Tributes pour in for Beaut.ie co-founder Aisling McDermott

Tributes have been paid to pioneering Irish beauty writer Aisling McDermott.

Aisling died this week at the age of 46. She had lived with multiple sclerosis for two decades. Along with her sister Kirstie, she co-founded Beaut.ie in 2006. One of the first beauty websites of its kind in Ireland, it paved the way for the thriving beauty blogging scene in Ireland today. During her time with the site, Aisling wrote two best-selling books, The Beaut.ie Guide to Gorgeous and Gorgeous to Go. After leaving in 2014, she co-authored another book, About Face: The Smart Woman's Guide to Beauty Kirstie honoured her sister in a series of tweets last night.

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

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

— 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 x

— Kirstie McDermott (@kirstie) January 11, 2018

Many well-known names from the beauty and media worlds have expressed their condolences at Aisling's passing.

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

Heartbroken to hear of @aismcdermott passing. We went to her book signing in 2011 I’ve been inspire by her ever since, sending love to all.

— TheMakeupChair ? (@SineadyCady) January 11, 2018

Oh god Kirstie I can’t believe it. Can’t imagine what you’re going through. Sending loads and loads of love. ❤️❤️❤️

— Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) January 11, 2018

Oh Kirstie. I’m so, so sorry. I’m thinking of you and your family. x

— Louise O' Neill (@oneilllo) January 11, 2018

Ah Jesus Kirstie, I’m so sorry to hear that... All my love to you and the family x

— Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) January 11, 2018

Oh Kirstie, there are no words... How sad. I'm so sorry. x

— Ellie Balfe (@EllieBalfe) January 11, 2018

Sending all the love to you and your family at this time . I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Aisling over the years . Xxx

— Mark Rogers Beauty (@m_rbeauty) January 12, 2018

I’m so sorry for your loss Kirstie, thinking of you and your family x

— Corina Gaffey (@corinagaffey) January 11, 2018