Aisling McDermott, founder of beaut.ie, has sadly passed away at the age of 46, following a battle with multiple sclerosis.
Tributes have poured in for Aisling, who was one of Ireland’s most well respected beauty writers.
The Kildare native co-founded the award-winning beaut.ie blog back in 2006 with her sister Kirstie, which they sold to Entertainment Media Networks back in 2014.
Aisling was also a columnist for The Irish Times, and wrote three best-selling books; The Beaut.ie Guide to Gorgeous, Gorgeous to Go and About Face: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Beauty.
Our thoughts go out to the family & friends of Aisling McDermott, co-founder of Beaut.ie, a brilliant writer & wonderful person. Her talent and personality touched people far beyond the beauty world but she was a genuine groundbreaker in the industry. She will be greatly missed.
— beautie (@beautie) January 11, 2018
Aisling’s sister Kirstie announced the news of her death on Twitter yesterday, paying tribute to her gorgeous sister.
“This is the story of a hair turban and a beauty-obsessed sister. On Tuesday, I bought @aismcdermott a hair turban I’d been promising her. I knew I’d see her the next day. She’s had aggressive MS for 20 years and she was getting worse, but she still looked so glam,” Kirstie wrote.
“She loved beauty. We both did. Lots of you know us both because we founded @beautie back in 2006. Lots of you follow us on Twitter still. The reason I tweet this now is to let you know that a great originator and founder of Ireland’s online beauty blogosphere has left us.”
This is the story of a hair turban and a beauty-obsessed sister. On Tuesday, I bought @aismcdermott a hair turban I’d been promising her. I knew I’d see her the next day. She’s had aggressive MS for 20 years and she was getting worse, but she still looked so glam
— Kirstie McDermott (@kirstie) January 11, 2018
“So I never got to give her that turban. But I raise all the lipsticks in the world to someone who fought so bravely for so long and left behind such a legacy.
“Sleep well, Aisling. We loved you hugely.”
Many friends and fans of Aisling also took to social media to pay tribute to her.
I just can’t believe it. I keep reading the words and they won’t make sense
She was my friend, I loved her very much. She was a person with rare qualities: clever, kind, astute, sweet and very courageous
Aisling McDermott has died https://t.co/ZtnDUiFKmq via @IrishTimesLife— Marian Keyes (@MarianKeyes) January 11, 2018
The beautiful, talented, hilarious, generous & strong Aisling McDermott. She was gorgeous inside & out. She was loved. And she was brave. I loved her light & spirit & I will miss her so much it hurts my insides. Honoured to have been her friend ❤️https://t.co/w6LnkjdPtm
— Roisin Ingle (@roisiningle) January 11, 2018
Incredibly saddened to hear that Aisling McDermott (@beautie) founder has passed. Thinking of you @kirstie and your family.
— Marissa Carter (@CarterMarissa) January 11, 2018
Whilst I don’t pretend to have known Aisling McDermott, every time I use a face wipe to remove my make up, I can’t help but feel guilty wondering what she would say. RIP
— Aisling Moloney (@gasher26) January 11, 2018
Such sad news this morning, for anyone who knows the mighty McDermott sisters (founders of @beautie). Aisling was always very good to me and I’ve made a wee donation to @MSIRELAND to say goodbye. Safe travels, @aismcdermott. https://t.co/BGxkfWW8sS
— Brenda McCormick (@brendiebop) January 11, 2018
I’m sitting in my car crying my eyes out having heard the sad news about Aisling McDermott. I never met her but we had great chats here and on Instagram, bonding over our beloved cats. I’m actually heartbroken. God I’ll miss her.
— Donna (@DonnaIRL) January 11, 2018
So sad that Aisling McDermott had passed away. Along with her sister @kirstie – they were the original beauty bloggers in Ireland. They inspired me to start @Sugahfix for N.I. specific context and I have her books on my shelf. An amazing lady! Devastated for friends and family. https://t.co/mbqCna1Raj
— Katrina Doran (@KatrinaMTDoran) January 11, 2018
Privileged to be one of those you followed. You ignited my love of skin care, told me of makeup brands I otherwise never would have heard of & saved me money when things were crap.
RIP Aisling McDermott, I’ll miss you so much pic.twitter.com/DFN5Vkplwl
— Eeyor-fa???? (@QueenLatAoife_) January 11, 2018
MS is a terrible disease, it’s robbed the world of so many talented people. Condolences to all of Aisling McDermott’s friends and family.
— DontSwimInTheSea (@AlchemistsStone) January 11, 2018
My heart is utterly broken for the @beautie team, @kirstie and the rest of the McDermott family, and all she knew following the loss of Aisling. The world was a brighter place for her being in it.
— Aoife ???????? (@PrettyPPD) January 11, 2018
