Festival Preparation
Two festivals down and many more to come for the summer you need to be both clever and concise when packing. Space is of the essence particularly if you are packing a car with clothes and a tent as well as the other festival necessities There are clever things that can help keep you clean and fresh and keep you looking as glam as ever so you don’t need to compromise on cleanliness or your appearance this year. Showers are at a premium but if you are lucky enough to find yourself with one, be sure to pack Cocoa Brown Travel set. Armed with shampoo conditioner and gentle shower gel as well as ultra-portable tanning wipes you need this in your festival arsenal. The gentle formula won’t interfere with your tan or hair extensions and the cleansing agents are fruit sugars which gentle cleanse without being harsh. Priced at €8 for the four they are ideal for holidays too. If you tan before you leave be sure to pack some BBold Flawless legs (€14.99). A spray on tan that is water resistant and will cover any imperfections or bruises you may have from over enthusiastic dancing this will keep your glow golden and dries instantly. It works all over the body and I can attest to its staying power in the rain after a wet weekend. To keep your hair fresh during the long days invest in a good dry shampoo. Probably the most cost effective one is Batiste which retails at around €3. Available now in many scents and varieties it is really easy to use. You turn your head upside down and spray it on oily roots from ten centimetres. You then brush through and your hair is no longer lank and lacking volume. An SPF is essential even if the weather isn’t good, on face and body. Choose P20 spray for the body as it is easily absorbed and light to the touch. Available in various SPF levels for Irish weather a minimum of 15 is essential for the body. For the face the latest addition to the Skinceuticals family will ensure that your skin stays protected even if you are dancing the day away. Matte Mineral contains and SPF of €30, but is water resistant and contains a slight tint which makes it an ideal base for make-up, without compromising on protection. La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Stick 15ml ( €10.25) is a pocket essential as dehydration and heat exposure can cause lips to become dry and irritated. Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Stick, offers ultra-high protection against the harmful effects of both UVA and UVB rays. It contains Thermal Spring Water and helps lock-in moisture and stop lips becoming dry and chapped. For removing make up, stick with simple miscellar water and cotton pads which are kinder to your skin than wipes. Instead of a toner keep Vichy Mineralizing thermal water to hand. Spritz over your face to freshen it up. You can use it on your body too to help cool down. To help you sleep and avoid the possible lights from outside invest in a nice sleep mask. Soap and Glory have a double whammy with their eye mask. The perfect thing for tired eyes, soothe your eyes with this puff preventing sleep mask. It is a cooling gel eye mask that soothes puffy eyes and relieves those stresses from little sleep. Just simply pop the gel inserts in the fridge and then put them back inside the eye mask and recline. If at a festival I have found the wine cooler a good place to keep it. Keep your festival routine simple but effective because it is not worth coming home to the consequences after a few days of being bad. Stay hydrated, try to remove your make-up every night. Pack some plasters as well and some good socks as if the wellies are on for the whole weekend there is a good chance of blisters.
Flawless Festival looks: Coachella this year saw some of the most outrageous festival looks yet, many of which we won’t see being removed with a make-up wipe.
Looking a little closer to home though Inglot really have this whole look covered, from the sublime to the extreme. Their limited edition summer pallet priced at €40 contains all of the colours that will see you through daytime and evening. You can glitz it up with one of their eyeshadow pigments €15 each my favourite is 119, a rose gold one, which are intensely metallic in appearance. When the brush is first dipped in Duraline will stay on all day and night. I road tested this at LATM recently and it stayed all night through some rather embarrassing dancing. You can book make up lessons through their Mahon point or Oliver Plunkett street stores. If a more Tribal look is your bag then check out Fuschia Make up and their latest edition Tribal Pallet, rich in colour, metallic coppers and bronzes are the focal point of this one. I have been using it the last two weeks almost every day for my blog and the results although dramatic are really long lasting. My top tip for this one is to do your eyes first as the shadow is very easy to blend and you can get fall out onto your cheeks. Slick on some waterproof mascara I love MAC extreme dimension in black which gives a faux lash effect without the panda eyes. It is available in a non-waterproof version also if your eyes tend to be sensitive. Make sure to pack a waterproof cleanser and eye make-up remover and cotton discs to ensure easy removal. You can always add individual lashes to the look also.
If you want some nice coverage for daytime that will colour correct your skin try Physicians Formula CC cream, this will neutralise any grey red or yellow undertones in your skin. It gives a natural creamy finish and to go from day to night you can just add the matching powder over it. It’s available on www.dolledup.ie. If you are being super disciplined apply it with a disposable sponge which you can buy a pack of around 20 for €1.50 in Penneys. You can just dump these after one use. For an excellent waterproof foundation MAC prolong wear nourishing gel foundation will last all day and night. There is no SPF though so ensure that you are wearing one under it.
Youngblood Mineral Bronzing powder is a great addition to your make up arsenal. Its’ lightweight, micronised powder is non-comodogenic too and colour-matched to the skin’s natural tones for a natural, healthy blush which won’t block pores, delivering a smooth, even-looking finish. Youngblood Mineral Radiance Bronzer also contains light-reflecting properties and Rice Starch for long-lasting wear that stays put throughout the day. €20.40 and available from selected pharmacies nationwide it is especially suited to acne prone and sensitive skin types. You can bush the lightweight bronzer over your temples and décolletage, and because of the mineral content it won’t cause breakouts. For weekend nails my favourite ones are Impress ready glued nails. They come in funky colours and have nail art already done so you get maximum effect with minimum effort. You can get them in a pedicure version too but they might not be practical in wellies.
GlamityJane 