A New Chapter!-03/11/16

Hey, everyone! I know this is crazy but it has been about 4 months since I wrote my last blog and all I can say is that I'm so sorry!

The last 4 months have been so crazy! It's been a big change for me- I've finished secondary school, completed my Leaving Cert.,got my first choice on my CAO, moved away from home and I am now studying at the University of Limerick. It's so surreal when I think about it, to think I actually got this far.

I started off today with the intention of writing all about my current Inglot faves and I was just giving you all a quick update on why it's been so long since I've posted but I've decided this post is more important,it is more current. Those Inglot products will still be my current favourites some time next week when I blog again. I've quite a lot to say and I fear if I wait I'll forget some important details. ( In reality, my brain is like a sieve these days; I've so much to think of all of the time!)

I decided to study Business with German at UL about 2 years ago while in careers class and we had to do a presentation on our desired career path. I originally had thought about doing Law, then Law with German. I always told I'd be good at law because apparently (as my family describes me) I've a sharp tongue and I'm argumentative. I liked the idea of being a lawyer for a while but as I did my research I found out that I would need to enjoy reading-which I certainly do not! I mean I love reading blogs and online articles but the kind of books that I would spend a significant time reading would not suit me.

So I began to think about what I actually wanted to do with my life. I have always thought about doing something to do with beauty,maybe my own cosmetic line or business or something. To tell you the truth, I still haven't figured it out. The beauty of it is, is that I probably won't until I graduate.

I knew to get me there I would need a business degree.

I always adored languages- they just clicked with me. For my Junior Cert., I studied French, German and obviously Irish. I was not able to study business as it was on at the same time as one of the German classes. I had fantastic language teachers that inspired me to learn and more importantly enjoy new languages. For my Leaving Cert., I was not able to do both French and German if I wanted to study business so I had a decision to make.

I chose German as I believed I would have a better job and travel opportunities, and I had a fantastic teacher to see me through. The next step was really easy for me-what university do I pick? The obvious choice was always UL. It was voted University of The Year 2014 and 2015,it has the largest choice of on-campus accommodation in all of Ireland,the most successful Erasmus program in Ireland etc etc. I felt such a warm sense of community when I came to the UL open day in 2015.

The next step was getting to my dream University. My advice to people doing the Leaving Cert., would be to do as much you can for the things that come before the written exams in June i.e the orals, projects etc. I put my all into those to ease off some of the pressure that would follow in June. It must have paid off because I got my first choice on my CAO:Business with German in the University of Limerick!( LM053)

It is a stunning college that is over 200 acres large. I was so overwhelmed the first week when I found out about the various initiatives and facilities UL had to offer that I hadn't known about before. The First Seven Weeks initiative was established to support incoming first years through different themed weeks such as Health and Well -being week and Study Skills & Time Management week.

So here I am, week 9 of my first semester. I have done a few assignments and now I must start preparing for my Christmas exams that begin on the 3rd of December. 

On a brighter note, myself and my boyfriend were able to get €45 return flights to London during a Ryanair flash sale! We're leaving the 15th just in time to do some Christmas shopping! I'll  hopefully have a travel blog up very soon. 

I will also being doing my Inglot faves, and more on beginning college e..g what to expect moving away from home/cooking/living with other students/ what you need etc. 

Chat soon and stay sparkling!

Edel x 

Contouring and Highlighting- Your Questions Answered!08/07/16

Welcome back! :)

I feel as if I should be welcoming myself back because it's been so long since I've written a blog post! The Leaving Cert really took over and I just didn't have a second to myself. It's all over now thank goodness so I can focus on the blog and having a good summer :)

So today's blog post is probably my favourite thing to talk about:

contouring and highlighting

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths when it comes to contouring and highlighting but I'm here today to answer your questions that were sent in on Snapchat the other day! (Make sure to add us: SandS_blog) Hopefully by the end of this blog post you can avoid looking like this:

or this:

What is contouring?

"Contouring is giving shape to an area of the face and enhancing the facial structure through makeup"

says Beau Nelson, Kristen Stewart's longtime makeup artist.

All you're doing is adding subtle definition to the face! I normally describe it to people as adding shadows to your face to shape it the way you like. It is however different from bronzing.

Why should you contour?

You don't necessarily need to contour but I love to because it changes the shape of my face. I personally feel it finishes a makeup look. It's all about creating an illusion.

What products are best to contour with?

It's all down to personal preference really. You can contour using cream,liquid or powder products. If you want a strong contour you can apply your foundation,then apply a cream contour product and then set it with a contour powder but if you're starting off,begin with powder. It's less messy and you'll have more control.

