Grown Up Glitter

The festive season is bearing down upon us and party season is nearly here. But what to do if you want to be festive just not that festive. If you have a job and/or kids that don't allow for a 3 hour glamathon or that you're just a bit too old to have a full face of glitter? Well, cheat is the answer to that.

Everything below can take as little or as long as you have and will be a lot of wow and actually not a lot of fuss.

Christmas Gift Ideas

I'm keeping it quite short and sweet this year. And, for the most part, quite reasonably priced too. This is a make-up blog but I've included everything I've seen or tried that I'd want. Pretty simple really.

• Scandinavisk Candle - I have loved every one of these I have smelt and have had my favourite, Skog, since last year and even though I burn it sparingly it gives off the most beautiful spurts of smell. Worth spending money on as it genuinely smells great. From £32

• JT Make-up Studio Metallic Leaf - this is a great stocking filler for those who love a bit of creative make-up. So nice to be able to give a make-up present with no use by date. These will last forever and are great not only for Christmas and New Year parties but festivals, parties and Ibiza holidays. Minimum effort, maximum impact.£6.80

• H&M Jacquard Weave Scarf - I have a large blanket scarf. And I love it. But one's enough. If I could convince myself that it wasn't then I would get this like a shot. I love the colours, it's beautifully soft and particularly appealing to those of us who wear a lot of black. £14.99

• Aurelia Little Treasures - a great present for girlfriends this contains a mini body oil and hand cream. I absent mindedly tried this oil on the back of my hand whilst waiting for something in Space NK and for the rest of the day it felt amazing. Exclusive to Space NK. £12

• Consultation with Me! - well if you are like us and trying to de-clutter rather than add more stuff to your life then why not arrange a consultation with me. You can check out my (in the middle of being updated) website here www.corinnaharrod.com

• Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Party Eyes - two Charlotte Tilbury products in a Christmas bauble. Another great present for your girlfriends. £20

• Ole Henriksen All Four Love Holiday Kit - I love the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum and can't wait to try more products. £15.30

• Nude Liquid Gold Christmas Bauble - I love this oil and even though it's a tiny bottle of it, a little goes a long way and it's a great present for a girlfriend. £15

• Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush - stocking sized but this lasts for ages. If in doubt I'd go for Rose Glow - a really flattering universal shade. £15.50

United Makeup Artist Expo 2015

This weekend I spent as much time as possible at the 2015 United Makeup Artist Expo in the Business Design Centre, Angel, London. I've always raved about this event and this year will be no exception. It wasn't all good news - though I felt the event itself had been really stepped up a notch in terms of exhibitors, classes, talks and demonstrations I felt it was incredibly under publicised. As a previous attendee, a blogger who is a big fan of the event, and a make-up artist I have never been sent a scrap of info about the UMA Expo. No email, no annoying mail in the post, nothing. I am constantly sent details of an event in Birmingham I have never been to and can't see myself being able to go to and yet they somehow manage to get all the bumf to me every year. I can't understand why the PR for the UMA Expo isn't better - the event itself is fantastic and a favourite amongst a lot of pro artists so why not make more of it?

Friday Video - UMAExpo, Em-J and JT Makeup Studio

I basically grin the whole way through this...

UMA Expo - http://www.umae.co.uk/
@umaexpo

Julia Townend - http://www.jtmakeup.co.uk/
@JT_Makeup
@JTMakeupstudio
https://www.facebook.com/JTMakeupStudio

Em-J - http://www.theemjcompany.com/
@EMJcompany
https://www.facebook.com/emjcompany

The Art of Male Makeup by David Horne
http://theartofmalemakeup.com/