Festivals essentials: what to include on your packing list

Aside from the obvious tent, wellies and sleeping bag, there are a few festival essentials that you may not have considered when putting together your packing list. It can be challenging to look (and smell) Coachella-ready when you’re staying in a tent in England, a long way from the nearest bathroom.  

So, we’ve put together some tips and product recommendations to help you shop smarter, pack lighter and step up your festival skincare routine, so you’ll have clean and glowing skin no matter what the weekend throws at you. 

Our festival essentials

1. Multi-tasking beauty and skincare products 

Even if you're glamping this festival season, there's only so much you can take for a weekend away in a field. With a long trek to your campsite and space at an absolute premium, versatile products are a festival packing list must. As well as cutting down on packing space, stocking up on multi-tasking skincare products will also help you save time and money.  

Here are some of our favourites...

• A hydrating BB Cream that moisturises, helps to protects skin from pollution and cover blemishes, and acts as an amazing base. Our pick is the small but mighty Seahorse Plankton Beauty Boost BB Cream by Beauty Kitchen  

• If you're lucky enough to have access to a shower at the festival, you may find a multipurpose cleansing bar, like Ethique’s Tip to Toe Shampoo & Shaving Bar, very handy  

3. SPF & essential sun care

You may be hoping for clear blue skies for your festival experience, but one thing’s for certain — your skin can burn even if it’s cloudy. In fact, although clouds may block some UV, over 90% can still pass through light cloud and cause sunburn.²  

According to Cancer Research UK, when the UV index rating is above three (generally, we see this from mid-March to mid-October in the UK) the sun's strong enough to cause damage.^3,4 you’re covered with a good SPF (with a four or five star UVA rating) to help shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.  

Find out more about choosing the best sun protection for you with our guide to SPF.

5. Reusable water bottle 

With the organisers behind your favourite festivals like Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds encouraging festival-goers to ditch the plastic, there's never been a better time to invest in a reusable water bottle. With most festival sites installing plenty of free water points, not only will you be reducing your plastic waste – your wallet will also be thanking you for it too.⁷

6. Rehydration tablets

Adding rehydration and electrolyte solutions to your festival packing list is a must. Long days on your feet and dancing the night away come at a price: salt. There are a number of salts (namely: sodium, chloride and potassium) needed by your body to function properly, so it's important to replace them if you become dehydrated.^9,10 

Luckily, there are lots of options available to instantly replenish any electrolytes you may have lost, in many different formats, including sachets, effervescent tablets and capsules.  

Are rehydration tablets a hangover cure? 

With a high proportion (as much as 88%) of festival goers drinking alcohol at these events, a common question is ‘how to avoid a hangover?’.¹¹ A dry mouth, thumping headache and fatigue are among the most common symptoms of a hangover.  

The diuretic effects of alcohol mean that you lose water and all of the essential vitamins and minerals found in that water through sweating and urination, therefore you become dehydrated. That’s where rehydration aids might come in handy. While they're not a cure all, by addressing the leading cause of your discomfort, they might help ease those symptoms.  

Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) plays an important role in energy metabolism, and has been known to help reduce tiredness and fatigue.¹² Ashwagandha is an adaptogen which is widely recognised for supporting energy levels and general wellbeing.¹³ And if your belly is feeling a little delicate after a few days of drinking, live cultures might just be the ticket. Live cultures are a type of good bacteria that help the gut function normally.  

8. Vitamin C

No festival essentials list would be complete without the inclusion of some immune system-supporting vitamin C.  

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, which means our body can’t make or store it – we have to get it through the foods we eat (fresh fruits and veg are a great source) or the supplements we take.¹⁴ Brilliant for supporting energy, your immune system and skin, including vit C on your festival packing list is an absolute must. ^{15 16} 

Stocking up on some supplements might just be a handy way to keep your immune system fit and well – and for a weekend of partying, it’ll probably need all the help it can get. We love these easy to take high strength vitamin C effervescent tablets – just pop one in your water bottle each morning to start your morning right.  

The final say

If you're planning to visit a festival this year, be prepared to be a little flexible with your skincare routine and general hygiene. With limited access to free-flowing water, you'll probably need to make a couple of adaptations; dry shampoo and reusable cleansing pads will be your best friend. And if you're are spending time outside at the festival, make sure you keep your SPF on you for easy reapplication throughout the day. Remember: your skin can still burn when it’s cloudy.