My favourite powder products:

Inglot Sculpting Powders
€10
Buy here.
(Picture source: inglot.ie)

SO SU Complete Contour Palette
Both cream and powder
€29.95
Buy here.
(Picture source: sosueme.ie)

My favourite cream products:

Seventeen Cream Bronzer
€8.49
Buy here.
(Picture source:boots.ie)

Maybelline Fit Me anti-shine stick (In the darkest shade)
Under €10-unavailable online
(picture source: whatshaute.com)

Bourjois Bronzing Primer
€12.99
Buy here.
(picture source:boots.ie)

You can also use darker shades of concealer,they will blend just as easily and may be a good one to start out with!

What is highlighting?

Highlighting is drawing attention to the high points of your face. To me, there are two types of highlighting:(i)using creams/concealers/light powders around the face and (ii) using highlighters on the cheekbones (sometimes slightly in the tip of the nose). You are trying to attract attention to these areas,where light would naturally hit.

Why should you highlight?

My answer would be why the hell not? This is definitely my favourite part of doing makeup. It pulls the whole look together and who doesn't love a bit of sparkle in their life? ;)

What products are best to highlight with?

For highlighting like so:

Picture source:sosueme.ie

I would generally draw a triangle shape under my eyes and continue it up my cheekbones,apply some product underneath where my contour will be,the centre of my forehead and down the centre of my nose.

My favourite cream products:

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer
Shade fair neutral
€22.00
Buy here.
(Picture source:Pinterest)

NYX HD concealer
shade CW01
€7.75
Buy here.
(picture source:Pinterest)
You can also use a darker shade of this concealer to
cream contour like me!Just be careful not
to use too much,it's very pigmented.

I also love using shade 1 from the So Su contour palette!

For highlighting like so:

My favourite powder products:

Sleek Highlighting palette
in Solstice
€14.49
Buy here.
(Picture source:boots.ie)

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish
in Soft and Gentle
€31.00
Buy here.
(Picture source:temptalia.com)

My favourite liquid/cream products:

Topshop Glow pot
in Gleam
€12
Buy here.
(Picture source:feelunique.com)

Benefit High Beam
€27.50
Buy here.
(Picture source:Benefitcosmetics.com)

Sleek Barekissed Iluminator
in Monaco
€13.99
Buy here.
(Picture source:sleekmakeup.com)

Do I need to use both cream and powder highlighters to highlight properly?

There's no need to use both. If you want a sunkissed-glow, just use liquid/cream alone. If you want a strong highlight you can use liquid/cream and then set it with a powder highlight. I would  generally do this on a night out where I want it to last a long time.

Can I only use cool tone products to contour?

It looks better on lighter skin tones but on darker skin tones, you can find warmer contour shades. Makeup Geek do a fabulous contour shades that cater for all skin tones. Here's a link to a video where the owner of Makeup Geek  Marlena explains contour shades for all skin tones.

https://goo.gl/Rqaidw

What brushes can I use to contour with?

There are loads of different brushes you can use to contour. Some are very expensive and do the exact same job as some of the cheaper ones so it's all about knowing where to look!

My favourite contouring brushes:

Sigma F40
€22.95
Buy here.
(Picture source: sigmabeauty.com)

Real Techniques Contour Brush
Unsure of price because I think it only comes in one of the collections
(Picture source: beautetude.com)

The brush that comes with the Hoola bronzer
by Benefit
Loads of dupes available online!

Blank Canvas F28
€8.99
Buy here.
(Picture source:blankcanvas.com)

Do I need a contour kit?

If you're starting out I would say no. You can get cheaper kits,like the Sleek one that are very good if you're set on getting a kit. Don't think you need expensive kits like the one from Anastasia Beverly Hills, I would start out by getting an Inglot Sculpting powder and go from there!

Can everybody contour their face the exact same way?

While the techniques you use will be the same, the way in which you approach your face will be different because everyone's face is different. I know that won't really make sense until you look at your own face but if you roughly follow this chart you can't go wrong.

So there we have it! Hope you have learned something from this blog post. Let's be real, we all want to look like this when we're older ;)

If you have anymore questions make sure to message us on our various socials:

Facebook: Sunflowers & Sparkles

https://m.facebook.com/Sunflowersandsparkles/

Twitter: @sunflowersandsp

https://twitter.com/sunflowersandsp

Instagram: @sunflowersandsparkles

https://www.instagram.com/sunflowersandsparkles/

Snapchat: SandS_blog

Stay Sparkling,

Edel and Tess x

Battling Mental Health 09/05/16

Hey Guys, hope you are all well! it's been so long since the last blog! HOWEVER!! It's nearly summer and it's going to be such a fun summer of blogging, snapchatting and having so much fun with you all!

