Pack the Best Festival Beauty Kit, Ever
Coachella, the unofficial start of festival season, will be kicking off a jam-packed music lineup next month. From that desert on the outskirts of Palm Springs to a mountain on the fringes of Tokyo, and from there to the banks of the Seine to a beach in Portugal, you could wear out your passport going to see your favorite bands and DJs. But all of that travel and climate-hopping could also wear out your complexion. That’s why devising a pared-down packing strategy is key. Your beauty stash needs to meet TSA standards, be spill-proof, and condensed enough to tote around festival grounds (tiny cut-off shorts come with tiny pockets).
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But don’t get your boho skirts in a twist. We sourced the best multitasking, long-lasting, compact, and just plain gorgeous offerings this side of the stage. Sing it, ladies.
On or off the stage, “strobing” does some pretty magical things to your face (and it’s way easier to pull off than contouring).
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“Dewy, shiny skin is all part of the beaming festival vibe,” says Rimmel London makeup artist Jo Baker. This two-in-one tube includes moisturizing hyaluronic acid to get you glowing, plus a covert shimmery balm concealed in the cap to rev up the radiance on your cheekbones and browbones.
The Estée Edit by Estée Lauder Beam Team Hydrate + Glow, $50, available at Sephora.
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There will be sweat (lots of it). And sun (hours of it). You’ll need to take along a workhorse SPF that can hold up to both without turning your skin into an oil slick. Fresh’s Sugar Sport Treatment is a pocket-sized solid for your face that keeps T-zones in check. Plus, it’s easy to whip out on the sly every few hours for reapplication.
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Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30, $25, available at Sephora.
Take a bit of the guesswork out of packing. This pre-assembled, well-edited kit of cool stuff for cool girls (that’s you!) covers basically every makeup need, so you can basically just chill. There’s a punchy fuchsia lip color (that we think looks killer on cheeks, too), an effortless lash stain, a hydrating oil in easy-to-apply rollerball form, blotting sheets to kill shine, healing balm to tend to trouble spots, and a mirror for mid-day touch-ups.
Milk Girls Kit, $125, available at Milk Makeup.
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If you’re doing the festival thing to the fullest (i.e., trekking from faraway stage to faraway stage to catch your favorite acts), you’re guaranteed to build up a sweat — and some frizz. Get a blowout before you go and “bring a travel-size dry shampoo to freshen the roots and absorb oil,” advises stylist Patrick Melville.
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This kit includes a diminutive dry shampoo, dry conditioner so strands don’t feel like hay, a shower cap to preserve your second- (or third-) day hair, and a tiny brush for touch-ups.
Drybar Extend Your Blowout!, $29, available at Sephora. (This kit is currently sold out. You can find it at Drybar shops nationwide or purchase the components of the kit separately online).
If there is ever a time to venture outside your beauty comfort zone, this is it. After all, sparkle and over-the-top headgear are practically part of the dress code. All the glitz and glamour you could possibly require for a long weekend is in this portable palette. Celeb makeup artist Tina Turnbow recommends trying a metallic smoky eye or doing a pop of color on lids. Why not say “fuck it!” and go for a full-on multicolor masterpiece?
Urban Decay Wende’s Contraband, $34, available at Urban Decay.
“Spot concealing is good, because the less makeup, the better,“ says Turnbow. "It results in a fresher look.”
This fat, foolproof crayon foundation lets you zero in on trouble areas or blurs imperfections all over with a sheer veil of coverage. Pop it in your pocket for touch-ups.
Clinique Chubby In The Nude Foundation Stick, $24, available at Sephora.
For the rest of our festival picks, visit Refinery29.
By: Katie Dickens
