Friday 22 January 2016

Snapchat - Who to follow!


Hello everyone!

I hope you all have settled back into normality, whatever normality is. Thankfully I am at the end of my college exams which seem to have dragged on through the whole of January!



Anyway, today I am back to tell you all who I think is killing the Snapchat game! Snapchat is rapidly becoming a place where celebrities, businesses, brands and bosses can interact with their fans and customers on a daily basis which I think is brilliant and of course lots of fun. I chose the people who's stories I am excited to watch everyday and just can't get enough of.

Let's jump in! In no particular order here are my favourite people to follow on Snapchat.



1) Ashy Bines 

Ashy Bines is a Transformation Specialist, business woman, a wife, mummy, foodie and over all really fun and down to earth bubbly beauty. She shares everything from health, good food, clean eating, exercise, her tips and tricks, mummy duties, cute baby snaps of her son Taj and so much more. Basically the daily life of an Australian girl boss. Ashy has her own transformation programs which are hugely successful and popular, check them out here. I LOVE watching her stories, I think you guys will to. 

Food ideas and updates which always look delish! 
You will see lots of this little face too! Baby Taj.
Username - ashybines1


  2) From Matte to Metallic 

Jennifer Donohoe and Ciara Clinton are 'thee' power couple when it comes to work and beauty. These two ladies share a business, blog and make up studio together, aka "From Matte to Metallic". With over 20k followers across their social media platforms 2014 was the year their dream became a reality when along came their make up studio. On Snapchat you will see Jenny talking about all things make up - brands, products, dupes and of course the weekly chats. Then Ciara comes along and together they take you into their studio for live demonstrations on different make up looks, skills and techniques. 

You are sure to learn so much from them, they are incredibly talented Muas and have years of valuable knowledge to share.  Most importantly, they are the most down to earth ladies you will meet very hardworking and overall the dream team. You may even spot a famous face here and there ;) ...cough cough Amber Dean...  You need to follow! 

Add caption

On the left - @ciciclinton Right - @jennydonohoe283
A massive congratulations to Jenny, who welcomed her baby girl Charlotte into the world this week! Sending lots of love.



3) Marissa Carter 

Cocoa Brown Tan CEO, Marissa Carter is definitely a popular favorite on Snapchat! The busy mum of two and business guru lets you in on her top beauty tricks, fashion, yummy recipes (Disney pancakes were my fav) , skincare regime, make up must haves, make up demos, how to 'Tontour', her latest products and so much more. You will get sneak peaks of upcoming products and may even get to see backstage hair and make up action on Xpose! 

Marissa often opens up her snaps to followers for Q & A sessions, which always go down a treat. She is the Queen of Snapchat and the ultimate #GirlBoss.  
You will know what I mean when you go check her out!






4) Pippa O'Connor Ormond

The woman of the moment, Ireland's best known model. Pippa is a busy mum to her son Ollie and with baby no.2 on the way things are going to get a whole lot busier! She's a TV Personality, Model, Creator of Pippa.ie which is an amazing fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog and has also created the make up must have with Blank Canvas - The Pippa Palette! Check it out here.

Pippa's Snapchat is literally like a live stream of her website, it's fantastic! She will cover fashion, styling, backstage at photo shoots, sneak peaks of new projects, beauty products, Pippa Palette demos and typical family life. She shares her life whether it is from across Ireland at her famous workshops or from the couch at home on a Sunday with hubbie Brian and son Ollie


Add away! 


Ok guys, that's all I have time to get through today, it's back to study I must go! If you want to check out more Snapchatters I have left a long list below with the rest of my favoutite people to watch! I have linked their Instagram page to their name so you can check them out too.
 Celebs, famous MUAs, Irish girl bosses, Beauty gurus, Top Bloggers, popular brands, models, foodies, you name it!
 Well worth adding a few of these to your friends list! 


Happy Snapping! 

Catch you all soon, 

Aoife 
X




































Monday 4 January 2016

*2015 Comes to a Close*


Hello everyone! 

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Years with your nearest and dearest. Mine was so relaxing! We spent Christmas by ourselves as a family and then I headed out to party on New Years Eve with Sean and my friends. 


I am back today with my first post of 2016, but in it I will be rounding up all aspects of 2015. Not the most original blog post at this time of year, all bloggers do the likes, but it's always nice to reflect back on the past year. 

2015 was the year I turned 18, got my first car, began driving, started my second year in college, created my blog 'Aoife's Antics', had my first two family holidays with Sean and so much more! So really quite a lot happened and I am just going to do a few throwbacks and look back on it all.

Of course, I also discovered some amazing beauty brands and products so in no particular order I will highlight my Top 3 below.




1) The Nimabrush Elite Collection.

