Yes festivals are all about the music, the people you meet and the all round good vibes. But it’s also about looking and feeling good, which after three days of burger vans and non stop rain is not always easy to achieve. Here’s our round up of the best beauty and wellness essentials you’ll want to bookmark for your next festival.
Festival Wellness Essentials
There’s nothing worse than being one day into a three day festival and getting taken down by a health issue that could have been prevented with just a few extra products being packed. If you know you’re susceptible to anything from blisters to constipation, just pack the damn cure! Festival tickets are too expensive to be missing out on.
Soft & Gentle Anti-Chafe Deodorising Body Powder
This is not your usual talc. In fact, it’s completely talc free! It’s also made of only natural ingredients, is vegan and cruelty free, and is made right here in the UK! You can use it anywhere you would usually get friction or sweat such as your inner thighs, underarms or lower back and it absorbs the moisture and prevents any odour. I love its fresh cotton scent and although it’s absolutely ideal for a festival (I did at least 30,000 steps a day at Leeds festival this year!) I also use it before the gym or if I have a long day travelling for work on a stuffy train and want to feel fresh from my morning shower for as long as possible.
Balance Activ Intimate Daily Wipes
These wipes have saved my life at many a festival now, whether it’s having to navigate my way round a portaloo in the dark to cleaning up a cut from standing on broken glass in Birkenstocks. They’re soft, soothing and refreshing and they smell like clean laundry. They’re also made from 98.9% natural ingredients and are biodegradable and flushable.
Having these in your bag at a festival almost feels a bit like cheating! But they’re such a welcome addition; when you’re the friend whose packed them be prepared for word to travel fast!
I started nibbling on these at the last festival I attended but they’ve actually become a bit of a staple of my daily life. They’re just yummy! They give you a much needed boost of sugar-glucose alongside added vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin B complex which helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue. And the container is so small and slim that it easily fits into your bum bag or rucksack’s side pocket.
Bit of a random one but if you’re a regular at festivals and concerts you’ll know that loud music causes excess ear wax to build up which can be super irritating. After going to see Catfish and The Bottlemen, Bling 182 and The Prodigy back to back, my other half could barely hear me the next day. Thankfully I always pack cotton earbuds and this time we gave Earol’s olive oil spray a go too. You just spray it into your ear and it softens any build up so you can naturally remove it without needing to get your ears syringed when you get home!
Balance Activ Intimate Daily Foam Wash
If you’re camping at a festival you’ll know just how lovely it is to feel a little bit fresher in any way, shape or form. This foam wash is perfect for intimate bits n bobs because it doesn’t interfere with your natural ph balance and is gentle and mild. If you’re happy to queue for festival shower cubicle then fab but if all you’ve got to hand is a water bottle and a flannel then a couple of pumps of this lightweight foam will have you feeling fresh as a daisy.
These plant-based electrolyte and antioxidant drink mixes have all six essential electrolytes your body needs to function at its best. It actually has four times more electrolytes than leading sports drinks with no added sugars! After a day of drinking ciders in a sunny field, your body is going to be crying out for one of these, trust me. My other half drinks them before rugby training so between rugby season and festival season they’re definitely put to the test in our house!
Festival Skincare Essentials
Skincare is a biggie if you’re going to be outside for long hours. Whether you’re protecting your skin from UV rays or fake tanning before the event, a bit of time spent choosing the right products will leave your skin safe, smooth and hydrated all weekend long.
Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre
Described as the make up artists go-to product, this is a great all in one to take to your next festival. It’s super rich as a moisturiser, cleanser, repairing mask, primer or make up remover thanks to essential fatty acids and vitamins. I actually took it to a family festival this summer and used some on my toddlers cheeks after a day in the sun, I used it on my legs when I wanted to change into shorts and my husband even ended up using it as a shaving cream in the morning! A little goes a really long way with this so it should last you a good while, even if you have to share it…
I can’t be slipping into my denim short shorts without being head to toe tanned and this gradual tanner is a godsend for festivals. It’s super lightweight hence the name ‘self tanning milk’ and includes Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides and Vitamin C so there’s none of that dry, flaky fake tan look you can get after a few days. I was really surprised how long this stayed on for, especially on my face, and it meant I could get away with packing less makeup for the actual festival.
