August favourites!-29/08/15

Welcome! Can I just say this summer absolutely flew! It's time for our August favourites already. Hard to believe it. Let's jump right in!

1. Favourite perfume 

It has to be Lancôme's La Vie Est Belle. I know this sounds weird but I had been smelling this perfume on people for months and always wondered what it was! It is the perfect sweet smell that lasts all day! You only really need one spritz 'cause it is very strong. My mom actually surprised me and bought it for me the day we discovered it was the one!

 

2. Favourite quote 

3. Favourite YouTuber

Shani Grimmond is someone you should definitely be subscribed to! She is so good at makeup and has the most lovely personality ever! What I love is that she really doesn't take herself too seriously. She doesnt just do makeup videos either, she is big into fitness and advice. I've been following her for about a year now but I love the way she has been editing her videos in the last month. Check her out!

https://goo.gl/v0dWSe

4. Favourite app

I've been loving Everalbum. It's an app for backing up your photos but what I love is that there is no limit(as far as I can tell, don't quote me on it!),unlike Dropbox. You can free up space on your phone by deleting photos knowing they're all backed up on Everalbum. Best thing of all, it's FREE!

5.Favourite concealer

I love Urban Decay's Naked Skin concealer. It's perfect for highlighting. It's so lightweight but has amazing coverage! I love that as you only need a small amount and in turn, it will last you longer.

6. Favourite Instagram account-Inglotireland

I love looking at makeup pictures and the Inglot page have it all! They upload regularly with a full product list which is fantastic! Give them a follow :)

7.Favourite song-Mess is Mine- Vance Joy 

It's one of those songs you can't get sick of! When I heard it live when he supported Taylor Swift I fell in love with it!

8. Favourite food-Bagels

I've been loving the bagels from Lidl with relish,ham, Edam cheese,cucumber and the star of the show;rocket lettuce. YUM!

9. Favourite face mask-Mask of Magnaminty

I LOVE this face mask. It smells minty and is amazing for your skin! It's really helpful for spots! I like to put this on when my skin needs a little TLC or else when I've worn a lot of makeup. I leave it on for about 15-20 minutes and it has exfoliating properties also so it removes dead skin as you wash it off. It is a deep cleansing face and back mask that goes right down into the pores removing debris. Different size tubs are available at such reasonable prices in Lush. 100% recyclable, self preserving and animal cruelty free! It's deemed 'The ultimate face mask' due to its intensity, but it is still kind and gentle on your skin. 

10. Favourite nail treatment-Sally Hansen Miracle Cure Strengthener. 

This saved my nails this summer! For some reason they were chipping and breaking all the time. One week of using this and they were as good as new! I was asked about doing a blog post on nail care but I'm not too good with nail stuff and I only paint my nails sometimes (mainly 'cause they chip the day after painting them and I get sick of reapplying) so I recommended this! It's available in Boots and Tesco as far as I know :)

That is all for today everyone! Thanks so much for reading. Sorry we missed ou July favourites but hopefully this makes up for it :) I won't annoy ye with the same thing we always say but you know what to do to get us closer to our giveaway ;)

Stay sparkling,

Edel and Tess x

Little things we learned during summer! 26/08/2015

Hey guys! Only one week left of the holidays! :( How depressing! But it was an amazing summer for us and the blog so we really can't complain!

Today's blog is going to celebrate the fab summer we had and today we are going to tell you all about the lessons we learned over the last three months. Enjoy!

1. Really try to keep in contact with people who matter the most to you, whether it's people you met during the summer in the Gaeltacht etc., or friends from school. September always shows who your real friends are.

2.Wear sun cream even if it doesn't look that sunny outside (believe me, this is a must, especially for us gingers in the world!)

3.You can accomplish great things even if you get up at 12 O'Clock in the afternoon ;)

4.Always stick to your goals, if you don't, you will really regret it the next day

5.Make the most of EVERY single situation no matter what the circumstances are.

6.It's okay to have lazy days watching Netflix all day, especially with the Irish weather, just don't make a habit of it! ;)

7. Invest in a student card, trust us!

8. Don't feel you have to pretend you are okay with something when you're really not. Especially if it's trying to impress your friends. If they are your true friends they will love you for who you really are, not a person you're pretending to be.

