Heading to a Festival This Bank Holiday? 21 Beauty Essentials Worth Making Room For
Main image – Michael Kyule
Festival season may almost be over (sob) but there are still a few bangers (Reading… Leeds…) left this bank holiday weekend.
And while I will be staying at home having not booked any tickets this year (let’s not talk about it, the regret is real), I shall be living vicariously through social media posts, trying not to feel jealous. Full disclaimer – I will not succeed.
What I can do though is provide you with some last minute festival beauty tips because, let’s face it, on-the-go, outdoor beauty is a bit of a balancing act. On the one hand you want to look your best but on the other, carrying your entire bathroom from one stage to another in a tiny bag is neither realistic nor fun.
So, allow me to help you pack in style, with a heavy dose of efficiency. Think space-saving products that do more than one job – SPFs that work under makeup, cosmetics that last and hair products that double up as stylers and revivers.
With extra tips from founder and hair stylist Sherry Velarde and celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal, here’s how to get your festival beauty strategy just right this summer.
SPF and skin protection
The most important element of doing the festival season right is sun protection, particularly when you’re spending a whole weekend outdoors and the task of locating adequate shade is a struggle. Luckily, SPF gets more advanced and more user-friendly every year.
A personal favourite, Ultra Violette’s Future Fluid SPF 50+ Superlight Mineral Skinscreen (£38 from Ultra Violette UK /$40 from Ultra Violette US) offers both a beautiful dewy sheen alone with a naturally blurred finish for days when you don’t want to wear makeup but still want some coverage.
Image – Coola
For topping up bigger areas though, COOLA’s Classic Body Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 Guava Mango (£25 from Cult Beauty UK /$32 from Coola US) has a fine mist that makes it easy to top up on-the-go throughout the day and it smells absolutely gorgeous (doubling as your fragrance for the day).
Meanwhile, for any uninhibited daytime dancers who find their SPF simply won’t stay on while sweating, P20 Sensitive Face SPF 50+ (£24.99 from Boots UK) is one of the best long-lasting facial SPFs (but always remember to apply every two hours).
And finally, for anyone who suffers the yearly irritation (and indignity) of prickly heat, Green People Scent-Free Sun Cream SPF 30 (from £9 for 30ml from Green People UK) is gentle even on eczema-prone skin.
Long-lasting makeup
“The secret is not trying to look perfect all day,” Mally says. “I always say your makeup should move with you, not fight against you.” So how should we approach wearing makeup at a festival?
“Start with lightweight, long-wearing products, focus on radiant skin instead of heavy coverage, and keep blotting papers in your bag instead of layering on more powder.” Great tip, particularly as powders can crack or break at the bottom of your bag as you wander around.
Mally also suggests not over applying your makeup. “One trick I swear by is adding back dimension instead of adding more makeup – after hours outside, your complexion can start to look a little flat,” she says. “I tap a cream blush onto the apples of the cheeks, blend a little onto the lips, and add a touch of highlighter to the high points of the face. It instantly wakes everything up and gives you that fresh, vibrant look without feeling overdone. It’s those tiny finishing touches that make the biggest difference.”
And, she says to keep your complexion makeup glowy. “A natural glow always looks beautiful,” she explains. “When your skin looks healthy and alive, you’ll look fresh no matter how many hours you’ve spent in the sun.”
Image – Glow Recipe
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush, 12ml (£22 from Sephora UK / $21.95 from Glow Recipe US) triples up as dewy skincare, pretty blush and a lip stain all in one.
As does e.l.f. Sheer For It Blush Tint (£6 from e.l.f. UK / $6 from e.l.f. US), which has brilliantly compact packaging and – crucially – a click-shut lid to avoid bag spillages. And, dare I say it, it’s shockingly cheap too so even if you do lose it in a field somewhere, it won’t break the bank to replace it.
If you’re in the market for a brilliant lip stain that will last quite literally all day (possibly even all weekend if you’re savvy), Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Masque (£18 from Boots UK / $22 from Sephora US) survives eating, drinking and hours outside.
Image – Refy
To keep brows in check during the heat too, try REFY Brow Sculpt (£20 from REFY UK / $26 from REFY US) which helps them to stay perfectly in place all day without feeling stiff or crunchy.
Skincare
I know it would be easy to just chuck a packet of baby wipes into your bag and use them to remove your makeup while you’re away. But without wanting to sound too pious, this would be detrimental to your skin (and the environment).
Image – The INKEY List
So what’s a convenient alternative? Take a travel sized cleanser like The INKEY List Mini Milk Cleanser (£6.50 for 50ml from The INKEY List UK / $8.50 from The INKEY List US) which removes makeup and SPF gently and has a surprisingly luxurious texture for its price. Or try their Mini Salicylic Acid Cleanser (£7.50 for 60ml from The INKEY List UK) if you want to get in some oil and breakout treatment while you’re away. All you’d need to pack with them are a few cotton pads, which will hardly weigh a thing.
Alternatively, Liz Earle’s iconic Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Starter Kit (£8 for 30ml from Boots UK) is the perfect size to squeeze into your weekend bag, plus it comes with a muslin so no cotton pads needed.