Today's blog is going to be a little more serious that usual. Since the debate in the Dáil about mental, health (you probably saw the OUTRAGEOUS photo on our facebook page) the whole country has been talking about this very important issue. Everyone at some stage of their lives will battle with their own mental health. There is such a stigma around it that people are too afraid to get help and speak up. YOU ARE NOT ALONE - I PROMISE...

Here are some statistics...

• 1 in 4 people are affected by a mental health condition
• 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 24
• Approx 50% of students age 14 and older with a mental illness drop out of school
• Statistics from the HSE show tell that in 2015, 86% of Irish Adults rate their own quality of life as very good, but this falls 64% among those who have personal experience of poor mental health.

The Message? YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Many people will not understand what you're going through, but people are more than happy to listen.

When researching for this blog, I read a Quote on the HSE Website..

''If mental Health becomes more of an everyday issue, that matters to us all, then the stigma attached to getting help can be reduced. While Irish society will continue to experience considerable change and face new challenges ahead, a mentally healthier Irish society will be much better able to cope''

I wouldn't have thought much about this quote until I saw that THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH didn't even turn up to his own debate. Now that is bad.

What can you do if you are battling with your own mental health?

1.  Talk to someone- It doesn't matter who as long as you feel comfortable speaking to them. Whether it be a friend, a family member or a stranger, getting it off your chest is the first step.

Here are some people you can talk to..

•  Samaritans: Telephone: 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org
• Console's Suicide prevention: Telephone: 1800 247 247 
• Aware: Telephone: 1890 302 302 Email: supportmail@aware.ie

     2. Do some exercise. Whether it be a walk or a jog- 30 minutes a day will clear your head and                  make you feel so refreshed.

    3. Retail Therapy. Our favourite. Just meet up with some friends, go for coffee, buy that dress that           makes you feel like a Queen!

   4. Find out what the source of your sadness is. Once you find it - get it out of your life, it's the last           thing you need. 

If this blog even helps one person who reads it today- it will be worth it. As you know if you follow us on Facebook (Here) you will know that here at Sunflowers and Sparkles we are all about positivity.. so if you ever want a chat.. you know where we are.

Sorry about the long blog- It HAD to be done.

Stay Sparkling,

Tess and Edel x 

Products I regret buying! 16/04/16

Hey everyone! Hope you are all well. 

Today's blog post is a little different. I'll be talking about some of the products I regret buying. Some were just not worth the price, did not agree with my skin, I didn't like the smell etc. 

* DISCLAIMER*

I am not telling you not to buy these products, I'm just explaining that they didn't work for me. You might love them! Just sharing my experience with them. 

Hope you enjoy this different blog post!

1.Anastasia Beverly Hills Powder Contour Kit

So this is probably the most hyped about contour palette. It's priced at €47.60 (available on beautybay.com) but I decided to get it because I had heard such good reviews. The cool tone contour shade "fawn" is a lot less powdery than the rest and is not as pigmented as the other shades. I find it hard to blend. The  "banana" shade is nice for brightening but again is nothing special. The other contour shades mixed together are nice and are lovely and pigmented. I love using them as eyeshadows. I feel like they're a different formula to the more popular "fawn" and "banana" shades. The packaging is sturdy and is magnetic which is good for travelling. I'm mad to try their cream contour pallette. I also love their Dipbrow Pomade and I've heard great things about their eyeshadows!

2.Wake Me Up foundation by Rimmel

This foundation just never sat well on my skin. I know it is meant to have a dewy effect but it just looked shiny and greasy on my skin. The shade range isn't great and overall just wasn't for me! I do love Rimmel as an affordable brand though. I'm a big fan of the Lasting Perfection foundation-an oldie but a goodie! I also love the Wake Me Up concealer!

3. Gerard Cosmetics Lipsticks.

I really have nothing good to say about these lipsticks, I bought them on sale on Beauty Bay (available here) and I really regret buying these, They do have a great colour range but the texture is really just crap. I was quite disappointed because some of my favourite youtubers hyped these up! They cracked on my lips, have a weird smell and overall were just horrible. I've heard quite a few controversies about this brand since purchasing them but I won't get into that today!

I have however heard they have improved their formulas with their liquid lipsticks,I'd like to try those!

4.Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

I know lots of people who are mad about this primer but it just really didn't work for me. It's silicone based and it just made my foundation slip and slide around my face,not a good look! I haven't looked back since I started using the Nivea For Men Post Shave Balm as a primer( full blog post here!)

5. Master Kajal by Maybelline in shade Navy Night

This felt so stiff on my eyes and would not blend for the life of me! It's a lovely shade and shape, its just a shame its not pigmented/ usable enough for me :(

There we have it! So sorry again with the delay, I feel it would be more realistic for us to post one a week as I'm approaching my Leaving Cert.exams soon! Thanks so much for reading this post. If you like any of the above mentioned products let us know! Or let us know if you have had the same problems as I had!

