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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2023
3 Female Founders Share Their Advice On Running A Beauty Empire
Wednesday, March 8, 2023, is International Women’s Day. It’s a day of celebration, a day to recognise the achievements of incredible women all over the world. At Arnotts, we champion the contributions of women in business every day. However, to honour such an occasion, we’re marking International Women’s Day with our ‘The Women Behind Me’ campaign: a celebration of the women who paved the way for some of the most successful Irish brands and businesses in Arnotts. Here we shine the spotlight on just three of the incredible and inspiring female-founded beauty brands we’re proud to stock in-store. Get to know these wonderful Irish companies, their founders, and hear each speak on what it means to be a woman in business today.
Aimee Connolly, Founder of Sculpted by Aimee
Since the brand’s launch in 2016, Sculpted by Aimee has become a household name with beauty products now being found in every Irish woman’s makeup bag. Having spent over a decade working in the industry as a makeup artist, Aimee Connolly felt passionate about creating products she felt were missing from the market all in line with her ethos of making makeup easier. Here she shares the women who inspire her most, her best career advice and the beauty products that empower her…
Q: What was the best piece of advice you received from a female mentor in the early days of your career?
A: “It’s a basic piece of advice but one I carry with me always - and it’s actually from my mum! She has always said, “go with your gut, it will never steer you wrong”. It’s something I do even now and count on as an important part of decision-making. I think it’s very important to back ourselves and your gut is usually telling you something important.”
Q: What beauty product empowers you?
A: “It can depend on the day or where I’m going but Sculpted’s Bronze Base face tan is such a winner for me given I’m so pale. I apply at night before bed and honestly wake up with a glow and a bit of colour that makes me feel super comfortable going makeup free if I want to.”
Q: What other female business owners do you admire?
A: “There are so many! I think it’s such an exciting time for female business owners right now and so many are paving the way forward. In terms of women I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, I think Louise Phelan, former VP of Paypal, is a force to be reckoned with and Rosaleen Blair is one of the kindest, most supportive superhumans in business that I’ve come across. On a global scale, I really look up to Sara Blakey and Jo Malone…women I read about and hope that I create a brand with a household name like them.”
Q: How has being a female business owner shaped the way you run your business?
A: “I always joke and say that I know no different. I’ve never worked in another corporation so I’m very much a blank canvas in terms of how I approach my business. I think I’m very sure of our topic and product so it creates a nice balance of being assured in my approach but having empathy where necessary to ensure a nice working environment.”
Q: What does beauty mean to you?
A: “I think beauty is a brilliant way for people to express themselves. I think Covid really taught us the power of beauty and how it can really help people in terms of how they feel. I always say that, yes we’re not solving the world’s problems - but, if we can help someone to feel a boost or more confident, then that is good enough for me!”
Keilidh Cashell, Founder of Kash Beauty
When it comes to beauty influencers, Monaghan’s own Keilidh Cashell would be classed as one of the originals. Kicking off her career in 2015 by uploading tutorials and makeup reviews to YouTube, Keilidh quickly became one of the biggest beauty influencers - not just in Ireland, but across the globe. Now boasting a 3 million following on TikTok, it really was only a matter of time before she created her own makeup line: Kash Beauty. Here she shares what it’s like to run a female-founded brand today…
Q: What was the best piece of advice you received from a female mentor in the early days of your career?
A: “Not to take no for an answer. I think really believing in yourself, knowing what’s right for you and not giving up.”
Q: What other female business owners do you admire?
A: “The head of my management company, Sarah Kiernan. She’s built an amazing company that manages influencers like me, works on deals for us with some of the biggest brands in the world, whilst also giving us the confidence and resources for us to build our own brands. I wouldn’t have my own brand today if it wasn’t for Sarah.”
Q: How has being a female business owner shaped the way you run your business?
A: “I love being a woman and I love being a female boss and having strong women surrounding me - but I'm unsure if this has had a major impact on the way KASH is run. There are also strong men on our team and I think it's important to have that balance.”
Q: What does beauty mean to you?
A: “Beauty to me means feeling beautiful and confident in yourself, and presenting yourself in a way that feels most natural for you. Whether it’s wearing no makeup or full glam, undone hair or sleek styles, baggy clothes or tight form-fitting, whatever best represents you!”
Q: What beauty product empowers you?
A: “Nothing finishes a look off more than a pair of stunning eyelashes. I have my whole career to thank for them! They just elevate any eye look to the next level.”
Ciara Malone, Co-Founder of BrushDoc
Having worked in the beauty industry for a number of years as a professional makeup artist, Ciara Malone was inspired to create BrushDoc: a revolutionary tool that cleans makeup brushes and sponges in seconds, thanks to its advanced rotating technology that allows you to achieve a deep clean with minimal effort. Together with her husband Gary, they’ve utilised her beauty expertise and his business experience to create this innovative device. Having just won Arnotts Pitch ‘22, here Ciara reveals what it’s like to be a female entrepreneur…
Q: What was the best piece of advice you received from a female mentor in the early days of your career?
A: “I suppose during the tough times at the start when everything is completely new and daunting, I was hard on myself at times and thought about giving up. Some great words of advice were ‘If it was easy to set up your own business, everybody would be doing it’, which really helped remind me to get the head down and keep going, to face my fears and self-doubt.”
Q: What other female business owners do you admire?
A: “There are loads! My good friend, Denise Kenny Byrne, pursued her dream and set up The Head Plan which has been a huge success. This really inspired me to follow my dreams and start BrushDoc. She continues to be my rock and helps mentor me when I encounter an issue that I haven’t faced before. Another woman I admire and am inspired by every day is Hannah Behan from Soothe Skincare. I admire and respect Hannah so much - she’s a woman that can do it all and I’m in awe of her work ethic. The brand she created is incredible and is one of my go-to skincare lines. I’m also a huge fan of Keilidh Cashell from Kash Beauty. I have so many of her products and they are such high quality. She is such a talented makeup artist. Finally, I’d also say Aimee Connolly. I love her grit and determination! She’s a real go-getter and it’s been an inspiration to watch her grow. The Sculpted by Aimee brand is incredible and I love her products.”
Q: What deskside essentials are vital for you during a workday?
A: “I’m a huge planner so I have an A5-sized monthly calendar with me any time I work! I love The Head Plan’s Agenda which I use daily to keep on top of my to-do lists and their Daily Drench bottle to keep me hydrated!”
Q: How has being a female business owner shaped the way you run your business?
A: “Being a mother of two young girls gives me a huge sense of pride but also a responsibility to show them not to give up on their dreams. I want to inspire and empower them when they see Mammy running a business and a household, and I never want society to tell them what they can and can’t achieve just by being a woman.”
Q: What does beauty mean to you?
A: “It’s confidence, it’s self-care, it’s getting some ‘me time’. I love the way a product or a treatment can make you feel good about yourself and give you an instant confidence boost. When I’m around beauty I can get lost in it. It’s my form of mindfulness where I forget everything else and just focus on the now.”