When you think of festival season, the first thing you think of probably won’t be your beauty routine. Watching your favourite artists perform? Obviously. Dancing the night away in a field until the dark sky blends into dawn? Of course. A 10-step skincare routine? Less so. But when it comes to festival beauty, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Whether you’re heading to a day festival or the full Wednesday to Monday stint of Glastonbury, roughing it in a tent or glamping in style, we’ve shortlisted our go-to products for fresh skin, long-lasting makeup and a few ‘sensible’ additions (because SPF and hand-san should be coming with you everywhere).
After all, festivals are renowned for being sweaty, muddy and often shower-free events (a survey found that 42% of attendees at Reading & Leeds festival didn’t wash for the entire weekend, delightful). So consider this your festival beauty cheat sheet: a few multitasking products that will not only help you stand out from the crowd (in all the right – read: clean – ways), but potentially help you feel better, too. Because we all know that a weekend of minimal sleep, potentially a few too many drinks and days of stomping around in wellies usually results in you feeling run down, to say the least...
So, without further ado, here are the best products to take with you to a festival to help you look and feel as fresh (and hangover-free) as possible. These are our tried-and-tested, high-performing and very low-effort skin and hair products, along with some great statement makeup and a sprinkling of supplements to boost your nutrient intake...
The Skincare Minis To Pack For A Festival
Festivals aren’t the place for a full 10-step skincare regime, but these multitasking products – all in handy mini sizes – will leave your skin clean, bright, moisturised and protected from the sun, in just a few simple steps.
To Cleanse
If you don’t have immediate access to running water, remove makeup and grime with a few sweeps of Garnier Micellar Water Facial Cleanser on one of the brand’s Micellar Reusable Make-up Remover Eco Pads to reduce waste. Alternatively, turn to RMS Beauty Ultimate Makeup Remover Wipes – the individually wrapped biodegradable wipes are soaked in coconut oil, which will remove the most stubborn makeup and grime.
To Treat
Late night? Fake a full eight hours’ sleep by applying
Pleasing Beauty Sleep Mask after stumbling into your tent – the lavender scent will help you drift off, and you’ll have plumper, brighter skin by the time you wake. For any unexpected spots, pop on one of The Inkey List’s Hydrocolloid Patches to calm blemishes within a few hours – they’re clear, so you can even wear them during the day.
To Moisturise
For deep daytime hydration that sinks into the skin with ease (providing a great base for makeup or a subtle sheen if you’re going without), try Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF50+, which handily contains the highest SPF going for added protection.
To Protect
Come rain or shine, a weekend outdoors requires one thing above all others: SPF. Ultra Violette’s mini Preen Screen SPF50 mist is small enough to carry in your bag or pocket for top-ups throughout the day (it’s great spritzed across shoulders, too).
The Best Haircare Products For A Festival
Depending on your hair’s texture and length, a weekend without access to your favourite products might prove tricky. Fortunately, these travel-sized heroes can help.
To Cleanse
If you don’t plan on braving the communal showers to wash your hair, then dry shampoo is a must. The mini JVN Hair The Essential Dry Shampoo is great for slipping into your bag – the micellar-powered formula helps to cleanse hair and scalp without leaving behind a powdery residue. Or, if you just need a quick root refresh, sweep one of Hair By Sam McKnight’s Lazy Girl Biodegradable Hair Cleanse Cloths over your hair to remove build-up and keep your strands hydrated.
To Style
Lean into the bohemian festival vibe and make the most of your hair’s natural texture. For straight and wavy hair, work in a little JVN Complete Air Dry Cream to smooth ends and add shine , before spritzing on a modern classic: Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, to encourage beachy waves. For curly and coily textures, Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Hair Pomade creates definition and hold without a crunchy texture (the fact you can use it to slick your hair back into a bun one day and restyle it the next day without any residue means it’s a must!).
To Finish
If you haven’t washed your hair in a few days, Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume will be your best friend. Spritz throughout strands for a gorgeous yet subtle scent that will fool people into thinking you’ve had access to hot showers.