To give skin a pep up while you’re out and about, Mally also suggests applying a facial spray. “I never leave home without a hydrating mist,” she says. “After hours in the sun, one spritz instantly brings your skin back to life and gives you that fresh glow.” Jurlique’s iconic line of facial sprays is among my favourite. Try their Holy Basil and Aloe Hydrating Mist (£36 from Jurlique UK / $48 from Jurlique US) to revive and soothe hot skin and renew your glow.
Festival hair styling
There’s nothing worse than feeling self-conscious about (or annoyed with) your chosen hair style when there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it for an entire day. That’s why choosing a practical festival style is key. “Wearing loose and open hairstyles during festivals usually works perfectly fine in the beginning but then after an hour, heat, sweat and wind have their way with hair,” explains Velarde.
“Start off with something comfortable and that won’t get in your way,” she says. “Braids and even braided updos will work better in heat and humidity than anything down. They keep hair away from your neck, prevent hair from frizzing and can still look put-together after a full day in the sun.”
And don’t forget sun protection – for your hair! “People forget about protecting their hair from the sun exposure at all – it’s better to use a hat or leave-in conditioner with SPF protection.”
And the hair saviours
Velarde’s must-have kit is dry shampoo, a travel sized hairspray and bobby pins. “This trio saves my day because dry shampoo is able to revive my roots without any need for mirrors or power source, hairspray will make sure that my braids stay intact regardless of the weather conditions and bobby pins can fix everything else,” she says. “They take very little space in the bag and will help with 90% of hair related issues.”
Image – Fenty Hair
Try Fenty’s Hair The Imposter Invisi-Boost Volumizing Dry Shampoo Powder (£24 from Fenty Beauty UK / $32 from Fenty Beauty US), a brilliant non-aerosol powder dry shampoo that absorbs oil, boosts volume and refreshes hair without leaving a chalky residue.
For sun protection, try REHAB. Your Hair Sunshine Spritz UV Protection Hair Oil (£26 from REHAB. Your Hair UK / $36 from REHAB. Your Hair US) – little capsules that contain just the right amount of oil to protect both your hair and scalp from UV while nourishing at the same time.
Image – REHAB. Your Hair
REHAB. also does genius (and lightweight) Shampoo Sheets (£24 for 25 sheets from REHAB. Your Hair UK / $34 from REHAB. Your Hair US) which dissolve with water to create a foaming shampoo so that you can wash on-the-go and not worry about lugging a big shampoo bottle around with you. Also ideal for camping.
Freshening up and beauty emergencies
If you’re anything like me, you’ll already have an extensive list of ‘in case of emergencies’ items ticked off. Tissues, blister plasters, compact mirror and cotton buds spring to mind. But what about Yass Clean’s Rub & Done Stain Remover (£5 from Yass Clean UK)? This dinky bottle cleverly removes makeup, food and drink stains when you’re away from home, you know, just in case.
Image – Luna Daily
Travel-friendly body fresheners are also essential. If you’re lacking in available showers, take Luna Daily Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe Mini (£8 from Luna Daily UK / $12 from Luna Daily US) with you for when you’ve had a long day dancing in the heat and you need to freshen up. And finally, don’t skip on the body moisturiser, even for a few days (trust me, you’ll thank me once you get to 40).
Image – Joonbyrd
Joonbyrd Kaleidoscope Body Serum Mini (£18 from Cult Beauty UK / $24 from Joonbyrd US) is dermatologist approved meaning it treats the skin right, smells incredible and hydrates the skin after a long day in the sun. The perfect travelling companion.
Summer fragrances
Let’s be honest, smelling fresh at a festival is rather rare but why not break the mould with a travel-friendly perfume? Who Is Elijah Cherry Fiesta Eau de Parfum (£40 for 10ml from Sephora UK) is a really juicy, summery, cherry fragrance that’s playful without ever becoming sickly sweet. And it’s easy to slip into your pocket too.
For those who do like their fragrances sweet and unpretentious though, Sabrina Carpenter’s Lemon Pie Body Mist (£14.99 from Boots UK) is a sugary, zesty, nostalgic scent with notes of lemon, jasmine and orange blossom. At this price too for 236ml, you’ll be happy to share it out among your less-prepared festival mates.
Image – Jo Malone London
But if you do prefer your fragrance on the more grownup side, our absolute favourite fragrance in the Live That Glow office this summer is Jo Malone London’s iconic Wild Bluebell Cologne (from £58 for 30ml from Jo Malone London UK / $95 from Jo Malone London US). Floral and feminine, yet fresh and vibrant as a summer rainstorm, this unique take on one of England’s most famous flowers will gain you serious beauty points after hours in a field.
The takeaway
Festival beauty isn’t about looking flawless. It should be about packing products that are practical and useful so that you can worry less about how you look and more about having a great time.
“People try to wear their full glam routine to an all-day outdoor event, and it’s just setting themselves up for disappointment,” says Mally.
“Heavy foundation, too much powder, and hairstyles that don’t move are never going to survive the heat. Instead, embrace that cool, lived-in vibe. Let your freckles peek through, let your waves do their thing, and don’t be afraid of a little glow. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s looking vibrant, confident, and completely yourself.”
Meet the experts
Mally Roncal is a beloved celebrity makeup artist and expert who has worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Jennifer Lopez.
Sherry Velarde is the Founder and Owner of Deseo Salon & BlowDry in the United States.
Get Glowing!
