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.
Check them out here.
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A repost of my collage from Nimabrush on Instagram. Proudly laid out my new brushes and brush tube. |
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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.
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.
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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. |
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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!
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Marissa Carter, Julia Carta and I. |
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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
So there you have it, my Top 3 Beauty Brands and Products of 2015!
Below will be some of my best memories from 2015.
Enjoy and I'll be back soon ladies.
Happy New Year.
Love,
Aoife
X
2015's Best Moments
1) My 18th Birthday
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Make up themed cake by Sarah Kelly Loved my birthday make up! By the fabulous Lisa Doyle
My Pandora Charm Bracelet, from Sean.
2) My first Advanced Eye Masterclass with Jen & Ciara from Matte to Metallic.
That masterclass was absolutely amazing, I learned so much from Jennifer and Ciara.
We done a reverse smokey eye, advanced cut crease technique and created looks using blushes, bronzers and no eye shadows. They are just incredible at what they do and such lovely girls. My beautiful friend Helena was my model.
3) Being chosen to attend The Secret Obsession Blog's Third Birthday / Tea Party
This was so much fun, Aoibhe done an amazing job with her tea party. The decor was literally to die for, so cute. I was delighted she chose me along with a handful of other girls to attend. I met some amazing ladies and had a really great day at The D Hotel.
4) People supporting me over the last few months, that meant a lot to me.
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A gorgeous mirror gifted to me by a fabulous friend. Jennifer reminding me to 'Always Sparkle'.
Sean sent me this picture when I became A really good quote from Marissa a little lost in my ways and I love it. Carter's Snapchat - cartermarissa.
5) Making new holiday memories with my family and Sean was the best.
We went Scuba Diving together in Fanore, Co.Clare.
Such an incredible experience!!
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Being tourists at the Cliffs of Moher. Trip to Leeds to visit some great family friends,
we had a brilliant time and such good fun.
6) I made my very first YouTube appearance!
Lucky me! I was in a Christmas video on my friend Kevin's YouTube Channel!
We done the 'Not My Arm's Challenge' which consisted of us dressing up and wrapping presents practically blindfolded. We laughed so much making it!
Check it out here.
We done the 'Not My Arm's Challenge' which consisted of us dressing up and wrapping presents practically blindfolded. We laughed so much making it!
Check it out here.
7) Finally, having fun on Snapchat with you all!
Snapchat is the best fun, I love watching people stories and chatting to you guys regularly. I have also showed some of my make up tutorials, my skincare regime, how I wash my make up brushes, some simple recipes here and there along with my daily antics and much more!
Check out my Snapchat if you haven't already @aoifemcdonnelll
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