9. Buy those shoes the minute you see them! ;)

10. Eat that burger, diet in September.

11. If you enjoy something, NEVER let anyone get in the way. There are always going to be people that bad mouth our blog but that just makes us stronger. Those are the people that will be laughing when we announce our giveaway, so really the joke is on them!!

12.It's okay if that new hobby you started for the summer was a complete fail!

13. Don't be afraid to wear that outfit you love over and over again.

14. Appreciate the long summers, you might not have many more of them!

15. Appreciate the time spent with your family- these are the moments you will cherish forever.

16. Don't leave your hair appointment for the debs until an hour before you are supposed to leave. (This was the biggest lesson learned this summer, not good!)

17. Summer is the time for experimenting - Hair braids, new outfits, crazy makeup, GO WILD, it's Summer!

18. Make time for doing things you love and meeting up with people that mean the most to you, it's good for the soul!

19. Summer is the times to stalk all your favourite Bloggers on social media because you won't quite have that amount of time in September . (Pippa O'Connor, we are you number one fans!)

20. Always bring a pair of flats when going out, the pain Saturday nights cause us is so not worth it!

21. Take pictures at every event you go to- they are so nice to look back on.

Thanks everyone for reading today's blog, we had great fun writing this one!

Keep liking and sharing, we are oh so close to our giveaway!

Stay Sparkling,

Tess and Edel x

Best brushes on a beauty budget!

Hello there! So I always get questions about what makeup brushes to use. Whether you're willing to spend a lot or not, good quality brushes are available!

1. 10 piece kabuki brush set- eBay

I own these ones myself and these are the ones I recommend to people who want good quality brushes. 

http://goo.gl/fbGOMO

2. 24 piece powder brush set- eBay

I have these ones also and they are great for powder products. You get so many for the price!

http://goo.gl/aPCTbD

3. 11 piece pro sable set -Morphe

I love morphe brushes! They are such good quality and very affordable! They have a great range of brushes but shipping to Ireland can be a bit pricey. 

 http://goo.gl/YaNmDy

4. 11 piece brush collection- E.L.F

I love E.L.F! So affordable and great quality. They also do single brushes :) 

http://goo.gl/jcnBtQ

5. 5 piece face set -Blank Canvas Cosmetics 

These are a little more on the expensive side but it's isn't as dear as the likes of MAC. Blank Canvas do really high quality brushes and are available online and at CH Chemists :)

http://goo.gl/ueZvIn

That's it everyone! If you know of any cheaper makeup brush brands do let us know! Sometimes it's the cheaper brands that provide better finishes. 

Stay sparkling,

Edel and Tess x

All 'bout those brows!-22/08/15

Welcome to Sunflowers and Sparkles! 

Today I'll be talking about the brow products I like to use!

Firstly, I've never waxed,tweezed or touched my eyebrows! I'm blonde so my brow hairs are really really fair. They aren't full or out of shape so I never felt the need to. I do however like to fill in my eyebrows. As they are so fair they're barely noticable! So I like to fill them in to give them depth and shape, just my personal choice really :) Some people are blessed with thicker eyebrows and don't have to use as much product as I do. 

Thicker brows are in at the moment and all I can say is thank god! The days of over plucking is over! 

Brows really help shape the face and it is important to maintain them, whatever your age! Try and find the shape that will suit you 'cause everyone is different of course :)

Gel products 

 

I like to use Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pomade. It is a gel so it's thicker than powder. It's really important to use a light hand with this product! It's great for carving out the perfect shape and length for your brows but if you put the product on too heavily it might look a bit harsh! Light strokes and the right angled brush and you'll be on your way to beautiful brows! 

I use the shade 'Taupe' :)

You can buy it here: http://goo.gl/XH5Ccu

One similar to this and my shade is the MAC Fluidline Eyeliner in 'Dipdown'. This is another favourite I just haven't tried it yet! You can buy it here:

http://goo.gl/xx2nFW

Pencils

I love the Benefit Instant Brow pencil. I used this all the time before I got the brow pomade by ABH. I still use this when I'm in a rush (and need to look semi respectable i.e appear like I have eyebrows). It's quick,easy and fool proof! It has a spooly at the end for combing out your brows which I'd really recommend having. This helps to blend the product through the brows. I'd recommend this if you're new to the brow scene and you can buy it here:

http://goo.gl/b2Mqta

I use the shade 'light'.

Brow kits

I love both the ELF Brow Kit and the Benefit Brow Zings.These each have a wax and a powder. I would start off with using the wax the shape out the brows and the powder to set them and make them look more natural. I like to use an angled brush for these too! I spoke about ELF in a previous blog post. 

