60's Pop Art Girl

Here's a fun new character makeup I created the other day inspired by 60's pop art and comics. Hope you guys like it and that you're continuing to get inspired for Halloween!

1 Apply foundation all over and concealer in areas of concern. Set with a translucent powder.
2 Apply a purple cream product all over the lid and in a rough winged shape on the outer corner of the eye. Press a purple eyeshadow on top of the cream. Don't worry about having perfect lines or shapes right now... we will tidy the shape up later.
3 Apply a blue cream under the eyes and roughly shape out your tears. Press a blue shadow on top. Using a cream colour underneath your shadows ensures a really strong colour pay off that's going to last.
4 Using a sharpened red lip liner or the end of a brush and red face paint draw small dots all over the face, neck and ears. This step is by far the most tedious but also the most important. The look will be most effective if the dots are kept very small... large dots will start to look like chicken pocks more than shading. Use a foundation powder with a bit of colour to set the dots in place and to tone down the red a little bit.
5 Paint on red lips. Use a face paint or lip stain that dries for this step so that the black outline doesn't bleed into the lips.
6 Use a black cream, liquid, or cake liner to draw on your eyebrows and outline your lips, tears, and eyeshadow. This is where you can really sharpen your lines and perfect your shapes. Your lines don't need to be perfect... remember this is a cartoon type of look so simply make sure that your lines have a nice thickness and that they flow smoothly.
7 Use your liner to draw lines that will shape your face down the side of the nose, the jawlines, and ears. Use your own judgement for placing lines in other areas to accentuate the features of the face. I chose to add lines to the chin, upper lip, tip of the nose, inner corners of the eyes, and the neck.
8 Apply mascara to your upper and lower lashes and apply a black pencil liner on the water line (inside of the eye).
9 Rim the spine of your lashes with glue, wait 60 seconds, then place in the middle before tucking in your inner and outer corners. Choose dramatic lashes that will really show up.
10 With a white cream face paint apply highlights to the lip and tears to really make your design pop!

(click photo's to enlarge)

Products Used:
Laura Mercier Loose Mineral Foundation
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer
Makeup Forever Flash Colour Palette
BH Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette
Josie Maran Lip Stain 'Flamenco'
Urban Decay Eyeliner Pencil 'Zero'
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara
Makeup Forever Lashes
Laura Mercier Cake Liner 'Black'

xo candice
www.candicegroen.com
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Sorry I'm not home right now...

... I'm walking into spider webs!

I'm getting excited for Halloween so here's the first look of a few that I hope to have some fun with this month! It seems there has been some controversy over me doing this look so I wanted to make it clear that I got inspiration from something I saw goldiestarling from youtube do. I thought it was a great idea. I let you know how I did it on myself below. I love asymmetrical looks but feel free to repeat one side of the look on both sides of the face! Or... hire a professional to do it for ya' ;)!

1 After patting an eyeshadow primer all over the lid, apply a black eyeshadow from lash line to crease and along the lower lash line paying special attention to wrapping the shadow around the inner and outer corners as well.

2 Blend a dark silver shadow through the crease for a smooth and blended gradation of colour.

3 Apply a black pencil liner to the upper and lower waterline (inside of the eye) wrapping around the inner corner. Lightly apply mascara to upper and lower lashes.

4 Apply foundation all over and concealer in areas of concern. Concentrate on using the concealer to clean up under the smokey eyes.

5 Using a white eyeliner pencil lightly map out the shape of your spider web starting just above the head of the brow and wrapping around the temple onto the cheekbone to finish just below the centre of the eye. The web should be longer on the cheek and shorter on the top above the brow. (Note that the top of the web has two rows, while the bottom has three). Don't be afraid to let the design fade into your hairline.

6 Slowly trace your lines with a black liquid, cream liner or face paint. Take your time... your lines should be as clean as possible. Choose a medium the will dry to the touch... there's nothing worse than accidentally smudging your lines! I used a cake eyeliner (activated with water or sealing gel) because it allows me to mix the exact consistency that I want. 

7 Shade the bottom edges of the curves of your web with a black eyeshadow. Use a small brush and take your time shading downward making sure to fade out the black half way though the space. 

8 On the opposite eye, use your white pencil to lightly map out the lines of your mini web starting from just above the crease of the eye moving up toward the brow. Stop the lines where you want, but pay attention to making the lines near the inner and outer corners shorter and the ones in the centre longer to create a nice fanned shape. Remember that this is a smaller space and two curved rows is all that is necessary.

9 Repeat step six in this area. Remember to work slowly!

10 Shading in this area is not as important or detailed as the large web. Simply dab a small amount of black shadow throughout the spaces.

11 Apply false lashes by rimming the spine of the lash with a small amount of glue, waiting for the glue to get tacky for about 60 seconds, and then using tweezers (or your fingers) to apply the lashes in the centre of the eye close to the lash line before tucking in your inner and outer corners. Choose spiky and dramatic lashes to compliment the look.

12 Dust a fine golden glitter to the tops of the lids and all over the spider web design on the cheek and eye for a great eye catching look!