Bondi Sands Daydream and Sweet Dreams Moisturisers
These moisturisers are my new mini travel fave! I had high hopes for them as Bondi Sands products never let me down and I’m happy to report that they lived up to all my expectations. The Daydream Whipped Moisturiser is SO deeply nourishing yet really light on my skin and I could really feel the hydration all day. It’s also made with an intriguing Desert Lime Extract!
With a lot of night creams they feel so heavy to me that when I try and do my neck I feel like I’m dragging the skin down but with the Sweet Dreams Night Moisturiser it effortlessly glided down my neck with no pulling. Bit of a niche issue maybe that’s the first time I’ve been able to do that with a night cream and something I really noticed from the first use! It’s also made with Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane and Blue Algae Extract so you know it’s got the good stuff to pack a punch.
HydroPeptide Optimist Radiance Serum Mist
One of the spennier items on this list but a little piece of VIP luxury at a festival never hurt nobody. This radiance serum mist boosts hydration levels through ingredients such as argan, green tea, baobab fruit and seaweed to help keep your skin balanced throughout the day. It’s a really fine mist so you can spray it on before and after makeup to keep that dewy look going all day long and it just feels really lovely and refreshing if you’ve been out in the sun for a while.
Everyone 5 in 1 Multi-tasking Cream
This is one of those brilliant items you can use for anything and everyone in your tent! It has five uses; moisturise, wash, cleanse, shave and prime, is sustainable, paraffin free and vegan friendly and is enriched with squalane and vitamin F. I found this to be super rich so it was great for my dry skin; it was also passed round my group of friends to be used on everything from sunburn to flaky legs!
Bondi Sands Sunny Daze Hydrating SPF50+ Face Fluid Drops
It goes without saying but if you’re going to an outdoor festival you’re going to need SPF, the higher the factor the better. These hydrating drops feel super nourishing on your skin but not greasy so you can still wear makeup over the top without worrying it’ll slide off. Each drop is enriched with Vitamin E, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Fruit Extract and Aloe Vera, it’s super lightweight and provides up to 72 hours of hydration. Plus the little pipette is just fun and cute.
Festival Haircare Essentials
What your hair is doing at a festival is likely to be the last thing on your mind by the end of a three day-er but it’s nice to at least start out with clean, fresh, co-operating hair (so you can take the best pics on day one!). If you’re lucky enough to have somewhere to shower when staying over though then there are a few products you might want to consider packing for a hair wash refresh.
HASK do a range of amazing conditioning sprays for both curly and straight hair but the two I’ve been loving lately are the Argan Oil and the Keratin Smooth. Both sprays are packed with fatty acids and natural antioxidants and they do a plethora of good things for your hair to save you precious time in the shower stalls including detangling, preventing breakage, heat protection and serious frizz control.
And if you want to add a little VIP treatment in your shower bag, pack one of HASK’s Smoothing Deep Conditioner packs. It’s ultra-restorative and is perfect if you’ve got super dry or damaged hair; you’ll feel the difference as soon as you wash it out.
I managed to squeeze two applications out of one pack for me and a friend which meant we had two less bottles to carry to the shower with us. It gave us such glossy, smooth hair – who knew one little sachet could pack such a punch!
If you’re anything like me you try to leave getting your hair colour done for as long as possible, but sometimes you just need to give it a little touch up to see you through the weekend. For me that’s right at the front of my parting where my natural hair colour is much ashier than the rest. With this root smudge powder I can disguise my ashy root in literally seconds giving me a much fuller looking hairline and blending everything in nicely. It stayed put all day and night and I just topped it up each morning with a swipe of the little brush. It would also be perfect if you have any greys you want to disguise, or you can use the blonde root smudge to top up your face frame. Nice and simple!
Bristows Sol Fiesta Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo smells absolutely incredible; it’s salted caramel and pistachio and I just love it! It does a great job of disguising any oil at the roots and giving you that just washed look again whilst keeping your hair super soft with lots of volume. Even though it’s much cheaper than leading brands it does the job just as well without drying your hair out or leaving a chalky look or feel. To be honest I’d buy it again just for the smell alone!
Bondi Boost Aloe Infused Hair Straighteners
If you’re lucky enough to be staying somewhere with access to a working plug socket then make sure you pack a pair of straighteners – you’ll be the camp favourite for sure! These are my new favourite as the plates are infused with Australian Aloe powder which add shine and keep frizz at bay. I only had to use them on the second day as a quick refresh over slept on hair and my normally frizz prone hair stayed poker straight until it was time for home. Bondi Boost have made sure their straighteners tick all the tech boxes too with ion technology and ceramic-coated tourmaline floating plates to ensure the heat is evenly distributed with every swipe. You can even adjust the heat setting from a mild 210°F to a serious 480°F; I have really curly hair and these straighteners got my hair super flat, super quick with about 230°F so I’d recommend for coily, course and kinky hair textures too.
