube. I know, weird right? Well, I've been pretty bored lately so I decided to start a youtube channel. I was going to become a beauty guru, but they come a dime a dozen and to be honest I'm not sure what I could bring to the table that hasn't already been done before.

So, here's my channel. I only have 6 videos so far as it's a new channel so ignore the emptiness of it all. I'm not showing you all this channel for views or praise or anything of the sort, I would just love some feedback or to introduce everyone to the world of whispering if you've never heard of it. Trust me, I know how weird it seems, but don't knock it 'til you try it! It helps a lot of people sleep at night and it's something to do in those boring moments of the day in this recently freezing "summer" weather.

Enjoy! Feel free to dislike, but please don't be mean, I had to delete my last channel over that ;(

Also, would anyone be interested in seeing any types of videos? It doesn't have to be exclusively whispers on the channel, if people would be interested in seeing other things I could work something out =)

Happy sleeping,

Aila Maritz xox

Top tips for DIY Tanning!

So now so, since a lot of us a pale pasty feckers lacking a glimpse of summer sun, we need a little help in the tanning department. Enter false tan in a bottle. Fake tan can be a girl's best friend, helping her play dress-up and change her appearance for a few days before wearing off with no harm done. There's absolutely no shame in wearing tan so you don't look like one of the Cullens(but far less poised and glowing) in the hundreds of facebook photos that will undoubtedly be tagged the next day.

HOWEVER, if you don't do it right, you'll end up looking like Snooki in her audition video for Jersey Shore. As a fellow tan-wearer(on nights out only, I embrace my rose ivory complexion most of the time!) I will take you through my hard learned lessons over the years on how to apply a good fake tan.

STEP ONE: MOISTURISE

Lads, ye don't even know how important this step is. You absolutely must moisturise your whole body prior to applying the fake tan. This will help it go on smooth, look less cakey and stop it grabbing onto certain areas e.g. elbows, knees, around the nose etc. I like to moisturise roughly 20minutes before applying the tan. A lot of the time I also mix 1 part moisturiser and one part tanner AS WELL as moisturising beforehand to keep it natural. You can always build it up, but you can't take it off.

STEP TWO: SHAVE AFTER YOU TAN

I know, this sounds strange. But if your shave before you apply tan your skin will automatically be streaky from the razor and although you can't see this, your tan will stick to these streaks. Therefore, resist the urge to shave so you'll look like jlo applying tan and I promise it will work out better, especially on the legs! Leave the tan overnight preferably, or alternatively 4ish hours before shaving and showering.

STEP THREE: START FROM THE TOP AND WORK YOUR WAY DOWN

When you read the next step, you'll see why this just works out easier. Apply tan to the middle of your chest and work it outwards; out to your shoulders, to your neck and down on your bossom(tan these too just incase ;). When it comes to the face, mix one part moisturiser with one part tan and carefully apply a little bit all over the face, being careful to blend the eyebrow area and hairline.

STEP FOUR: MIND YOUR HANDS!

When I was in second year, I decided to put fake tan on. As I didn't know I wasn't supposed to touch the tan directly, my hands looked like two brown-leather-mittens and was called oopma loompa for the week. You need to use plastic gloves people!! You can get the unbelievably cheap in most pound shops (or dollar stores for my yanks), or alternatively use the tanning mits which are more expensive but probably easier to use for a 1st time tanner.

I like to put one glove or mit on and apply carefully to my opposite arm, and without adding anymore tan, drag what I have on my arms onto my hands and slightly on my fingers. Immediately take off the glove, moisturise you hands and rub your palms and inbetween your fingers on a towel or rag you don't mind dirtying. Repeat this process on the other when the moisturiser has dried in. This way your hands will be tanned and blended without having tan in the creases of your knuckles. Same thing applies for the tooooes!

STEP FIVE: GET SOMEONE TO DO YOUR BACK

No explaining to do here really, just don't forget to ask someone to blend it into your back and neck.

STEP SIX: WASH OFF THE EXCESS

Now, I'll be honest, I rarely have time for this. But when I do my clothes thank me for not allowing them get absolutely ruined with tan. It will rub off on your most likely "dressy" outfit and will look more cakey and less natural if you don't have a quick body shower. When you get out of the shower you will be horrified with how pale you look, but worry not. This has something to do with body temperature over the shower(don't ask me for details) and you'll darken up again within a few minutes.

**Extra tips** Your tan will stay on much longer if you moisturise daily, and if it turned out a little darker than expected just throw on some talcon powder over it and it'll ease off a bit.

So there ya have it, my very long winded guide to self tanning at home. Tan is a very dodgy product, it's very easy to look like an orange hooker. But don't be afraid of it, once you're careful you''l be surprised at how easy it is to have that glowing tan we all love! That being said, I personally don't think you should wear tan everyday, it's just for special occasions really. Embrace the beauty of your natural skin colour because to most other people it's absolutely beautiful and what makes you stand out!

Happy bronzing,

Aila Maritz xox

Beauty tips of Ms. Audrey Hepburn

(This is a canvas painting I've had for a long time so I decided to jazz it up and add makeup to her face, not sure if you can see here!)

I've never really had a role-model before. Well, besides my family and such. But as regards to an idol, I was missing that whole aspect of star-gazing. However, the more I read about Audrey Hepburn the more I fall in love.

She was an absolutely beautiful woman, inside and out. She was elegant, poised, intelligent, talented and humble in her success. When I compare her to celebrities these days it's really sad that we have no one near as worthy as her to look up to. She encouraged women(and indeed people in general)to care for themselves and one another as beautiful people with souls rather

than the vain monkeys we all seem to be now. I'm sure you have all heard this quote, but I'll share it with you anyway seeing as it's my favourite quote of her's and indeed one of my favourite general life-lessons to live by. As a make-up artist especially, her "beauty tips" truly inspire me.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows.

The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.

If you share this with another woman, something good will happen -- you will boost another woman's self esteem, and she will know that you care about her.

How could anyone not love this woman? She is a prime example of what women should be and one whose footsteps I strive to follow in(though I fall short most of the time). I, like her, would like everyone to love themselves for who they are and help other's to love themselves also. Don't hate people for their decisions, talent, intellect or life choices. Just realise that success means something different to everyone. You are absolutely beautiful, and so is the person you scowl at everyday, or the person who always seems to be just one step ahead of you. Just be happy in what your life is and who you are because I guarantee someone is looking at you wishing they had what you have. If we live by the words of Ms. Hepburn we will be a lot happier and more fulfilled than the way we have been conditioned to be in this society.

If you take nothing else from this post, please take the knowledge that we are ALL beautiful; beauty is in our souls, not how toned our bodies are or how structured our faces. Let's all stop competing and appreciate each other for the individuals we are.

Aila Maritz xox