Festival season is finally here! Deciding what to wear and what beauty products to bring might be tricky if you've never been to a spring or summer festival before. Let's face it. Festivals can get kind of dirty, sweaty, and icky. Don't worry babes. I have compiled a list of must have items to bring with you so you can look and feel your best!
#1 SUN PROTECTION
Tip number one is the most important rule of all! WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN! If you forget to put on protection, you could end up with some really bad burns and look like a fried tomato. Be sure to apply sunblock of at least SPF 15+, but for this occasion, the higher the number the better. You can find some non-greasy formulas and even some lotions that have sunscreen in them. Some personal favorites of mine are
Anew Clinical Skinvincible Multi Shield Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Reg. $36. It's oil-free, suitable for sensitive skin and is great for all skin types! For the body, I enjoy using
Avon's Skin So Soft DD Body Cream $12 with SPF 15. This all-in-one dynamic lotion has anti-aging, firming, and moisturizing benefits and smells really nice!
UPDATE: Avon no longer has the Sun + Day Lotion SPF 40 (which is pictured at bottom photo) but the Skinvincible Multi Shield Lotion is a great and better alternative!
#2 PRIMER
Primers will help the longevity of your makeup and make it go on so much smoother than just moisturizer alone. Most primers can even minimize pores and mattify your skin to keep it shine-free throughout the day. You can even find some that contain SPF, which is an added bonus if you really want to protect your face. If you plan on wearing eye makeup, an eye primer may not be a bad idea either! You also don't have to spend a bunch of money to find a decent primer. Most of my customers, myself included, LOVE the
Magix Face Perfector SPF20 $11. This primer gives an HD finish. It is suitable for all skin types, but I find its a favorite among oily skin types.
#3 LIGHTWEIGHT COVERAGE
For an event like this, you don't want your face to look like it is melting. If you're going to wear any face makeup, the lighter the formula the better. Trust me. I've been the victim of makeup meltdowns before and you will save yourself a lot of embarrassment if you learn from my mistake. However, if you're like me, my skin isn't perfect. I have redness, huge pores, and dark circles under my eyes which means I need at least something! Investing in a good tinted moisturizer can be enough to give you a natural glow and even out your skin tone. You can try a
BB Cream , or if you have oily skin, try out the
mark. Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation. It's a weightless oil-free powder that gives you sheer to full coverage depending on what your desired look is.
#4 WATERPROOF ______________ (insert here)
From eyeliner to mascara or whatever else you desire to wear, make sure it's waterproof. This is a MUST, considering you will have very limited resources for cleaning up. A beauty emergency is bound to happen when you are dancing for hours under the blazing sun. Don't count on touching up too often, since the bathrooms at festivals are usually very dirty. Last thing you want to do is touch up your half smeared cat eye in a portable bathroom. YUCK. Granted, there are makeup sealers and makeup setting sprays, but to make things easier on yourself, just go with waterproof cosmetics. You will save yourself the worries of having a meltdown. LITERALLY!
Here are some of my favorite stay-put products:
Mark. What A Line Max Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner $12 // Mark. Saved By The Gel Waterproof Eyeliner $11 // Mark. Please Hold Eye Primer $9 // Avon Super Shock Max Waterproof Mascara $9 // Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Ink $7 // Avon Makeup Setting Spray with Vitamins A,C,E $10
#5 FACE/BODY SCRUB
You are going to be walking around ALOT and if you plan on wearing open toed shoes in the desert, expect to have very dirty feet by the end of the day. Not to mention, people's sweat will get all over you after the inevitable contact of being in the crowds. Gross, right? Once you have a chance to shower (yes campers, sometimes showers are available, depending which festival you're going to), you're going to need to scrub all that dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells away! That's why a body scrub comes in handy like
Mark. Crushing On Coconut Body Scrub $12. You can also try this favorite of mine called
Clearskin Pore Penetrating Invigorating Scrub, which contains ingredients like witchhazel and eucalyptus extracts for only $5.50. In case you didn't know, sugar is a natural exfoliant, so if you want to scrub your face, bring some sugar packets with you. Wet your face and make a paste with your normal cleanser and the sugar, make small circular motions, rinse, and WAH-LAH!
#6 OIL BLOTTING SHEETS
For you oily gals, you may start getting shiny on your T-zone as the day goes on. Keep a pack of shine-blotting sheets in your bag and blot any excess oils from your face. If you don't have any blotting sheets on hand, toilet seat protectors do the job just as well. Rip a few pieces of it and throw it in your bag for a budget friendly way to look fresh all day!
#7 SEA SALT SPRAY
Hair product can be a bit of a drag during a hot festival. Not only does hairspray and other heavy products have sticky results, it will also tend to look a bit gross when you are smoldering in the sun. Your best best is to embrace your hair's natural beauty and go for a bottle of sea salt spray. Spritz onto damp or dry hair. Finger style and twist pieces of hair for a wave-tousled boho look. You can try
Mark. That's Beachy Texturizing Surf Spray $14, a product that gives you that island girl hair and smells super good!
#8 HAND SANITIZER/ BABY WIPES
Before you eat. After you use the port-a-potty. Before you touch your face. After that one sweaty stranger started dancing all up in yo business. Emergency shower substitute... etc. Stay germ free with hand sanitizer or carry around baby wipes for extra cleanliness. You will be thankful you have them on hand! Try
Naturals Cucumber Melon Antibacterial Gel $3 or
Avon Elements Refreshing Cleansing Wipes $5.99, which contains Edelwiess flower extract and is suitable for sensitive skin!
#9 LONG LASTING DEODORANT
This is pretty obvious, considering you will be out in the heat, dancing that booty off. Find a good deo that works for you and will last all day. My personal favorite is
On Duty Unscented Antiperspirant Roll On Deodorant $1.99 and it's totally dirt cheap for the quality you're getting.
#10 HYDRATING LIP COLOR
Bright lips are trending this spring and summer.
Ultra Color Indulgence Lipcolor $9 from Avon has a variety of bold colors and also some softer shades that are safe enough for the shy gals. What I love about this lipstick is that it goes on like a lip treatment with its buttery, soft texture, but builds from sheer to full pigmented color. I currently have "Poppy Pink", but I can't wait to get my hands on the coral and nude colors!
Well my babes, you are now on your way to making heads turn during festival season. Keep these tips in mind and you'll be even more of a knockout than you already are! Remember to stay hydrated, be safe, and have fun!
