Beauty Survival Guide: Music Festivals

Each spring, Coachella kicks off a string of music festivals across the globe—so break out your bandanas and get ready to dance the day away. As much as festival-going looks like a breeze, it can get uncomfortably hot and dusty on arid concert grounds. This year, don’t let sweat, sunburn, and dirt put a damper on your music experience.

Make sure you’re stacked with beauty staples that hold up while you stage-hop your way through festival season. Put these products in your fanny pack to protect yourself from harmful rays, avoid makeup meltdowns, and stay looking fresh.

Moisturizing Sunscreen

Before even setting foot on festival grounds, apply at least SPF 45–then slip the sunscreen into your fanny pack for reapplication while you rock out. Peter Thomas Roth’s Max Clear Invisible Priming Sunscreen SPF 45 ($38) adds a layer of invisible broad-spectrum protection for smoothing hydration so skin stays soft and safe from ultraviolet damage. Infused with vitamin E and shea butter, this waterproof SPF dries like a blurring primer making it the perfect base for foundation application. And because it’s so lightweight, be sure to reapply for shielded skin between sets.

Blotting Sponge

Outdoor music festivals are often synonymous with pore-clogging sweat, and quite frankly blotting linens can’t keep up with the drippage. Ensure clean and shine-free skin by popping these blotting sponges into your festival pack. Unlike blotting papers, the beautyblender blotterazzi ($10) is shaped to fit all contours of the face, saving you from unused corners and unneeded waste production. The powerfully-absorbing sponge soaks up perspiration and oil without disturbing makeup. Plus, it’s reusable. Store in its vented compact complete with a mirror and clear, hygienic separator.

Sanitary Wipes

You’ll definitely want to keep some wipes on hand, like these portable sanitizing packets from BeautySoClean ($17.49). Specifically created to remove germs from lipstick, lip gloss, eye/lip pencils, and mascara wands, these wipes will keep your cosmetics clean for sterile product application. This non-irritating formula is also safe enough to use on your hands ensuring that you’re bacteria-free before you dig into any festival food.

Antibacterial Ointment

Don’t let sunburn, minor scratches, and blisters steal the spotlight from your favorite artists. Instead, bring comfy shoes and slip a skin-reviving ointment into your pack just in case. I recommend Lucas’ Papaw Ointment ($12) to treat all ailments brought on by festival-going. Infused with the antimicrobial papaw fruit, this pharmaceutical-grade petroleum protects skin against the elements–from healing chapped lips and cuticles to relieving minor open wounds, chafing, and insect bites. Don’t leave home without this fast-acting remedy, it’s like the duct tape of beauty products.

Cotton Buds

How might you apply the above ointment? These buds can help! MYKITCO. My Small ‘on Point’ Buds ($8) are also great for touching up liner and lipstick that may have melted under the sun. Also, use them to spot-reapply concealer on acne with precision.

Tinted Lip Balm

Perk up your look after sunset with a tinted lip balm that doubles as a blush. rms beauty Tinted Daily Lip Balm ($24) delivers 12 hours of flavorless, fragrance-free, healthy hydration that’s suitable for all skin types. Never heavy or greasy, apply the pink-hued colors to accent cheeks and lips as you sing along to your favorite jams.

Hair Paste and Bands

With hot weather comes dreaded frizz and flyaways, which can put a damper on festival hairstyles. Plus, if it’s 100+ degrees, you’re sure to sweat through that blowout. My advice: style your hair as planned, but pack hair paste and scrunchies for an updo during forecast highs. R+Co’s Control Flexible Paste ($34) offers a strong (but reworkable!) hold with a semi-matte, natural feeling finish. Use it to smooth hair, then gather it into a high pony or bun. Secure with Slip’s floral-hued skinnies from the Daisy Scrunchie Set ($55) for a cute yet protective style.