Hair Gain Travel Edit Hair Care Set
If you’re looking for a set of high quality hair care mini’s to take with you, all in a cute little shower bag that you’ll actually want to keep, then this set by Hair Gain is ideal. It includes a dry shampoo with a powder puff applicator, a beautiful wide-tooth comb that detangles with zero snagging, and one of the best hair masks I’ve ever tried! It’s a really intriguing shade of green that makes me look forward to using it every time, is SO nourishing and creamy and a little really goes a long way. All the products are carry-on friendly at 50ml too (hello Coachella!).
Festival MakeUp Essentials
If you’re lugging a backpack across a field to your campsite you might want to condense your makeup kit down a smidge. Or better yet, bring products with multiple uses such as lipstick that can also be used as blusher or brown eyeliner that can also be a brow pencil. Or better yet, get each friend to bring something they don’t mind sharing (eye products excluded!) and between you you’ll have a full face of products.
Bondi Sands Be Bronze Instant Bronzing and Hydrating Serum
My new secret weapon! If you’re looking for a hydrated, bronzed base then this is it! Put a pea sized amount on your face and blend in with a foundation brush or your fingers for a more even, sunkissed skin tone on no makeup days, or wear it under makeup to give your final look a bit of a boost. It’s enriched with Squalane, Cupuaçu butter and bronzing particles to give you a really moisturised but light base with no greasiness or obvious glittery bits. I absolutely love it!
I took a few products to a local festival from the Rumi Cosmetiques line when I knew it was going to be a long rainy day. I wanted to test their waterproof eyeliner which is especially designed for mature eyes and is smudge proof and non irritating. I always have an issue with eyeliner so tend to use dark eyeshadow instead but not only did the eyeliner not budge at all but it’s super easy to apply. The tip is angled for precision and it has a bult in sharpener so you don’t end up be dragging a dull, flat pencil over your eyelids.
Their VolumeCare+ mascara is insane. Literally the best mascara I’ve ever tried and I don’t say that lightly! It gives me super long, separated, voluminous eyelashes with no clumps whatsoever and absolutely no transfer or smudging, even in humidity and rain (I tried it out in both weathers!). It’s also infused with biotin and peptides so doubles up as a eyelash serum and it’s 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
I also tried their PowerBrow+ tinted eyebrow gel which again, is specially designed for mature women with thin brows. I’m not sure if I’d class myself as mature just yet but my brows are spare and patchy. I used a brow pencil to fill my brows in first and then brushed the gel over the top to give more of a fuller, 3D effect. It definitely gives you a fluffy brow effect, lasts all day and contains active nourishing ingredients so it’s become a bit of a makeup/brow care staple for me now. Once you find something to elevate your eyebrows you just can’t go without!
If you can’t be bothered washing your mascara and eyeliner off at the end of a long festival day, give faux lashes a try. These faux mink lashes have a sheer band so they’ll give you Kardashian level volume and wispiness without giving you away with a thick band. They actually look quite natural because of how fluffy they are and they feel super light to wear so there’s no uncomfy bits sticking in the corner of your eye. They just blend in with your natural lashes and you can re-wear them up to 20 times! I pack these if I’m going to more of a ‘dressy’ festival like Creamfields where I need my makeup to pop a bit more.
Buff Browz Bare Necessities Palette
If you’re sharing festival accommodation with a group then consider investing in this 9 shade palette to cover all your face needs. I used this to brighten under my eyes, cover spots, define my eyebrow shape and even to highlight, contour and bronze. I used their specific Buff Browz Basic Brush as the texture is quite creamy and the brush is angled so you can map your brows out or get right into the corners of your undereye, and then used a buffing brush to smooth out ‘Winter Sun’ as contour and add the ‘Cacao’ shade as bronzer onto my cheeks and forehead. I love a multi-use product!
Claire is a Cheshire girl, mum to one and wife to one. She’s also creator of the blog KoKo & Cub which houses tried and tested how to’s (and some how not to’s) as well as general thoughts and musings on everything from OOTD’s to planning a last minute wedding.