The Best Festival Makeup To Last All Day (And Night)
The real beauty of festival makeup is that anything goes – so statement eyes, lips and cheeks are all welcome. For an easy route to high-impact glamour, these are the products to pack.
The Base
Applying an even layer of foundation in a tent is easier said than done, so unless full-coverage is your thing, opt for a multitasking lightweight formula, such as IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream. It’s enough to cover redness and dark circles, without feeling heavy on the skin (and it contains SPF50). Dot the Merit Flush Balm across your cheeks, nose and chin for a fresh flush – and it doubles up as a lip colour, too. Finish with a dusting of Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer to add warmth to skin and reduce any unwanted shine, before setting your base with Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Makeup Setting Spray (in the mini size, of course) to make sure it lasts all day.
The Eyes
Forget intricate layers of eyeshadow – all you need is one product that makes an impact – try Vieve Eye Wand for a smudgy smoke or Elf Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow for a bold flash of colour. To frame eyes, sweep the newly formulated Refy Brow Sculpt through brows for long-lasting hold, then finish with a slick of mascara – Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara won’t budge, even in a downpour.
The Lip
A subtle flush of colour will go with any makeup look – try Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint for a sheer wash of colour (that’s great smudged on cheeks, too). Or for a bold pigment, MAC Locked Kiss Ink Lipcolour promises up to 24 hours of waterproof colour – enough to withstand an all-nighter.
Supplements To Take For A Festival Wellness Boost
“Festival” and “wellness” in the same sentence? While most aren’t going to be prioritising getting their five-a-day at a festival, these are some handy supplements and accessories that will help you stay hydrated and sleep better while you’re there.
The Hydrator
The individual Free Soul Hydration sachets contain vitamins and minerals to support your hydration – everything from sodium, potassium and magnesium to calcium and vitamin C. Try adding one to your water before bed to wake up feeling fresh.
The Hangover Helper
Leave one of the Happy Tuesdays Post-Rave Wellness Packs by your pillow (with a big bottle of water) to take before you go to sleep – a few carefully formulated supplements to provide all of the vitamins and minerals to support your body after a big night (or day!).
The Sleep Aids
Falling asleep in a field full of people, with music thumping away in the background, is no easy feat. Fortunately, Diome’s Rested supplement is not only designed to improve the quality of your sleep, it will also soothe digestive discomfort and boost your immune system – it’s like the festival wellness holy grail. Add in the mother of all eye masks – the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask, which blocks out all light and even covers your ears to muffle sound – and a good night’s sleep awaits, no matter where you are.
The Best Bodycare To Take To A Festival
Staying so fresh, so clean in a festival environment can be done – you just need to be smart about it. Consider this an upgrade on your usual hand-san with our go-to hygiene products (all gorgeously scented, of course).
To Cleanse
In a land without regular access to showers, how do you take care of your body? Try Luna Daily The Everywhere Spray-To-Wipe, a cooling, cleansing spritz to refresh your body – spray directly onto skin or onto a tissue for a quick refresh. And hand sanitiser is a must when portaloos are your best option – we love Aesop’s Ressurection Rinse-Free Hand Mist, which purifies skin with the brand’s signature irresistible scent.
To Protect
As for deodorant, Wild’s sustainable, refillable formulas is powerful enough to banish sweat all day long, plus it comes in a range of gorgeous scents. Keep skin moisturised with this mini Joonbyrd Daydreamer Body Serum – it’s lightweight, super hydrating and leaves skin with a glowing sheen. As we’ve already said, protection is key, so slather on Coco & Eve Body Sunscreen for a long-lasting shield against UVA and UVB rays. Oh, and if you’re prone to skin rubbing, especially in the heat or if you’re wearing the obligatory denim shorts over the weekend, try a slick of Megababe Thigh Rescue anywhere you might experience friction – trust us, it works.
To Finish
If you’re going to take a scent with you, we’d suggest leaving your precious glass bottles at home – swapping any EDPs for a body spray, like the subtle, smoky-sweet scent of Phlur Vanilla Skin Body Mist, or this easy-to-transport Jo Loves Fragrance Paintbrush. Everyone joining you in the crowds will appreciate it, we’re sure.
