The unofficial start of festival season in Australia has finally arrived, with bucketloads of events set to take place around the country in the next few months.
Of course, we’re all here for the music, but your look is just as important for getting the best festival snaps for Instagram.
Here are some of my recommendations for before, during, and after the event.
Self-tanner
This one isn’t for everyone, but if you have fair skin like me and are trying to avoid looking reflective in the sun, getting your tan right is essential.
The Bondi Sands Aero Self Tanning Foam in 1 Hour Express has gotten me through many dance concerts and big events without looking patchy or sweating off.
Plus, if you’re time poor, this option allows you to apply the tan the morning of the event, or, if you want a deeper tan, sleep in it the night before without worrying about stains on your sheets.
The fun stuff
For me, festivals are the perfect opportunity to step up my makeup look a little bit.
There’s no better time to use that glitter you bought and never touch, or experiment with eyeliner!
Some of my favourite products to reach for on occasions like these are the Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil in the shade How Many Carats?!, and the KVD Beauty Edge of Reality Fully Recyclable Eyeshadow Palette.
The Fenty product, though designed as a highlighter, is incredibly versatile and can be used to add an almost wet looking glitter to the eyes, cheeks or body, and the KVD palette is my favourite for adding an intense, shimmery pop of colour.
Setting spray
If you want to make sure your make-up lasts all day, setting spray is key. A classic for a reason, the Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray is designed to set make-up in place for up to 16 hours, and it does just that. Plus, if you’re looking for a particular finish, it comes in a number of different variations including ultra matte and ultra glow, so you can find your perfect fit.
Touch ups
Of course, not everything is foolproof when you’re faced with unpredictable weather for hours on end. Having a face powder or blotting sheets on hand can be integral to making sure your base products haven’t melted off by day’s end.
When you’ve also been eating and drinking all day, your lip products are also often the first to go. Start with a matte lipstick that lasts, like the Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip, or go the sheer route with a stain or reapply-able gloss, like the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Gummy Bear.
Sun protection
When thinking about what to pack in your bag on the day of a festival, sunscreen should be on the top of the list.
Though it can be hard to reapply on your face during the day, making sure your body is covered is integral. Anything 50+ will work!
But, if you miss a spot, having a good after sun product is integral. I love the Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92 per cent Soothing Gel – especially after it’s been chilled in the fridge.
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.