Benefit:

http://goo.gl/61CsJa

ELF:

http://goo.gl/Gj7Lxp

Eyebrow mascara

I used to use the Benefit Gimme Brow but I ran out of it. I then discovered the Catrice Eyebrow Filler-Perfecting and Shaping Gel. This stuff is just FAB! It has a bigger wand than the Benefit one and I feel has a better colour payoff. It cost me €3.99, it is great value!

You can buy it here:http://goo.gl/87ErJt

 

I normally use the ABH pomade and then set with this and it is the ultimate combo!  

I also have the Catrice clear mascara which I also love! 

That's it for today everyone! Let me know what your fave brow products are or if you have used any of these. 

It would mean so much to both of us if you could keep sharing and inviting people to like the blog! We are so incredibly close to the giveaway and trust us, it's a good one! 

Thanks so much for reading!

Stay sparkling,

Edel and Tess x 

Clothes & Shoes Haul! 19/08/15

Hey Guys! Hope all is well!

Today's blog is going to be a little haul containing just a few bits I picked up over the last few weeks. Firstly can I just say that the sales at the moment are AMAZING (anyone who has been in River Island recently will agree!). If you have bought anything that you fell in love with recently, we would love to see! You can snapchat us @Sands_blog or leave us a message on our Facebook page. Enjoy!


1. These Denim Shorts. You can never have too many pairs of shorts in my opinion! Bare legs in the summer and tights in the Winter! Where could you go wrong? I picked up these beauties in Warehouse reduced from €40 down to €13! Winner winner chicken dinner!!!! (We also LOVE high waisted clothes)

2. I got this crop top for around the €10 mark in the River Island sale. It would be perfect with any skirt, pants or shorts if you are going on a night out. I have worn it with the shorts above for a very comfy and night time look. 

3. This A-Line Skirt. A line is very very flattering on all figures and for €14 how could I leave it behind? *All hail the River Island sale once again*. With heels or flats this would be gorgeous on and I cannot wait to wear it. 

4. To wear with the above skirt I also got this Bralet in River Island for €18. This is perfect because you can wear the skirt high waisted so it is a perfect outfit. LOVE.

5. Last but definitely not least.... My first pair of Toms! (Unfortunately these weren't on sale :( )  I will admit I have had my eye on these for a very very long time and in the end I couldn't resist. I mean how cute are they! I wasn't sure how comfy they would be as they are so flat, but I was happily surprised because they are so comfortable! I will give you a tip though. In the shop they will feel very VERY tight when you try to put your fut in (That's if you can get your foot in!) However, still get the size you normally are because they will stretch!

That's it from me folks!

Also have you heard the great news? Sunflowers and Sparkles have under 100 likes on Facebook to go before we reach 1000! And you all know what that means?! A giveaway!! 

Thanks everyone for reading,

Stay sparkling,

Tess and Edel x 

40+ ways of using coconut oil!15/08/15

Hey there! Welcome back :)

So today I'll be doing a post on all the uses of coconut oil,the most amazing natural substance on the planet! If you haven't heard of using coconut oil for things other than cooking, you're missing out!

It is anti-bacterial,anti-fungal,anti inflammatory and of course it is natural and side affect free!

You can get coconut oil by the cooking oils in a supermarket or alternatively, I got my own a year and a half ago in Holland and Barrett. This massive jar has lasted me so long and I'm not even half way through! 

Let's get into it!

1.Cooking

Greasing pans, replacing vegetable oil,in smoothies(boost nutrition), toast spread,popcorn topping.

2. Beauty 

Moisturise skin, prevent/treat acne,use as shaving cream,deep condition your hair,stretch marks,use as lip balm,spot treatment, condition your hair,sunburn,lengthen eyelashes(pop some on before you go to sleep!),remove your makeup,bug bite treatment,bath oil,use as baby lotion,combat frizzy hair,dandruff,nail growth.

3. Health

Eczema, heat rash,chicken pox(helps with the itching!),cold sores, helps with pain after getting tattoo,hay fever,clean retainer/mouth guard.

There are lots of studies linking coconut oil and treating diseases such as Alzheimer's and helping with arthritis pain but I'm not well versed in that area so I won't get into it. If you are interested though there are tons of articles online! :)

4.Around the house

Furniture polish, leather shiner,remove rust,clean gardening tools, fix rusty scissors,stuck zip, hinges,remove chewing gum.