My Nima brushes were money seriously well spent. Niamh Martin created her very own brand of very high quality, stylish yet affordable brushes. I have tried multiple brands of make up brushes but time and time again Nima always come out on top for me! My set is from the 'Elite Collection', it consists of 13 rose gold & white brushes which cater for the whole face and a brush tube of your choice, mine is white with black straps.  It was in and around the €100 mark, that is only approx €7 per item and I can tell you they are 100% worth every penny!! I use mine every time I apply make up and have recommended them over and over again.
Check them out here.

A repost of my collage from Nimabrush on Instagram.
 Proudly laid out my new brushes and brush tube.


My growing collection of Nima brushes.



 Fortunately, a few weeks after I purchased my Nima brushes I was invited to the launch event for the new additions to the 'Artistic Collection'. I was absolutely thrilled, I met Niamh, all of the Nima team and so many lovely blogger ladys. I even won a prize that night! Talk about feeling lucky!
These brushes are super pretty they are gold with a gorgeous duck egg coloured handle and again, fantastic quality. Each brush is named after someone special to Niamh which I think is so nice. Also they are an IRISH brand so keeping it local. 
I am dying to get my hands on some of the Artistic Collection! 
You can find them here.

Go check out us girls on Snapchat!
Orla - @theorlacle
Me - @aoifemcdonnelll
Jennifer - @toodollymakeup
AJ -  @ajfitzsimons


2) Cocoa Brown


Cocoa Brown is a brand I have a lot of love for. Owned by the ULTIMATE Irish Lady Boss, Marissa Carter, is a super successful tanning range. It consists of a Day to Night Tan, 1 Hour Tan Mousse / Dark, Chocolate Whip Oil Free Body Moisturizer, Tough Stuff body scrub, Gentle Bronze gradual tanning lotion, Lovely Legs spray tan, Shimmer & Matte Instant Bronzing Gel, Golden Goddess Dry Shimmering Body Oil and a Pink Velvet Double Sided tanning mitt!

Every product is a winner for me, they are all so so good. The body scrub will give you the scrub of your life and prepare your skin for tan application, Chocolate Whip body moisturizer is like a hydration mask for the body and makes Cocoa Brown tan glide on, Gentle Bronze lotion is perfect for a subtle tan all year round while keeping the skin nourished and the 1 Hour Dark Tan mousse in my eyes is the perfect tan! No orange shade, no bad tan smell, no streaky application,... you get the hint!! I'm obsessed!

Below you will see my drawer full of pink, the best part is the products won't burn a hole in your pocket. You can purchase them from Penneys stores nationwide and here  from Cloud 10 Beauty.




Most recent products of 2015!!
To top off my love for Cocoa Brown, I got to attend the #PassionPersistancePink Event in The Gibson Hotel earlier this year. This is where the two new products - Shimmer & Matte Bronzing Gels -  were unveiled for the first time following afternoon tea, a make up demo from X-Factor's Julia Carta, make up tips from bloggers AJ Fitzsimons, Rosie Connolly, Tara Makeup and so much more. I really had the best time, learnt so much and look forward to more events like this! 

Marissa Carter, Julia Carta and I.

You can follow the Cocoa Brown team on Snapchat too!
Marissa - @cartermarissa
Kate - @katekelly1
Stephanie - @stephanieoq



3) Inglot Cosmetics

Inglot is a make up brand which seriously impressed me this year. When I was younger I was always fascinated by the amount of make up and all of the colours on show in all of the Inglot stores. I wanted it all then and nothing has changed since, I still do! I can't walk by Inglot without popping in to see what else I can add to my forever growing collection.

The range of Inglot products is endless hence the reason I spend so long looking at everything in the shop, it's make up heaven!! Plus the girls in the store are so nice and very helpful, another reason why I love going in there! They really know their stuff, I am one for the questions when I'm interested in something and they are always on the ball and have great tips, advice and answers for me.

I have tried lots of Inglot products and I am still to find something which dissapoints me, which quite frankly I think is impossible. I love everything I have tried from their AMC Brow Gel, Gel Liner, Foundations, Pigments, Eye Shadows, Blushers, Highlighting powders, Setting powders, Loose powders, you name it.  More recently after I done a masterclass with the amazing Fiona Hogan I began buying Inglot Brushes as they looked so good and from what I have tried so far, they are definitely that! I have the 4SS fluffy brush, the 10S detail brush and the 31T liner brush.

 Hopefully I will get the 6SS brush soon, it's always sold out! Here is a little look at some of my most loved products.





You can read my review on the HD & YSM Inglot Foundations and 4SS brush here and all products are available from Inglot stores and online

Top Tip : Inglot HD Foundation in shade 82 is the perfect match foundation when wearing Cocoa Brown Tan!


Snapchatters here we go again, take note!
Inglot - @inglotireland
Jane - @janeinglot