13 Apply rhinestones at random by placing a small dot of lash glue on the skin before sticking them on. These are another fun way to add sparkle and dimension to the look. Plus they give the illusion of little spiders!

14 Finish with a bold or nude lip... ladies choice!

(click photo to enlarge)

This look can be very time consuming and requires a steady hand. If anything, it's great practice for your liner work!

See you soon with some more fun Halloween looks!

Products Used:

Lancome Tient Idole Ultra Foundation

Cover FX Camouflage Concealer

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Anastasia Brow Powder 'Ash Blonde'

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer

Urban Decay Eyeshadow 'Creep' (Black)

Urban Decay Eyeshadow 'Gunmetal' (Dark Silver)

Urban Decay Eyeliner Pencil 'Zero' (Black)

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara

Illamasqua Eyelashes

Laura Mercier Cake Eyeliner

Duo Lash Glue

Rhinestones (from Michael's)

Korres Liquid Lipstick 'Berry'

xo candice

www.candicegroen.com

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Makeup Tips For Transitioning Into A Tan And Other Vacation Essentials!

So I just got back from an amazing vacation in Cuba and thought what a perfect time to talk about one of the questions I'm most frequently asked, "I'm going on vacation and I'm going to get darker, what foundation colour should I buy?". Well ladies I'm sorry to tell you but there is no way to know what colour you're going to be when you get back... but I do have a few great makeup tips to help you out while you're colour is changing and what products you should bring with you on vacation!

This is a bit of a long one, but if you can stick with it I have some great advice in here!


Firstly, self adjusting pigments are going to be you're best friend. Pigments that change with your skin are perfect when your skin tone is changing rapidly.
Here are four essential self adjusting complexion products you need to bring with you on vacation:
1 Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer
I love this product because it triples as my sunscreen, moisturizer, and light coverage foundation. Other brands like Josie Maran and Almay make great self adjusting foundations as well.
2 Cover FX Camouflage Concealer
This full coverage, self adjusting concealer was perfect to cover up dark circles and blemishes. Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage Concealer would be another great product to bring because it comes with two different tones so mixing a good colour is easy.
3 St. Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Body Moisturizer
A daily gradual self tanner and moisturizer in one, perfect for hydrating your skin and making that gorgeous tan last even longer after you've come back from vacay. Other brands like Jergens and Olay make similar products.
4 Nars Laguna Bronzer
Bronzers are essential to have while you're colour is changing because even if you're foundation is light, you can deepen it by adding a bit (or a lot) of bronzer. Liquid bronzers (or your old summer foundations) make great mixing mediums to deepen up you're current foundation as well.

Other essential vacation products you should have:
1 D.J.V Beautenizer (Fiberwig) Volume Lash Mascara
As a makeup artist and consumer I have to tell you I hate waterproof mascaras. At the end of the day they're going to smudge anyway and the formulas make for clumpy piecey nasty lashes. Tubing/warm water removal mascaras wont budge in the water and if they do they'll slide off easily instead of giving you raccoon eyes. They're also much easier and gentler to remove at night! Clinique, Stila, and Blinc all make mascaras like this.
2 Anastasia Clear Brow Gel
I'm all about the brows but those babies aren't staying on in the water so grow them in, get a great shape, and keep them put with a strong hold brow gel like this one or ones from Illamsqua or Revlon!
3 Caudalie Lip Conditioner
Did you know that your lips can get sun burnt as well? Keep your pout hydrated and protected with a rich lip balm with either antioxidants, sunscreen, or both! My favourites come from Laura Mercier, Fresh, and Blistex.
4 Korres Milk Proteins Cleansing & Makeup Removing Wipes
Whether you've had a long day or a late night wipes are a life saver for removing dirt and makeup before bed. I especially love these ones because they're gentle, hydrating, and have soothing aloe. I also like wipes from Ole Henrikson and Neutrogena.

Great add ons for a night out:
1 Nars Larger Than Life Eyeliner & Makeup Forever Liquid Liner
Skip the shadow and opt for a waterproof eyeliner. Pencil liners can look sharp or be smudged to look smokey like a shadow. I brought a brown pencil, and black liquid for variety.
2 Laura Mercier Translucent Powder
For setting your makeup and mattifying at night a translucent powder that goes with any skin tone is perfect. These products tend to come in large packaging so transferring them into travel containers is a great idea!
3 Laura Mercier Lip Glace
Slap on a neutral pink gloss and you're good to go. It's the perfect and simplest finishing touch.

I hope this helped you out and that you have fun and relaxing vacations!

xo candice
www.candicegroen.com
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Lush Haul!

I recently received a copy of the Lush summer catalog and decided that (after deciphering the names of some products and reading all kinds of fun facts) I needed to get to a Lush store ASAP and try out a few cool new products! I've always been one to avoid the store because of the strong scent and the overwhelming amount of products with funky names that I didn't understand... but this catalog got me really excited and I wanted to share with you guys what I got!

Pop In The Bath Bubble Bar

(smells fresh and clean with orange flower and bergamot)

A solid bubble bath that you crumble under the water to create rich luxurious bubbles full of essential oils!