There you have it! There are so many other ways you can use coconut oil these are just the ways I know and have used it for. 

If you have any other suggestions as how to use coconut oil definitely drop us a comment! We'd love to hear from you :)

Stay sparkling,

Edel and Tess x 

REVIEW-Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion!-12/08/2015

Welcome back! So sorry it's been so long but we are back in action!

Today I'll be doing a quick review of the Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion. I had heard fab things about this particular product so I said I would try it! This is the tan I used for the debs.

Nitty Gritty Details

Price: normally retails at €6.69 but I got mine for €3 during a sale at CH Chemists! (currently on sale on boots.ie for €3.34)

Amount: 250ml

Directions: The way I applied it it the way I would normally put on tan. I began by exfoliating my skin in the shower. I LOVE this exfoliator (and everything Marissa Carter makes). This removes any dead skin and creates the perfect canvas for the tan.

I then apply the lotion in circular motions and leave it to dry for about 5 minutes. I put on loose clothing and chill for the evening. It is important to avoid vigorous exercise while it is developing so you won’t sweat and disturb it. I leave it on overnight and shower off the guide colour in the morning.

This lotion doesn't have a false tan smell, it has a slight tint so you can see where you have left to apply it. It leaves a fabulous glow to the skin and does not look orange. You may need to apply a second layer if a deeper tan in desired. I applied it with my hand (make sure you put an oil free moisturiser on your hands, elbows and ankles) and it went on perfectly smooth!


It’s just what I needed for the debs, it wasn't heavy or too dark. This would be ideal for those new to tanning or even those who find it difficult. It’s fool proof! I would definitely recommend it :)

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*Not my photo

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I'll do another blog on tanning tips and tricks that I have up my sleeve if you all would like to see it? Don't be afraid to leave us a comment on anything you would like to see :) That is it from us! Pop in again on Saturday to see what we have in store!

Stay sparkling,
Edel and Tess x

Fashion and Make-up wish list! 01/08/2015

Hey everyone! IT'S AUGUST! We can't get over how fast the summer is going, only a month left :( On the upside though, the debs is on Wednesday! (You know us, we love to get dressed up) We are really looking forward to showing you all our dresses! eeeek!!

Today's blog is a fashion and beauty wish list. There are many things that have caught our eye this summer and all we are waiting for now is the money to afford them! ;) If you have bought any of these items please leave a comment below and tell us what you thought! Enjoy!x

1. The Pippa Palette. Pippa O'Connor is a major Idol of ours and she has not left us down with her palette. All the reviews have been outstanding and when we got a sample of the product at the CH Beauty camp, we were amazed! All the colours are so pigmented and as there is all you need for contouring and an amazing eye look all included! You can purchase this on www.pippa.ie for just €34.99 which includes P&P! (the packaging is so pretty too!)

2. This River Island Handbag. River Island are very well known for their handbags and purses and this one especially caught our eye! €60 but so worth it!

3. Urban Decay Setting Spray. This is another one we have heard amazing things about! This would be so handy to ensure that your make-up lasted all night. If anyone of our readers have tried this could they leave us know as we would love to know if it was worth the investment or not!

4. A cape. Capes are massively in this summer and they are so stylish. They can also be VERY expensive. We found this on on MissGuided on sale from €56 down to €42. Will you be investing?

5. Blank Canvas Cream Contouring Palette. I have had my eye on this for a very long time! The colours are  all you need to get a fab contouring look. LOVE LOVE LOVE! There is also a powder version but personally I prefer the cream! €18.99 from Blank Canvas.

6. A bower hat. I have searched the streets of cork to find one of these and failed. I found a nice on on the Quiz website believe it or not! This is a perfect had to jazz up any outfit whether it's shopping or a night out. So pretty!! €16.79

7. Last but definitely not least, Nike Free Runs. These shoes are possibly the most comfortable (and stylish) runners I have ever tried on. They are so light and 100% worth the investment! They come in all different colours also so there would be a pair for you! €70 in Lifestyle sports. I neeeed this pair!

 

I hope everyone enjoyed today's blog. These are just a few things we will be investing in sometime in the very near future. The next time we will be talking to you all will be the day of our debs! Oh the excitement!!!!

Stay Sparkling,

Tess and Edel x