Stay sparkling,

Edel and Tess x

Ranting about Runners! 07/04/2016

Hey Everyone! Hope all is well! It seems like forever since the last blog, between holidays and everything life has been so busy! How fast did the last month go? Its Mad!

Today's blog is one that I think everyone will enjoy! This seasons runners... All brands have seriously upped their game in the sneakers department, whether its for playing sport of looking so stylish!

Here are our top pics from this season on the high street... (Fortunately for you all that can shop in the kiddies section like me, shoes are soooo much cheaper, so never forget that!)

I cannot even begin to think about how much money Adidas have made from selling Superstars alone. They come in every colour you could ask for and are DIVINE. Love my pair (which go back into the box after I wear them of course)
Buy Here.

Any One that has ever worn a pair of New Balance know that they are the comfiest shoes ever. So fab for a casual day out!
Buy Here.

LOVE THESE. Perfect to add a pop of colour to any outfit (especially if black is your fav. colour to wear!)
Buy Here.

White Runners are here to stay! How gorge are there Nike Theas from Schuh!
Buy Here.

I love the colour pink sooooo much!!!!! These are amazing and 100% m,y next purchase! SWEATING!!
Buy here.

The Classics are back! These Reebocks have also been spotted on Pippa O' Connor so they must be stylish! (And they come in all different colours)
€78 Buy Here.




Thanks so much for everyone that took the time to read Today's blog. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed looking at all the fab runners!

So sorry for the delay!

Don't forget to add us on snapchat: SandS_blog for more crazy happenings!

Stay Sparkling,
Tess And Edel x

Stuck in a rut and feeling fed up-10/03/16

Hey everyone! Today's blog will take a different and more personal turn. 

Do you ever feel like you're juggling about 20 balls in the air at once? That's how I've been feeling for quite some time. I feel slightly uninspired and drained. Being in Leaving Cert., it's hard to find time to exercise, eat well,do homework, study, go for grinds, blog, and deal with things like CAO, orals etc. 

Having just turned 18, I feel like adulthood has come with a bang. Everything is just piling on top of eachother. Talking to people in my year, they all feel the same. There is always something to do or organise. And you feel like you can never do enough study. 

I know I'll be finished school in 3 months which of course I'm excited about. I am so excited for college and everything it has to offer. There is however a constant fear that I won't get there, that I'm not enough. It's always in the back of my mind. I try to stay positive and focused though. 

I suppose what I'm trying to say is I know I've been slightly slacking with the blog. It does just boil down to feeling uninspired. I have even noticed this when writing my English answers, I get "writers block" so to speak. So I've decided to be real with all of you, because the reality is, we can't be sparkly all of the time ;)

It's important to us for you all to realise we are two teenage girls. Through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, you see what we want you to see. You see the happy, cheery teens who are passionate about blogging. Which of course is still true. You wouldn't normally see us stressed,crying, suffering from stress headaches or even just being downright cranky, which I know everyone feels from time to time. 

Of course I know it's okay not to feel 100% all of the time, and you might feel this way right now. I find talking about it actually does wonders. It's quite comforting talking to someone who is going through the same thing as you. Because honestly, the Leaving Cert. is tiring, and there's 1'000s of other students feeling the exact same way. It's important to know you're not alone. There is also about 1000 students wondering how to get rid of the permanent bags under their eyes ;) 

I personally love talking to you all on Snapchat. I find it way more interactive than the blog and it's a great medium to get to know our lovely followers a bit better. It is really time consuming though. I love following other bloggers/youtubers on Snapchat. ( let us know do you want a full blogpost on our favourite snapchatters! ) I love that they feel they can share when they're having a bad day or things aren't going to plan. I really don't have the time for daily Snapchating, only on the weekends or when I'm on holidays from school. Which is unfortunate because it's my favourite social media platform. 

What I'm trying to get at is that it's okay not to be okay. I guarantee what you're feeling now is normal and most importantly short term. For me I feel like this school year has absolutely flew, and it's keeps doing by quicker every single day. Try to keep track of everything you need to do, and try and focus on what you have accomplished rather than what you have yet to do (Solid advise I got from mom yesterday! ). Most importantly, please do not bottle your feelings up! Talk to your friends/siblings/parents/cousins anyone! 

Make sure you're getting enough sleep also. Monday night I went to bed early with a splitting headache and I was asleep for about 9:45. I woke up the next morning as fresh as a daisy!  Try to make time to do something you love. I find watching a good aul makeup tutorial on YouTube perks me up! 

Anyways let us know if you like this type of blog post,or if it's boring reading me rambling on! I'll leave ye with a quote from my fave:

Keep you're head up,you're doing great!

Stay sparkling,

Edel and Tess X