Festival Skincare Essentials
Music fans unite: festival season is upon us.
Camping can be a challenging environment even for the most committed skincare aficionados, but there are ways to continue your ritual when you do not have ready access to running water, without the need to resort to wet wipes.
In today’s journal entry I cover all you need to know about the best festival skincare and body care.
What Skincare Should I Take To A Festival?
I believe the best festival skincare starts before you set foot out the house, specifically prioritising hydration in the days ahead of your departure. I would consider swapping out lighter facial cleansers for a cleansing balm or cleansing cream the week prior, and applying a sheet mask the evening before you leave to calm, hydrate and soothe your skin. For the body, a routine of intense hydration via serums, lotions – as well as daily body gua sha in the weeks running up to the festival – will keep your skin looking smooth, toned and healthy throughout the weekend.
Once you are on festival ground, your daily goals should be cleansing and moisturising – both for the face and body. For the face, use cleansing pads and micellar water to keep skin clean and seek out a spray cleanser for the body if you don’t have easy access to running water. It’s equally important to make sure to use a moisturiser that packs a punch when it comes to hydration (whilst consuming as much water as you can) – look out for highly hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides and squalane in your face and body care.
SPF is also non-negotiable. When you are outside from day to night (and sometimes until dawn), sunscreen is critical to protect your skin from harmful UV rays – discover my SPF journal entry for a deeper dive.
Finally – it’s important to keep your hands as clean as possible (using hand sanitiser or a portable hand soap), and to try not to touch your face too much to avoid transferring any impurities that may trigger or exacerbate breakouts. If you do break out, pimple patches can be a lifesaver when you’re in a pinch.
Managing Skin Conditions At A Festival
Eczema
Keep it simple – bring travel sizes of your usual cleanser and moisturiser if possible, but if you do need to switch, make sure the products are gentle and fragrance free. Antihistamines can help reduce itching, and it’s sensible to try to avoid harsh soaps.
Rosacea
As rosacea can be triggered by alcohol, heat and sunlight, unfortunately a festival can provide the perfect conditions for a flare-up. Take travel sized versions of your usual skincare where possible, avoid alcohol and make sure to pack a high-factor mineral sunscreen, ideally containing physical blockers such as zinc and titanium dioxide which are less likely to exacerbate rosacea-prone skin. Discover more about rosacea here.
Hyperpigmentation
Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to hyperpigmentation, so daily sun protection is imperative. Again, mineral sunscreen is best for melasma sufferers, but wearing a hat and sunglasses can also offer extra protection. You can learn more about hyperpigmentation in this journal entry.
Hormonal Skin
If your menstrual cycle is likely to impact your skin around the time of your chosen festival, work to tailor your skincare essentials accordingly. You can learn more about how hormones affect your skin here.
Festival Skincare Essentials
Cotton Pads: Clé de Peau Beauté Facial Cotton are made from silk and cotton to comfort, soothe and care for skin, and are unlikely to irritate.
Micellar Water: CeraVe Hydrating Micellar Water is a simple, 3-in-1 product that effectively cleanses, hydrates, and removes makeup while helping to restore your skin barrier.
Sunscreen: Mesoestetic Mesoprotech Melan 130 Pigment Control is very high-factor protection that works well for pigmented or blemished skin. For those with sensitive skin or rosacea, Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 or Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily Mineral Defense SPF 50 are also great options.
Festival Bodycare Essentials
Sunscreen: La Roche Posay’s Anthelios range offers broad spectrum protection without increasing skin sensitivity.
Spray Cleanser: Luna Daily The Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe Fragrance Free can be sprayed on a cotton pad, and its gentle formula can be used all over the body to cleanse and balance the microbiome.
Hand Soap: Joonbyrd PALM WILD Mini is a decadent, barrier boosting hand wash that effectively cleanses while offering added moisturisation.
Body Lotion: Joonbyrd LITTLE LOVE Mini is clinically proven to moisturise for up to 48 hours, as well as nourishing and protecting your skin – for hydration that lasts the length of the festival.