MMM Melting Marshmallow Moment Bath Melt

(smells like a candy floss and cupcake sweet mix of deliciousness)

Pop chunks of bath melts into the bath to create soft water full of skin softening oils and sweet smelling air!

Sex In The Shower Emotibomb

(romantic aphrodisiac scents of ginger, mimosa, and rose)

Emotibombs use aroma therapy and essentials oils to transform your mood as you inhale in a steamy shower. Make sure you sit them down in the far corner of your shower.

Silk Stockings

(smells like jasmine, rose and sandalwood oils)

Comes in two shades for different skin tones and adds a light tint of colour and sheen to the skin. Lush describes it as 'perfect for summer evenings soirees!'.

Toner Tabs in Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Drop a toner tab in a bowl of warm water and steam your face for 5 minutes to open the pores. These work great before a face mask!

The Vitamin C Toner Tab is great for hydrating sensitive skin and brightening while the Vitamin E Toner Tab is perfect for dry skin that wants to be kept soft and supple!

Sultana Of Soap (sample)

(smells fruity and creamy with current and apricot)

A hydrating body soap.

I can't wait to try new Lush products in the future and maybe even pick up one of their pre-made gift baskets! These packages make great gifts for any girl and are already wrapped so they're super easy and quick and a great way to try out a few new (or already favourite) products!

What are you favourite Lush products?

xo candice

www.candicegroen.com

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Magnetic Nail Polish

Another amazing polish from a brand that is quickly becoming a favourite of mine!

Check out this awesome Nails Inc. Magnetic Nail Polish in Trafalger Square (Silver).

(Also available in Big Ben (Gold), and Houses of Parliament (Purple)).

A few weeks back I did a post on Nails Inc's 3D Glitter Polish that I had picked up in the states... and now that the brand has made it's way to Canada, I couldn't be more excited to share with you guys this beautiful and unique new polish!

Plus, this dark silvery grey is prefect to rock throughout the fall season!

(no flash - click photo to enlarge)

After painting on a thin coat of polish and waiting for it to dry, apply a thick layer of polish and hold the magnet attached to the polishes lid over the nail for 5-10 seconds. As the magnet is held over the nail, the iron powder in the formulation gravitates toward the magnet forming the pattern of black swirls and leaving you with a cool design that reflects beautifully (and almost holographically) in the light!

You can pick up these amazing new polishes at select Sephora stores through the GTA.

xo candice
www.candicegroen.com
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Splurge: Paperself Eyelashes

Ahhh! I am dying over these Paperself Eyelashes new at Sephora! I first came across this UK based brand about a year and a half ago and was extremely tempted to order them online but the shipping was so outrageous I decided to pass. Now that they are available in North American stores (and still a bit pricey) they're completely worth the splurge for such a unique and fun product! Intricately designed paper eyelashes to really make a statement!

Here are the designs I picked up.

Under the Sea Lashes (click image to enlarge)

Peacock Lashes (click image to enlarge)

Peach Blossom Lashes (click image to enlarge)

What do you guys think of this cool and unique product? I love having such inspirational pieces!

I can't wait to play with these lashes and wear some really fun looks! That is, if I ever decide to actually take them out of their perfect packaging!

xo candice
www.candicegroen.com
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I'm back! And I'm loving...

Oh my goodness how time flies! I can't believe it's been a month since my last blog post. August and September have proven to be very busy months for me and I apologize for not blogging as frequently as I used to. With Halloween right around the corner I plan on having some really fun posts coming out *fingers crossed*.

In the mean time, here are a few great products I've been loving these past few weeks!

Being as busy as I have been, my go to look has been quick, easy, polished and sleek. I've been all about a clean lid with a crisp black winged eyeliner these days and the new(ish) Makeup Forever Waterproof Aqua Liner has been working wonders for me! The short, stiff felt tip makes application a breeze and the inky black formula stays put all day. No smudging, smearing, or touchups needed!

And what better way to set off a a sexy cat liner than a bold lip! I've been all smiles in my Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage. Talk about a true candy coloured hot pink without that traditional blue base. Plus, this stuff is like glue... which means reapplying is a rarity and that oh so attractive lipstick on the teeth thing? Not an issue.

If I'm not wearing Carthage, I'm sporting the complete opposite... a glossy nude lip and my new fav is the Buxom Lip Polish in Samantha! This must have lip gloss was only available in the limited edition Buxom Samantha Smokey Eye Set earlier this year but because of it's popularity, when the kit split, the gloss stayed and I couldn't be happier! We're talking ultra glossy high shine, long lasting, and minty fresh.

And lastly, continuing on the theme of stay-in-place makeup... I have to mention how much I love the new Nars Larger Than Life Pencil Eyeliners. These things are no joke and may very well be my new all time favourite pencil liners. Not only are these waterproof babies truly staying put, the pigment is super rich, the colours are to die for (um, hello perfect nude for inner rim brightening!?), and the sleek packaging has a built in sharpener. So grab them quick because I know that amazing jet black is selling out everywhere!

xo candice

www.candicegroen.com

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